Madelaine nodded. “The simple and direct approach. Good. I like it.” And she did. That was basically the plan she’d come up with. But she hadn’t known the assistant’s name. It was also great minds thinking alike. She liked that, too.
They hadn’t said much to each other in the past several hours. If she’d kissed him in Liberty, let herself forget all of her obligations, she knew she wouldn’t have been able to hold it together. She might have confided more than she should. More than the Paladin Cabal would ever allow without exacting some sort of punishment in return—punishment Jack might have to share—and she just could not do that. Ever.
Madelaine had to stay strong. Jack was a means to an end and, eventually, they would have to part ways. She didn’t get to keep him, regardless of her feelings.
She wouldn’t drag him into this life of unending sacrifice. The cost was too much. He shouldn’t have to participate just because he loved her. She needed to remember that and keep her distance, even though spending time with Jack in close proximity reminded her of all the reasons why she’d fallen in love with him.
Madelaine mentally shook her head and forced herself to focus on the plan.
The town was quiet, as she expected a small Minnesota town to be, with only a few citizens walking around the square.
No one seemed to pay attention to them, which was good.
They walked into the municipal building on the town square of Suspicion, Minnesota.
Madelaine thought she would have had to check a directory to find the Secret Keeper’s office but Jack knew the way. She followed her bachelor auction date to the elevator. He pressed the call button. The elevator doors popped right open as if the car had merely been waiting for them to show up. Jack pressed the button for the fifth floor and the doors slid closed.
They didn’t speak a word to each other as they ascended. When the doors opened once more, she gestured for him to go ahead. She didn’t know where they were going.
Jack walked straight to a set of large wooden double doors. Above was a plaque that read: “Office of the Secret Keeper.”
Perfect.
Jack opened the right-side door and this time gestured for her to precede him. Madelaine stepped into a very sizable waiting room. Across the plush rug from the door was a reception desk, a man in a suit seated behind it. His attention was focused on a computer screen to one side. There was a single large wooden door behind the desk.
Madelaine figured she needed to get through that door to meet with the Secret Keeper. She was not above leaping over the reception desk and barreling her way inside, if it came to that.
The man looked up as they approached. He saw Jack and smiled. “Jack, what brings you back to Suspicion so soon?”
“Hi, Chester,” he said, glancing at Madelaine. “I need to see the Secret Keeper on a matter of urgency. Is he in? Could we get a meeting with him today?”
Madelaine wanted to correct the wordtodaytoright now, but she remained silent and passive next to Jack. Often, confrontation wasn’t the best path to success, even if she was ready for it at all times.
Chester’s welcoming smile dimmed. He looked at Madelaine briefly before turning to his computer. “Well, I’m not sure. Let me take a look at his schedule and see if I can’t find a minute or two for you.”
Jack seemed to relax. At least they weren’t being kicked out for daring to show up unannounced.
The door behind Chester’s desk opened and a large, imposing man stepped into the reception area.
“Chester, I need—” he began. He stopped speaking as soon as he saw them. “Jack. What are you doing here?”
The man she assumed was the Secret Keeper glanced her way and seemed to do a double-take.
“And who did you bring with you?” He didn’t seem upset to see Jack with a stranger in tow.
“My name is Madelaine Archer. I’m the Paladin Courier. May I see you privately for a few minutes?”
The Secret Keeper didn’t seem at all surprised by her words. Jack, on the other hand, looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “The Paladin Courier? Is that some sort of secret code you failed to mention?”
Madelaine shot him a narrow-eyed glare, shook her head and sent a more civil gaze back to the Secret Keeper. He looked amused, for lack of a better word.
“Sure. I can spare a few minutes privately for the Paladin Courier.” He opened the door to his office and stood aside as she entered. He followed her in and closed the door, securing it behind him, leaving Jack in the outer office with Chester.
The Secret Keeper walked past her and sat behind his desk.
“Have a seat,” he said.
“I’ll stand.”
