Page 69 of Cops and Robbers

When he felt her withdrawal from him along the link with sadness creeping in, he whispered against her ear, “I trust you, Kate. It’s the situation I don’t trust. What if she set you up or Matsuda got to her?”

“We’ve had a check-in system. I would have known if something was up. There’s no way she’d turn on me—she knows what’s at stake.”

“Still. I’d like to assess the situation and provide backup.”

She stared at him long and hard, contemplating. “She isn’t expecting anyone else. Act casual and don’t scare her.”

He grinned. “Me? Scary?”

A small smile graced her lips as she headed up the concrete pathway to the house. He followed, eyeing the large black utility vehicle with government plates in the driveway. She rang the doorbell. In his peripherals, a curtain moved as if the occupant wanted to check on their visitors. A deadbolt snapped back, and the door slowly came ajar.

Kate slid in, but her hand motioned for him to wait. “I have a friend with me. Is it okay if he comes inside?”

No response, but Kate opened the door enough to allow him through. He brushed the siding on his way inside. Beside Kate stood a woman with curly burgundy hair and dilated hazel eyes. Sajani Reddy. The doctor whose face Kate had shown to them when she transformed into her in Lewis’s office to show this part of the plan.

He stepped into the tidy home, and a warm aroma of baked chocolate filled his nostrils.

A human’s spirit energy like body odor against his Insight made him tense. Sajani wasn’t the only one in the house.

“I did as you asked,” Sajani said. Her crossed arms didn’t hide the shake in her fingers. “They are in here. My backpack is ready.”

They followed her into a living room where two large men dressed in black sat on the couch, heads lolled to the side. Unconscious but breathing according to the energy impression of heated body odor. What the fuck? They must have been the guards who normally took Sajani to the submarine.

Kate touched Sajani’s arm. “It’s all right, Sajani.”

The woman sniffed. “I know. I just—“ Her voice hitched, and she held her hand over her mouth as a stray tear ran down her cheek. “I’ve never done anything like this.”

A tidal wave of dread and guilt crashed over him from Kate along the link.

“You did great,” Kate said. “Now go and get my friend and me whatever smells so delicious. I’ll have them hypnotized like I did Anthony in no time. Don’t worry.”

Sajani released a shaky breath but nodded and left the room.

“I thought the plan was to pay them off so we could take their place?” Raz whispered.

“I’ll explain in the car.”

She circled the coffee table that held two beers and the badges they needed—IDs to get onto the San Diego Naval base and then onto Matsuda’s submarine. Stepping between the men’s massive thighs, Kate leaned forward and pressed her fingers against each of their temples. As she closed her eyes, a blue sheen of light arced from her fingertips to their skin.

Impressions of turning pictures filtered across the link as if Kate were flipping through a slideshow. Caige’s Illusion allowed him to manipulate the image of himself in people’s minds. Though Raz was aware Illusion users could alter memories, he’d never seen it done. He imagined the memories she was implanting made them believe they’d gone to the submarine with Sajani all along.

A few moments later, she fumbled through one man’s pockets until she pulled out a pair of keys.

The strain between her eyes and the hard line of her lips worried him. A fear set in that she might not have enough energy to complete the mission. Illusion was draining, and a user could easily run out of calories. He’d seen Caige collapse under that strain, and she stated she could only hold a face for a few hours.

His impatience rose up his neck. “Why didn’t you tell us this was the plan?”

“I didn’t want to do this, but after the run-in with Matsuda, I reevaluated.” She wobbled around the table. “If Matsuda really started asking questions, I’m not sure money would be strong enough to keep all of them silent.”

“Sorry,” Sajani said from the arched entryway. “Am I interrupting?”

“No, it’s fine.” Kate grinned.

Sajani walked into the room and held out a shaking plate of brownies.

“Oh, you poor thing.” Kate grabbed the plate and Sajani’s elbow. “Please sit down before you fall down.” Kate guided her to the chair next to the couch and placed the treat on the table.

Sajani sat while Kate snatched a beige blanket hanging from the chair’s arm. “Here, let’s warm you up.” She draped the fluffy material over Sajani.