Page 56 of Four Cards Exposed

Lorraine couldn’t hide her gasp. “Ernesto Mendoza? Here? In the US? Are you sure it’s him and not just Miguel?”

Susan nodded, biting the top of the pen as if searching for inspiration for the postcard in her hand.

“He wouldn’t dare,” Lorraine whispered.

Susan shrugged. Lorraine would have to believe her. Explaining would take too long.

Through the corner of her eye, Susan saw Lorraine practically begin to shake with excitement. “Then we must be ready.”

Susan paused for an instant, wondering if she’d regret the next words but unable to stop herself from uttering them. “Listen, Lorraine … maybe you should get James out now. He’s going to fight someone who … someone who could hurt him. I have a bad feeling about it.”

“Who?”

“Daniel Guerrero.”

Lorraine looked conflicted, but shook her head. “We can’t get him out now. We can’t do anything to make Mendoza and Moore suspicious. But we’ll make sure we have a team in place ready to support both of you,” Lorraine continued quickly.

Susan shook her head. The pen in her hand shook.

What did you expect?

That Lorraine would call out the entire operation just because you have a bad feeling?

She nodded quietly. “Please don’t tell him I asked. He wouldn’t be—he wouldn’t understand.”

Lorraine nodded. She hesitated for an instant. “James met his handler in the park. He asked us to remove you.”

Susan shuddered. He hadn’t said anything to her. He’d been with her—inside her—and hadn’t said anything.

“Did he give a reason?” she asked quietly.

“He said things were getting dangerous. He was worried about you.”

“I’m doing fine, Lorraine. You don’t need to worry about me.” She wondered why she suddenly felt so lost. “What should I do now?”

“The usual. Don’t call any attention to yourself. We’ll find a way to get on that ship with you. You stick close to James, you hear me? Trust him. He’s good at his job.”

Susan nodded quickly.

“Thanks for the pen,” she said loudly, returning the pen to Lorraine. She didn’t look back at the federal agent as she stuffed the post-card back in her handbag and stood up quickly.

She walked into the bar with one minute to spare. Just in time, in fact, since she needed that minute to change out of her old Vans.

Pain stabbed at her little toes as she crammed her feet into the patent-leather high-heeled shoes, balancing first on one foot, then on the other. She gritted her teeth, knowing it’d get easier as the evening went on.

She hoped James would have the sense to stay away. She couldn’t face him—not now, not when she knew he’d tried to get rid of her. He’d gone behind her back and tried to get her off the case. She might just be a small-town cop, but nobody at Sharp’s Cove had ever treated her with such a lack of respect.

She wiped angry tears with the back of her hand—thankful she hadn’t put on her make-up yet. She’d have to wait a while, until she felt stronger.

A small voice piped up inside her.

You hypocrite.

You did the same to him.

She shushed the voice inside her head and picked up a rag, wiping angrily at the table surfaces.

“Milena.”