Page 33 of Herding Cat

“How many?” Garrett asked.

Tate snorted. “There’s just the two of them. We got the address where they were staying, but the other was gone by the time we got there.”

“So he’s still out there?”

“Wait. What happened to the first guy?” Catherine asked.

Both Tate and Luke ignored the question because, yeah, she probably didn’t want to know.

“We need to consider him a high risk, especially now that his partner has been...” Luke cleared his throat. “Detained.”

“Was he? Was he detained?”

“Ah, of course.” Tate shot them all a speaking look and then smiled at Catherine. It was a huge smile. Also, a patently fake one. “We ah, turned him over to the authorities.”

“Yeah.” Luke nodded. “The authorities.”

Garrett knew they were both lying but wasn’t about to call them on it. He shot a somber look at Catherine. “But his partner is still out there. I think you should consider leaving Hong Kong.”

As he expected, her chin tipped up at a stubborn angle. “But I have business meetings set up.”

“Tell them something came up.”

“I only get here once in a blue moon. It’s ridiculous to come all this way and not have the meetings.”

He knelt before her and looked into her eyes. “Catherine, you do realize there is a man out there who wants to kill you?”

“He’ll want to kill me if we leave here too.”

“That is true.”

Garrett glowered at Luke. He wasn’t helping in the slightest.

“Your options are to stay in this room or stay in your house back in California. It’s easier to control the elements if we are in your home.”

Her expression went fierce. “I will not be a prisoner in my own home. Or a ratty hotel room.”

“It’s hardly ratty—”

She whirled around like Julie Andrews with her arms wide. “It kind of is. Besides, I don’t understand why we can’t move to a different hotel. Register under one of your names. He would have a hell of a time finding me. At least it would be harder than finding me at my own house, for heaven’s sake.”

To his annoyance, Tate and Luke exchanged a contemplative glance. “That could work.”

Something sizzled in Garrett’s brain. He wanted Cat safe. He couldn’t assure she would be absolutely secure in this busy, crowded city. There were too many people wandering around. Too many things she wanted to do. Too many distractions. He put out a lip, but no one was paying any attention to him. They were all discussing hotels that might have a better defensive profile.

“We should ask Ryder,” he said.

Luke and Tate’s heads whipped around. They both knew you didn’t call the big boss unless it was an emergency, and a simple question like this was one operatives made on their own. Beyond that, Cat was their client. If she wanted to stay in Hong Kong, they stayed.

“Can I talk to you?” Luke asked. “Outside?”

Garrett nodded and followed his buddy into the hall. He knew what was coming so he steeled his spine. Still, Luke’s furor took him by surprise.

As soon as the door was closed, Luke whirled on him. “What the hell is going on with you?”

“Me?” Yeah. Play dumb.

“You’re not acting at all like yourself.”