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The motel room was approximately twelve feet by fourteen feet. I knew because I'd paced it exactly thirty-seven times in the last hour and counted every step.

The carpet had a stain shaped like Florida near the bathroom door. The bedspread was burnt orange polyester that probably hadn't been washed since I did that Disney movie in my late teens. A painting of a sad clown hung crooked above the bed. Sophie’s room was even worse, if you can believe it. But she stayed in there, telling me that she didn’t want to disturb me, all the while rubbing her temples.

I hate it here.

But I would have hated a five-star hotel too. I hated sitting still while Code walked into God knew what kind of danger. I hated being the damsel locked in the tower while everyone else fought the dragons.

My phone sat on the nightstand, mocking me with its silence.

I grabbed it and pushed in one of the few phone numbers I had memorized. Angelica’s. I did it before I could talk myself out of it.

She answered on the first ring.

"Kit? Is this you Kit?”

“It’s me,” I confirmed.

“Oh my God, where the hell have you been? I've been calling your regular phone since yesterday!" Her voice came out high and panicked. "Jase won't tell me anything except that you're safe, which is bullshit because if you were safe you'd be answering your new phone!"

Guilt crashed over me. "Angie, I'm sorry. I should have called sooner."

"You think?" She took a shaky breath. "I've been imagining you dead in a ditch. Do you know what that's like? Just sitting here in Jasper Creek while you're traipsing around doing God knows what?"

"I know. I'm sorry." I sank onto the edge of the bed. "Things got complicated."

"Complicated how? Start talking. Now."

I rubbed my face with my free hand. What could I tell her? Not about the Russians. Not about Eddie Pope or Viktor Sokolov. Not about Code getting his ribs cracked fighting armed operatives.

"Code found Russell Dunlap's stepsister. We went to talk to her."

"His stepsister? What does she have to do with anything?"

"She's an actress. Sophie Tremaine. She auditioned for the same roles I got. Three major parts over the last few years." The words came easier now that I had a safe topic. "She didn't know what Russell was doing. She was just venting to her brother about losing out on roles, and he decided to fix it for her."

"Jesus." Angelica's voice softened slightly. "That's actually kind of sad."

"It is. Sophie's really talented, and she's been working for twelve years with nothing to show for it. When I told her about the blackmail, she was devastated."

"So, Russell's doing all this out of misguided brotherly love?"

"Looks like it."

Angelica was quiet for a moment. "Kit, I'm sorry I yelled. I was just scared."

"You had every right to yell. I should have checked in." I let out a heavy sigh. "You're my best friend, Angie. I wasn't thinking about how this was affecting you."

"Damn right I'm your best friend. Which means you don't get to disappear on me without warning." She paused. "So where are you now? Still with Code?"

Heat crept up my neck. "Yeah. About that."

"About what?" Her tone shifted, went from worried to interested. "Kit Lord, what did you do?"

"I didn't do anything."

"You absolutely did do something. I can hear it in your voice. Spill."