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“Pretty sure your initials are on the bat that was used to beat Ivan Sokolov to death.”
“Huh.How about that?”
Madeline’s feet swung lazily.“Just how hard are you working on it?”
He stared back at her.“Why are you in town?”
“Business.”
“What kind of business?”
Her gaze slid to the one-way mirror.She smiled at her reflection.“The kind that is confidential.”
Sonofafuckingbitch.
His teeth snapped together, and in an instant, he was on his feet.“You didn’t.”He spun for the one-way glass.The stupid fucking mirror.His furious expression glared back at him.“Naomi!”
She was there, just beyond the glass, he knew it.Knew it with absolute, soul-destroying clarity.His own boss had just set him the hell up.He surged straight for the glass.Could imagine that he saw her behind it.Could all but feel her pain reaching out to him.“Naomi!”
Madeline had been talking plenty, but the instant the conversation turned to CIA matters, she’d clammed up.Only one reason for her to do that…
The room is not secure.Someone else is watching.
His sinking heart told him exactly who that someone was.
“I thinkthat’s our cue to leave.”Clark’s hand curled around Naomi’s shoulder.
Henry growled.
Clark’s hold tightened.“Get the dog to settle down.”
“Henry is always settled.He just doesn’t like it when hands are put on me.Got to confess, I don’t like it, either.”Her gaze never left the glass.Or rather, never left what was right behind the glass.Eb.A furious, glaring, breathing-too-hard Eb.
He’d shouted her name.
She’d flinched.
Clark jerked his hand away from her.“It’s time for you to go.You’ve been wanting to bust out of this station ever since we dragged you in.Can’t believe you aren’t running for the door now that I gave you the all clear.”
She wouldn’t run.She’d walk out nice and slowly.With her dog at her side.“Will there be a throng of local reporters waiting outside the station?Will they scream questions at me?Or has the CIA worked their magic and convinced you and your chief to keep all this quiet?”Naomi would like to be properly prepared for whatever new, fun adventure waited.
“Guess you’ll find out when you go outside.”
“Naomi!”Eb shouted her name again.
She released a long breath.A breath that she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.“I don’t have a car.My truck is still out at my property.”Eb had been the one to drive them to the bar.
“One of the uniforms will give you a ride back to your place.”
Great.Fabulous.A cruise in a patrol car.“I’ll just call a ride, but thanks for the offer.I’ll use one of those apps.”She forced her gaze off Eb.“Come on, Henry.”
He walked by her side as they exited that little room.
“Oh, something you might want to know!”Clark called out.
Correction, they’d almost exited that little room.At the door and at Clark’s quick words, she glanced back.
Clark had shoved his hands into the pockets of his blue pants.“You probably want to be glad that Ivan is dead.”