Page 12 of In Shining Armor

Magnus paused while the others left.

Dieter handed his laptop, the one with Rogue Security’s specialized and proprietary software on it, to Magnus. “Take this with you. Whenever you’re separated from me by at least a hundred miles, log in.”

Magnus accepted the laptop and nodded.

“And I need a clear passage from this room to one of the SUVs in the parking garage in about an hour. Take all the personnel you need, coordinate with Blaise Lyon at HQ for technical support, but no eyes.”

“On it.” Magnus left.

Dieter locked and blocked the door again before he pulled his phone from his pocket.

Aiden Grier, the ginger Scot who had just left the room, was the most affable guy you’ve ever met in a bar with a drink in his hand, like most spies. Everyone believed that Aiden was their best friend.

Jordan Defrancesco, a Monegasque Secret Service officer, had fallen under Aiden’s spell and promised to pass information to Rogue Security within an hour.

Dieter’s phone rang as he called Defrancesco.

Jordan answered,“Si?”

“Tell me what happened last night,” Dieter told Jordan.

Jordan said, “Friederike von Hannover has gone missing, butno one is talking. The beepers went off, and the on-calls emerged from the ready room down the hall from the Prince’s suite. The first guys out saw her running down the hall. They chased, but she jumped into the elevator as the doors were closing. They almost got her there, but then they couldn’t trace the floor where she got off. She’s smart. They searched the hotel but found nothing. Sault is on a rampage, demanding that we find her. Squads are searching the hotel, the parking garage, and a couple of blocks around. No one knows anything. No one will talk. It looks like she fell off the face of the Earth.”

“Thank you, Jordan. That is helpful.”

“Do you know where she is? Is she all right?” The panic in Jordan Defrancesco’s voice sounded like more than professional interest.

“We’re also searching for her. I think you guys are ahead of us at this point. We’ve only known that she was missing for an hour or so. If I find anything, I’ll let you know, all right?”

“I would really appreciate that. She’s a nice girl, you know? She’s always nice to us.”

Friendliness with her jailers hadn’t saved her the night before, when she’d been assaulted and still had livid marks on her neck from Pierre’s hands.

Dieter said, “I’ll let you know if I find out anything. After all, we’re on the same team.”