Page 21 of No Time Off (Lexi Carmichael Mystery #15)

TWENTY-ONE

Slash

A long minute ticked past before I spoke. I didn’t see any other options for Lexi and me at this point, which meant if we were going to help the prime minister, we needed to go all in.

“We’ll help you,” I said. “But we need a place to set up. We have minimal equipment, but we also need a quiet place to think and make some calls I don’t want overheard.”

Relief spread across her face. “Thank you. I deeply appreciate it. It’s pretty rustic here, but we’ll find you what you need.” She exchanged a glance with Rangi. “Get them a couple of chairs and a table in the back office. Run everyone out of there, if necessary. Can you check and see if Liam has been able to get the hotspot and Wi-Fi equipment we brought set up yet? Make sure you let everyone know we need to give them their privacy, okay? Oh, and see if you can find Manny and get him here. We’re going to need him.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Rangi stood up from the table and motioned to us. “Come with me, please.”

Lexi and I followed Rangi to the back of the house to a small home office. There was a desk in one corner with a computer that looked like it was from the 1990s.

“Will this do?” Rangi asked, spreading out his arm.

“If I can unplug that computer and put it elsewhere,” I said.

“Of course. Do what you need to do. Is there anything else I can get you? I’ll go check on our hotspot status.”

“Thanks, that’s it for the moment. We’d like the hotspot info and password as soon as you have it. I’ll let you know if we need anything else.”

Rangi nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. Before I could unzip my computer bag, Lexi put a hand on my arm.

“Slash, are you sure about this?”

“Not really, but at the moment, it’s the only way I have to protect you…us. As soon as I have the information at hand, I’m going to talk to Candace.” Candace Kim was the new director of the NSA and my direct boss. She was also a trusted friend. She’d know how to go up the chain so the right people got the information they needed.

“So, we’re getting involved,” Lexi said.

“We’re already involved. And at this point, time is of the essence. We’re on an island approximately eight miles wide. How long do you think it will take until the Chinese and their police stooges find her…find us? A day or two at the most, even if we move locations, which is something I’d advise the prime minister to do again by this evening. We’ve been backed into a proverbial corner. It is hard to mount a defense or an offense until we know what we are up against. We need information that leads to action.”

I paused, caught the disappointed look on her face, and suddenly knew I was in trouble. My mind quickly searched through reasons for her disapproval, and it didn’t take long for me to find it.

Exhaling a deep breath, I shoved a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. I should have asked if you agreed with this. I’ve already violated number two in the marriage code—mutual decision-making.”

“Yes, you did,” she confirmed. “A decision that involves both of our lives should be made together. But lucky for you, I’m not opposed. I just want to understand your logic and have you talk to me about it before rushing in with a plan.”

She was right, so I had to own it. “I don’t have any excuse other than I’m not used to mutual decision-making when it comes to fieldwork.”

Her expression softened. “I know, and I guess this marriage thing is still new for both of us. But two minds, one decision. That’s the way it must be. Compromise is fine, but after a discussion. Having said that, I don’t see any other options here, either. And since I trust you implicitly—that’s number one in the marriage code—how can I help make the plan work?”

God, I loved her. Really loved her. She could keep me accountable while logically evaluating the information at hand, much like I did. Two like minds. Unless I gave her reason to object—and there were plenty of times I did—she trusted me. I felt the same way about her, which made us perfect for each other. I just needed to work on the us part of deciding, even if my decisions were always focused on keeping her safe.

That meant, given her little black cloud’s proclivity for getting her into trouble, I’d prepared an emergency disaster plan for our honeymoon…just in case. She hadn’t asked, so I hadn’t told her about it. However, my plans were based on contingencies for just the two of us and our planned activities. Now here we were surrounded by loads of people who had no idea how hazardous Lexi could be to herself or others. I didn’t have time for a full plan rewrite, so I’d have to improvise on ways to keep her safe within my initial disaster plan while including her in key decisions. Marriage was turning out to be a lot harder than I expected, even while it was worth every minute.

I reached up and cupped her cheek. “I love you, cara . So very much.”

“I love you, too. And the odds are in our favor we’ll find something if we can stay ahead of those hunting us. And my gut is telling me—like it’s telling you—the Chinese are involved. So, what’s our first step?”

“After I talk to Candace, I think we follow the money trail. You agree?”

“I do. But are you sure Candace will support this?”

“Not officially and not yet. She’ll need proof, just like everyone else. So, we find the evidence. After that, depending on what we find, it could be a whole different story.”

“So, you think this is about the money?”

“No, not just money. A coup seems like an awful bold play. If they were to screw this up, it would have big repercussions on other Chinese ventures in the region. There must be something else driving the timing. Why now?” I paused for a moment, thinking. “Let me call Candace and see what she thinks.”

While Lexi continued to set up our computers using our special adapters, I calculated the time zone difference between here and Washington, DC. It was six hours, so it would be midafternoon for Candace. I used a VPN on my phone to call her direct line.

“Candace, it’s me,” I said as soon as I heard her voice. “We have a situation.”

“So, I’ve heard,” she replied, not wasting a beat. “Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?”

So, someone had already appraised her of my earlier call after the dinner with Petra. No surprise there. “Yeah, about that honeymoon…” I let the sentence trail off.

“There’s never any time off for you two, is there?” She paused. “How secure is this line?”

“Not much. But it is what is.”

“Understood. So, what can I do for you?”

I considered the best way to say it and decided direct was the simplest and most powerful. “Things have progressed dramatically since last night. There’s been an uprising that has overthrown the government, and the prime minister reached out to me for help. She’s safe for the moment, but she’s asking for US assistance. She suspects the coup has foreign support, and I agree with her.”

There was a long pause, and I knew I’d caught her off guard. I could imagine the expression on her face and a dark eyebrow lifting just a fraction.

“That’s extremely unfortunate. Interesting timing, too, considering we’re only just laying the groundwork for a consulate there.”

“It’s not coincidental,” I said.

“No, it’s not. Which may account for the accelerated timeline on behalf of our…friends.”

“Maybe, but my gut tells me there’s something else, too,” I said. “So, we’re on the same page as to whom we suspect is behind this?”

“We are,” she confirmed. “But you know as well as I do, the State Department’s hands are tied without actual evidence.”

“Understood. But what if I could get it? The prime minister has been gathering some, and we could possibly help her get more.”

“Then you’d have to bring us that evidence,” Candace said firmly. “Her word alone isn’t enough to swing any real action. However, if you were able to find anything that tied this back to our…friends…well, direct intervention in the sovereignty of a state isn’t unheard-of, but it’s definitely frowned upon internationally, especially when it’s a big country versus a small country. The look wouldn’t be good internationally, and the State Department would have no choice but to step up. Even if was only in a ‘supportive’ capacity.”

I hadn’t expected more than this, but even a ‘supportive’ capacity would be a significant win for the prime minister. “So, you’re saying a little creative digging might make all the difference?”

“It might. Just don’t expect any official help while digging. You’ll be on your own. If anything goes south, this conversation never happened.”

“Understood.”

Her voice softened. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Right now, I’m up to my neck in this, as unfortunate as that might be. I don’t have a choice.”

“Then get me the proof, and I’ll make sure whoever needs to get it, gets it. Just be careful, okay? You’re having one hell of a honeymoon. Hope it isn’t as bad as your wedding. That was legendary. Still sorry I missed that.”

“Saved yourself some trouble there,” I said. “I hope to save you some trouble this time around as well.”

“I appreciate you’re always looking out for your boss,” she joked.

“I like my job and the people I work with. I’d just like a break occasionally when I’m on vacation.”

“Trouble does follow you. Be safe, my friend. I mean it.”

“I’m on it,” I said and hung up with an increased sense of urgency.