Page 15

THIRTEEN

One mistake after another. Today had been full of them.

Letting his guard down around Ellie when he should stay professional. Check. Alluding to his failed marriage during the car ride. Check. Driving Ellie to see her old boss and potentially exposing her to more danger… double check.

Daniel sipped his ice water and wondered if he was making yet another mistake by following James's instructions.

The diner had seen better days. Battered checkered flooring, saggy booth seats, and rickety tables were stuffed between a worn-out kitchen and a sad-looking front desk.

Several truckers were perched on the chrome barstools, but most of the tables were empty.

A gas station occupied the other half of the building, and several rigs were parked around back.

Large windows provided a view of the highway.

The stink of fried onions and despair hung heavy in the air.

It’d been forty-five minutes. No James.

The bathroom door creaked open, and Ellie emerged before rejoining Daniel at their table.

She'd positioned her chair right next to his, giving her a view of the diner’s exits and entrances.

The scent of her shampoo teased his nostrils.

She smelled like wildflowers and honey, reminding him of summers on the ranch.

A silent battle warred within him, the desire to lean closer fighting with the urge to put space between them.

The smartest move would be to hightail it out of here.

If Daniel didn't think he'd have to throw Ellie over his shoulder to do it, he would've already left.

Nothing about this felt right.

Ellie picked up her fork and prodded the sad slice of cherry cobbler on her plate. Her vanilla ice cream had melted into a pale puddle. She leaned closer to Daniel. “If I eat this, do you think I’ll get food poisoning?”

He smothered a laugh. “Several of the truckers at the bar are scarfing it down, so I’m sure it’s safe.”

“They have stomachs of steel. A couple of them are drinking the coffee, and I’m pretty sure it’s sludge.” She eyed her own mug before daring to pick it up and sip. Ellie winced. “Tastes like mud.”

“Don’t be such a wuss. It can’t be that bad.” Daniel took the mug from her and drank. The liquid was gritty, and thick enough to chew. He nearly gagged. “Okay, never mind. You’re right.”

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Never bet against me, Perez. You’ll lose every time.”

Daniel was momentarily mesmerized by her teasing smile. Then he forced himself to look away and scan the diner. A flicker of hurt flashed across Ellie’s face, and guilt stabbed him before he shoved it away. He needed to stay sharp. Even simple banter with Ellie was distracting.

A tired-looking couple entered and took a booth near the window. Still no sign of James.

“I don’t think your boss is coming.” Daniel took a long sip of his water to wash away the bitter taste of the coffee.

Ellie’s mouth flattened. “He’ll show.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I trust him. Like you trust Cole.”

A minute later, a sedan pulled into the lot.

James stepped out, surveying the area before heading toward the diner.

Despite the warm evening, he wore a windbreaker, probably to conceal a handgun, and a ball cap pulled low.

The former FBI Special Agent in Charge was pushing seventy, but he carried himself like a lawman with even strides and a steely-eyed stare.

He greeted Daniel with a nod before offering Ellie a tight smile. “Sorry I’m late. Getting away from my son’s birthday party wasn’t easy, and I had to make sure I wasn’t followed here.”

Ellie leaned forward. “Who’s watching you?”

“I’m not sure.” James dropped his keys on the table and angled his chair toward the front entrance. His hand landed briefly on Ellie’s arm, his expression softening with something close to fatherly affection. “I suppose your sudden appearance means something’s gone wrong.”

“Very wrong.” Ellie gave him a quick rundown of everything, starting with the attack in the church parking lot and ending with their theory about Tobias.

James listened without interrupting. His face was unreadable, but the lines around his mouth deepened when Ellie got to the part about her emergency call to the FBI. There wasn’t a flicker of surprise in his expression.

Daniel clenched his jaw. Had James known about the mole and left Ellie to fend for herself? He wanted to ask, but training and instinct held him back. The last thing they needed was to alienate the one man with answers.

When Ellie finished, James lifted his cap and dragged a hand through his hair.

His attention locked on Daniel. Measuring him up.

It reminded Daniel of the first time he’d met Ellie, and the way she’d done the same.

Clearly, James had mentored her. “Ranger Perez, you and I never had the pleasure of working together.”

“No, sir. But your reputation at the Bureau precedes you.”

A waitress approached, depositing a fresh ice water on the table for James.

He ordered the coffee and cherry cobbler.

Daniel had the sense he was gathering his thoughts.

But why was he stalling? Something about the man seemed off, although he couldn’t put his finger on what.

James seemed… tense. Jumpy, even. It was subtle, barely an impression, but it lingered like the stink of the onions in the air.

“James,” Ellie directed the conversation back to her. “Tobias is searching for the evidence Lena stole. I need to know what was collected from the warehouse where she was killed. It’s possible whatever they’re looking for is sitting in an evidence locker.”

“It’s not.” His mouth puckered around the straw, and he took a long drink.

His gaze roamed the restaurant and parking lot before returning to her.

“I had every item collected from the warehouse analyzed. It took over a year, and I had to fight for the funding, but I wasn’t going to miss the chance to take down the Iron Fist.”

Daniel felt his anger fade. Maybe he was misreading James's nerves as malicious when it was just worry.

Ellie slumped in her seat. “I don’t understand. Why does Tobias think I have anything?”

“Because about a month after you were declared dead, a letter arrived for you at the office.” James pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen, bringing up an image. The handwriting was feminine and hurried.

Elizabeth,

I know you must’ve been angry when I didn’t show at the warehouse, but the risk was too great.

Gideon has grown suspicious, and I don’t want to lead him to you.

By now, you should’ve found the flash drive.

It has everything you need to take him down.

I made sure of it. Unlocking it won’t be easy, but you’re smart enough to find the answer.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. Too many. I pray this sets some of them right.

You were a true friend to me. One of the only two I’ve ever had. I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. Trusting the FBI with my life wasn’t a risk I was willing to take. It’ll be better—and safer—on my own.

Stay safe,

Lena

Ellie’s eyes filmed with unshed tears, but her voice didn’t waver. “I don’t understand. Lena was killed in the warehouse. How could she have sent this letter?”

“It was delivered by courier. Lena arranged it before she died. I went through everything in your office, but didn’t find the flash drive she’s referring to.” James studied Ellie’s expression. “I take it you don’t know where it is?”

“No.” Her brow furrowed. “Lena came to the warehouse… she was shot there.”

“Gideon must’ve found out about your meeting somehow and stopped Lena before she could escape. He had her killed at the warehouse, along with you. Two birds. One stone.”

Daniel held up his hand. “Hold on. If this letter arrived at the Bureau, then how did Tobias find out about it?”

James leveled a look in his direction. “Probably for the same reason no one answered Ellie’s emergency call.”

“There’s a mole.”

He gave a sharp nod. “Tobias isn’t the only one who knows the evidence exists.

Gideon does too. Three days after this letter arrived at our office, the Iron Fist upped the price on Elizabeth’s head.

And then yesterday, I got word from an old informant of mine that it’d been raised again. Three million dollars.”

Dear heaven above. Daniel spoke through clenched teeth. “They know she’s alive.”

“They suspect at the very least.” His expression was grim.

“Gideon keeps track of Tobias. I’m sure he knows Tobias is searching for—or has found—Elizabeth.

” James’s attention shifted to Ellie. Her complexion had gone pale and her muscles were stiff, but she was listening and thinking.

He leaned forward. “You need to figure out where the evidence is. Whatever is on that flash drive can take down the entire organization.”

Movement in the parking lot caught Daniel’s attention. A dark-colored SUV drove into the lot. He tensed.

Ellie’s voice cut through the air. “Why didn’t you contact me when you discovered the letter?”

James’s lips pressed together, a flicker of regret in his eyes.

“Because your new identity was buried so deep I couldn’t reach you.

After the letter arrived, I tried everything I could to find you, but I hit a brick wall every time.

The Bureau had sealed off your file and deleted any trace of your name change from the databases.

With a mole in the FBI, I didn’t dare keep digging, since I wasn’t sure who could be trusted.

I was afraid I’d expose you to whoever was leaking information to the Iron Fist.”

Daniel kept his eyes on the SUV. “Do you know who the mole is?”

“I have my suspicions, but no evidence.”

The SUV’s passenger side window began to lower.

Daniel’s heart rate spiked. “Get down!”

He grabbed Ellie and shoved her to the floor just as a hail of bullets shattered the front windows of the diner.