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REN

Princeton, New Jersey

A fter checking the drone research lab and finding one drone prototype missing, Ren drummed the dashboard anxiously as Steady parked the rented minivan on Milton Abernathy’s street and cut the engine.

“I don’t know why minivans get such a bad rap. This thing is like a living room on wheels. I might buy one.” He cleared his throat. “It’s a good family car.”

“Something you’re not telling me?” Ren asked.

His friend actually blushed. “Might need a more practical car in the near future.”

“Congratulations, man.”

“Very’s superstitious. She doesn’t want to say anything until she’s further along. I gotta tell you, it’s been hell keepin’ it inside.”

“Mum’s the word.”

“Thanks.”

Ren slapped Steady on the back and opened the car door. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

“No problem. I’m going to check in with Very. Then I’ll watch a movie or take a nap. Hell, this car has everything.”

Ren shook his head and walked to Milton Abernathy’s front door. He lifted the ceramic frog from the stoop and retrieved the key.

Remembering Milton’s words, the best security is false assumption.

The best hiding place is in plain sight.

Ren walked to the small workroom at the back of the house.

There, among the model airplanes and Lego structures Milton built with his grandson, the drone sat inconspicuously on a stand between the Millennium Falcon and the Starship Enterprise.

He crossed the room and picked up the prototype.

“Hello, Pluto.”

Ren stilled at the sound of a voice behind him.

“You’re like herpes, Dr. Jameson. You just keep coming back.”

The pleasure drained from Ren’s body as he turned to find the man who had stalked Stella across the globe. “So you’re The Priest.”

If the assassin was surprised Ren knew his moniker, he didn’t show it. So, Ren continued. “Where’s Stella?”

“Her handler wanted a word.”

Ren nodded, pretending he knew more than he did. “At the black site in Roanoke.”

That bit of information did get a quickly masked reaction. The assassin chuckled. “And you thought the Cliff Road was treacherous. It doesn’t matter. I won’t be going there again, and neither will you. Anything you’d like to confess? I am a priest.”

When Ren didn’t respond, The Priest lifted the weapon, and Ren heard the gunshot.