Page 105 of Storm Warning

Rayne rubbed her hands. “Outstanding. I’ve got dibs on the paper detail.”

Andre booted up his laptop and checked the files Riley had uploaded. He scanned the list and zeroed in on one name. “I want Nathan Berkley.”

Seth turned to stare at him. “You sure you want to do that to yourself?”

“He’s mine. I want to know everything there is to know about a man who supposedly cared for a young woman straight out of college but threw her to the wolves on her first mission.”

“Can you be neutral? If you can’t, let someone else take that one. We need accuracy, not prejudiced opinions that give us a false picture.”

“Ouch. Tell me how you really feel.”

“Can you be neutral?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And if you couldn’t, you’d still investigate him anyway, right?”

He gave a faint smile. “Something like that.”

“Take Berkley, but don’t waste your time or mine, Marsh. If you do, you’ll pay a price during our next training session.”

Oh, man. Andre swallowed hard. His team leader wasn’t kidding. He shuddered just imagining the horrors Seth could invent.

He snorted. Seth didn’t have to be creative. All he needed to do was tack on a few extra miles to the team run. Not only would he pay, but so would his teammates, and they wouldn’t suffer in silence. “Yes, sir. I won’t let you down, Seth.”

“See that you don’t.”

His stomach knotted. Yep, his team leader wasn’t messing around. He meant every word and threat. Still, Andre got what he wanted, a thorough analysis of Nathan Berkley. Because he was with the CIA, Andre didn’t doubt that the information he had at his fingertips was obtained through not-so-legal means.

He didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was finding every scrap of information so he could protect Riley. If her former handler was to blame for her current troubles, he’d have a heart-to-heart talk with the agent, and explain that if this happened again, he would have a very private visit from Andre and his friends.

Riley looked up. “I’m ready.”

Both team’s members stared at her. Andre shook his head. “I haven’t started reading your original report yet. You’re already finished?”

“It helps that I knew where to look.”

Right. But through how many layers of security did she wiggle to get that information? Nope. His woman understated things. Riley was just that good.

Andre opened the file on Berkley and settled deeper into the couch cushions to read. An hour later, he resurfaced, blinked, and glanced around the living room. All of his teammates were deep in their own research.

As Andre watched, one by one his friends finished their reading and set aside their computers.

Elias rubbed his jaw. “Coffee. I need coffee. I’d even take the swill Grant makes right now to clear the fog from my brain.”

“Hey.” Grant scowled. “I may not cook, but I can make a mean pot of coffee.”

“Mean is right.” Noah glared at Grant. “Your nasty brew could dissolve my stomach on contact.”

Andre walked to the small kitchen and pulled out the things he needed to make non-lethal coffee for himself and the others. Might set himself up for team criticism, but he needed caffeine in the worst way right now. A few minutes later, he poured the first mug for himself and a second one for Riley. The rest of their teammates were on their own.

When he offered the drink to her, she mumbled something unintelligible and returned to her work, typing one-handed. He couldn’t help smiling as he returned to the couch to sip his drink.

After finishing half of the excellent coffee in his cup, he picked up a marker and wrote on a sheet of paper Rayne had pressed to the wall. By the time he finished, Riley’s research filled three sheets of paper.

Seth and Teagan were the last ones to finish reading their summaries. Seth faced the others. “Let’s talk. Who wants to explain their notes first?”

“I do.” Andre walked to the wall with his sheets of paper and pointed to the first one with Berkley’s name written at the top. “Nathan Berkley has been with the CIA for fifteen years. During his first years, he worked in the field as an agent. After he was injured on a mission, his handler brought him into the office, where Berkley showed even more skill as a handler. He was reassigned to the home office. Not long after he shifted to this role, he met Riley.”