Page 115 of Storm Warning

“Beyond the garden, in the treeline. He’s moved twice in the last five minutes. He’s looking for a better view of the suite.”

Elias scowled. “He knows where we are. How?”

“That’s what I don’t understand.”

“Riley’s identification may be compromised.”

“She can have Zane create a new identity for her. I’ll talk to him after we return with the peeper.”

Good way to think of him. Andre brushed a kiss over Riley’s mouth. “We’ll be back soon. We might need a setup for interrogation.”

“He can’t scream the place down. Someone will call security.”

“We’ll figure something out.” He followed Elias from the suite and down the stairwell.

Soon, the two men exited the hotel at the other end so the peeper wouldn’t know they were coming for him. Let the man think they were unaware of his presence. They’d be poor operatives if that were the case.

Together, they entered the treeline and merged with the shadows of the tall cedars and maples. Stealthily, they moved closer to their quarry. Signaling Elias to take the right and circle to the perp’s far side, Andre split off from his teammate and palmed his weapon.

He placed his feet, careful to avoid leaving footprints or stepping on a fallen branch or twig and giving away his position. He might not have much respect for anyone who stalked an innocent woman, but from his movements, this guy had training. If he’d learned only half of what was taught, the stalker would be dangerous.

A brush of fabric made Andre freeze in his tracks. The sound came from in front of him and to his left. He adjusted his course to intercept the man who had made that sound. By normal standards, the sound wasn’t loud and was what he’d expect from an agent who hadn’t been in the field for a while. Was the stalker Berkley or someone else?

He prayed the unwanted visitor wasn’t Brown or Ludlow. The thought that one of those men knew about Riley and would hurt her to smoke him out made Andre want to hurl.

He scanned the stand of trees in front of him as a shadow shifted, then he heard a sigh. Andre smiled.Gotcha. As he closed in on the target, he caught another movement a few feet beyond. Elias.

Andre tapped his earpiece in a specific rhythm to tell Elias when to make his move. He’d love for the perp to bolt. Andre relished a fast chase this morning to work off his frustration over their lack of progress.

He was in position ten seconds later. The target was dressed in black, with a watch cap on his head. No visible weapon. Yet.

Elias made his move, and the target’s head whipped in that direction. Instead of confronting Elias, the man spun in the opposite direction and ran.

Andre shifted into his path, weapon drawn, and waited.

The man skidded to a stop and slowly raised his hands.

When Andre walked toward him with his weapon fixed on his target, he moved close enough to recognize the man who had shown up for an unknown reason. “So, we finally meet, Nathan Berkley.”

“Who are you?”

“Your worst nightmare. We need to talk.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

RILEY WATCHED THEarea Andre had been so interested in for movement. Nothing and more nothing. She should have insisted on going with the two men. She was just as trained as they were.

But, she reminded herself, this hunt for the intruder wasn’t about training. This hunt was about catching him and bringing him in for questioning. Andre’s capturing the unknown quarry would begin the mental process of setting him up as the lead interrogator. The effect wouldn’t be the same if she joined the hunting party.

The bedroom door opened, and Iona stepped out. Her team leader frowned as she scanned the living room and the balcony.

“Where are Elias and Andre?”

“Chasing a shadow.”

“I see. First question. Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I can handle worrying by myself.”