Cyber Seduction: Across A Crowded Room (IATO Series Book 3) (6 page)

She would play him. It was her job. But she didn’t feel good about it. She was going to have to be very careful for herself, for Jason, and, with a gnawing concern growing deep within her, for Mosel too. A heart was a terrible thing to have broken. She knew that firsthand.

She wondered, remembering his prophetic words in the note.

Maybe all this would be clearer in the morning. She was exhausted. And where was Tom? She missed the scruffy cat while she was gone. The lady who lived a flight below her usually took care of him when she was out of town. Emily went to the door and called. When he didn’t come, she murmured, “Damn independent cat. He’ll show up when he’s good and ready.”

She went to the window by the fire escape, the one where he usually appeared. There was a man across the street who seemed to be interested in her window. Why? Her concern grew. First, getting drugged before the debriefing, and now this. She wasn’t sure if this was a threat, or where a threat would be coming from.

She went back to the foyer and took her gun out of her handbag. She stuck it in her belt, feeling more in control. It was then she heard Tom at the door. Good, it would be nice to have company while she returned the other phone calls. The first call would be to Cade. He’d know what to do about the guy outside. She knew he was in Boston and could have her apartment under surveillance within minutes of her call.

She thought back to her arrival and the debriefing. Franklin was openly friendly. She hadn’t detected any change in his attitude toward her.

So why this? Who was out there?

She thought about Franklin.

When she arrived, he had wrapped a fatherly arm over her shoulder and congratulated her on her mission, giving her an affectionate squeeze to emphasize his words. She couldn’t help but smile since she’d always liked Franklin. She was also relieved that her mission was successful and the nanochips were successfully switched, the technology safe again. World power was balanced again, for the time being, anyway.

So far, according to Franklin, the switch had gone undetected. That was good, not only for her but for Jason as well. The longer it took to determine the switch, the harder it would be to figure out exactly when the switch took place, thus protecting them both from suspicion. His cover would remain intact, allowing him to resume his work in Europe, later. That was essential to the agency, but tough on her.

She was doubly relieved to be out of there. The adrenaline rush of fieldwork was fantastic, but without more practice, she was out of her league. All of this intrigue still felt very foreign to her.

Little did Franklin know what she and Jason were planning. Over the years, Franklin had been one of her father’s oldest friends. They even worked together as partners years earlier, and then together again for a while shortly before the incident. She wished she didn’t carry this feeling of dread and the underlying distrust that suspicion built within her. She wanted to trust him, confide in him.

Franklin made sure her training position was kept open at Quantico while she settled her father’s affairs. He was also her main support after the bombing. She choked up just thinking back on that time. That time when Jason walked out on her. At a time she needed him most.

After graduation, there was still unfinished personal business at home, and Franklin readjusted her training schedule to accommodate her special needs. Since she joined the agency, he was always there for her professionally and she always considered him a friend.

Now she worried. It wasn’t like her. She hated not trusting anyone, especially someone who had been her friend, someone as close as Franklin was. She felt disloyal not being able to confide in him about where their investigation was heading.

By the end of the week, she’d be back in Eatons Landing. Maybe once there, she’d be able to sort through her emotions. She had to put some distance between the job and her feelings.

Before getting ready for bed, she put the wine glass in the sink and took her phone with her into her bedroom to finish her calls. Tom jumped up on her bed to make himself at home as she put her gun on the night table with the safety off.

No need to waste valuable time with a safety if someone makes the mistake of coming in here uninvited.

Chapter Four

When Emily walked into her kitchen the next morning, Cade was already sitting at the table with two cups of French cappuccino in front of him. Tom sprawled on his lap, purring so loudly she could hear him across the room. The wine glass from the night before rested upside down in the rack.

She sat down across from him and took a sip from the cappuccino he’d brought for her.

“Thanks.” She lifted her cup in salute. “And for last night, too. I don’t think I could have slept if you hadn’t come by.”

After she placed the nervous call to him, she couldn’t keep him away. Cade came over, made a few calls for himself, and spent the night stretched precariously out on the old couch. He claimed it was broken in and comfortable with the ugly overstuffed green pillows, despite the fact that most of him dangled off its edges.

“I appreciate the sacrifice. That couch is too soft.”

He smiled his charismatic smile, the one that brought women of all ages to their knees.

“What’s a big brother for?” He jerked his head to the window. “He was from the agency, by the way.”

The sarcasm in his voice didn’t elude her. “They forgot to tell you they were sending him by. They wanted to watch over you; make sure no one followed you because of the chip switch. There’s no evidence to date that it’s been discovered yet, but they said it was routine, a precaution.” His disdain dripped from his words.

He didn’t seem all that confident they were giving him the straight story. “My take is they’re keeping an eye on you. Got any idea why?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. Someone at that agency isn’t on our side. I don’t know who, but Jason and I plan to find out.”

Cade had a way of putting a body at ease. He had an easy, carefree air about him that communicated relaxed efficiency. But she knew he was on top of the situation, and before long, he would have a confirmation report detailing who ordered the guy outside. “Yup, I got that.”

She slumped in her chair. “Well, thanks again. I was too tired to deal with much last night. I can’t wait to get out to the farm.” She rubbed her hand over the back of her neck.

He got up and went to the cabinet where she kept her aspirin. He tossed the bottle to her. “What time’s your flight? I’ll give you a lift.”

“Mine’s at noon, what about yours? I thought you were going, too.”

He winked. “I am, but no one’s supposed to ever know where I am or what my plans are.”

Emily rolled her eyes at him. “Okay, spook, don’t tell me, just show up. And I’ll take that lift.”

She looked at the window. “I’m going home to surround myself with people I trust for a while.”

Cade was silent. “Are you thinking of my favorite small Maryland town? The one we call home?

“Yes, what really relaxes me is the old farmland off the creeks. My family farmed there for generations.”

“It’s beautiful any time of the year, but my favorite season was always in the late spring. We got out of school to spend a long weekend there with you guys. It was great.”

“We loved it when you all came to visit.”

“Oh, we liked it any time you invited us.”

“When I was younger, I loved it when my father escaped work in Washington and we stole away for quiet times with Kate and Jorge on the sailboat. Occasionally you’d all come to visit. It was never quiet with you guys around.” She smiled.

“You were all so full of everything, just everything. I didn’t want peaceful or quiet when I could have the life you all brought with you.” She frowned.

“Then there were the times Jason would join us. Those times, they were the very best.”

She looked forward to the occasions she spent with her three favorite men—her father, Jason, and Harrison.

“Usually it was just Kate, Jorge, and me causing trouble around there. But I loved having you guys join us. The adventures were always greater when we added you into the mix.”

Emily looked sideways, smiling at Cade. It reminded her how much Kate brightened up when they were around.

He flashed his model smile. “We loved it, too, what a great place. It was a time we could be open and free. Every kid should have a place like that. It chased away the nightmares.”

Emily didn’t miss a thing Cade said to her, and she decided not to comment on the thread their conversation took. Something familiar clouded his expression when he mentioned the past. His dark expression forced her to skirt the subject.

She left the bad memories and pressed on with the good ones. “Having town within walking or bike riding distance from the farm was great.”

Cade said, “We could ride a bike or take a boat anywhere we wanted to go.”

“We could skinny-dip in the creek when it got too hot to breathe.”

“Yes, but you stopped that just when it would have been interesting.”

Emily laughed at his complaint.

“Nothing was beyond us. Playing pirate in the cove, battling imaginary invaders. It was great, just great.” He sighed.

“Jorge always seemed so relieved when you guys came. He got a chance to hang with real men. I knew he was relieved to get a break from us girls, even if most of the stuff we did wasn’t girly stuff.”

“Emily, the poor guy needed us for a change of pace.”

“Usually summers together were bike rides and sailing the little sloops through long adventurous days. It wasn’t bad. He just occasionally needed a guy talk.”

“The original three musketeers from Crab Creek had to add a few openings when we came down to the Bay,” Cade said.

“Jorge looked forward to moving back into DC with his father when he was older. I think he missed you guys.”

“I can understand why! Man, he was trapped out here with the two of you for so long, I was afraid about how he was going to turn out,” Cade said.

She slung a napkin at him. “We were good company. So good I might remind you that when I went to New York he let me move in with him.”

“He wanted to get into your pants by then.”

Emily gasped. “Cade, that’s so not true!”

Cade laughed. “No, you’re right. You were more like a sister to him.”

When Emily got accepted to Columbia, Jorge had already been there a year. She reminded Cade, “Kate was determined to go to New York when I left for school. There was no way she was getting left out of any adventures Jorge and I cooked up in the Big Apple.”

“That’s true.” Cade raised a brow. “But his ulterior motive for hanging around was Kate.” Emily looked surprised at his insight.

He furrowed his forehead, not sounding entirely approving. “Do I look stupid?” Cade asked.

Emily cocked her head to the side as if asking him if he really wanted her to answer that.

“Hey, watch it. I don’t need any smarting off from you.”

Emily said, “Jorge and I’ve been good friends. But you’re right, there is something going on between those two. I can’t believe it took me so long to notice.”

When Emily graduated and moved to Boston, Jorge stayed on working toward his master’s at Columbia. He remained to attend graduate school. Eventually Kate finished design school and got a job with a major design house. Jorge and Kate still lived together in the old Brownstone.

“Spies are really bad observers when it comes to family and friends.” Cade mentioned this offhandedly with a look that reminded her of their own experiences hiding things from her father and Harrison.

“Thank goodness,” she laughed. “We’d have been in deep doo-doo all the time if they were as good with us as they were with their jobs.”

By the time they reached their teens, Jason had already graduated from Annapolis. But that didn’t stop her plans for him.

Cade looked at his watch. “You better get ready if you’re going to catch that flight. Go ahead, I’ll take the cat to that neighbor and let her know you’re going to be gone again for awhile.”

“Come on, boy.” Cade scuffed Tom’s head. “Let’s see you settled, so Emily can go straighten out her life.”

Emily just snorted.
Not very likely. At least not soon.
She couldn’t see where her life was headed. It was probably best to just circle for a while.

Chapter Five

“Emily! Hi! Over here.” The familiar sound of Andrea’s voice carried through the baggage claim area.

Emily turned in time to see a mother’s dilemma. She shouldn’t laugh, but couldn’t stop herself when she saw Andrea’s predicament.

Andrea waved one hand wildly in the air to get her attention, one blonde, curly-headed girl tugged at her coat and another tiny one wrapped tightly around her mother’s neck. Emily waved back with a big smile, acknowledging them as she picked her luggage off the belt. “I’ll be right there. I can handle this. You look like you have your hands full.”

The three-year-old stopped tugging on her mother and started bouncing up and down when she spotted Emily.

“Aunt Emiwy, did you bwing us a pwince?” she asked. Her baby sister’s eyes danced with delight and expectation as the toddler poked Emily. The little one’s eyes grew rounder as she looked around, as if looking for Prince Charming to pop out of the luggage belt.

Emily gave Andrea a questioning look. Andrea shrugged. “It’s Rosa, putting thoughts in their heads! She’s sure that Monte Carlo is full of princes, and she may have said something about Cinderella and a castle and Grace Kelly. It all got jumbled up in the translation. These two are sure you brought a prince home with you.”

She looked at the carry-on bag, thinking she could help. “Got that? Okay.”

Then she looked at the expression on Emily’s face. “Uh-oh. Oh, no, did you? Bring home a prince?” And she started to look around, as if Emily may have a prince stowed somewhere waiting.

Emily laughed, and for the first time in a long time, relaxed. Andrea may have been a retired agent, but she was the best interrogator in the lot. Nothing got past her. A secret quirk to her lips and a quick lift of her brows let Andrea know there was a great deal more to her adventure than a temporary assignment in Monte Carlo for a computer company.

After years living with Harrison, Andrea usually knew better than to ask. Her clearance was high, but one agent never asked another. Instead, she’d wait for just the right moment and let the parts Emily could tell sprinkle out, until the whole picture could be arranged like a puzzle.

“Interesting.”

“No, sorry, I couldn’t fit him in my bag, Kayla. But I did bring pictures of the castle.”

The little girl whooped in excitement at that and the baby joined in, delighted with her sister’s glee.

“Cwown?” the littlest asked and pointed to her head. Andrea stared in disbelief.

“Oh, great, now I have to provide the tiara. The child is eighteen months old, and one of her first clear words is ‘crown.’ We are in such big trouble. Harrison doesn’t know the half of it.”

Emily laughed. “You can never be too young to start expecting to be treated like a princess.”

A lesson well-learned, thanks to Jo. “Every little girl should always feel like royalty.”

“What have you done with our old Emily? She was slightly insecure when she left and not very adventurous. Did you leave her somewhere?” Andrea teased, but Emily could see she approved. She was pleased with the change the field experience produced.

“I hope so,” Emily confessed. “It feels so good to be this new person. I’m not afraid. I have confidence. I can do anything! Okay, maybe not quite anything. I haven’t turned into Super Woman like you yet.”

But Emily did feel better about herself. It felt good to be doing something positive toward exposing her father’s killer.

“How’s the house coming?” The James were building their own home on the property adjacent to the farm. After spending the last three years out there, they fell in love with the area and decided to stay. Although Emily told them they could stay on in the main house at the farm, they insisted they wanted something of their own.

She thought maybe she might stay out there a bit more. She might like to spend some time in her old home with Kate when they could get together.

“Wait until you see how much is done. You’ll be so surprised.”

Emily took the little one out of her mother’s arms, kissed her loudly, and bent down to Kayla and puckered up for a kiss.

“Super Mom, get the bags and let me take these two princesses off your hands,” Emily said.

“How did I go from Super Woman to Super Mom?”

“Need you ask?” Emily retorted, gazing at the two beautiful children. She smiled widely at Andrea. “It is a step up, you know?”

“Is it?” she asked with an arched brow. Andrea loved being a mother after waiting so long, but Emily knew she missed the action of the agency. “Let’s go home. Everyone’s waiting for you. All the boys came out to see you.”

“It will be good to be home.” Kate and Jorge should be back by now. Rosa was waiting, and Harrison would have arrived back two days ago, according to Jo.

Andrea threw the suitcases in the trunk, then scooped Kayla away from Emily and deposited her in one of two car seats in the back. After depositing a kiss to the top of her head, she held out her hands for the other child, efficiently repeating the entire procedure.

“Is Harrison home, too?”

“Yes, hop in. We’ll talk on the way home.” And the women climbed into the Escalade.

“Nice minivan,” Emily ribbed.

“Don’t you dare call my vehicle,” she whispered, “a minivan!”

Emily laughed, and Andrea smiled, looking in her rearview mirror to see how the two girls were faring in the back. “They’ve fallen asleep already. They were so hyped on this trip to the airport I thought this might happen.”

She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no little ears were listening, then asked conspiratorially. “Okay, spit it out—how was it?”