Chapter Two
Despite Olivia’s best efforts, her thoughts drifted from the professional task at hand to the personal mess of her life.
She’d dragged Eli into this mission, which she had a bad feeling about since the briefing.
Then she made the mistake of telling him they needed to talk.
He was the kind of man who appreciated advanced warning.
Needed time to brace himself rather than be blindsided.
But it backfired. Olivia only made it worse, sending him to investigate separately to give herself breathing room.
Once he started giving two-syllable responses—will do, yes ma’am, on it—she’d realized the error, but by then it was too late. The damage was done.
Maybe she’d overstressed the whole talk thing out of fear. Fear their conversation would be a turning point. They’d been stuck in this quasi-romantic on-and-off relationship far too long. The odds were high, very high, it was finally coming to an end.
“How long will this process take?” Donald Dempsey asked, bringing her thoughts back to the present conversation.
They walked down a corridor on the east side of the building.
Olivia put her hand on her purse to keep it from swinging with the weight of her gun inside. “Forty-eight hours.”
Chip Whitney, the billionaire tycoon on the other side of her, scowled. “That’s cutting it close.” The older man wore a bespoke suit of light fabric, perfect for the June weather, and Lucchese cowboy boots, all of which screamed money. “Can’t you speed this up?”
Considering Dempsey had received the threat from the ecoterrorists on Friday, Whitney hired Aegis on Sunday, Olivia had been pulled into a last-minute briefing regarding the situation on Monday, and today was Wednesday, she didn’t see how it would be feasible.
“Possibly thirty-six hours, but my original estimate is more likely.”
Whitney groaned.
Dempsey stopped in front of a room labeled Grand Ballroom. “Hang on, Audrey,” he said to his assistant.
The twenty-something-year-old woman had joined them a few minutes ago and was leading the way to Salon D.
Clutching her thick zippered portfolio to her chest like it was a lifeline, Audrey Carter came over at a clipped pace.
In a pantsuit and wearing comfortable loafers with a radio clipped on her hip, the woman looked bright-eyed and ready to handle anything.
“The gala is going to be held here, Ms. Lane.” Dempsey strolled inside, and they all followed him, except for Whitney’s two bodyguards, who stayed in the corridor. “We’re using salons A through C for the event.”
Gray wainscoting. High ceilings. Massive windows with mountain views. No doubt, good soundproofing. Ideal for a lavish affair. “How many people are you expecting?”
Dempsey stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Two hundred.”
“We’ve got people flying in from all over for this,” Whitney said. “Even the governor is coming. I’d feel better if you wrapped this up in thirty-six hours. Aren’t there two of you?” The silver-haired businessman turned to the manager. “Isn’t that what you told me, Don?”
“That’s my understanding, but I’ve yet to meet her associate.”
Audrey’s gaze bounced between the two men and landed on Olivia. The blonde was quiet. Observant. Taking everything in.
“Lauren told me she was sending one agent,” Whitney said, referring to Olivia’s boss, Lauren Hahn. “Her very best. Not that I’m complaining she sent two.”
Olivia’s one condition for taking the short-notice assignment was bringing in Eli.
Something about the NDR targeting the hotel made Olivia uneasy.
They usually went after the logging industry, car dealerships, and chain stores.
This was a different kind of target and the first time they’d announced their intentions to strike in advance.
Any change in a terrorist group’s modus operandi spelled serious trouble. Combined with the fact there were hundreds of employees to screen, any of whom could be a member of the NDR or a sympathizer, she needed someone she could trust to have her back.
There was only one person. E.
After Sean was killed, she couldn’t stomach partnering up with another agent. He had been more than a colleague who’d recruited her for Aegis. Sean was the big brother she never had. His death weighed on her every day.
Getting Eli wrapped up in this wasn’t an easy choice. She couldn’t bear having Eli’s blood on her hands. To fail him the way she did Sean.
Toothless pandas.
It’ll be fine.
Despite how much she tried reassuring herself, the same
niggling concern flared, making her shoulder blades hitch.
“Shouldn’t it expedite things with two of you?” Dempsey asked.
Olivia flicked a glance at Blondie. “Perhaps we should continue this conversation in private, gentlemen, after I’ve had a chance to speak with some of the staff.”
Dempsey followed Olivia’s gaze to his assistant. “Don’t need to worry about Audrey. She’s fully aware of everything.”
Stiffening, Olivia swallowed a sigh. Civilians. They didn’t understand how crucial operational security was for this kind of mission. Dempsey had compromised it along with her cover. “Ms. Hahn gave strict instructions my company’s involvement was to be kept secret from nonessential personnel.”
“Audrey is essential,” Dempsey said. “Besides, everyone knows we received a suspicious package. The New Dawn Revolution sent their little typed threat to the front desk in a big white box with a big red handprint on it. No keeping that quiet.”
The police ran it for fingerprints and turned up nothing.
Dempsey flushed. “It’s not as if we advertised that an Aegis agent was coming to investigate and find the folks in cahoots with these left-wing radicals.”
That was precisely what he’d done.
Concern wormed into her chest. Drawing in a deep breath against the tightening sensation across her sternum, Olivia strained to keep her composure.
No need to poke any bears, the NDR already knew she was there. She doubted they were going to concede defeat and abort their plans. Why should they? She was the one exposed and vulnerable. “May I be frank?”
“Yes,” Whitney said. “I’d prefer it.”
“I highly recommend you cancel the grand opening,” Olivia said. The one advantage they had and needed was gone.
Whitney stared at her like she’d sprouted a second head. “You can’t be serious.”
“Push it back,” Olivia said. “A month or two. Give us time to properly neutralize the threat.”
Whitney narrowed his eyes. “You’re under contract.”
“You violated the terms of that contract.” She held his irate stare.
“Instead of us canceling, you’re going to do your job,” Whitney said, sticking a plump wrinkled finger in her face. “If that’s not clear, I’m sure Lauren can explain it to you.”
Lauren Hahn always sided with the client. Even when they were wrong. Even when what they wanted crossed the line.
Polygraphing the staff was the best way forward at this point, but she didn’t have the equipment. Since her cover was already toast, she’d have to handle this old school and simply interrogate everyone. “I’ll proceed as planned. But you should know it could take longer.”
“No excuses,” Whitney said. “No delays. Get the job done. In thirty-six hours or less. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting.” The older man stormed off with his bodyguards trailing behind him.
Everything about this was bad.
Part of her, the smart part, wanted to walk away from this assignment. But the other part, the fighter, didn’t quit, no matter what the challenge.
“Mr. Dempsey, I can take care of everything from here if you want to go after Mr. Whitney.” Audrey gave him a sympathetic look. “Calm him down before the reception on the veranda.”
Uncertainty passed across his face like a shadow.
“If you hurry, you can catch him,” Audrey said. “I’ll see to Ms. Lane.”
Dempsey shook his head. “He’s got a meeting. I’ll speak to him during the reception.”
Biting her bottom lip, Audrey stared at her boss like she wanted to fix things but didn’t have a solution. “Ms. Lane, the room you’ll be working out of is down the hall.” She led them into Ballroom Salon D.
It was tiny compared with the one next door. Not that Olivia needed a lot of space, but there were no windows. There was a connecting door in one of the panels of the movable wall to the adjoining ballroom. Once she started to get claustrophobic, maybe she’d open it to let in natural light.
A table was set deep inside the room, with bottles of water, notepads, pens, sharpies, highlighters, and four chairs, two on either side.
“Is this suitable?” Audrey asked.
Olivia considered it as the nape of her neck prickled. “This room is far from everything else in the hotel.” Situated in the isolated east wing. “Wouldn’t one centrally located be more convenient for the rest of the staff?”
“A central location would put you on display and make it easier for others to overhear the interviews,” Audrey said. “I was told you wanted privacy.”
Olivia couldn’t argue with the logic, even though she disliked the location. “I do.”
“Also, the restroom is just over there.” Audrey pointed to the sign opposite the double doors. “If you need fresh air or want to stretch your legs outside, there’s an exit at the end of the hall, saving you the hassle of backtracking through the whole hotel.”
Something about the efficiency of it bothered Olivia. Normally, she appreciated such thoroughness, but she found herself stiffening against the whisper of unease trickling down her spine. “You’ve thought of everything.”
Dempsey nodded. “Audrey is great.”
The assistant gave a smug smile. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable. I’ve arranged for the staff to start coming by any second now.”
“While we wait, I can start with you,” Olivia said.
“You plan to question Audrey?” Dempsey asked. “But there’s no need.”
“I plan to question everyone.” Olivia went to the table and pulled out a chair. “If you prefer, I can begin with you, Mr. Dempsey.”
“No,” Audrey said, her voice sharpening. “He’s very busy. There’s so much for him to do with the investors here.”