Chapter 14 #3
The man’s eyes widened slightly at Liam’s revealing words. A beat later, Keith rushed to slam the door in their faces, but Jagger’s booted toe was faster.
“Don’t worry, Keith,” Jagger drawled as if he had all the time in the world. “We didn’t come here to hurt you.”
“I don’t give a shit why you’re here. I just want you to leave.”
“And we will,” he promised. “Just as soon as you answer a few questions.”
The man’s angry face reappeared in the doorway. “I’ve just spent two fucking days answering questions for those fuckers,” he spat back in return.
Jagger’s hands curled at his sides, and he had to remind himself what a pain in the ass it was to clean blood from the kind of carpet Keith was currently standing on. But just because he couldn’t shoot the guy dead, that didn’t mean he had to play nice.
He shoved the door open so hard Talia’s former co-worker stumbled backward and nearly fell. For a guy who used to be CIA, he’d sure let his training fall to the wayside.
“What the hell, man?” Keith righted himself. “I said get the fuck out!”
“And I said I had some questions.” Jagger approached.
Liam kicked the door shut behind, standing beside Jagger with his arms crossed at his chest.
“Fine.” The man they’d come to see threw his hands out to his sides before letting them fall straight down. “What is it you want to know?”
“Why have you been stalking Talia?”
He just put it right out there, needing to gauge Keith’s initial response.
“Stalking?” A deep frown that held a thick layer of confusion fell over Keith’s face. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Playing dumb, I see.” Jagger shrugged. “I suppose that’s one way to go.”
“It’s not a ‘way’, asshole. It’s the fucking truth. I don’t know where you got your intel, but I haven’t been stalking Natalia or anyone else.”
“Tell me about the picture,” he demanded.
There was a quick shake of Keith’s head. “What picture?” His gaze slid back and forth between Jagger and a silent, stoic Liam.
“The picture you left in her room back in Chicago,” Jagger explained, already knowing he’d denied being anywhere near Talia’s hotel.
He needed to see the man’s response to the allegation one more time. To be sure he wasn’t lying, and that he truly wasn’t the person responsible.
After a pause, the other man looked at him and asked, “You talkin’ about the one she showed me during that ridiculous interrogation?
” When Jagger nodded, Keith said, “I’ll tell you the same damn thing I told her.
I was never in her hotel room, I didn’t leave the fucking picture, and I have no idea who did.
Hell, I never even knew she was in Chicago the same time as me until she told me. ”
It was the exact same story he’d given Talia that day at Homeland.
“And the obit that was left on her car?” he asked. “I suppose you know nothing about that, either.”
Jagger watched the man closely as Keith denied that one, too. Using his own training and skills, he attempted to pick up on even the slightest sign of deceit. The only problem was, there weren’t any signs the man was lying.
From what Jagger could tell, Keith Sinclair appeared to be telling him the truth. About the picture, anyway. As for the recent attempt on Talia’s life—
“What about the bomb?” Liam chimed in right on cue.
Keith didn’t hesitate to ask, “What bomb?”
“Someone blew up Talia’s car two days ago,” Jagger growled.
The former CIA operative appeared genuinely shocked by the news. “What?” He frowned. “Is Natalia…” His throat worked. “I-is she okay?”
“No thanks to you.”
Keith’s angry glare immediately spun Liam’s way. “Good luck trying to pin that shit on me, asshole. I was locked up two days ago, remember?”
“Doesn’t mean you didn’t have someone do your dirty work for you.”
Those pissed-off eyes swung back to Jagger’s. “Why the hell would I risk what’s left of my future trying to kill a woman I don’t give two shits about?”
“You tell us,” Liam ordered with a shrug. “Go ahead. We’re all ears.”
“I’m going to say this one last time, so I hope you’re both listening closely. I’m not your stalker, I didn’t attempt to kill Natalia, or anyone else for that matter, and I have no idea who did.”
“For your sake, I hope you’re telling the truth.”
“I am,” Keith seethed. “Now get the fuck out of my home.”
Jagger and Liam shared a look before Liam turned and opened the door. Jagger started that way, but stopped just this side of the threshold, deciding to leave Keith with a few parting words.
“I find out you had anything to do with the attempt on Talia’s life, I’ll be back.”
“Make all the threats you want.” Keith held his ground without waiver. “I may not be Natalia’s biggest fan, but I’m telling you, I’m not your guy.”
He shot the other man a smirk that held the promise of vengeance to come. “That’s good news for you, then, because I will find the person who tried taking her away from me. And when I do, his death will be anything but painless or quick.”
Jagger walked out of Keith’s apartment feeling both better and worse. Better because his gut said Talia’s former colleague wasn’t their guy. And worse because—
“I know what you’re thinking.” Liam pulled his keys from his pocket as they made their way back to the car.
“What’s that?”
“You don’t think Sinclair’s our guy.”
Rather than answer the man’s question, he asked one of his own. “Do you?”
Liam glanced over at him with a slow shake of his head. “Gut feeling? No. I think he was telling us the truth. Of course, he used to be a government trained spy, so I’m sure he’s also well-versed in the art of deception.”
“I’m sure he is, but I’m with you,” Jagger agreed. “I don’t think he’s the one who’s been messing with Talia.”
“Which sucks because if it’s not him, that means we’re back to square one.”
And there it was. The reason for Jagger’s internal conflict. If Keith wasn’t the person to place that bomb on Talia’s car, the person was still out there.
They could try again. Attempt to kill her anywhere. Anytime. And until Jagger figured out who the hell they were, the woman he was pretty sure he loved was in constant danger of losing her life.