Page 44 of The Fixer and the Fugitive

“She made it,” Leo said and there was no mistaking the beaming pride in his tone, or in his expression as he smiled down at Esther.

“If it’s too weird, we don’t have to eat it,” Esther said. Celeste realized she was still staring at her in openmouthed astonishment.

“It’s fantastic,” she said at last. She had never personally known anyone who could make things. To her baking was like something from Harry Potter, pure fantasy.

“It’s science,” Esther said, placidly unaware of Celeste’s awe. “I can show you how, if you want.”

Sam poked her, nodding. Celeste smiled up at him. “I like her very much,” she declared.

“I know, right?” he agreed and the four of them went inside.

Chapter 22

Leo stood in the center of the room, swiveling his head in a slow inspection. “Wow, Celeste. This is so nice.”

“Thank you,” Celeste said, trying to relax. Leo was a friend. There was no reason to believe he was judging her. And she thought Esther’s deadpan expression had more to do with Esther than distaste over Celeste’s lack of decorating finesse. Sam sat on the couch, arms crossed. Esther and Leo remained standing, as if they were waiting for something. At last Celeste realized it was her. “Sit?” She waited until they chose their chairs and sat beside Sam who scooted closer. He seemed antsy, more so than he had been, and she thought maybe he was still uncertain if they viewed him as the enemy, even after Esther’s affirming statement.

“Could we maybe get this over with?” he asked.

“Is that okay with you, Leo?” Celeste added. She didn’t want him to think she was a challenge to his authority or his case. That might make him defensive, which could make things worse for Sam.

“You think I’m the one in charge?” Leo said with a chuckle. “Nah. Esther’s the lead investigator on this case.”

Esther gave a tentative half smile when everyone turned to survey her. Celeste wondered what her background was. It must have been impressive if she usurped Leo, who had been a lieutenant in the marines and sidecar to military intelligence for as long as she could remember. It surprised her further that an alpha male like Leo not only willingly handed the reins to Esther but had also clearly fallen for her.Wonders never cease,she thought with a little bit of hope. If an old timer like Leo could change, there might be hope for her, too.

“That’s a little better,” Sam said, softening as he gave Esther a smile. There was something wholesome and gentle about her that made everyone in her radius want to be kinder by proxy. Leo had always been a restless ball of energy, especially at work. The fact that he now sat placidly to the side with his arms loosely crossed could only be an effect of the soothing woman who sat beside him, head tipped to the side like a curious bird as she studied Celeste and Sam.

“I’m ready to begin,” Esther affirmed. She turned to Leo who pulled out a recording device and switched it on. She gave a little nod and then she was off, throwing out a blitz of questions and names attached to precise dates impossible for anyone to memorize. But somehow she had. She used no laptop, no notebook, not even a pen. Her hands were empty and crossed in her lap as her unending flow of words went on and on, peppering Sam with questions about what seemed to be every arms dealer in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Celeste’s mesmerized gaze left her a moment to turn to Leo who gave her a little head nod, as if to say,I know, right? Can you believe it?No, she could not. She had never seen anything like Esther, not during her fifteen years as a soldier. She was like a walking, talking computer. And yet she remained kind, keeping Sam at ease so the endless barrage of questions didn’t feel like an interrogation at all.

“That brings us to two weeks ago and the event that led to your defection,” Esther said. “Are you okay to continue?”

“Let’s finish it,” Sam said, swiping his hand wearily over his eyes. He looked so…depleted. It echoed in a part of Celeste she thought was long gone, the selfless part of her that wasn’t solely focused on her own survival. Her hand slid unbidden toward his leg, bestowing a little pat. It wasn’t much, but for her it was monumental. She had comforted someone, a man, ahandsomeman, and absolutely nothing was in it for her. He gave her a tired smile and clasped her hand, giving it a squeeze. She felt Leo’s eyes on her and avoided his gaze.

Esther began again, rehashing the events of the two weeks and the crisis that had led to Sam’s arrival back in the states, basically an extended version of what he’d already told her. A sale of a self-guided missile went wrong when a man named Alfred Komeni tried to use a child from a local village as a test of Sam’s loyalty. He blew his cover, saved the kid, and fled for his life.

Sam reached the end of his story. Esther remained staring at him, expression blank. He squirmed.

“Was there something else?” he prodded.

Leo held up a hand, halting him. “She’s thinking, hold on. She has to replay the script in her head to make certain she didn’t miss anything.”

Everyone was silent a few minutes until Esther relaxed her posture and sat back. “No, that’s everything. Thank you. If you don’t mind, I’d like to find a quiet place to type and file my report.”

“Sure,” Celeste said. “I assume you’re staying here.”

“We can get a hotel. We have a stipend,” Leo said, sounding exhausted. It must have been a long day with the flight and time change. Celeste remembered those days well and gave him a sympathetic smile.

“That’s a nice thought, I’m sure, but you’d be hard pressed to find a hotel within a hundred miles. It’s okay, this house has four bedrooms and three bathrooms.”

Leo whistled, impressed. “So fancy, Celeste. You’re in the bigtime now.”

“If by ‘bigtime’ you mean barely habitable and completely sterile, then yes. But I do have clean sheets and towels, and Esther brought food. Beats that grotto in Cairo.”

“Any day and twice on Sunday,” Leo agreed, holding his hand up for a high five. “I think that was the last time I saw you. How long ago was that?” He addressed the question to Esther who provided an immediate answer.

“Three years, four months, and seven days.”

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