Page 80 of Secret Mission

Damn. I hadn't even realized I'd said it.

"I heard a man asking for an Ally or Allison at the desk," the guard continues, looking pleased with himself for making the connection. "American woman. This morning."

Allison's face drains of color. "What man? What did he look like?"

The guard shrugs. "I don't know. I only heard about it from Elena at the desk. She said a man in a suit was asking if an American woman was a patient here."

"When was this?" Justice asks.

"Maybe two hours ago? Three?" Another shrug.

I exchange glances with Justice. It could be her father. Could be someone working for him.

Could explain Axle's disappearance.

"And what did Elena tell him?" I ask.

"That we cannot give out patient information. Hospital policy."

Allison's hands are trembling slightly when she touches my arm. "Did this man seem... official? Government type?"

The guard hesitates, then looks down at his clipboard again. "There is something..."

"What?" all three of us ask at once.

"The parking attendant, Diego, he called in. Said there was a car that was parked in the wrong area and would not move. A black car with diplomatic plates."

"Diplomatic?" Justice echoes.

The guard nods. "Sí. Government car."

"Did he get the plate number?" I press.

Another head shake. "Just that it was black. With the special plates."

It's not much, but it's something. A connection to government involvement could be related to a very wealthy father searching for a missing daughter. Or hunting a daughter that’s in hiding.

The office falls silent except for the whir of a fan. The sand is sifting through the hourglass on finding my twin, but this accidental discovery puts a big fucking twist in things.

"Is there anything else you remember?" Allison asks, shifting between her water-logged boots. "Anything at all?"

The guard thinks for a moment. "The guard said there were two men in the front of the car. That's all he saw."

I step back, processing. Unease sitting heavy in the pit of my stomach. "So, we have a government car with diplomatic plates around the same time someone came around asking for an American woman who you do not have as a patient.”

The guard looks between us. "Should I call the policia?"

"No," I say quickly. Local police involvement could complicate things in ways we don't need right now.

Agile Security has some contacts at the Vandemoran Federal level that will be better.

I usher Allison toward the door. "We'll handle it."

He looks relieved, like the last thing he wants is paperwork.

"One more thing," Allison says. "Did Elena describe the man asking about me? Was he older, white hair, expensive suit?"

Chapter Twenty-Five

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