Page 44 of Filthy Liar

I shake my head. “The less contact we have with Deacon the better. I called him for an immediate proof that this is bullshit. Now, we’re on our own.”

“Okay, then let’s tell them…if you know who I am…”

As Ellie dictates, Wilson types.

555-788-2119: If you know who I am, you know it’ll take me time to get the money, but I’ll do anything to save her. Please, I’m begging.

The response is immediate.

555-451-1765: You have until noon. Bank details to follow.

“Anything on the data ping?”

“Nothing.” Wilson shrugs. “It was worth a shot.”

“Then we have nothing to lose. Might as well ask for proof of life, right?” Ellie looks around the room. “Right?”

I nod. “Go for it.”

555-788-2119: How do I know you really have her?

No response. We all stand there, holding our breath, but the phone’s screen turns off after a minute.

“It’ll take them a while,” Wilson says. “Let’s talk about next steps either way. If they don’t reply, and if they do.”

“At some point, we’ll need to get the FBI involved. I’ll let the U.S. Marshals dictate that timeline, based on the security of their protectee, but we don’t want to do anything now that will foul up an investigation. My guess is that by morning, we’ll want to have Ellie back in her apartment with this phone so they can set up a command center there.”

“Oh, no,” she objects. “No no. That will draw way too much attention to me and my apartment.”

“We’ll find you a new place to live after this.”

“I like the place I already have!” She shakes her head. “Not that it matters. As soon as this is over, I’m getting on a plane back to California. D.C. is bad for my blood pressure.”

The reminder that her return to my life is intensely temporary hits me in the chest like a sledgehammer. Depending on what the Feds want to do with her and Caroline, tonight could be the last time I see her.

And I wouldn’t put it past Ellie to disappear again, this time for good.

“I’m going to put on some coffee,” I say abruptly.

Ellie tries to catch my stony gaze as I stalk out of Wilson’s office, but I ignore the effort. I need a minute to myself.

15

Melinda

I watch Jason storm off,and when I glance back at the other guys, they suddenly busy themselves.

“I’m going to check my messages,” Cole says.

Tag nods. “Yeah. Ditto. Gotta call a guy back about a thing.”

Which leaves me and Wilson alone in his office, and I’m between him and the door.

“I guess that makes me the messenger,” he says blandly.

“No message required.” I point to the screen. “Let’s get back to work.”

He turns off his monitors. “Nope.”

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