Page 57 of Shadow Lies

“And you want me to come work for you as a Charley?” she continued.

Charley wobbled her head. “Most likely you’d begin working in the information and technology area, given your skills. But when the right opportunity arose, you might be called upon to act as an operative liaison.”

“Like I was with Kane.”

“Exactly. Although the extent to which you embraced your role with Kane is not a requirement of the job.” Charley smirked.

Alexis’s face heated. They knew she’d spent the night with Kane.

He’d said there was no surveillance in the hotel. But she had turned on her cell phone. Maybe they could see and hear everything through that?

Who knew what Charley and her organization was capable of? She supposed she would if she took this insane job offer.

Before Alexis could recover from her embarrassment, or come up with a clever comeback, a woman entered the windowless room. She, like Alexis, was dressed much like Charley.

Their matching appearance led Alexis to believe that this was the uniform for all theCharleysin the organization. Dressing them alike. Giving them all the same code name. It was a little creepy. Make thata lotcreepy.

The newcomer leaned low and whispered something Alexis couldn’t hear from where she sat.

Seated in a chair behind the table, Charley glanced up at Alexis. “You’ll have to excuse me a moment.”

“Sure. Take your time.” Alexis dismissed her concern with the flick of one wrist.

It wasn’t like she was going anywhere. She didn’t know where she was or how to get out of what was most likely a black site.

Was she even still in China? How long had she been unconscious? They could have transported her anywhere—by car, by air, even by boat—and she wouldn’t know.

Her chest tightened at the thought of Kane alone, without backup. Without even her to call since her cell phone was MIA.

She still hadn’t gotten an answer from Charley about how the Wei operation had gone. Any number of things could have gone wrong.

The door opened, causing Alexis to jump from the sudden sound.

As Charley walked in, she said, “We have a problem.”

Alexis tried to read her expression. It was unreadable. Whatever this problem was, it wasn’t bad enough to rattle Charley. That had to be a good thing. Right?

“All right.” She waited for Charley to elaborate, or not, since clearly she was the one in charge here and Alexis was just along for the ride.

She had lost all power in this situation the moment she’d agreed to take this assignment. Maybe even before that, back when she’d first answered that phone call with the blocked caller ID.

That would teach her. If she got out of this alive, she’d never answer any unknown call again. Hell, maybe she should give up cell phones altogether.

“Kane has become a problem.” Those menacing words from Charley’s lips had Alexis thinking she might need to search for a trash can or something to vomit in.

“What do you mean?” she asked, hoping problems in Charley’s eyes weren’t eliminated permanently.

“Apparently, he’s reacted badly to your disappearance. His behavior is drawing too much attention to him and by association, possibly us.”

“So—so what are you going to do?” Alexis stuttered.

“He’s been dealt with.”

“Oh my God.” Clutching her stomach she doubled over as the tears filled her eyes. “You killed him. You bitch—”

Charley’s laugh had her head whipping up.

Alexis wasn’t any martial arts expert but she could still do some damage. Scratching Charley’s eyes out would be a satisfying start before they dragged her away to kill her too.

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