Page 1 of Nora
PROLOGUE
November, the Friday after Thanksgiving
Massachusetts
Standingon the porch of her home, Nora Amiri waved goodbye to her date. He lifted a hand in response, then executed a three-point turn and disappeared down her driveway. She watched until the woods at the end of her drive swallowed the taillights of his car, leaving her in darkness. Well, as dark as it could get with her security lights shining on the frost-laden ground. The first snow of the season hadn’t yet fallen, but if the temperatures were any indication, it was on its way.
Scanning her property, her gaze lingered on the picturesque three-story red barn three hundred yards from her house. Built in the late 1800s, it was originally a cowshed, stables, and a carriage house. Now it housed the plethora of stray animals that she took in, nursed to health, then released again—to better owners than they’d had before. She made sure of that.
Unusually, the barn was empty now except for the feral cat and her litter occupying the heated office. The mother wanted nothing to do with any humans. She was, however, content to watch Nora, and her few employees, socialize the now four-week-old kittens. It was as if she knew her babies would have a better life with people than on their own. Especially as winter sank its claws into the Northeast.
Nora glanced through one of the picture windows into her home. Tulah, her oldest dog, and her three others—Paddy, Luna, and Oscar—were waiting for her inside. Despite the weariness that came from yet another lackluster date, though, she wasn’t ready to walk into her empty house. Instead, she turned and headed toward the barn.
The ground crunched under her boots as she crossed the frozen grass, then stepped onto the gravel. Letting herself into the barn through a side door, she walked in the shadows toward the office. As a courtesy to the mother, who preferred to disappear when people were around, Nora knocked softly, then opened the door.
At four weeks old, the kittens were starting to explore. The boldest two were even beginning to experiment with play. When Nora flicked on the soft desk lamp, meows sounded, and five little balls of fur started making their way toward her. Some more confidently than others. Nora sank to the floor to play with them, laughing at the calico that trailed the group. She was the runt of the litter but had a fighting spirit. She’d make it, and she’d likely grow into a strong cat. But for now, she looked like a drunkard stumbling across the wide-plank floors.
Two kittens crawled over her outstretched legs, then up her jacket. A short while later, they were bumping their faces against hers and exploring her curtain of long, thick hair. Another two riffled around the edges of her coat, looking for the treats she always carried. And yes, despite being out on a date, she still had a few in her pocket. Retrieving the bag, she started to dole out the tiny goodies as her mind played over her evening.
She’d known Daniel Gervais for years. Like her, he was a vet. Although unlike her, he specialized in large animals. His very successful sport horse rehabilitation center was located two towns over.
His wife had left him for a horse trainer three years ago, and Daniel hadn’t been shy about getting back into the dating game. In fact, she’d been kind of insulted that it had taken him three years to get around to asking her out. Not that she had any special feelings for the man, but he’d dated a lot of women since his wife’s departure. By the time he finally asked her out, she felt like leftovers.
She picked up the little calico and rubbed her cheek against its soft fur, acknowledging that she shouldn’t have agreed to the date in the first place. It wasn’t that Daniel was a bad person, but had he truly been interested in her, he would have asked her out sooner. She’d known this when he’d asked. And she’d known it when she’d agreed. Yet she’d agreed anyway.
With a sigh, she set the calico down on her lap and encouraged the kitten to climb down her jean-clad legs to practice balance. Tiny claws pierced the fabric of her pants as the little female rocked side to side and inched its way down her legs.
The kitten paused below her knees, then performed a dismount that was something between a leap and a fall. Nora smiled, then let her head fall back against the wall and closed her eyes. It didn’t take a genius to know why she’d accepted the invitation. Her friends had all found partners they loved and respected. Men who were strong enough for them. Men who appreciated and loved them.
They’d all found what she wanted.
So, yes, she accepted the date, telling herself that maybe she hadn’t ever given Daniel the right chance. Maybe, given time, the friendship they shared could grow into something more. She should have listened to her instinct and saved them both the night out.
With another sigh, she lifted kittens from her lap and began to rise just as headlights swept through the windows. Frowning, she pulled out her phone. She’d left it in silent mode and had missed the notification that pinged her when someone drove up her driveway.
Friday night at nine was an odd time to have a visitor, but Nora wasn’t worried. She had a variety of weapons stored around the barn. Not to mention the element of surprise on her side, since whoever was coming wouldn’t expect her to be in the barn. Not at this time of night, and not with the temperatures hovering in the high teens. There was also a much more practical reason she needn’t worry. Cos Cob, her hometown, had next to no violent crime. Had someone truly been interested in committing such a thing, they wouldn’t have driven straight up her drive and announced their arrival with high beams.
Still, erring on the side of caution, Nora unlocked a desk drawer and pulled out a small handgun. Staying in the shadows, she made her way out of the office toward the barn door. Through a small window, she watched a black Escalade pull up her driveway, then into the guest parking area.
The driver got out of the car and opened the back door. Long legs emerged first, then the full man. With the lights coming from behind him, her visuals weren’t great, but she didn’t need to see his face to know who he was. Though what he was doing here, in Cos Cob, she hadn’t a clue.
Slipping the gun into her pocket, she stepped from the shadows. The sound of the barn door opening brought both men’s attention to her. The driver tensed and reached inside his jacket, but the other man, the older of the two, remained still.
She walked toward her house and paused at the slate stone path to her front door, ten feet from the back of the SUV. The older man’s gaze took her in, and she returned the favor. He wore gray trousers with black shoes, and his black wool coat hung to his knees. His hands were in his pockets, and he wore a scarf. With his pale blue eyes and his shock of gray hair, he was still a handsome man.
Unfortunately, he was also a man who rarely brought good news.
Nora welcomed the churning of her stomach that his arrival brought. Not that she enjoyed it, but there was nothing to do to prevent it, so it was easier to acknowledge the reaction and move on. She drew in a deep breath, bracing herself for what might come next.
“Nora,” he said, inclining his head in the semblance of a bow.
She returned the gesture, then spoke the question she was quite sure she didn’t want to hear the answer to. “What brings you here, Franklin?”
CHAPTERONE
Nora seta mug of tea on the dining table in front of Franklin, then took a seat opposite him with her latte. With the dogs settled on their various beds scattered around the kitchen, she had her first chance to really look at him. He was a man who aged yet never seemed to really age. His hair was grayer than when she’d first met him more than twenty-five years ago. His skin held a few more wrinkles. But his blue-gray eyes, a mirror of his niece’s, her friend Cyn, were even more alert. Sharper now than ever before.
He wasn’t visiting her in his capacity as Cyn’s uncle, though. He was also Nora’s handler. Hers and her friends’—Cyn, Six, and Devil—to be precise. Nora had no idea how he had managed to con the powers that be to allow him to have such a role in their lives. Six worked for the Italian intelligence agency and Devil, the Chinese. Nora was an agent for the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate, while Franklin, like Cyn, worked for MI6.
