Page 40 of A Touch of Treachery
“Joan, you’ll also be going to the resort,” Gia said.“Diego, see if you can hack into the reservation system and book Joan a room, along with an invitation to Winterfest.Be sure to use a brand-new alias since the UC list has been compromised.”
Joan nodded, while Diego’s fingers started flying over his keyboard.
“What about Henrika’s warning that only Charlotte and I can attend the auction?”I asked.
Gia shrugged.“You and Charlotte will attend the auction, but I want someone on-site watching your backs.Henrika should be so focused on the two of you that she doesn’t notice Joan.Plus, Joan can nose around and keep an eye on the other paramortals.I want as much information as possible about everyone who shows up for the auction.”
We discussed a few more things.Once we had the rough outlines in place, everyone split up.
The General returned to his office to coordinate with the strike team, while Joan headed down to the level-six armory to start gathering gear.Evelyn, Gia, and Diego kept working in the conference room, reviewing satellite photos of the Glittertop Resort, while Charlotte and I returned to our desks.
Charlotte tilted her head to the right, and I followed her out of the bullpen and down the corridor.She veered away from the elevators, stepped behind some concrete columns, and slipped into a shadowy alcove.No security cameras or listening devices were planted in this area, and it was a rare surveillance dead zone inside headquarters where we could speak freely.
“How are you holding up?”Charlotte asked.“It must have been hard seeing Henrika again, and especially hearing what she wanted.She is forcing us into an impossible situation.If any of the criminals she’s invited to the auction figure out who we really are, or if Henrika tells them, then the other paramortals will stop at nothing to kill us.”
I shrugged.“I’m used to the danger, and I’ll march into Henrika’s viper’s nest like a good little soldier.”
“But?”
I scrubbed my hands over my face.“But I don’t like the thought of you being in danger.Henrika sent that invitation toyou, Charlotte.That means she wants something fromyou, something she can only get in person.In some ways, that’s worse than her simply wanting to kill you.”
“You’re right.Henrikadoeswant something from me, or you, or Section, or maybe even all of us.Although right now, I can’t imagine what it might be.”A thoughtful look filled Charlotte’s face, and her eyes narrowed as she once again did those complex mental calculations, trying to determine Henrika’s motives.
I didn’t care about Henrika’s motives.I just wanted her dead for everything she’d done to me, Graham, and the other agents who’d died on the Blacksea mission.
Charlotte reached out and squeezed my hand as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.“We’ll find a way to take Henrika down.No matter how many tricks she has planned or how many guards and vials of Redburn she has.”
“Yes, we will,” I echoed her promise.
Charlotte stepped forward, wrapped her arms around my waist, and rested her head on my shoulder.I buried my face in her auburn hair and drank in her sweet, sharp, sugar-lime scent.
The thought of suffering through another Redburn explosion—or worse, Charlotte being exposed to the deadly formula—made my chest tighten and cold sweat break out on the back of my neck, but I shrugged off the uncomfortable sensations and tightened my arms around her.No matter what happened, keeping Charlotte safe was my main objective, and I would do anything—anything—to complete that mission.
My phone chirped, interrupting our quiet, private bubble.I dropped my arms from around Charlotte and pulled the device out of my pocket.
“The General wants to see me in his office.”I sighed.“No doubts he has some thoughts about the mission he wants to share.”
Sympathy filled Charlotte’s face, although her aura flickered with guilt.“I’m so sorry Henrika put you in this situation.I should have found some way to track her down before now.Maybe if I had, we could have confronted her and gotten our answers without General Percy ever getting involved.”
I shook my head.“It’s not your fault.It was only a matter of time before my father showed up.For better or worse, the General isalwaysat the center of whatever drama is currently happening inside Section, and right now, there is no bigger drama or greater danger than Henrika Hyde.”
Charlotte’s phone also chirped, and she made a face at the screen.“Joan wants to meet in the armory so we can gear up for the mission.”
“I’ll meet you there after I talk to the General.”
Charlotte nodded, then leaned forward and brushed her lips against mine.I wound my hand into her hair and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss—
This time, both our phones chirped with messages.I didn’t want to let Charlotte go, but as with so many things at Section, I didn’t have a choice.
I dropped my hands, stepped back, and forced myself to wink at her with confidence that I didn’t feel.“See you soon, Numbers.”
Charlottereturnedtotheconference room to check in with Evelyn, Gia, and Diego before heading to the armory.I rode the elevator up to the fourth level.I ignored the guards flanking my father’s office and knocked on the door.The General buzzed me inside, and I stepped into the office.
My father was sitting at his desk watching the video of Henrika.He paused the feed, and her frozen face smirked at us on the monitor.
Anger shimmered in the General’s eyes.“I can’t believe she had the audacity to send me this video.The sheer, unmitigatedarrogance.As if Section couldn’t crush her any time we wanted.”
I got the impression he was talking more about himself than Section 47, but I didn’t ask any questions.The General only told his version of the truth, and never the whole of it, and he wouldn’t answer anything I asked unless it fit into his plans.
