Page 114 of Secrets Beneath the Waves
NINETEEN
Ellie saton the back deck of her villa, watching the moonlight shimmer over the water as the persistent Caribbean wind dried her damp hair after a long, much-needed, relaxing, hot shower. This was the first time she had taken it easy since arriving on the island.
She had the phone to her ear, her tone as breezy as the air around her.
“The mole’s been taken care of,” she said, almost gleefully. “He’s on an extended diving trip. Very exclusive. One-way ticket. I was his tour guide and personally took him to the perfect spot.”
On the other end of the secured line, her mom laughed. “The Cayman Trench? Solid choice. Honestly, I don’t know why we didn’t think of using it years ago. Prime real estate for . . . extended stays.”
Her dad chimed in. “I hope he enjoyed the premium package. That trip set him back more than five million dollars.”
“Oh, he got the VIP experience,” Ellie assured him. “Stunning views, total privacy, no little kids screaming, zero chance of being bothered by any other guests. He’ll be submerged in relaxation for the foreseeable future. Not to mention all the sharks and exotic fish he’ll get to see.”
Her dad chuckled. “That’s my girl. Always maintaining the family’s reputation for quality service.”
“He wasn’t entirely happy, but I told him there were no refunds.”
“We should put that in the brochure,” Mom said. “And also start providing group rates. Buy one get one free.”
“That’s a good idea, but let’s not get greedy,” Dad said. “Too many ‘clients’ and the place might start getting crowded.”
“True. Wouldn’t want to turn it into a tourist attraction.”
Ellie sighed dramatically. “Fine, fine. I’ll keep it exclusive. High-end clientele only.”
“Low-end clientele is what we’re after,” he said.
“Good point.”
The banter warmed her heart. For the first time in her life, she felt like part of the group. She’d heard this kind of kidding among the AJAX team for years and wondered if she’d ever be included in it.
“Good work, kid,” her dad’s voice carried a note of satisfaction.
“Thank you.”
“I turned over all the evidence to the CIA,” he continued. “They were shocked when they saw who it was but pleased that he’s out of the picture. No family, no ties. No one’s going to miss him.”
Her mom let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s a relief. Last thing we need is a wife and kid crawling out of the woodwork looking for him. Or someone from Congress questioning our actions.”
“Nope,” Dad said. “He was single and everything is buried. The scumbag got what he deserved. I also found a lot of actionable intelligence from the phones and IDs you sent me, Ellie.”
“Good to hear.”
“I have to say, dear, I agree with your father. Good job. You handled this like a pro. Clean, efficient, and with just the right amount of flair.”
Ellie leaned back, letting their praise sink in. It felt good. More than good.
“It’s almost like you were born for this,” she added.
“She was,” Dad said.
“I see what you did now!” Ellie said. “That’s the reason you had Joshua and me. You wanted us to follow in your footsteps, so you could retire and let your kids get shot at.”
Dad laughed. “Everybody should have a retirement plan,” he said. “That was ours.”
“Somebody has to carry on your death-dealing legacy,” Ellie said. “It’s certainly not going to be Joshua.”
“He’s brilliant in math,” he said. “He’s on his way to becoming a top-notch computer whiz.”
