Page 11 of His Sweet Torment
Henry’s mouth hitched up in a smile. “Suck it up. Mr. Toscano’s lawyer tells me he thinks his client will only be questioned for one more day. After that…”
“After that what? We just let him walk into a viper’s nest? They will kill him on sight, whether he’s testified or not. They can’t stop that now, but Freddy Ingles won’t just let it lie.”
Henry sat back in his chair, studying her. “We’ve offered Mr. Toscano witness protection, but he says he doesn’t want it. Rumor has it, he’s in love with a woman here in Seattle. You know anything about that?”
Padme prayed she didn’t flush as she kept a blank expression. “No, sir, the protectee hasn’t mentioned anything.”
Henry’s eyes never left hers. “I only ask because I know you and Mr. Toscano seem friendly.”
Padme nodded. “I would say that, sir, within the confines of our roles, of course.”
“Of course.”
He didn’t believe her, she could tell, but she was too deep in the lie now. Jesus, she really had laid it on the line for this man, hadn’t she? “Is Mr. Toscano safe where he is?”
Henry nodded. “He is. We told him about his assistant, and he’s obviously very upset. He asked if you – or Agent Fortuna – were hurt and we told him you were fine. So, what I think would be best, is if you pack a bag and we’ll relocate you to where Mr. Toscano is. He obviously trusts you, Padme, and in his position, that’s not an easy thing to do.”
“Will Dale come with me?”
Henry hesitated. “Agent Fortuna is being reassigned.”
Padme was shocked. “Why? He did nothing wrong.”
“I know that, Padme.” Henry’s voice was kind. “He asked to be reassigned. Said he felt guilty for not protecting you.”
“No!” Padme was distressed. “I’m fine, nothing happened to me. Chief, please, don’t punish him for nothing. It wasn’t his job to protect me.”
“Calm down, Agent. Go, talk to him but he seemed pretty set. If he changes his mind, of course, let me know.”
Padme sought Dale out immediately. He was eating a bowl of ramen in the mess. She sat down opposite him and glared at him until he looked up. He gave a resigned sigh. “You heard.”
“What the hell, Dale?”
Dale glanced around the room, making sure they weren’t overheard and leaned closer. “They know we’re a team. Maybe, by being separate, I can throw them off the track.”
Padme rocked back. “You are not putting yourself up as bait. No freaking way, Dale,no. I’m not some fragile little woman you have to save, Captain America.”
Dale rolled his eyes. “Putting aside the fact that I would take a bullet for you any day, Pad, I’m not that much of a Neanderthal. I’m talking about we work together, play cat and mouse with them until someone slips up. Then we’ve got them, even if we have to take them down one operative at a time.”
“We do not know who we are dealing with, Dale, or how many of them there are. And someone,” she hissed, lowering her voice, “is on the inside, I know it.”
“Paranoia, much?”
“How the fuck else did they find the safe house?” Padme felt tears in her eyes. “How else did they kill Chaley?”
Dale studied her for a long time. “Pad…do you think I ever want to seeyoulike that? Do you honestly not know how much you mean to me?”
She looked up sharply, misunderstanding him and he laughed. “Slow your roll, I meant as asister. A best friend.”
Padme relaxed. “Good. I love you too, Daleywhaley.”
“A hell-no to that nickname.”
Padme grinned, the banter cheering her. “So, Daleywhaley, what’s the plan?”
Dale laughed, shaking his head. “Pain in the ass-woman. Well, first thing, you do as Henry is telling you and get your ass over to Enver. He needs you right now – in every way.” He waggled his eyebrows, but Padme shook her head at him.
“I lied to Henry, told him nothing is going on.”
