Hidden Agenda

Bailey braced herself against the wall. Her heart pounded in her ears and her breathing became labored as she waited for what would happen next.

With more skill than any DC lawyer should have, Ed kicked the door open.

Tension clenched Bailey’s spine. She’d never met a suit that knew how to do that. Nor how to do it with so much confidence. As if he’d done it a million times before.

Just what kind of secrets was Ed hiding? The way he’d handled that gun earlier had also been impressive and surprising.

He scanned the inside of the room before muttering, “Houston, we have a problem.”

She gripped the iron poker even tighter. “What’s wrong?”

He nodded toward the library. “Someone’s been here. And they were looking for something.”

She peered around the corner. The library had been demolished. Books were everywhere. Papers littered the floor. Chairs were overturned.

And that was only what she could see in the darkness. The daylight would surely reveal more injuries to the space.

She wondered who would do such a thing. Though a greater question remained.

Had the person who’d done this left or were they still lurking somewhere between the walls of this house?

THREE (#ub8749acc-9c9d-56b5-99cf-8ee369004dc7)

Ed didn’t like this. He didn’t like it one bit.

Someone else had been here. They’d broken in. And they were looking for something very specific.

This had to have something to do with that phone call from his father’s friend. He’d discovered something, shared that information with his father, and now they were both dead. Based on this break-in, there may have been some kind of physical intelligence exchanged. Maybe that information was still here and someone was looking for it. It was the only thing that made sense.

Had the intruder found that communication and escaped?

Or was he still here? Still looking?

Ed didn’t know those answers, but somehow he had to find out.

Across the room, the window was open. A cold wind howled inside.

Most likely, whoever had been here had left out that window.

Either that, or he’d set it up to make it appear as if he’d left. In the world of espionage, things were hardly ever what they seemed.

“Ed?”

Bailey’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts for a moment. “Yes?”

“What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to remain cautious,” he said. “That’s the first thing. Stay there. Let me get this window closed.”

With his gun still drawn, he crossed the room, looking for any sign of hidden, unexpected visitors. There was no one. Just as thunder filled the air, he reached the window, pulled it shut and locked it.

He returned to the door, noting Bailey was no longer lingering in the door frame where he’d left her. Had she decided to be a lone ranger? To go out on her own? Certainly the woman wasn’t that neurotic.

He peered into the hallway and saw no sign of Bailey. The poker she’d been holding lay on the floor, as if she’d dropped it.

Strange. Suspicious, even.

“Bailey?” he called.

An impending feeling of malice crept into his psyche.

When there was no answer, he realized that something was wrong. Seriously wrong.

* * *

Bailey struggled against the man who’d grabbed her in the hallway.

One moment, she’d only heard Ed’s voice. The next instant, thunder had cracked and a gloved hand had covered her mouth. A solid, steel-like arm had pinned her limbs against her body, making her unable to move.

She’d tried to kick and scream, but nothing. Her attacker easily overpowered her, rendering her immobile and helpless. In the blink of an eye, the man lifted her off her feet and carried her silently down the hallway.

She tried to resist, but the man was like a machine. His arms gripped her like a vise.

With amazing stealth, he carried her past the living room. Into the west wing of the house. Into the old game room with its wood paneling, stained-glass lighting and massive pool table.

He shoved her onto the leather couch. The plastic covering crinkled beneath her. Each crumple made her nerves tighten.

Every minute counted, she reminded herself. This was no time to let her fear consume her. She had to keep a clear head if she wanted to stay alive.

Her gaze jerked upward as she fought off the nausea.

The man leered at her. The black ski mask he wore made it impossible to make out any features. She saw the most important one, though. Even in the dark, she saw the hatred in his eyes.

Then she saw the knife in his hands. Five inches of shiny metal. A thick handle wrapped with what appeared to be leather. A devilishly sharp-looking blade, one that could probably slice her skin at just a whisper of a touch.

“Where is it?” the man mumbled, leaning toward her.

His voice was deep and rumbling and menacing. Her fear deepened.

He held the knife out, daring her to try to escape. He looked ready to pounce as he crouched over her. Bailey knew beyond a doubt that he’d use the knife if he had to.

She could hardly move. Hardly breathe.

All she could see was the knife. All she could think about was her life ending in pain and torture. She had so much more she wanted to do. She wanted to get married and have kids. She wanted to explore the world, to learn to knit, to make peace with the mistakes of her past.

What had he just said? He’d asked her a question. For the life of her, she couldn’t remember what.

“I said, where is it?” the man said as if reading her thoughts. He held the knife closer, right at her throat. His eyes glimmered with an evil she’d never seen before.