Burned: Black Cipher Files #3 (Black Cipher Files series) by Lisa Hughey Page B

had actually rubbed some dirt on the plate to obscure the numbers but the guy’s attitude made him think the ruse hadn’t worked.
    Depending on what kind of skills he had it wouldn’t take him more than a day to track down Zeke’s name. Then he’d be able to trace his credit card purchases. So they had time before they would need to ditch this car. In the meantime, maybe he could find out why Sunshine was so afraid of the guy.
    “What kind of skills does he have?” Zeke asked.
    “Since he found me?” Sunshine rested her forehead on the leather seat next to her. “Pretty damn good ones.”
    That’s what he thought. “Who is he?”
    “Who was the woman in the café?” she asked, deliberately ignoring him. As if she were trying to distract herself from her own problems. Or she was trying to distract Zeke.
    He tried to shove Susan Chen out of his mind. But as he held his breath, the roar in his ears grew louder. He didn’t want Susan and Sunshine on the same radar. When Sunshine had rushed out of the bistro, Susan hadn’t seemed to recognize her but another look could tip her over the edge. He didn’t know how much information Susan had about the names of the people she’d used in her unauthorized science experiment but every one of those unwilling subjects had one thing in common. They were members of a very small list of people whose family was killed on either October 19 th or 20 th , 1995. And Sunshine, while not part of the experiment, was definitely on the infamous, at least among a select few agents, 5491 list.
    Did Susan know that? She’d had access to so much. And they still had yet to figure out how. Although, oddly, no one seemed to be pursuing that part of the investigation. Everyone seemed fixated on getting Susan Chen back.
    “She’s part of a...situation I was involved in a few weeks ago.”
    “A situation?”
    “She’s wanted by the U.S. Government.”
    “Why haven’t I seen her picture on the news?”
    Zeke snorted. “Her situation is the kind that never makes the news.”
    “Right.” Sunshine laughed harshly. “So now you’re part of some shadowy government organization?”
    She flicked a hand at him.
    “The NSA is a recognized and established intelligence agency.” And the more he thought about it the more he really didn’t want Sunshine and Susan inhabiting the same space. “And I’m worried she could be dangerous...to you.”
    He could take care of himself.
    “I’ve got much bigger problems, but I’ll bite. Why me?”
    “It’s a long story.”
    “The NSA, dangerous women, convenient appearances.” She mocked. “You really expect me to believe all this?”
    That’s when he realized that he hadn’t so much as convinced her to come with him as she’d chosen him as her last viable alternative.
    He knew he should be more polished, more persuasive. In theory, he knew enough about the MICE recruitment incentives when covert operatives tried to recruit foreign assets. Money, Ideology, Compromise, Ego. He’d had training in how to convince someone to become an asset. Convincing her to believe him could be achieved, but this was different. This was personal. Way too personal. And he couldn’t seem to find the words to finesse her.
    She was too important.
    He’d just given his card to Susan Chen. If she was caught, if they found the identifier on her person, if, if, if —he was done.
    He refused to look away from Sunshine. Refused to back down. “I want don’t want you to get hurt.” Then he reiterated, “I want to help you with your problems.”
    She stared at him for another loaded moment, her gaze searching his. Zeke felt as if she were staring into his soul, and all his uncertainties and longings were exposed to her laser perception.
    “I think my problem is too big and unsolvable,” she admitted in what must be a moment of total insecurity.
    “Nothing is unsolvable. It just hasn’t been deciphered yet,” he replied, wanting her to believe him.
    Moisture