place. And with it, another chord of unease.
“You say this woman is at Georgetown.”
Gage nodded.
Yes, that was it. “I have met her.” Gage’s eyes narrowed, and William brushed aside his suspicions. “At an embassy function, I believe. A tall, dark woman. Very thin. Athletic maybe.”
“Sounds like her.”
An embassy hopper. She might work for the U.S. government—so many of the Americans at such functions did. She could be CIA even. Or a nobody. Just an international-relations academic, as she claimed, looking to hobnob with the rich and influential. Either way, he needed to find out. “So, tell me the rest.”
It took Gage a minute to answer, but when he did, his implacable facade was back in place. “The police think she’s a nutcase.”
“But?”
“There’s an FBI agent who’s listening to her, the same agent working the Cody Donovan case.”
William sucked in a breath. Worse than he’d thought.
“I see you now understand why I had to discard the Madden girl.”
“Yes, of course.” If Gage was caught, it could come back on William. His position in the embassy would protect him, but only to a point. Especially if the woman was CIA, who played by their own rules. “Obviously, we need to find out more about her.”
“I agree.”
“But not you.” They couldn’t risk her spotting Gage again. “You need to stay away from her.” William’s mind raced through the logistics of what he needed to do. “I will have her watched and will find out who she is before taking any action.”
Gage settled deeper into his chair. “Whatever you say. That’s your area of expertise, not mine.”
William eyed him warily. It was not like Gage to agree so easily, particularly when it came to dealing with a risk like this Baker woman presented. Normally he would want her dead, and the sooner the better.
“In the end,” William conceded, “you may have to eliminate her.”
“Both of them. Her and her sister.” It wasn’t a question.
“For once, I agree with you. But wait until we know more and after the boy is out of the country. I have an eager buyer, and I don’t want to have to placate him as well as the girl’s buyer.” He took another drink, the dark liqueur warming him as it slid down his throat. “When I give you the go-ahead, make it look like an accident. Then her already unstable sister will commit suicide.”
With that, he finished the cognac, then patted the dog and stood. He’d had all he could stomach of Isaac Gage for one night. “I assume you will be leaving now.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be in touch when I know more about the woman.” Then, to the dog at his side, “Come, Daimon, it’s time to turn in.”
“What about the other boy?” Gage asked. “Your caretaker?”
William sighed again. “I am afraid Ryan’s outlived his usefulness. He’s getting too bold. What a shame.” William started for the door. “I hate killing. But business is business.”
X
E RIN SPENT THE NIGHT chasing sleep.
She’d gotten home around midnight, exhausted and wired. So she’d taken a long shower, standing under the hot water until it ran cold. Only then did she climb into bed.
Still, the thoughts scurried around in her head, refusing to give her any rest.
Once the details of Chelsea Madden’s disappearance came out, Erin had looked like a fool. A hysterical bystander who’d jumped to conclusions and dragged an FBI agent halfway across town to interrogate a legitimate businessman. At least that was how Kauffman portrayed the situation, and the detective in charge of the case had bought the scenario. If for no other reason than it got him off the hook.
Chelsea had been found within a mile of the park. Alive.
The official story was that while the girl had been napping in a stroller, her mother had gotten distracted by a younger sibling, a toddler. Chelsea had awakened and wandered off, getting lost and confused. She’d eventually crawled beneath a row of bushes lining the
“You say this woman is at Georgetown.”
Gage nodded.
Yes, that was it. “I have met her.” Gage’s eyes narrowed, and William brushed aside his suspicions. “At an embassy function, I believe. A tall, dark woman. Very thin. Athletic maybe.”
“Sounds like her.”
An embassy hopper. She might work for the U.S. government—so many of the Americans at such functions did. She could be CIA even. Or a nobody. Just an international-relations academic, as she claimed, looking to hobnob with the rich and influential. Either way, he needed to find out. “So, tell me the rest.”
It took Gage a minute to answer, but when he did, his implacable facade was back in place. “The police think she’s a nutcase.”
“But?”
“There’s an FBI agent who’s listening to her, the same agent working the Cody Donovan case.”
William sucked in a breath. Worse than he’d thought.
“I see you now understand why I had to discard the Madden girl.”
“Yes, of course.” If Gage was caught, it could come back on William. His position in the embassy would protect him, but only to a point. Especially if the woman was CIA, who played by their own rules. “Obviously, we need to find out more about her.”
“I agree.”
“But not you.” They couldn’t risk her spotting Gage again. “You need to stay away from her.” William’s mind raced through the logistics of what he needed to do. “I will have her watched and will find out who she is before taking any action.”
Gage settled deeper into his chair. “Whatever you say. That’s your area of expertise, not mine.”
William eyed him warily. It was not like Gage to agree so easily, particularly when it came to dealing with a risk like this Baker woman presented. Normally he would want her dead, and the sooner the better.
“In the end,” William conceded, “you may have to eliminate her.”
“Both of them. Her and her sister.” It wasn’t a question.
“For once, I agree with you. But wait until we know more and after the boy is out of the country. I have an eager buyer, and I don’t want to have to placate him as well as the girl’s buyer.” He took another drink, the dark liqueur warming him as it slid down his throat. “When I give you the go-ahead, make it look like an accident. Then her already unstable sister will commit suicide.”
With that, he finished the cognac, then patted the dog and stood. He’d had all he could stomach of Isaac Gage for one night. “I assume you will be leaving now.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be in touch when I know more about the woman.” Then, to the dog at his side, “Come, Daimon, it’s time to turn in.”
“What about the other boy?” Gage asked. “Your caretaker?”
William sighed again. “I am afraid Ryan’s outlived his usefulness. He’s getting too bold. What a shame.” William started for the door. “I hate killing. But business is business.”
X
E RIN SPENT THE NIGHT chasing sleep.
She’d gotten home around midnight, exhausted and wired. So she’d taken a long shower, standing under the hot water until it ran cold. Only then did she climb into bed.
Still, the thoughts scurried around in her head, refusing to give her any rest.
Once the details of Chelsea Madden’s disappearance came out, Erin had looked like a fool. A hysterical bystander who’d jumped to conclusions and dragged an FBI agent halfway across town to interrogate a legitimate businessman. At least that was how Kauffman portrayed the situation, and the detective in charge of the case had bought the scenario. If for no other reason than it got him off the hook.
Chelsea had been found within a mile of the park. Alive.
The official story was that while the girl had been napping in a stroller, her mother had gotten distracted by a younger sibling, a toddler. Chelsea had awakened and wandered off, getting lost and confused. She’d eventually crawled beneath a row of bushes lining the
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