Trust No One by Diana Layne Page A

touch.”
    “Can’t say anyone ever has.” She gathered her supplies. “There is another possibility.”
    “Possibility about what?”
    “About why you were shot. Keep up.”
    “Sorry, in too much pain from your tender care.”
    She advanced on him again. He held up his hands. “Okay, okay, what’s your theory?”
    “Perhaps this assignment is more important than we know.”
    “Nah, you think?”
    “Smart ass.”
    “Sorry, couldn’t resist. But you do have a good point, and there’s only one way to find out. When will you be ready to leave?” he asked.
    “Half an hour.” Only you aren’t going with me, she thought. “Wait here, I’ll get you some pain meds.”
    “You have pain medicine, and you haven’t given me any yet?”
    “I forgot. I told you, I’m out of practice, okay?” When she returned moments later, she offered him a pill. “Here, take this for the pain.”
    He looked at it with narrowed eyes. “What is it?”
    “Tylenol 3, which is merely Tylenol with a little codeine,” she lied. In fact, she was holding a Vicadin, and hopefully he had no allergies to strong pain medicine. She wanted him unconscious not dead. “Harmless. Unless you’re allergic?”
    “Nope, no allergies.”
    “Look here’s the bottle, faster you take it, faster the pain will lower to a dull throb.”
    He examined the Tylenol bottle which was really full of the Vicadin she’d put in there. She figured he’d be suspicious, any good agent would.
    Take it, take it, take it, she thought as he looked at her again. She held his gaze. Then with a shrug, he used the glass of water she offered to take the pill.
    Now pass out.
    “You know the kid can’t go now there’s a shooter involved.”
    “I know.” Her heart seemed to rip. She didn’t know how she was going to make it through the days without Angel.

 

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
    With Ben on her couch sound asleep, as planned, MJ moved efficiently, cataloguing what needed to be done. She first had to make a call to Dottie, and if she couldn’t watch Angel, then MJ had a problem. Yeah, like that would stop Jeff, she thought. And frowned.
    Resentment churned like dirty hot oil sludging through an old engine. From the time of her parents’ death, MJ’s life had been run by someone else up until she nearly died for Vista. And up until that time MJ had never considered not working for Vista.
    But things changed. If Tasha were on an unsanctioned killing spree obviously things had changed for her as well.
    MJ wondered what had set Tasha off. What had these men done? How were they connected?
    Dialing Dottie’s number, MJ hoped they were back home from the play rehearsal. While the phone rang, she let her mind run through questions about Tasha’s motivation. Had someone betrayed her too? Was she trying in some bizarre fashion to save the world from evil senators? MJ smiled. As if that were likely.
    Should Tasha have retired already like MJ?
    Her thoughts were interrupted when Dottie answered the phone. “Hi, Dottie, it’s MJ. Sorry, I’m calling so late.”
    “It’s not late. We just walked in the door. Anything wrong? Angelina’s not sick is she?”
    Considering MJ never called this late, she understood Dottie’s concern.
    “Actually, I need a favor. My sister’s in a bit of trouble, and I need to go to her.” MJ debated on what to tell Dottie, then decided there was no reason not to tell her as much of the truth as possible. Good rule of thumb for lying—stick to the truth as much as you could, so as not to get tripped up later.
    “Oh, well, you’ll need to talk to Tex then, let him know you won’t be at–”
    “I do need to talk to Tex, but I also need to see if you can watch Angel for me. It’ll be a long, hard trip. I think she would be happier in familiar surroundings. I know technically you’re not supposed to keep the kids overnight so if you can’t–”
    “Pshaw. I’ve fudged on that rule plenty of times. What