liked her, she was smart. That’s kinda why I have to disappear for a while.”
“They saw you.”
“Well, yeah. But I always have a backup plan.”
“Smart. Your father wasn’t happy when I took Sean off his target list.”
“I don’t care. Dad said you wanted to take care of him yourself, fine by me. He didn’t kill anyone I care about, and he’s really smart. Totally fooled my sister and everyone. I kinda think that’s cool.”
“And Lucy Kincaid. You know she’s off-limits.”
“Yeah, of course. But why?” she asked bluntly.
He admired that directness. “I have history.”
“You screwing her?”
He bristled, forced himself to remain calm at the disgusting image Elise put in his head. “No. I’d like to know why you don’t like her.”
“She can read my mind. It freaks me out.”
“She reads your mind?”
“Yeah. Like a psychic. She knows exactly what I’m thinking. And, like, how I think. She got me all twisted up when she interviewed me and I didn’t know what I was saying. Because she, like, had it all down already.” She frowned. “I’m not making any sense.”
“I think I understand you.”
He remembered her conversation with her father. Would she go after Lucy when she realized her father was dead? Could he risk it?
Elise Hunt wasn’t a good kid, but she was practically a child. He didn’t want to kill her.
“If you’d like to stay, you can. Even just for tonight.” That would give him some time to ponder the situation. “I might have a job for you.”
“Really?” she perked up. Then she shook her head. “I appreciate it and all, but I need to go.”
“Of course.” He didn’t have much time to make his decision.
“But can I have a favor?”
“What do you need?”
“I don’t know how hot my car is, and I’m really low on cash. When I was low on cash before my brother told me to just sell my body, but I don’t really want to do that anymore if I don’t have to.”
Jonathan saw red. “You do not have to ever sell your body.”
“I don’t need a lot. My dad got paid, he’ll take care of me once I get there.”
Colton walked into the doorway, worried. He motioned for Jonathan.
“Excuse me,” he said to Elise. “I’ll see what I can do about a vehicle and spending money.”
He left the room with Colton. Colton said quietly, “Lucy Kincaid is at the main gate.”
“Alone?”
“I don’t see anyone, but I told Team Alpha to broaden the perimeter and check for mercenaries. If she came in with RCK she might be a diversion.”
“No. She came with the FBI.”
“How do you know?”
He knew because he knew Lucy. “I need you to leave. You know how to go. You have been the son I never had, I do not want you hurt by what’s about to happen.”
“I’m not leaving you, Jonathan. We can get out of this.”
“There’s a chance they are bluffing, a good chance. I will know when I talk to her. But I’m not going to risk you.”
“What about her?” he nodded toward the dining room.
“Give her a car and a thousand dollars. If she can elude the FBI, she’ll make it to Mexico. If not, it’s not my problem.”
* * *
The gate opened ten minutes after she stood there, making sure the camera could see her. Lucy walked in. No one was around. As soon as she stepped through, the gate closed, the click of an electronic lock sealing her in.
She wasn’t truly trapped. This was a vast estate and there were ways to get out—the rear boundary was trees and a seasonal creek—and the fencing was scalable in places.
“I’m through the gate,” she said. “I don’t see anyone, but I feel someone watching. Okay, now I see him, an armed man to my right standing between two trees. He’s not making a move toward me.”
She continued walking down a long gravel drive. The house came into view, a beautiful estate, far too big for one person. Even her entire family—parents and six brothers and sisters—would find the house spacious.
It took her ten minutes to reach the porch, and she didn’t see anyone else until she started up the stairs and spotted two men, one on each side of the porch, standing sentry. They ignored her.
An older woman, impeccably dressed, opened the door before Lucy knocked. “The senator is expecting you,” she said.
Lucy entered; the woman closed the door behind her.
She looked around her surroundings. The entry was large, with a sweeping staircase. A grand room to the left