that even if they move him, they won’t kill him. From what we’ve uncovered, a couple of lower-level members of the Jalisco cartel believe the rumors that Henry knows where a fortune in drugs and cash is stored.”
“He doesn’t.” Ian set his bag down. “From what I’ve managed to piece together, one of the partners used Henry’s faked death to steal a shit ton of money and blame it on him. Henry’s got no clue and that dude is now dead, so we’re working with people who have no idea what’s going on.”
None of this made her feel any better. She held on to her daughter. “If Henry doesn’t know anything, he doesn’t have anything to barter with.”
“Ah, but I actually consider it good news.” Tag moved in front of her. “Henry is going to figure out what’s going on. He knows how to play this game better than anyone.”
“He’s been here before,” Ten added. “He’s tough. He’ll play for time and we will find him, and then we’re getting rid of the problem for good.”
“By putting them all in jail?” Nell asked.
Ten’s face went still. “Uh…”
Ian nodded, an oddly angelic expression coming over his face. “Yep. Jail for all of them. We’ll make sure of it.”
Nell felt tears slip from her eyes. “I know you’re going to have to kill them. It makes me sad. The whole thing makes me sad and scared, and I hope they don’t have families that will miss them.”
Taggart sat on the end of the bed, his expression more serious than she’d seen before. “They won’t stop. I’m sorry. I wish I could make this world better. There is a time for you to work and a time to call me in. That’s what Henry understands. You think I live for this, and deep down maybe I do, but I admire what you do, too. You do the work to make the world a better place, to make sure my kids have clean water and a government that gives a shit about them. I do what I do to make it safer for you and that sweet girl you have there.”
He navigated the dark stuff so she could work in the light. It was what Henry had done for so very long. “Thank you, Ian. And you, too, Mr. Smith.”
“Kay is on her way,” Ten assured her. “She’s on a plane, and I’ll head back to Alamosa to pick her up. Mr. Novack, I’ve read your record. You’re solid. Do you need backup? We can have a couple of guards up here tomorrow morning.”
Michael shook his head. “No. I’m going to move her to the Talbot Manor this evening, and I want to keep a low profile. She’s high value now.”
Nell frowned. “I was high value before, too. I don’t like my value being predicated on my ability to force my husband to talk. That seems demeaning.”
Taggart snorted. “I can’t wait for you to meet Kay. She’s going to love you.” He sobered. “Nell, you have the hardest job of all.”
The room seemed to close in on her because she knew what he was going to say. “I have to wait. I have to be patient.”
Taggart nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry, but I need you to know that I will do everything in my power to bring your husband home to you. I’ve been assured the Agency won’t stop me from doing what I need to do, but they also won’t actively help me. As far as they’re concerned, John Bishop died and Henry Flanders is on his own.”
But he wasn’t. Henry had a family. John had a family.
And they would bring him home.
It was late in the night when Michael drove her to the Talbot Manor. She sat in the back of his SUV, Poppy tucked safely in the car seat she and Henry had selected after weeks of research.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. They were supposed to go home as a family, and Henry had promised he had a surprise for her. They were supposed to spend their first night in their cabin together as a family.
“We’re back to the same protocols we had before.” Michael put the SUV in park. “You go nowhere without me. I mean it. You want to go for a walk around the grounds, I’m with you. This is more serious than it was before.”
“I won’t fight you. I can’t even run.” She’d never felt more vulnerable. She was recovering from a surgery and she