Cale moved to stand behind Olena. He noticed she was doing a name search in a database. “What are you looking for?” He reached into his suit pocket and slid out the paper the bank manager had given him.
“I’m running the names from Henri’s list in a bunch of different databases to see if anything comes up.” She glanced back at him and gave him that seductive grin of hers. “I had Henri fax me a copy of the list. I don’t like to be idle.”
He slid the list back into his pocket. “Clever.”
“I know.” Reaching with her long leg, she hooked the chair at the next computer station and rolled it closer to her. She patted the cushion. “Here. Why don’t you take off that stuffy suit jacket, loosen your tie and have a seat. This may take a while to run through.”
The way she was looking at him made him want to do more than take off his suit jacket and sit beside her. Carnal thoughts raced through his mind like quicksilver. They came so quick, so fierce that he had trouble putting together a coherent sentence.
He’d never met a vampire who possessed that much seductive power. The muscles in his legs clenched as he forced them to stay put, a safe distance from Olena where he could not react to his inner desires.
But as quickly as she’d given him that look, it disappeared when she gave her attention back to the computer screen. Once more he could breathe easily and not think about the twenty different ways he could take her right here in this room.
Rolling his neck to loosen the tension he felt there, he shucked off his jacket, hung it up on the back of the chair and sat down, careful not to brush up against Olena.
She glanced at him sideways. “Is there something wrong? You seem really tense.”
“I’m sure you know why.”
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t think I know what you’re talking about.” She said the words with innocence, but he caught the flare of her eyebrow and the coy lift of her mouth when she turned her head.
Before he could respond, something popped up on the computer screen.
“We got a hit.” Olena typed in a command and the full-screen photo and information appeared on the screen. “Looks like one of our safety-deposit box owners has a criminal record.”
Sliding closer to the computer, Cale read the information on the screen. Marie Morgan, age 45, lycan, arrested and convicted of assault causing bodily harm. The facts were interesting, but from the information swirling in his head, he knew Ms. Morgan wasn’t right.
He shook his head. “She’s not the person we’re looking for.”
Olena glanced at him. “How do you know?”
“I just do. She doesn’t fit the profile.”
“What profile? I didn’t know there was one.”
He didn’t answer her, but rolled back in his chair, painfully aware of how close he’d been to her. Her scent tickled his nose.
“What is it that you’re not telling me?” After a moment, she put up her hand. “Forget it. I know what it is you’re not telling me. Everything.” She pushed away from the computer desk and strode to the door.
Before she could open it, he asked, “Where are you going?”
“To work on another case,” she replied without turning around. “It’s obvious you don’t need me on this. I’m sure you can manage on your own, Agent Braxton.”
Running a hand over his jaw, he sighed. The woman knew exactly what buttons to push. “The item that was stolen from the bank is a matter of international security. We have reason to believe that the people responsible for the theft may have terrorist connections.”
Olena turned around and walked back to the desk. She sat down. “Can you tell me what exactly we’re supposed to be looking for?”
“No. In truth, we’re not completely sure, but we have our suspicions. And those will remain top secret.”
“So, we don’t know what was in the box, to whom the box belongs or who robbed it.”
“That pretty much sums it up.”
She eyed him carefully. He had the sense that she was probing him, could see right through him to the other side. After another second she grinned. “You’re here on your own, aren’t you?”
That statement took him aback. “I’m not sure I get what you mean.”
“I bet if I called the main Interpol office they wouldn’t have any idea that you’re here and working on this case.”