A Hippogriff for Christmas - Zoe Chant Page 0,47
we do about the human hostage?”
Annie blinked as Beau cast a quick glance in her direction. “I can deal with that,” he said. He pointed at Pete. “You said there’s a big party on tonight, right? I can go undercover as a guest, find him, and get him out before the team goes in. I can get you some layout info of the house too so you won’t be going in blind.”
Annie realized now why Beau had glanced at her before he spoke.
A mission like that – it could be dangerous.
She felt her heart pick up the pace a little in her chest.
The thought of Beau in danger was not one she enjoyed at all.
As if he could sense her thoughts, Beau looked at her again, his dark eyes meeting hers.
“I promise you, this isn’t too serious of a mission,” he said reassuringly. “I can see how it looks that way, but I’m not a risk-taker. At all. And I’ve had years of training for this. I’ll be in and out before they know it.”
“Not likely,” Pete piped up again. “Not by yourself, anyway. You won’t get in the front door.”
Beau glared at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Tonight’s ladies’ night,” Pete said, ignoring Beau’s glare. “It’s women only on the gaming tables. The boss likes to throw these kinds of parties once in a while. So unless you’re planning on putting on a dress and wearing a wig – which I doubt would be all that convincing, no offense – you’re not getting in. No single men allowed.”
Beau frowned. “Are you serious?”
“You can try it and see, but yes, I am,” Pete shot back. “Ask your friend Declan here – I never tell a lie.”
Annie doubted that very much, but nonetheless, Declan nodded. “Everything he told us about the Vegas scam was correct.”
Beau sighed. “All right. No biggie. Are there any female agents in the specialist team Hardwicke is sending?”
Declan swallowed. “Uh, no. Sally’s on leave, and she’s the only one in that squad.”
Annie held her breath, clenching her fists at her side.
“I guess we could send word, but a female agent wouldn’t arrive until much later, and the clock’s ticking here,” Beau said. “Sooner or later they’re going to come and check if Pete here has done his job, and if they figure out we’re onto them they’re going to clear out fast.”
And who knows what’ll happen to Scott then, Annie mentally added. To her, ten thousand dollars seemed like a lot of money – but to people running a gambling den, it was probably an acceptable loss to escape justice.
“I can –” she said softly, before cutting herself off.
What am I doing?!
“Anyway, can any of our agents even play poker or anything like that?” Beau asked. “I mean, long enough to allay suspicion.”
“No idea,” Declan said.
Annie took a deep breath. She might be about to do something crazy, but she also wanted to help. And as douchey as Scott was… his father had been good to her. If she could do something to help to spare him pain, then she knew she had to do it.
“I can play poker,” she said, her voice louder and firmer this time.
As one, Beau and Declan turned to look at her.
“I’m not saying I’m some kind of genius at it or anything, but one of my foster dads taught me,” Annie continued on, speaking quickly. “He played professionally, but it turned out he wasn’t reporting his winnings to the IRS. So when they caught up with him I had to go back to the orphanage. But for a while I got pretty good at it. I can remember enough to keep it up for a while.”
Beau’s eyebrows were drawing together. “Annie, if you’re saying what I think you’re saying –”
“What other choice do we have?” Annie asked, interrupting him. “It’s like you said – we don’t have much time. And as much as I don’t like Scott, I owe his father a lot. He helped me out when no one else would, and gave me a job and helped me get my life on track. If I can help him, there’s no way I can’t do it.”
Her heart sank as Beau shook his head. “I can’t have you in danger, Annie,” he said. “These people, we don’t know what they’re like –”
“You said yourself there’d be no danger,” Annie insisted. “In and out before they knew it – that’s what you said. If all I’m doing is providing a way for