Love Undercover - Miley Maine Page 0,1

system for each other. He knew most of the details in my case, and the nature of his assignment meant he could do background checks and research without worrying about getting murdered for it. I had permission from my supervisor to lean on him when I needed his help, as long as it wasn’t excessive. So far, he hadn’t needed my help, but that could change.

I hadn’t talked to him in six weeks, so it was about time to check in.

When I needed to contact him, I always made use of a cell phone I kept in a safe at the bank. I sure couldn’t have a burner phone in my apartment, in case Laurent ever sent someone to snoop through it. And I certainly couldn't carry it around with me, because when I first started working for Laurent, one of his henchmen had searched me every time I walked in the office building.

That had stopped, but Laurent didn’t really trust anyone, not completely.

I was meeting the other agent today, at the bus stop for one of those tourist rides. Cliche, right? I didn’t give a fuck at this point. We would wait in line for the tour to Valparaíso, shuffling along with the crowds who were ready for their ten-hour day. I’d even brought a backpack so I’d blend in with all the people messing with their tubes of sunscreen and refillable water bottles.

I didn’t even know the other agent’s real name. The name he’d given me was Jack. Just Jack, no last name. Of course, Owen Baxley wasn’t my name either. Even my supervisor used Owen right now, just in case someone was listening to our phone conversations.

I’d met him before, but he’d be blending in too, playing the role of wide-eyed visitor from Liverpool.

There he was. I slid into the line next to him, right behind an older couple who seemed to have about ten grandchildren tagging along with them.

“What’s up?” he said.

“I’m probably going to need some digging soon,” I replied.

“I’m all ears,” he told me, popping a piece of gum into his mouth.

“I’m going to the target’s house for dinner tomorrow night,” I said, fiddling with my backpack straps and adjusting my hat. All the people in line were so fidgety. If we stared straight ahead and spoke, we’d stand out. “So I’ll either come back with a list of names to research, or I’ll end up at the bottom of the ocean.”

He put a pair of cheap sunglasses on. They had little Peruvian flags all over them.“So, if I don’t hear from you in a week, should I assume the worst?” he asked.

“Yep.” We were joking, but we both knew someone taking me out was a real possibility. It was part of the job when you were undercover. I knew that, and I accepted it.

Now I just had to get focused, and find out as much as I could tomorrow night at Laurent’s house.

Chapter Two

Kate

“What do you think about the flamingos? Are they pretty?” I asked Gabriel as I crouched by his stroller. I felt a little odd speaking so formally to a ten-month-old sometimes, but I knew it was good for him.

Gabriel pointed at the flamingos. “Buh,” he said.

“Yes, they’re birds.” I unbuckled the straps and pulled him into my arms, holding him so he could see them clearly. I wasn’t just a nanny to baby Gabriel, he was supposed to learn immersive English from me too. I had no training in teaching English, but his parents had assured me that I was only required to speak normally to him, and he’d pick it up.

However, they preferred me not to use any slang, which was harder than it sounded.

I wasn’t sure how much he understood, but he seemed to enjoy our walks through Bicentenario Park. The weather today was a perfect seventy-five degrees.

“Okay, time for us to go,” I said.

He waved at the flamingos. “Buh.”

“Yes, that’s right. Say bye to the birds.” We usually lingered at the park, and sometimes even toured the zoo if he’d had a good nap, but tonight I was supposed to attend a dinner with Mr. Laurent’s clients and some of his employees. He and Mrs. Laurent wanted Gabriel to attend, which meant I’d be there too.

Behind us, our driver and bodyguard, Mateo, stood a few feet away. I still marveled at having someone whose job was just to drive me and Gabriel around. In the town where I’d grown up, no one had a driver. Most of