Inod my acceptance.Thiswon’t be the first timeI’vefaked a relationship for the sake of a mission.
Thedirector finishes up with the whole team, dispersing assignments and directions on which leads to follow for now.Onceshe ends the meeting,Ledgersays, “Director,” and my mom walks over to the two of us.
Ledgershakes his head. “Idon’t know that it should beJaceon this assignment.”
Sheputs a hand onLedger’sshoulder and in a low voice, says, “Son, it’sJace.Dealwith it.”
Shewalks away, andIturn toLedgerwith whatI’msure is a smirk on my face, even thoughI’mtrying not to gloat too much.ButIdo a little, because heismy brother, so that makes it my job.
Ifeel the buzz of a text on my wrist, andIpull my phone from my pocket to look at it.
AgentWright:Wefollowed the subjects into a mall where we scanned for any dangers while they got pedicures.Thetwo subjects once again made us and used evasive maneuvers to lose us.
Panicimmediately grabs at my heart andIquickly type in a reply.
Jace:Didthey succeed?
AgentWright:No.Butwe let them think they did.
Ismile down at the text.Ilike this woman.
“So,”Charliesays andInearly jump.Ihadn’t seen her coming from behind. “What’syour plan for getting close toMackenzie?”
Islide the phone back into my pocket. “Ican’t ‘randomly’ run into her at a third location in less than twenty-four hours.”
“Yeah,”Charliesays, “that would set off more alarm bells thanNana’scooking in a smoke detector testing facility.”
“Exactly.SoI’llhave to stay out of sight until tomorrow morning.Then,IthinkI’llshow up at her work.”
Charlieclaps and says, “I’lltext you the address,” before skipping off to her desk.
Notthat we need it.Charliehas the information onMackenzie’slocation from the trackerIput in her purse, andCharliewill likely be in my ear asImake contact tomorrow morning.Butsharing information isCharlie’slove language, soIdon’t even bring up the tracker today.
ThenIhead over to my desk and get to work because finding the buyer and that briefcase is what’s going to keepMackenziesafe.
CHAPTER9
A PLAN TO WOO
JACE
Thefloor at theClandestineServicesAgencyhas been a hive of action all morning, with nearly everyone working to find the buyer of theEradicationproject and any information that we can about the location of the briefcase.Fromwhat we’ve heard so far, theFBIhasn’t learned much fromHendrickson, and they haven’t been able to track down his co-conspirator yet.They’reworried he might have left the country.
Iglance at my watch.Iwant to be atMackenzie’swork at a time a normal person might be taking their lunch break, yet not whileMackenzieis taking hers.ThankstoCharlie’salways impressive surveillance skills, we know she doesn’t take her lunch until one.
WhatIwould most love to do is to suggest toMackenziethat we go on a date somewhere safe, like staying in and watching a movie at my apartment, whichIknow is secure.Butthere are many reasons not to go with the safe choice, even beyond it being a first date that would probably raise warning flags forMackenzie.
Insteadof the safe choice, we need to go somewhere public where we can be seen.Thebest way to keep her safe is to capture the people who are trying to buy theEradicationproject files because they might have no problem getting rid of someone standing in their way.
AndMackenzieisn’t going to confine herself only to work and home all the time, which is where theFBIshadows her.So, ifIcan be with her at the times when she’ll be out in the world, then if the buyer knows where she is and are drawn to her,Ican be there to assess the threat level and protect her.Idecided a picnic in a park might be the perfect option.Plus,IthinkMackenziewould like it.
NowthatIam finally able to spend a moment on theMackenziepart of the mission,Charliehas thrown the pertinent images up on the big screens at the front.SheandIare standing in the open area, looking up at them,Charliewith her tablet in her hand.Oneof the pictures is ofMackenzieholding a baby that she’s making faces at, the baby laughing.Belowthe image, it readsMackenzieMacNeiland nieceAdelaide.
Igesture at the picture. “Iknow what she looks like, you know.”
“Butwe always have a picture of the subject up there.”
“Andher niece?”
