Page 8 of Tango

“No, but I know Keith has.”

“Where’s Keith?”

“With Ivy.” She, too, seemed a million miles away.

“So, Keith is with Ivy, but you don’t know where Ivy is?”

“Sure, I’ll get the cook to make that,” she murmured. I moved to stand next to her and watched her watch her husband.

“What is going on?”

“A new tracker apparently popped up on his radar.”

“Which means?” I prompted.

“All team Blackstone have trackers in their watches.” She stopped and thought about her words. “There’s a tiny pin embedded in the strap. It tracks their whereabouts when they’re in the field. They can turn it off when they’re on leave and whatnot. It’s not like they’re used to keep tabs on them that way.” She spoke quickly when I gave her a look. “They got them after Cole was…” She shook her head as if the memory hurt. “Anyway, there are six active trackers as of an hour ago.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Blackstone has five members.”

“Where’s the sixth tracker pinging from?”

“Mexico.”

“Could it be?” I didn’t want to say it, but I knew we both thought about Lexi.

“No, it’s impossible. Only five watches were ever made under Frank’s orders. They were given out by Cole himself to each member of the Blackstone team.”

“What does Cole think?”

“That’s the million-dollar question.” She stepped back and covered her face, as stressed as Cole seemed to be. “Don’t share what I told you with anyone yet. Cole needs to think. We don’t need any false hope right now.”

“I promise I won’t.”

Ivy

“You can’t hide in here forever, you know,” Keith called as he stepped into the belly of the chopper. He sat down next to me and handed me a travel mug filled with hot coffee.

“I’m not hiding. I’m just sorting out my thoughts.”

He nodded behind his own mug. “Now, that’s something I can relate to.”

“How are you holding up?” I hoped to move the attention off me.

“No,” he shook his head and peered at me, “this moment is about you, not me.”

“Professionally, I’m okay, thanks.” I sighed. “But personally, I feel like a balloon that just had its strings cut and now I’m slipping away.”

“That’s normal. I’ve heard the wives say that kind of thing before when we’re about to go off on a mission.”

“You see, I know that.” I sniffed. “That’s my field. I sit in front of people or couples and coach them through the panic of a spouse leaving. But…” I sighed heavily.

“But you’ve never been the one experiencing the feeling.”

“Guess I’m really not good at being on the receiving end.” I shook my head.

“No one is,” he admitted, and for a half a second, I saw his mask slip. “Savi is someone great to talk to about this stuff.”

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