Page 10 of Laura's Truth

“Your cousin must be thrilled you’re alive.”

“I plan to watch from a distance.”

“That sounds like a veiled plea for me to take over this unfortunate encounter.”

“You’re welcome to try.” He knew she wanted to. Her exemplary record hadn’t happened by accident. She enjoyed being in control and she had the skills and smarts to get what she wanted from any situation. He couldn’t afford to let down his guard or show the slightest weakness. Given any opportunity, she’d jump on it and he’d find himself on the wrong side of a prison door.

The taxi navigated the traffic and zipped onto the exit ramp for the airport. He had only minutes to convince her to cooperate with him.

“Do me a favor?”

“Do I look like I’m feeling generous?”

“Call it an exercise in good faith. Doesn’t the military get off on exercises?” One of her dark eyebrows dipped low over her eye as she glared at him. “All I want you to do is use your phone to book a rental car.”

“I don’t need a rental.”

Technically, neither did he. Easy enough to steal the right vehicle, but he wanted to see who showed up to intercept her. “I think we’re both in trouble,” he explained. “Test my theory and book the rental.”

“No.”

“Scared I’m right?”

“Hardly.” She slipped one hand into her jacket pocket and he knew she was considering. “No one has any reason to be after me. An intercept proves nothing since they’re looking for you and they’ve seen me with you.”

“They is the key word. We’re at a disadvantage. Even if we don’t yet know who we’re up against, at least we can learn how resourceful they are.” He caught the spark in her eyes and knew she was on the hook. Smiling, he added, “So we separate. If I’m wrong and no one shows up to hassle you, I’ll tell you everything that brought me to Charleston.”

She was so transparent—to him—and he shouldn’t feel so validated watching her brain kick into high gear behind those wide hazel eyes. Whether she believed him… well, he’d burn that bridge when he got there.

When her phone came back on, she booked the car, letting him watch over her shoulder as she stepped through the process. “I’m not stupid, Garner. If we separate, you’ll run.”

“What if I promise to let you catch me again?”

“You’re damned annoying.”

“Been called worse,” he replied with an easy smile as the cab dropped them in front of the terminal. He handed over cash and held the door for her. “Together or apart?”

“This airport doesn’t offer much in the way of cover either way.”

“That’s the point, isn’t it?” The man who’d tailed her to the churchyard had been too confident to be working solo.

Drew had missed a detail along the way. Somehow, he’d underestimated the potential threats, his enemy’s resources, and the most likely responses to his presence stateside. He knew it wasn’t as simple as someone tracking his passport. He’d entered the country by car through Canada. As a woman. He couldn’t wait to see Talbot’s reaction when he told her that.

While he hadn’t bothered reviving his basic knowledge of local geography, he had kept tabs on every person with any ties to that screwed up mission. Following his target into territory so close to Carpenter’s base of operations, he’d expected the threats and bluster if Carpenter or any of his friends spotted him.

Talbot hadn’t disappointed. Armed or not, he knew she wouldn’t have used lethal force against him unless he’d been threatening civilians. But he hadn’t anticipated her being tracked or her communications compromised. He stopped berating himself for the error. There hadn’t been any reason to think Carpenter, or whoever he might send, would be under surveillance.

She thought he was messing with her, but he needed to get a look at the team tracking her to know how damaged his plans were. He could pray it was something unrelated to his purpose here, but the warning bells sounding in his head wouldn’t stop clanging.

They stepped into the terminal and hit the chilly wall of air conditioning. He still wasn’t used to the effect. She headed straight for the car rental desk while he paused to pick up a tour company brochure from a display. Security ignored them. That was a plus.

He admired her for rolling with the situation and was enjoying the view of her sexy stride as she walked away when he spotted the first problem.

The khakis and loud Hawaiian shirt did nothing to make the man built like a fire plug less threatening as he followed in Talbot’s wake. A phone to his ear and a wheeled bag at his heels, he wasn’t fooling Drew.

One down. At least one to go.

No, the airport didn’t offer much cover, but it made it easier to sort friend from foe. He chatted about the weather while he purchased a bottle of Coke and the latest issue of Time magazine.

---