Page 29 of Lethal Sins

The air hung thick with unfamiliar spices, a constant reminder of their displacement. Paige’s gaze flicked between the multiple high-definition screens lining one wall, each displaying a different angle of the embassy’s grounds. The juxtaposition was jarring, much like the tension simmering among the team members.

Worry for Jason gnawed at her gut, mirrored in the tight expressions and clipped exchanges of her companions. Twelve hours since leaving Cerro Flaco, and the strain was beginning to show.

A movement on one of the screens caught her attention. A serious-faced man in an impeccably tailored suit strode purposefully down the hallway, acknowledging the cameras with a curt wave. As a sharp knock echoed through the room, the team froze as one.

Hands flew to holsters, muscles tensing for action.

Only Mason didn’t move. He raised a hand, his voice low but firm. “It’s my contact. Koit. He’s a friendly.”

The door opened to reveal a mountain of a man, all broad shoulders and icy blonde hair. Mason greeted him with an elaborate handshake that morphed into a bear hug, the two men slapping each other’s backs with enough force to make Paige wince.

“For you. Darja knows you love it.” Koit thrust forward a nondescript Tupperware container, his face impassive. “You need anything?”

Mason’s face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. “Thanks, man. You’re a lifesaver.”

A ghost of a smile flickered across the man’s rugged face before he turned and vanished down the corridor.

As Mason pried open the lid, a wave of pungent aroma assaulted Paige’s nostrils. She fought the urge to gag, noticing similar expressions of disgust rippling through the room.

Tai’s voice was strained. “What is that?”

Mason inhaled deeply, eyes closed in bliss. “Vürtsikilu.”

Blank stares met his proclamation.

He snapped the lid shut, cradling the container protectively. “Pickled fish. And it’s mine. Keep your hands off.”

Tai made a theatrical retching sound. “Not a problem, dude. Seriously.”

Paige’s eyes met Cody’s, and a small smile passed between them. The familiar warmth that bloomed in her chest was quickly followed by a jolt of nervousness. She looked away quickly, her heart racing.

A little shared humor didn’t mean anything. He didn’t like her, or respect her. That’s what she needed to remember.

Turning slightly away from him, she focused on her dual laptops, her gaze flicking between the screens as she poredover the schematics of the Smithsonian Castle. The iconic red sandstone structure, with its medieval revival architecture, captivated her even in blueprint form. Turrets and spires reached skyward on her screen, a stark contrast to the utilitarian embassy room surrounding her. Despite the gravity of their situation, Paige couldn’t help but admire the intricate details of the Castle’s design—the asymmetrical layout, the decorative cresting, the distinctive Great Hall. It was a building out of a fairy tale, hiding secrets worthy of the darkest legends.

Despite her best efforts to focus on the fascinating architecture before her, Paige’s mind kept wandering to the past, replaying memories like a frustratingly catchy tune.

A younger Cody materialized in her mind’s eye, all charm and easy smiles. The memory of his hunky handsomeness sent an unwelcome flutter through her stomach, quickly followed by a wave of bitterness as she recalled his betrayal. Paige gritted her teeth, forcing the image away.

Her father’s face replaced Cody’s, stern and unapproachable. The revelation that he’d been designing security systems for the Consortium during their estrangement felt like a punch to the gut. Had he known who his real customers were? Cody’s words echoed in her ears, suggesting that her father’s prickliness had been a shield, not just for himself, but for her.

All this time, she’d imagined him wallowing in grief over her mother’s loss, painting him as self-centered and distant. But what if she’d misjudged him? What if, in his own misguided way, he’d been trying to protect her?

The conflicting emotions swirled in her chest, a maelstrom of anger, confusion, and a reluctant glimmer of understanding. Her frustration mounted as she toggled between floor plans and security protocols, finding no trace of the hidden lab Cody had mentioned.

Was he toying with them? Leading them into a larger trap?

With a growl of exasperation, she slammed her hands down on the table. The sharp sound reverberated through the room, drawing curious glances from her teammates. The laptops wobbled precariously, mirroring her own unsteady state of mind.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered, glaring at the screens as if they had personally offended her. “There’s nothing here. No secret passages, no hidden elevators, not even a suspiciously large broom closet.”

Cody joined her at the table and pointed at her laptop. “Can I?”

She leaned back and nodded.

Layers of screens splashed past as he commanded the keyboard. Finally, he grunted in satisfaction. “Here they are. I downloaded these blueprints before I went off-grid.”

Paige printed the sheets and brought them back to the wide desk and leaned in, her eyes widening as she took in the intricate details of a hidden basement lab and a network of tunnels snaking beneath the Smithsonian Castle.

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