Page 55 of Lethal Game

"I was talking out of hand. Sometimes, I forget you're under my protection and not my partner," he admitted.

"Can't I be both?"

"No, you can't be both. You're a civilian and I need to keep you safe."

"You were going to say one of us is expendable, weren't you? And I'm probably the expendable one because yesterday they tried to kill me."

"Maybe only because you were easier to get to," he said.

"I wonder if my dad knows everything that's happened."

"Did your mother have any idea where he is?"

"No, but she said it was possible my dad confided in Henry. When Henry came to visit her on Wednesday night, he said something like,I know what you know, and I think we need to talk about it.She was confused and not feeling well, so she just let the comment drop."

"It seems surprising your father would tell anyone after so many years of living a secret life," Jason murmured.

"My mom said they got very close after Henry's wife died. I think we should speak to Henry again, maybe after work when Lauren isn't around. We could go to his house."

"Unless she's living with him."

"I don't think it's gone that far. I'll text him later and tell him I want to speak to him alone." She felt good that they had a plan, even if it might go nowhere. It was one step toward taking back some control over her life.

Shortly before three, Jason pulled into the lot next to Stella's, careful to survey the area before getting out of the car. He'd made several turns and taken many side streets on their way here, and they had both turned off their phones miles back, so hopefully they were untraceable.

Since it was late for lunch and early for dinner, there were plenty of empty tables in the café. He ordered a chicken wrap with a side salad, while Alisa went for a Cobb salad with chicken. They headed for a table by the window, and he took the seat facing the door so he could see anyone coming into the café.

"You look wary," Alisa commented, as they waited for their food. "Are we okay here?"

"Yes. Don't take my wariness for anything more than just wanting to make sure I've covered my bases."

"Okay. That's good to know. I've always been pretty cautious. My dad always warned me to be aware of my surroundings, whether I was at the mall, the beach or even at a party at someone's house. He hammered away at the idea that good people sometimes have hidden motives, and I need to know, really know, someone before I trust them." She paused. "Considering what I've learned about him, those warnings take on a different meaning now. I always thought he was over-the-top protective, but he must have had some lingering fear that one day my life might be in danger because of him." She took a sip of her water. "I just wish he'd told me. Maybe not when I was a kid, but I'm twenty-eight years old. I'm an adult. He should have brought me into the secret."

He could see the pain and also the anger in her gaze. She loved her dad, but she felt betrayed, and he could understand why. "I'm sure he was just terrified that the truth would put a barrier between you, that you might not understand or be able to forgive him," he said, wanting to dissolve some of the heartbreak in her eyes. There was something about Alisa that made him want to make her feel better. Maybe because she was makingsuch a valiant effort to be strong and brave in the face of terrifying danger.

"I definitely would have asked more questions than my mother," she said, taking a swig of her water.

"Another reason for him not to tell you, because he couldn't give you any answers."

"How do you think his life caught up to him?" she asked. "And if his old life was tied to Novikov, what was he doing with a Russian terrorist? Was he a terrorist, too? That seems completely unbelievable to me. He's not a violent person. He never even raises his voice when he's angry. In fact, he gets quiet when he's mad. I can't fathom how he could hurt anyone."

"Well, if he left that life, then he definitely didn't want to hurt people."

"I guess that's something to hang on to." She paused as his phone vibrated. "I thought you turned off your phone."

"I turned off one of my phones. This is an untrackable burner. I rerouted my texts to this phone in case anything urgent came in." He pulled out the phone and read the message, unhappy to see that despite their efforts to keep the status of Novikov within a tight circle, suspicions were flying.

"What is it?" Alisa asked.

"A text from my father's longtime friend and partner, Patrick Hastings. Patrick was also involved in the case three years ago. He heard Novikov might be in town and wants to talk to me."

"Why do you have a grim look on your face? Do you not like him?"

"I like him fine. Patrick was a mentor to me and very close to my dad. They were friends for thirty years. But Patrick was part of the investigation three years ago. In fact, he was with me when we got to the house and found my father and Stephanie…" He drew in a heavy breath. "I told you I believed there was a leak, and that's why I wanted to keep the circle tight on Novikov's reappearance now, but Stephanie caught wind of it and now Patrick. Clearly, the news is out."

"How big of a concern is that?"

"Maybe not that big. The operational details will still be kept within my task force. But I need to be more careful this time. I have to assume Novikov is playing the same strategic game he always plays, and that involves manipulation and set up."

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