Page 135 of Undercover Billionaire

Chapter 33

Kelly

I sawRylie and Oscar together by the fountain as I crossed the street to the center of Dupont Circle.

They were doing their boyfriend-girlfriend act pretty convincingly. But what would her husband think if he saw them? After another kiss, I decided she might be right that the details were better left untold.

It went both ways, didn’t it? Did Oscar also have a wife who’d be jealous? I hadn’t bothered to ask.

Adam’s reassuring voice sounded weakly in my ear. “When you get to the outer circular walk, turn right, and sit where we can see you well.”

I nodded, remembering the admonition to not talk to myself. Reaching the outer walkway, I took a seat on the bench and checked my phone. It was charged, and I was five minutes early.

“That’s a good place to wait,” he said.

I nodded. Nobody caught my attention as I looked around.

My phone rang, and I jumped. My heart raced as I squeaked out my answer. “Hello?”

The voice was mechanical, disguised. “Did you bring the merchandise?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now listen very carefully. You are not to say a word, not a single solitary word. Nod, if you understand.”

I nodded and looked around.

Clearly, he could see me.

Nobody in my field of view was holding a phone, but then, he could have been in one of the many building windows overlooking the circle.

“Get up and walk right on the circle toward the CVS and P Street. Do not talk. Nod if you understand.” The distorted mechanical voice was disturbing in its own right.

I stood, nodded, and started that way, checking both directions and still not seeing anyone I recognized from work. I’d woken this morning in Adam’s arms, snuggled against the warmth of my own personal protective special agent, and I wanted him next to me now. Oh, how I needed him next to me.

Adam’s voice was hard to hear over the traffic. “You’re doing fine.” His voice in my ear was all I was going to get until this was over.

I hit the mute button on the phone and did my best ventriloquist imitation of talking without moving my lips. “Thanks.”

“I told you no talking,” the creepy voice said. “You think I can’t tell from the lack of street noise when you put it on mute?”

“It was a mistake,” I blurted out.

“One more mistake and she dies. Nod if you understand me.”

Who dies?I thought I was the one with a target on my back.

I nodded, afraid to ask who he threatened now.

“Stop there,” he said. “And sit on the bench closest to the garbage can. There is a phone taped under the seat. Hold it up when you find it.”

I pulled it out and held it up. It immediately started to ring.

“Answer it, and toss your phone in the trash.”

I dropped my phone in the trash can and took the call on the phone he’d left.

“Her fate is now in your hands. Nod if you understand.” The wickedness coming from this phone was unmistakable. He was pure evil.

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