Page 17 of Shadow Operative

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Nia staredat Gage across the table.

This guy knew more than he was letting on. She just wasn’t surewhathe knew.

He came across as trustworthy.

But was he?

She swallowed hard as the thoughts turned over in her head.

“I appreciate you finding me,” she said. “But Rob is truly only a work contact. As much as I’d like to talk to you or someone else about the details of our business association, he’s the only one I’m authorized to talk to about most of those details.”

“I understand.” Gage nodded slowly, thoughtfully. “I only know that Rob said he needed me to come for some reason. When he didn’t answer his phone, I assumed he’d gotten distracted.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “Distracted?”

“You know, maybe he met someone and went home with her or something.”

Her throat tightened, and everything turned to gelatin around her. “Does he do that often?”

Gage shrugged. “No, but there’s always a first time.”

Why did Nia feel as if Gage was measuring her reaction?

Nia needed now more than ever to keep her cool. She couldn’t afford to give anything away.

Because she felt certain that as soon as she did, this guy would pounce.

Their drinks were delivered, a nice distraction from the intensity of the conversation.

But her relief didn’t last long.

Because just then Graham Boston, her vice president, called.

She excused herself to answer.

Nia’s lungs tightened at their conversation, at the events that were unfolding just as she knew they would. She couldn’t avoid reality forever, but the phone call had come more quickly than she’d thought.

She slid her phone back into her pocket and felt Gage studying her again.

“Is everything okay?” he asked quietly, a touch of curiosity in his words.

Nia shook her head. “I’m sorry, Gage. I don’t know how to break this to you. But the police . . . they found Rob. He’s dead.”

Gage stared at Nia. Stared at the tremble in her hands. Observed how her gaze darted. How her voice became throaty with emotion.

She wasdefinitelyhiding something.

But right now, he had to pretend to be clueless.

He braced his hands on the table. “What do you meandead?”

Nia glanced down at her barely touched latte. “There’s no easy way to say this. The police believe Rob was murdered last night. I’m so sorry.”

Even though Gage already knew that, his heart beat harder.

He still couldn’t believe it. Reality hadn’t fully sunk in yet. And hearing the words aloud . . . he didn’t have to act surprised.

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