Page 26 of Shadow Operative

Her thoughts remained heavy as she raced through the possibilities of what could be going on.

Gage was right about one thing. The person behind this was clever.

The killer had set Nia up to make it look like she’d done this. He’d erased the security footage. Now this person was threatening her with that photo.

She couldn’t put all the pieces together.

She only knew she could see the figurative firing squad ahead and knew she’d be in front of them soon if she didn’t find these answers.

She let out a deep breath as someone pulled up to the curb in front of them. In the blink of an eye, the door opened, and a leggy blonde woman rushed out.

Tears streamed down the woman’s face as she hurried toward the front door.

Her gaze stopped on Gage.

The next moment, she veered toward him and threw herself into his arms.

Nia gaped.

Who was this woman, and what in the world was going on?

Gage looked equally confused as he awkwardly patted the woman’s back.

“I just heard.” The woman sobbed into Gage’s chest. “I can’t believe Rob is dead.”

Gage squinted, still appearing stiff and unsure.

Finally, he muttered, “I . . . can’t believe it either.”

After another moment, the woman untangled her arms from around him. She straightened and pulled a tissue from her pocket to dab her eyes.

When she peered up at Gage, she let out a long puff of air and shook her head. “I’m sorry. You don’t know who I am, do you?”

“I’m afraid not.” He grimaced apologetically.

“Rob talked about you all the time, and I saw the pictures of you guys together. The ones where you wentcamping in the Ozarks. He told me some campfire story about you putting his tent on top of his SUV.”

Gage’s expression loosened. “Guilty as charged.”

She sniffed again. “I’m Brittany. Brittany Stevens.”

He remained quiet as if trying to place the name.

“Rob’s girlfriend,” Brittany finally explained.

Gage blinked several times as he stared at the woman. “His girlfriend?”

She tilted her head. “You mean he didn’t tell you about me?”

Gage drew in a long breath. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid he didn’t.”

At those words, Brittany burst into sobs again and buried herself in Gage’s chest.

It appeared to Nia that Rob had some secrets of his own.

chapter

twelve

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