Page 40 of Coming Up Aces

“What are you going to do?”

“There’s not much I can do considering that was early yesterday morning. I’m going to text Seth and see what went down.”

Va.nessa:I just now saw your texts. My friend is in the hospital, and I’ve been there since yesterday. What happened?”

Rayna didn’t expect an immediate reply, but her phone rang. “Hey, Seth.”

There was a brief pause, then a voice she never expected said, “Agent Bellamy?”

Fuck! What was he doing answering Seth’s phone? “Uh, yes, Sir. Where’s Seth?” Rayna covered the phone and told Regina to pull over.

“He’s working a case. Would you care to tell me why you’re texting your partner on a burner phone stating you were with a friend in the hospital when you’re supposed to be undercover at Haven?”

Regina pulled into a drugstore parking lot, put the car in park, and raised an eyebrow.

Rayna had no idea what Seth had told their boss when she wasn’t found at Haven. “Is Seth okay?”

“You need to worry about yourself, Agent Bellamy. Why aren’t you at Haven?”

“I was supposed to be there no longer than two months. The reasons for me being undercover there didn’t make sense in the first place since we all know how women are treated within The Ministry. When I had an opportunity to leave, I took it. Then I found out David Spencer is no longer in FBI custody, and that didn’t make sense either, so I remained undercover, only I was doing so outside the compound. David Spencer is still a threat to his daughter, and—”

“You and your partner seem to have differing stories, Agent. I want you in the office at oh-eight hundred tomorrow, or you’ll be written up for insubordination.”

Regina grabbed the phone and whispered, “What’s your partner’s name?”

“Seth McCauley.”

Regina put the phone to her ear. When she spoke, her voice took on that strange quality when voicing someone. “You will believe the story Agent McCauley told you. You will forget you spoke to Rayna.” She disconnected before giving Grissom time to respond.

“Thank you. The IT techs can still see my text message, but at least they don’t know— Shit.” Rayna disassembled the phone, removing the battery.

“Can they trace a burner? Is that why you removed the battery?”

“Probably. If I toss it, they may still be able to track it to New Troy.”

“Don’t panic. I have an idea. I saw it in a movie, but it might work.”

Rayna grinned despite the situation. “Yeah? What’s your idea?”

“We’ll send the phone somewhere else.” Regina flipped a U-turn and drove to the nearest bank where she took several hundred dollars out of the ATM. “Shit, I don’t know where the truck stop is.” Regina pulled into a spot at the bank and opened her phone, handing it to Rayna. She searched the internet while Regina got back on the road. They pulled into the truck stop twenty minutes later, and Regina parked in front of the building. “I’ll be right back.” She grabbed the phone Rayna had reassembled and got out, only Rayna didn’t want her going alone, so she followed.

Regina caught the eye of several truck drivers, but the female strode up to the closest one. “Excuse me, but I was hoping you could help a girl out.”

The burly man narrowed his eyes. “I’m a happily married man, young lady.”

Regina gasped. “I’m not a lot lizard, thank you very much.” She held out the phone. “I’m trying to hide from my ex-boyfriend, but I’m afraid he can trace my phone. He’s a cop. Would you be willing to take my phone with you and toss it when you’re out of town? I’ll pay you three hundred bucks for your trouble.”

“Hell, I’ll do that for free.” He held out his hand, and Regina handed the device over.

“You’ll toss the phone when you get out of town, and you won’t remember this conversation,” she said, her Gryphon’s voice echoing around the man.

After he repeated her words, he got in his truck. Regina grabbed Rayna’s hand, hauling her back to the car.

“Holy shit,” Rayna husked between laughs. “He thought you were a hooker.”

Regina flipped her braid over her shoulder. “Maybe we don’t tell Con that part.”

Rayna made an X across her chest. “Promise.”

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