Page 10 of Coming Up Aces

“Yes. I trust the Hounds with my life. I would apologize for asking about your boss, but it doesn’t make sense. The FBI and the GIA have been after Haven as long as we have. Lucy St. Claire, nee Lazlo, worked for the GIA, and her job was to search for connections between The Ministry and governments. She wasn’t the only analyst assigned to doing so. David Spencer was in the same department, so who better to know the inner workings of the cult?”

“Okay, playing devil’s advocate here. Spencer knew all about The Ministry from a computer perspective, but infiltrating them from within would give him the evidence needed to put Talbert away.”

“Then why didn’t he do so early on? Why supply them with more weapons and boost their bank accounts for ten years? He wasn’t doing that to protect Rhi. I think the man got a taste of power and wanted more. And if a GIA agent could be swayed, why couldn’t someone from the FBI? You and I both know there are corrupt men and women in all factions of the government.”

“Dammit,” Rayna muttered and stood, pacing the living room. “I think you might be right. When Spencer was first brought in, I sat in on the interrogations. I questioned himextensively, blowing holes in his statements. More than once, he would look at my boss questioningly, like he was asking Fred to step in. I thought it was nothing more than he didn’t appreciate a female bearing down on him. But now…”

“Now?”

Rayna stopped pacing and sighed. “Spencer was moved after I went to Haven. Where to, we don’t know. That’s why my partner brought me here instead of taking me home. My boss informed Seth that the GIA and Deputy Director Grissom arranged for Spencer to be turned over to the GIA. When Seth tried to access Spencer’s files, they were locked down.”

“Are you sure you can trust your partner?”

“Absolutely. Seth was the agent who arrested Spencer, but he’s also one of my best friends.”

Unexpected jealousy reared its head. Ace didn’t do jealousy. He had no claim on Rayna. She pushed her jacket back to place her hands on her hips, exposing the weapon at her side. Fuck. Ace was glad she hadn’t pulled the gun on him when he tried to voice her.

“If your partner has you hiding out here, were you planning on going to the office?” Ace gestured at the way she was dressed.

“No. I was on my way to see Rhiannon and let her know her father may be roaming free. I thought it best to dress professionally instead of showing up in shorts and a T-shirt.”

“If Spencer is no longer in the FBI’s custody, Rhi isn’t safe, and I doubt you are either. The male has skills with a computer that are unbelievable. When Spencer was after Rhi and Ryker was taking her somewhere safe, Spencer remotely took over control of their vehicle’s computer system. If he and your boss are working together, they might have someone inside Haven keeping tabs on you.”

“I think I need to get out of here.” Rayna’s fear was tangible.

“Come home with me,” Ace offered. When she opened her mouth to argue, he stood and held up his hands. “Just until you know who to trust. Rayna, I vow on all that’s holy I will keep you safe. I have plenty of room at home, and no one will suspect you are staying with me in New Troy. Leave your phone here. I have a burner you can use to contact Seth if you need to get in touch with him.”

Rayna bit her bottom lip, staring over Ace’s shoulder. Sighing, she acquiesced. “Yeah, okay. Let me change clothes.” Rayna removed her jacket as she strode out of the room. While he waited, Ace walked over to the mantel and surveyed the photos. Joseph and Delia Edwards were a handsome couple with two adorable kids. His heart kicked up a notch thinking about having his own children someday. He would rather have shifter kids so he didn’t have to watch them grow old and die before him. Then again, a long life wasn’t guaranteed for anyone.

When Rayna returned, she was wearing cutoff shorts, which accentuated her toned legs, and a faded band T-shirt with sneakers. Her long hair was no longer in a severe bun. Instead, it hung loose past her shoulders. She was carrying a duffel over her shoulder with a garment bag draped across her arm. “I hate leaving my laptop here, but it’s also traceable.”

“Is there any information on it you need? If so, we can take it by the security firm run by one of the Hounds, and they can clone your hard drive.”

Rayna shook her head. “I’m afraid to turn it on. If it’s powered up, someone at the office could be alerted, then they’ll know I’m not at Haven. That, or they’ll think someone else is tampering with it. Since I’m supposed to be undercover, it’s best it remains off.”

“Then bring it with you but don’t turn it on.” Rayna hesitated but eventually slid the case’s strap over her shoulder. Ace reached out and took her bags from her and headed towardthe back door. “I parked a few houses down, but it’s best we don’t go out the front, just in case.”

“I wondered when I didn’t see a bike in the driveway. Do you have an extra helmet?”

Ace waited on the patio while Rayna set the alarm, then pulled the door closed behind them. “I drove my car. It’s less conspicuous.”

Rayna muttered, “Some agents we are, not picking up on a tail.”

Ace grinned. “Being a shifter means I can see well, so I was able to maintain a bit of distance.”

They cut through several yards with Ace searching the area for anyone who shouldn’t be there. When they got to his vehicle, Rayna whistled. “Damn, I think I’m in the wrong line of work.”

“I don’t splurge on much, but I did in this case.” Ace was proud of his car. Where most of the other Hounds drove SUVs or trucks, he’d chosen the high-end sedan for comfort as well as style. He opened the passenger door for Rayna after clicking the locks. Once she was seated with her laptop bag at her feet, he tossed her duffel into the back seat, placed the garment bag carefully on top of it, then angled around to the driver’s side. He started the motor and pointed to the large display screen. “Choose whatever you’d like to listen to.”

“Even if it’s today’s pop music?”

Ace figured she was testing him considering the shirt she wore. “Sure. I’ll listen to most anything except country, but if you like it, I can suffer through it long enough to get home.”

Rayna chuckled and chose a hard rock channel. Ace kept his eyes peeled for anyone following. With her boss possibly lying about Spencer, Ace needed to call Bishop and have him investigate Fred. “What’s your boss’s full name?”

“Frederick Hanson, why?”

“I’m going to call Bishop, our computer expert, and have him dig into the man. See if he can find any dirt.”

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