Page 19 of Zero Hour

“At least five more minutes,” Phoenix said. “The wall’s pure concrete.”

Crap. They weren’t going to make it.

Cole kept updating them. “Target’s two streets away. One street.”

Pat turned to Phoenix. “What’s the status?”

“Viper needs more time.”

“Fuck.”

Cole’s voice was urgent now. “She’s turning into Amir’s street.”

Pat made a split-second decision. “We have to run interference.”

Phoenix took off his earphones. “You want me to?—"

“I’ll handle it.” Pat threw open the van door.

Phoenix spun around. “You’re going in?”

“She’s seen you before,” Anna reminded him from HQ.

“Exactly.”

Leaving his earpiece in, Pat sprinted down the sidewalk, turning the corner just as Jasmine rounded it from the other direction.

They collided—hard.

“Oh!” she gasped, stumbling back.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” Pat said, reaching for her. Then, he paused and let his eyes widen, as if recognizing her for the first time. “You… You were with Amir Al-Jabiri at the restaurant yesterday, weren’t you?”

She gasped and stepped out of his arms.

“Oh, my God. You’re the man who nearly killed him.”

She took another step away from him.

“I know.” Pat raised his hands, hoping she wouldn’t run. “I apologize if I scared you. Amir and I go way back.”

Blade’s voice hit his earpiece. Anna had obviously called him over and told him what was going down. “What the hell are you doing, boss?”

Pat casually scratched his head, yanking the earpiece out and slipping it into his pocket.

Jasmine eyed him warily. “What are you doing here?”

Pat gave a carefully timed sigh. “I had to drop something off and was heading back to the office. I’m late, which was why I was rushing. I didn’t mean to nearly flatten you.”

She studied him. “You work nearby?”

“A few streets over.” He nodded in the opposite direction of Al-Jabiri’s house. A lie—but a believable one. “I’m Patrick, by the way.” He extended a hand. “And you are?”

A pause.

“Jasmine.”

He smiled. At least she wasn’t lying about her name.

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