Page 31 of Wired Strong

“The Master is a spiritual, military, and spy agency leader, all rolled into one,” MacDonald said. “And Connor, as his Number One, or second in command, is being groomed to take over. I can’t see him giving all that up. And were he to betray the Master, the world would not be a big enough place for him to hide from all of the trained ninja assassins who’d come after him.”

“Well, let’s let Marcella take her long shot and see what happens, since we don’t have any better ideas,” Waxman said. “Keep us informed, MacDonald, if your contact has any updates for us.” They wrapped up the meeting.

Waxman shifted his chair to look at Marcella as the telemonitor slid out of sight. “How do you feel about using your friend this way?”

Marcella frowned. “Well, that’s a stark way to put it, because the truth is, I don’t think Sophie is going to be safe until both Pim Wat and Connor are out of her life. The Master, I’m less sure about. Frankly, I don’t care what he does over there in Thailand as long as it doesn’t affect my friend.”

“Are you able to keep this team, and your role on it, confidential?”

Marcella met Waxman’s gaze squarely. “I will do whatever is necessary to gain the objective of removing Connor and Pim Wat from Sophie’s life. That may involve keeping my role here secret; or it may be wiser to take her into my confidence. I will know when we have that conversation.”

* * *

Marcella neededto work out after the tension-filled meeting, and there was no time like the present for implementing phase two of her plan. She hit Sophie’s number on her favorites list. She was delighted when her friend picked up. “Sophie! How do you feel about a workout? I’m headed over to Fight Club to deal with the office blues.”

“I’m sorry, Marcella, I worked all night on the computers for our latest investigation, and I just woke up from a nap in my office. I’m afraid I have to keep going with this project.”

Sophie had been so conscientious about her health during her pregnancy with Momi. “Are you sure keeping those kinds of hours are good for the baby?”

“Whatever keeps me calm and not too stressed is what’s good for the baby,” Sophie said. “And at the moment I’m avoiding my father.”

Marcella’s attention sharpened. “What did he do now?”

“I found out he was aiding and abetting the investigation into Connor, so I’ve been staying away from the apartment since I found out. It’s impossible to be around him and not be angry. I don’t know if I can hide that, and I’m not sure confronting him is the right thing to do right now. Currently, he doesn’t know that I know he was involved with that investigation— and two agents tried to grab me the other night! I’m in full avoidance mode at the moment. I feel safest at the office.” She yawned.

Marcella’s mind raced—if Sophie found out Marcella was on that task force, it could be the end of their friendship!“I’m sure your dad only did that to try to protect you.”

“I believe that, too. But I don’t appreciate his interference. He thinks that he knows what’s best for me and my relationships.”

Marcella felt Sophie’s words penetrate. “You see that as betrayal.”

A long pause, then Sophie sighed. “I just wish that he would talk to me about his concerns, instead of manipulating things behind my back. If he did, I could assess whether or not going along with his plans was a good idea. Of course, I have concerns about what Connor is doing. I would never contribute to his capture because of our friendship, but Pim Wat or the Master? I would absolutely help bring them in if I got a chance. I’m sure that this team is actually much more interested in capturing Pim Wat than Connor.”

Her comment was a golden opportunity for Marcella. “Well, how about lunch? You have to eat, and I have something important I want to talk to you about.” Marcella still couldn’t take the chance that the phone was tapped, and this was the kind of conversation she wanted to have in person, anyway.

“Let’s get together at our favorite noodle place,” Sophie said. “It’s been too long since we went there.”

“Yay!” Marcella clapped her hands. “As long as you didn’t suggest my parents’ restaurant, I’m down.” Marcella’s Italian parents ran a breakfast and lunch place that did a brisk business in the heart of Waikiki.

“Your parents’ food is excellent, but they also love to stop by the table every five minutes.”

“That’s exactly the problem.” They firmed up their plan of meeting for a meal before the noodle place got busy, and Marcella ended the call.

She felt a little better. She would lay it all out in front of Sophie, and let the chips fall where they may. That way, no matter what else happened from there, Sophie couldn’t say that Marcella hadn’t been honest with her.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Marcella

Marcella had arrivedat the noodle house a little early. She scanned the long room with its row of simple, brown Naugahyde booths and a polished wooden bar that the cooks worked behind.

A wave of grief hit her unexpectedly: she’d met Jake for the first time at this very place when she was here last. Sophie’d called him to meet them for a meal, and Jake had walked in with all the energy of a thunderhead blowing across the horizon, and the charm of his grin had been the lightning.

Jake had been a man who was hard to ignore. She remembered the reluctant tingle of attraction she’d felt as he shook her hand. She was happily married to a very sexy man, and still, Jake had affected her.

Would there ever be someone like him again? There was no answer to that. Jake had been here, he had brightened up the freakin’ planet, and now he was gone. No wonder Sophie was so happy about being pregnant. Maybe their child would have a little of that same dynamic energy. And if not, that was fine too.Jake would always be remembered.

“Sit anywhere,” the cook called out, his face shiny with heat in the shade of a cocked paper chef’s hat.

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