Page 29 of Wired Target

“Pim Wat’s trying to take me out first this time.”

Connor needed a moment to absorb this.He stood up from the ergonomic stool where he’d been sitting at his workstation and walked over to the single window.He stared down into a courtyard where the ninjas of the Yam Khûmk?n were drilling below.

Waning daylight cast long shadows that danced beside the moving men in abstract patterns.A scarlet jungle bird flew by, sunset catching on its black-trimmed wings.He focused on these things as he listened to Sophie’s tale and cursed when she came to the part about the drone attack.“You never should have gone to Maui!”

“I know that now.I didn’t expect this kind of attack from her in broad daylight, with a drone of all things!But she wasn’t piloting the device; it was likely one of Mendoza’s assassins.”

Connor bit back objections as Sophie described going after the operator herself, alone and unarmed.There was no point in protestations after the fact; she’d done what she’d thought best and emerged unscathed.

But the risks she’d taken left him chilled.

Connor returned to the computers and put on his headphones, connecting the Bluetooth.“Let me check on how the victim is doing.Your situation is going to get very complicated if the woman dies.”

“Her name is Sari Gadish, and she is a lovely person,” Sophie’s voice wobbled.“I’m just sick that this happened.I had to tell Lei what the real situation is with my mother.When I left Maui, I asked her to keep it quiet so that we can pursue the drone operator ourselves, but I have no guarantee that she will.If she brings Pim Wat’s name into the MPD investigation, that will mean the FBI will get involved.”

Connor’s fingers had been a blur on the keys since he sat down as he used his Ghost software program to hack into the MPD’s database.“I found the police report on the drone attack.Looks like it was submitted by one Abraham Torufu.”

“Yes.Abe Torufu is Lei’s friend.He was working with Lei to make sure the drone wasn’t armed when I left.He’s the island’s bomb deactivation technician.He’s also on the board of the Albatross Sanctuary, and he’s the one that drew Lei in on their case involving missing eggs.I came because it seemed like the two cases might be connected.”Sophie sighed, and she sounded infinitely tired.“I was able to verify that Armita and the children are okay.My security team at the Kailua house is on high alert.I plan to work from home until this latest threat is under control.”

“Please confirm when you’re safely in your home.”Connor had a new thread to follow online, but he’d been cultivating the ability to focus on more than one task at a time and this posed no challenge.

“Didn’t you send Raveaux to Bali to look for Pim Wat?”

“I did, and he and his team are overdue to check in.”Connor squinted at the monitor; he’d used a link in the report on the drone attack victim to follow the data to the hospital database.His eyes widened as he read her status.“Sari Gadish is deceased.She died a few hours after arrival at the hospital.Your drone attack is now a homicide.”

“Oh no!”Sophie’s voice broke.“I can’t handle this.”

She ended the call abruptly, and the silence after she did so was as painful as a bruise.

His beloved was hurting.

Connor was half a world away, unable to comfort her.If only he could take her in his arms and provide a safe place for her and the babies.“Damn Pim Wat to hell.May she rot for eternity, tormented by the souls she’s taken.”

Sophie’s elaborate curses were wearing off on him, but no words were enough.

Nothing but finding and stopping Pim Wat could alleviate this pain.He needed to get in touch with Raveaux in Bali.

Connor’s entire spy network was looking for Pim Wat, but now that he had this information, he could both widen and focus the search; Pim Wat must be working with one of Mendoza’s operatives again, as Sophie had speculated.

But what if the attack on Maui was a diversion, part of a multipronged assault?

What if Pim Wat was going after Sophie’s house—or coming after Connor here at the compound—herself?

In fact, that was the likeliest scenario.

“Divide and conquer,” Connor murmured.“That’s what she’d do.”

He reached for the silk rope that rang a bell for Feirn.He would put the fortress on high alert, and then he’d get in touch with Raveaux.

Connor moved quickly to rally his troops and get the fortress locked down—but when he tried Raveaux on his private line, the device went straight to voicemail.

A cold unease tightened the notch where Connor’s skull met his spine.

Why hadn’t the Frenchman and the ninjas he’d sent to meet him checked in?

They were probably in transit somewhere.He’d try again later.

Meanwhile, it was time for Connor to take that top secret surprise trip to Oahu that he’d planned.All he had to do was alert his men and the pilots.Early tomorrow morning would be perfect for his departure for Hawaii.

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