Page 40 of Wired Target

“No need for a nice shirt anymore.I’m retired.”He rested his head on hers for a long moment.

“I have bad news as well.”Sophie straightened up and met Frank’s eyes.“Mother has resurfaced.One of her assassin associates tried to take me out using a drone, while I was off island for a case.”She filled him in on the attack at the Maui Albatross Sanctuary.“The woman who was beside me and hit accidentally by the dart has died.It’s a homicide now.The MPD will be knocking on my door any moment for a statement, at the very least.”

Frank’s eyes flared wide.“We knew it was only a matter of time until she tried something again,” he said darkly.“We have to nail that woman!”

“I verified that she wasn’t the one operating the drone.It had to be one of her associates with Mendoza’s agency.”

“My CIA contact hasn’t told me anything about this.Why?”

“I haven’t informed them yet.I need to get on that.”

They both heard the patter of Momi’s footsteps.“Poppa!”the toddler hollered through the French door that opened to the verandah.

“Hold on a minute!”Armita reached and opened the door, Sean in her arms.“Here you go.”

“Poppa!”Momi flew across the porch and threw herself onto Frank’s lap, hugging him around the waist.

“I’m glad to see you, too, princess.”Frank stood and picked Momi up.“Guess what I have in my pockets, Little Bean?”

“Jellybeans?”Momi’s smile took up her whole face.

“No,littlejellybeans!”Frank laughed as the toddler put her tiny hand in his shirt pocket and pulled out several bright Jelly Bellies, holding them up triumphantly.This was their little game, and it never seemed to get old for them.

Frank sat down with Momi in his arms, and she snacked on the usually forbidden sugar treat happily, resting her head on his chest.

Armita carried baby Sean over to his grandpa.“There’s someone else who’d like to say hello.”

“Hey, little man.”Frank gave Sean a tender kiss on the top of his downy head.The baby grinned and waved his arms with his usual good humor; the resemblance he bore to Jake in all but coloring smote Sophie as it often did.

Sophie stood up.“Dad, I hate to cut this visit short, but I’ve got a morning video meeting in my office.Stay as long as you like—go swimming with the kids.Please don’t rush off.The team here is on high alert; Armita will let them know if you do go outside the grounds and they’ll keep you covered as far as security goes.”

“It’s just wrong that you have to live like this,” Frank growled.

“Like what?”Momi rifled in his empty shirt pocket.“More jellybeans, Poppa!”

“Only a couple more, or your mama will say I gave you cavities.”Frank drew three more beans from the pocket of his trousers.The sight reminded Sophie of Raveaux—her father and Pierre wore the same style of menswear.

How was the hunt for Pim Wat going in Bali?She had to find time to reach out to Pierre and find out.

“Got to go, Dad.Be good, children.”She kissed their foreheads.“Armita, I’ll check in with you as soon as the meeting’s over.”

“Take your time,” Armita said.

Frank nodded.“I’m going to stay a while.Cool off with this little rascal in the pool,” her father said, and Momi whooped with delight.

Sophie slipped through the French door.She was smiling as she headed for her office and the video meeting with Dharma Dawnhorse’s young client Bernard Valas, but her expression faded as she walked down the hall.

Her father had cancer.Her fears about his health had been confirmed.

It was treatable.He had great insurance; he’d have the best care.Still, it was stage three, and that was serious.Sophie needed to find out more.

Sophie glanced at the clock; she had fifteen minutes before the video meeting.She used the time to research leukemia and its treatment and prognosis.Much would depend on what type her father had, and he hadn’t told her that.

They would walk through whatever came, together.

Sophie grabbed a handful of tissues and let herself have the five-minute crying session that had been so essential in getting through Jake’s death.She couldn’t afford to slip into depression right now.She had to stay alert and functioning; her family needed her.Her cases needed her.

When the five minutes had passed, according to ading!from her phone timer, Sophie straightened up, dried her eyes, and turned on her monitor for the meeting.

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