Page 78 of Trust No One

Before he’d finished speaking, Mel shook her head. “No. I never gave Diana my number. I trust her, and Gideon vouches for her. And she was genuinely angry when she saw what Gideon had found on the dark web.”

“Maybe Gideon gave her your phone number,” Dev said.

“Possible, but I doubt it. We’ll ask him.” She took a deep breath. Blew it out. “But you’re right. She might be a long shot, but we can’t rule her out. And I have no idea if he actually wants to meet us in Rock Creek Park, or if that’s a diversion.”

“Yeah.” Dev swallowed and studied her. “I remember you said ‘I don’t want us to end up in shallow graves in Rock Creek Park.’ How did you know it would bethatpark?” he asked.

Mel shrugged one shoulder. “Process of elimination. It’s a huge park, with lots of rugged terrain. If you want to kill someone in DC, that’s the place to do it.” She grimaced. “Kingsley already knows that. And as a side benefit? You hide the body well enough and it won’t be found for a long time, if ever.”

* * *

The thought of Mel dying, of being gone from his life, made Dev curl his arm around her shoulder and lead her toward the couch. He eased her down onto the cushion but kept his arm around her. Snugged her into his side. The thought of losing Mel made him curl his fingers more tightly around her. Snug her close. Comfort her. She’d had a shock, and he wanted to ease her anxiety.

And where the hell was that coming from? He’d never been about comfort before. Unless it was the kind of comfort that was found between the sheets.

But the devastation on Mel’s face gutted him.

He wanted to know how Kingsley had gotten hold of Mel’s phone number. As much as he didn’t want to think it was the CIA director, he didn’t have any other suspects. She hadn’t given Graciella her phone number – she’d taken the young woman’s number and given her the burner number. As for Gideon? Well, he’d handled the arrangements with the FBI director, so there’d been no reason for Mel to give Diana Redfield her number.

But she’d used it to call Bradford Allen. And that, along with Allen’s reluctance to move on Kingsley, was damning.

Someone knocked on the door. Lightly. Dev stood up. Put his hand on Mel’s shoulder. “Stay here,” he whispered.

He pulled his gun from the holster beneath his left arm and walked to the door. He didn’t use the spy hole. No sense risking a bullet to the brain.

Instead, he left the security lock engaged. Stood to the side and opened the door. When no gun muzzle appeared in the space, he said, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, you idiot,” Gideon said.

Dev closed the door, unlatched the security lock and opened the door. As soon as Gideon walked into the room, he closed the door and re-engaged the security lock.

“What’s going on?” Gideon asked.

Dev jerked his head to indicate that Gideon should come farther into the room. When they were all in the small sitting area, he sat down beside Mel and slung his arm over her shoulder again. Pulled her snug against his side.

Gideon raised one eyebrow as he watched but didn’t say anything.

Still holding onto Mel, Dev leaned forward. “Kingsley just called Mel. Wants to meet us tomorrow at Rock Creek Park. Offered us each a million bucks.”

Chapter 27

“What the hell?” Gideon stared at Dev as if he were insane. “Kingsley called? Offered money? Where did he get Mel’s phone number?”

“Thatis the question of the hour,” Dev said, clenching his teeth. “We’re pretty sure the only person Mel’s given her number to, besides Simon and Caroline, is Bradford Allen.”

Gideon stared at him for a long moment, then dropped onto the chair. “Seriously? You think the fucking CIA director is dirty? That he gave Kingsley Mel’s number?”

Mel shrugged one shoulder. “No one else besides Simon had it. I mostly used the burner phone.”

Gideon clenched his fists. “This changes everything. If the CIA is protecting Kingsley, all three of us are screwed.”

“Exactly,” Dev said, pointing a finger at Gideon. “And to top it off, they know where we work. They probably have the names of everyone else who works there.”

“We need to talk to Diana,” Gideon said, shoving his fingers through his hair, leaving it standing straight up. “Have her set us up with protection. At least until we can get out of town and back to Montana, where we’ll have the edge against Kingsley.”

“Not so fast,” Mel said, rising from the couch. Dev wanted to reach for her. Draw her close again. Protect her.

But there was no one in the room she needed protecting from. Except maybehim. So he crossed his arms over his chest instead. “Mel and I haven’t had a chance to talk about our strategy for tomorrow,” he said. He glanced at Mel, and she nodded at him. She trusted him to make a plan.

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