Page 31 of A Touch of Treachery
Desmond stuck a straw into the liquid and took a sip.“Mmm!You’ll have to give me the recipe.It’s delicious.”
Pablo grinned.A few months ago, he’d learned Desmond loved smoothies, and he had been trying new recipes out on the cleaner ever since.He’d even added some of the recipes to the menu, including a strawberry-vanilla concoction that tasted like a decadent cheesecake.
One of the chefs signaled Pablo, and he left me with Desmond and Gabriel.
I downed a few more bites of cake, but even the delectable treat couldn’t drown out my questions, so I pushed my plate away.“How was your meeting with your father?”
A disgusted look filled Desmond’s face.“Lots of blustering by the General, along with several threats, demands, and angry accusations.”
Desmond shrugged, as though his strained relationship with his father didn’t bother him, but I could see how much it did.
“Par for the course for the two of us.We’ve never really gotten along, and today went exactly as I expected.”He scrubbed a hand through his hair, rumpling the dark blond locks.“After our meeting, I went back to the bullpen.Joan, Diego, and I worked the rest of the afternoon, trying to track down Bryce, along with Henrika.”
I started to ask if they had any leads, but I held my tongue.I didn’t want to put Desmond in an even more awkward position than he already was in.Besides, my selfish pride wanted me to find Henrika on my own and prove to General Percy that I was as good an analyst as I claimed.
Desmond gestured at my notepad.“What are you doing?”
“Trying to track down a new nemesis.”
“Anewnemesis?Did I miss something?”
“Don’t you always, Slick?”Gabriel drawled.
Desmond glowered at the other man, but Gabriel gave him a sunny smile in return.
“I don’t miss things any more than you do, Gaby,” Desmond drawled right back.“But we all know Charlotte is by far the smartest person at this table.”
“At last, something we can agree on,” Gabriel replied.
I rolled my eyes.“Come on, fellas.Let’s focus on the task at hand.”
“Which is?”Desmond asked.
I gestured at my notepad.“Tracking down Nemesis.”
I gave Gabriel a pointed look.He grumbled, but he told Desmond about being contacted by Nemesis.
Desmond leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, his right index finger tappingout a quick rhythm on his left elbow.“And you have no idea who this person was?You justassumedshe was telling the truth and came to Tannenbaum Castle on a whim?”
“I wanted to make sure Charlotte was okay.Besides, a holiday party at a swanky castle sounded like fun.”Gabriel popped up the collar of his jacket.“Plus, we all know how good I look in a tuxedo.”
I snorted.“Only you would think battling a castle full of mercenaries was the epitome of a good time.”
Gabriel grinned again.“I’m special that way.”
I snorted again, then looked at Desmond.“Does the name Nemesis mean anything to you?”
He shook his head.“No.I don’t remember any missions with that name.No targets or informants either.”
My heart sank with disappointment.I’d known it wouldn’t be that easy, but I’d still hoped Desmond might have some sort of clue and an inkling of whether Nemesis was a true friend or another enemy waiting in the wings.
Gabriel polished off his coffee, then got to his feet, pulled out his wallet, and laid a hundred-dollar bill on the table.
“You don’t have to do that—”
He waved off my protest.“I’m happy to pay for my cake and eat it too.Give it to Pablo as a tip.I’ll keep digging into Nemesis and Bryce Finkley.”
Gabriel winked at me, tipped his head to Desmond, and left the diner.A black SUV cruised into the parking lot, avoiding the many potholes.Gabriel opened a door and slid into the back of the vehicle, which whisked him away.
