Page 103 of An Epic Voyage
“Van Houten had a dead man’s switch,” Evangeline guessed.
Griffin nodded.“Indigo knew if he died, we all would.She saved my life.”
“Sounds like you did the same for her,” Rushing pointed out.“You prevented her from drowning.”
Griffin brushed the compliment away.“I just wish I could’ve spared her from getting shot.”
Evangeline let him off the hook.“It sounds as if that would’ve been impossible after Dr.Cheung’s announcement.Abdullahi would not have taken being double-crossed lightly.”
“Dr.Cheung is going to seek asylum in the United States,” Rushing supplied.“He has vital knowledge of Abdullahi’s operation.Their government might be able to shut the enterprise down before someone else steps up to take over.”
“What happened to Indigo’s face?”Evangeline wanted to know.
Griffin told them about the attempted rape by Van Houten’s bodyguard, Herm Gorden, and his subsequent drowning.“I’d have killed him for touching her if he hadn’t done it to himself.”
Indigo’s bosses were silent.He glanced from one to the other.They were both studying him with squinty eyes.Uh oh.Tactical mistake.He’d all but announced his feelings to them.Clearing his throat, he changed the subject.
“Before Van Houten caught us inside the safe, I found the missing military laptop I’d been tasked to recover.”
Rushing nodded.“We went to the island to hunt for Indigo when we couldn’t get in touch.Based on our last conversation with her, we located the room and computer.I let your boss know you’d found it, and it’s been successfully recovered.”
That was a tremendous relief.“Thank you.”
“As I’m sure Indigo told you, on paper, our agency doesn’t exist,” said Evangeline.“As far as the FBI and everyone else is concerned, you’ll be given credit for stopping the sale of the nuclear weapon.”
Indignant on Indigo’s behalf, he argued, “That’s not fair.This was all Indigo.She should get the recognition.”
“That’s not how we operate,” Evangeline replied.“We don’t do this for praise.”
That pissed Griffin off.Did they think he was a glory hog?“I don’t do this job for acclaim either.”
Evangeline’s cool exterior didn’t even crack.“I didn’t imply that you do.”
Rushing stepped in to diffuse the tension.“The people who tasked us with this mission will know Indigo’s role.”
In other words, the president.
“When you relay what happened with the numerous branches of government who will demand your side of the story, Indigo is who she appears on paper,” Rushing instructed.“A cosmetologist from Boston.”
Griffin didn’t pretend to understand how their organization worked.The Bureau loved taking credit for successful operations and wouldn’t hesitate to alter the narrative of how Van Houten and Abdullahi were brought down.Griffin didn’t have to like it, but he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Indigo or her job.
The doctor came out and all was forgotten.
“Ms.Adair was lucky.There was very little internal damage.No organs were hit.It’s a best-case scenario.She’s been stitched up.She does have significant bruising around the wound, so she’ll be doubly sore.”
Griffin winced.Saving him had caused that injury.
“Can we see her?”Evangeline asked.
“Yes.”
The doctor recited her room number.They thanked him and headed down the hallway.Griffin wanted to go in alone.He needed to touch her, make sure she was okay.He’d never been so scared as when he’d pulled her out of the water unconscious.
As it was, he entered first.Indigo’s eyes were closed, and an icepack rested against her swollen cheek.The sheets were tucked around her, but her arms were out, relaxing against her stomach.Tubes had been inserted in the back of one hand, and a blood pressure cuff was secured around her left bicep.The lights were dim, but one shone down on her, making her look ethereal, vulnerable, and so damn beautiful.
Her blue eyes fluttered open, and she spotted him.Her lips curved.“Hey.”
“Hey, babe.”Oops,there we went again, but then, he didn’t care.He was so incredibly happy to see her alive.
