Page 85 of While You Were Spying
“Is there a chance you were deployed with them at some point while in the military?”
“Maybe. A long time ago. But I don’t believe it’s that. Not that it matters. Knowing who they are won’t get us out of here.”
“Did you find anything on Bernard’s computer?”
“As far as I can tell, he’s involved in money laundering, but he’s working for someone else. He’s not the brains of the operation.”
“If he’s doing something illegal, then why risk it all by having Jayden and me come down to the resort?”
“He probably wasn’t expecting me to hack his computer. As far as he knew, none of what he’s been up to would come under our scrutiny. But that’s not all. Turns out Tyler Mathews wasn’t just a resort guest. Bradshaw has records of legal dealings with the man.”
I shift my body, trying to get more comfortable. If that’s even possible. “What kind of dealings?”
“That part I didn’t get to find out. The armed men picked that moment to barge into his office. All I caught was that Tyler was involved in the transfer of a large sum of money into one of Bradshaw’s bank accounts.”
“So it’s possible that the alleged theft of the memory stick had to do with that?” I continue searching for something to help us escape—which would be great if I could levitate said item over to me. And then use the magical powers I don’t possess to unfasten myself from the shackles. “If there was something on it that revealed Bernard was participating in money laundering or some other crime, he certainly wouldn’t want the contents of it to go public. That would also explain why he hired us instead of going to the cops.” Except he didn’t realize one crucial element…whenever Liam’s team suspects criminal activity, they turn the evidence over to the police—or the FBI, as the case may be.
The room is quiet for a moment as I ponder our current dilemma. “Jayden will find us,” I say with a heavy dose of optimism. It’s all I have on me right now.
Too bad I can’t unlock these shackles with it.
That would be more helpful.
“I’m not so sure about that,” Mr. Optimism Killer says. “They took our phones and destroyed them. Connor has no way of tracking us.”
“Aren’t you like the equivalent of James Bond’s Q? Don’t you have one of your nifty inventions on you?”
“Sorry to disappoint, but no. What Q creates goes well beyond Liam’s budget. Plus Q has a huge staff of researchers and designers. Or did you miss that part in the movies?”
I grunt an unladylike sound. “You’re not very helpful.”
“Be sure to tell Liam that when it comes to my annual performance review.”
I might not be able to see his expression, but I can’t miss the if-we’re-lucky-to-still-be-alive smirk in his tone.
“Now that I’ve shared how I found myself in this predicament, why don’t you tell me why you’re here and not having dinner with Jayden? I thought that’s where you two were headed.”
I wiggle my wrists in the shackles, attempting to restore the circulation to my arms. “We did have dinner, and if we ever get out of here alive, the three of us really need to go back there. The food is to die for.”
I inwardly cringe at my choice of words.
“You have yourself a date. Assuming Jayden doesn’t have an issue with it.”
“Why would Jayden have an issue with the three of us going out for dinner together? Is it against a company policy I’m not aware of?”
“You really have no idea, do you? Hell, probably neither of you has any idea.”
“No idea about—”
The sound of the door being unlocked halts the rest of my words. And my heart, which was trying to convince itself everything will be okay, decidesFuck that.
I can barely hear the door opening over the thundering pulse in my ears, which has quickly grown in intensity.
Please be Jayden.
But even before the door opens, I know it isn’t. Why would he even think to look in here?
As far as he’s aware, I went missing at the restaurant—which is true. Why would the kidnappers risk bringing me here instead of taking me to a location that isn’t right under his nose?
