Page 108 of Perfect Order
If there’s one place I’m glad I’m not, it’s at Hudson. Keene is seething as his finger taps to advance through whatever is on his screen. Caleb’s face is grim. “Now that you’ve read everything you're able to, do you have enough of an understanding?”
Keene’s eyes glitter malevolently as they lift to the camera. “I do. And right now I feel like there’s going to be some people who are seriously shocked when they find out what’s been going on.” He nods to the screen to indicate the people on our side of the lens.
“Let’s find out.” Thorn slams his hands on the table. I bob my head almost automatically as he begins to drone on but quickly tune back in when he summarizes, “Basically, what I’m about to tell you about Leanne Miles is to be considered protected until declassified by the US federal government or your death—and I suspect the latter will happen first. Do you all comprehend me?”
The Mileses look at one another, confused, but still speak in unison. “Yes.”
“Sam. First, the most critical piece of information. What is Leanne Miles’s present location?” Thorn demands.
Just hearing him ask the question so bluntly after the heartbreak of my conversation with her a few hours ago causes me to shake. But my body seizes when Sam declares, “Unknown but alive and in the area.”
Chaos erupts from her parents. “Say that again, young man? And what makes any information about our daughter so important to our government?” her father demands.
Sam turns to face him. “Sir, Thorn is her handler. He and I worked together for many years before I left that part of my life behind. However, I was fully read in the moment Leanne disappeared from her sister’s apartment months ago. She’s running, because she feels she’ll endanger anyone she comes into contact with. He never had the chance to disclose to her I’m his inside contact here at Hudson.”
“What?” is shouted from multiple directions, including me. Her mother manages a weak “Handler?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Thorn completely ignores the small explosion Sam’s words cause—from everyone including myself to the Hudson employees on teleconference—to address Leanne’s mother. “There are others higher ranked than myself who would have preferred to have been here to explain, but they asked me to stand in their stead. Your daughter is one of our finest patriots. She’s rose to serve a call of duty when asked with pride and honor. She’s spent years unearthing intelligence that’s saved American lives. From a young age, she’s done so without accolades.”
Renee Miles is visibly shaken. “Leanne? My Leanne?”
Sam nods his head sharply.
“Is that why her sister was…killed?”
Keene intercepts the question. “According to the report I just reviewed, Leanne wasn’t certain. She’s been investigating the possibility of this night and day while trying to also determine if there was something about Kylie’s own life that might have caused this. She was completely transparent with one of my agents, who she determined had an active and proper clearance level to be read in about this part of her life.” Keene cuts his eyes in my direction before returning his attention to the Mileses. “She’s selflessly set aside her own grief to find Kylie’s killer. But in the course of the investigation, several attempts have been made on her own life.”
Renee gasps before turning on her husband. “Did you know any of this?”
Frank’s lips thin before he shakes his head. She whirls back to Keene for more information. He continues. “Not counting Kylie’s own death, the first attempt was in Silverthorn, just days after Kylie’s funeral.”
Renee cries out and collapses unto herself. It’s her husband’s arms that keep her standing.
I cross my arms behind my back while Keene explains about the drug she was slipped at the party. But even I’m stunned when I hear the details about StellaNova’s post. I clutch the back of the chair in front of me to keep my footing. Leanne ran to me for help, and I pushed her away. She told me to trust her. She tried to remind me to “Trust beyond trust, Kane. Please.” The words echo through my head.
“Christ. Oh Christ.” The words escape my mouth before I can stop them. I can hear my sanctimonious voice lecturing her about Beckett. And all the while, she was trying to let me know an attempt was going to be made on her life.
Again.
Caleb leans in and bares his teeth. “Be very grateful she’s as smart as she is, Kane. She’s managed to keep herself alive thus far. And with luck, there’s still a chance we can help her do that now.”
“Where is Leanne now?” The question comes from her father.
“Sam?” Caleb nods.
Sam presses a few keys, and Leanne’s voice fills the room.“I promised to avenge her. And I will. I need to tie up a few loose ends. Then, I’ll find my way to say my final goodbye.”
Her voice, as cool as the first time when she asked me aboutQ?za, fades away.
“When was that sent?” I demand.
“Hours ago, it was received by Thorn, right before he introduced himself to you, Kane.” I turn my heated glare on the larger man, who merely shrugs.
“What does she mean?” Renee cries frantically.
Her husband’s trying to soothe her when there’s a knock on the door at Hudson. Tony slips in. He bends over and whispers to Caleb, whose head snaps in my direction. “Kane, there’s something else. Beckett Miller.”
Cursing, I step forward. “What about him?”
