Page 93 of Fear of Flames
This wasn’t the time to discuss the condition of the apartment when Michelle arrived. “You said you’ve been with the agency for ten years.”
“Shelly, are you all right?”
“Peterson broke into this apartment and threatened me.”
“What the fuck?” She opened her coat, revealing a holster. “Where is he?”
“I thought you said you were brain not brawn.”
Olivia removed the gun from the holster. “You don’t spend ten years in the agency without learning a trick or two.” Her hazel stare met Michelle’s. “Where did he go?”
“He’s in there.” Michelle pointed. “He’s not going anywhere. I shot him.”
“Damn, you do belong here. Tell me everything.”
“I need to get ahold of Arrow. Peterson sent Leo and him into a trap.”
Olivia’s eyes widened. “You’re serious.”
Michelle nodded. “How do you reach agents on missions?”
“Usually, you wait for them to contact you. But I know the pilot who flew them out. Let me try to reach him.”
Michelle took a ragged breath. The adrenaline racing through her circulation was morphing to fear, fear for Fletch.
Olivia removed her phone from her coat pocket and hit a contact. “It went to voicemail,” she said to Michelle.
“Shit. It’s what my call to Fletch did.”
Olivia spoke, “Pete, it’s Liv. I know where you went. Tell me if Leo and Arrow have returned.”
When she disconnected the call, she looked at Michelle. “What are you going to do about Peterson?”
“No idea. He’s not the top, is he?”
“No. Top here, but here is only one place. I say we contact the top. His name is Grant, Graham Grant.”
“How do we reach him?”
Olivia’s eyebrows arched. “We need to get into Peterson’s office.”
Michelle grinned. “Hold on for a minute.” She went into the bedroom and came out with the items she’d found when searching Peterson’s pockets including his ID card. “This should help.”
Olivia reached for the card. “Maybe you should stay here and make sure he doesn’t get loose.”
Michelle tugged on her lip and sighed. “I want to trust you.”
“Oh, you can trust me. I’ve had a feeling about Peterson ever since he arrived. I gave up my life for the agency. We don’t tolerate traitors.”
“Okay.”
“Keep your gun close. If you have to shoot, hit center mass.”
“I’d rather he be punished for his crimes.”
Olivia winked. “The knee. It hurts like hell, and he won’t be able to walk.”
“Good advice.”
