Page 26 of Todd
“I was just taking a swim,” she added, suddenly feeling the need to justify her presence.
“Yes, I see that.” His voice carried a slight accent she couldn’t place, and he continued to block her path with deliberate casualness. “For liability reasons, we prefer guests tohave supervision during aquatic activities. We would hate for anything to happen while you were alone.”
The explanation sounded reasonable enough, but something in his demeanor set off alarm bells in her head. There had been no posted signs about supervised swimming, and security cameras extensively monitored the pool area… she’d counted at least six during her swim.
“I can understand that,” she replied carefully, keeping her voice level and professional. “But I can also assure you that I’m very experienced with taking care of myself. Good evening.”
She stepped to the side, forcing him to move out of her way, and continued down the hall with measured steps. Every instinct screamed at her to turn around and see if he was still watching, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d unsettled her.
The encounter left her with an uneasy feeling that had nothing to do with spa protocols and everything to do with the predatory way he’d looked at her. She made a mental note to be more aware of her surroundings. On a mission, her safety instincts were clearly still functioning.
Once back in her room, she showered quickly and changed into sleep shorts and an oversized T-shirt. While still in the bathroom, she crouched down and opened the cabinet beneath the sink, reaching behind the pipes to retrieve the LSIMT phone she’d hidden there upon arrival.
Grinning at her own foresight, she fired off a text to Vivian.I had a mud bath today. I felt like a prize piglet being prepped for the market! Very bougie. But I’m here, safe and sound.
She hit send, knowing Logan’s wife would undoubtedly share Sadie’s colorful commentary with the rest of the team.
The spa’s literature had emphasized the importance of “disconnecting from the digital world” during their stay,requiring guests to surrender their personal phones upon arrival. But Sadie hadn’t survived years in intelligence work by following rules that compromised her safety or communication capabilities. If her team needed her, they could reach her through this secure backup device.
She sent a message to Timothy, letting him know who she’d met and what she’d learned.As expected. Supplements to be given tomorrow- will arrange to get them to you. Hope to get into the offices once I know the schedule.
He replied, and she smiled as she slipped the phone underneath her pillow for the evening. She would secure it tomorrow morning before breakfast in thenourishment and reflection room. She snorted as she crawled into the luxurious bed with its impossibly high thread count sheets. Closing her eyes, she tried to quiet her racing thoughts. She’d already conducted a thorough sweep of her room and found no surveillance devices. Apparently, even Serenity Dunes had limits when it came to violating guest privacy.
Sleep still didn’t come, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission was going to be far more complicated than anyone had anticipated.
14
The luminous digits on Todd’s bedside clock read 10:47 p.m. when his phone vibrated against the scarred wooden nightstand, its blue glow cutting through the darkness of his bunkhouse room. He’d been lying there for the better part of an hour, staring at the ceiling and fighting the familiar ache in his chest that had become his constant companion since Sadie’s departure. And it had only been a day.
Glancing at the screen, he was surprised to see Vivian’s name. Logan’s wife had everyone’s contact information, of course, but he couldn’t recall ever receiving a personal message from her. His pulse quickened with an inexplicable sense of foreboding as he tapped the notification.
Just heard from Sadie. Says the spa is fancy and ridiculous. She’s good… just thought you’d like to know.
Todd read the message three times, each word sinking deeper into his consciousness. The casual tone couldn’t disguise the message’s true purpose. Vivian was telling him specifically becausesheknewhe’dwant to know aboutSadie’swell-being. The realization hit him like a sucker punch to the gut.
Why would Vivian text me specifically about Sadie?Cory’s words from earlier that evening echoed in his mind with devastating clarity.“Everybody knows.”
He’d been incredulous when his teammate had made that claim, but this text was undeniable proof. Even Vivian, Logan’s perceptive, observant wife, had recognized that Todd would be particularly interested in Sadie’s status and safety. The careful facade he’d constructed over eighteen months had apparently been as transparent as glass.
Dropping his chin to his chest, he stared at the phone cradled in his palms and shook his head in disbelief.All this time, I thought I was protecting both of us by maintaining professional distance. And everyone knew exactly how I felt about her anyway.
The irony tasted bitter on his tongue. By immediately rejecting any possibility of pursuing something deeper with Sadie, by not even giving her a choice in the matter, he might have sabotaged any hope they’d ever had of becoming something more than cordial colleagues dancing around unspoken desires.
The urge to hurl his phone across the room was almost overwhelming, but instead, he leaned back against the headboard and forced his breathing to steady. The worn wood was cool against his bare shoulders, grounding him as his thoughts spiraled between regret and possibility.
Before his courage could desert him, he pulled up the contact information for Sadie’s secure LSIMT phone. His fingers hovered over the keyboard for several heartbeats, his pulse hammering against his throat as he composed and deleted several messages. Finally, he settled on something that felt honest without being too revealing.
Vivian said you got there safely. Hope all is well, even if it’s fancier than what you have around here. Just thought I’d let you know that you’re missed.
He hit send before he could second-guess himself, then continued staring at the screen like it might reveal the secrets of the universe. She could already be asleep, or have silenced her phone for the night. The message might sit unread until morning, or she might choose not to respond at all. The uncertainty was torture.
His phone chimed almost immediately, and his heart nearly stopped.
Surprised to hear from you, but thanks. This place is weird, but I got to sit in a mud bath today.
The response sent electricity racing through his nervous system. She’d replied quickly, and while her tone was cautious, she hadn’t shut down the conversation. The image of Sadie sitting in a bathtub full of mud struck him as so absurd that he couldn’t help but smile as he typed again.
What the hell is a mud bath?
