Page 40 of The Ghost Assassin

“Already working on it,” he says, “Does this mean we’re safe to come out of hiding?”

“Probably, so I vote you go home and get rid of your companion.” I leave out Rich’s name on purpose since he’s the one who gave me info on Adams. “As in, that would be in his own best interest.”

“I had a bad feeling about that. Kane and all.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

“Two high-ranking government officials,” he replies. “I bet Washington is peeing its collective pants. “

“Which is why I’m headed there now. The press is locked out,” I add. “No one knows about the murders. Keep it that way. Get me my stuff.” I disconnect to find Adams staring at me expectantly.

I return to my messages and text Tic Tac with something I forgot: Jack has a list of five assassins he says he got on the dark web. Get the names from him and see where that leads. I slide my phone into my lap and Adams is still staring at me.

“Staring is rude,” I say. “And I, for one, believe in being polite. Apparently, you do not.”

“How do you know it’s the director of the DOD?”

“This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security, which means I report to Director Ellis during its lifespan.”

“Ah. Ellis. Of course. Interesting no one told me he’d claimed you.”

“No one seems to trust the FBI.”

“And yet, the President brought me in fresh. That should be a vote of confidence.”

“Considering Ellis told me you were squeaky clean, and my team said otherwise, not so much.”

His stare is deadpan. “You’re honest.”

“Brutally. The question is, are you honest at all?”

“I told you there would be rumors about me. Ellis did not. Who’s being honest and who’s not?”

He’s not wrong, but why would the President bring in a man with rumors or wrongdoing, unless he knew they were fake? Adams leans forward and meets my stare. “He was testing you.” His lips curve and he eases back onto his seat. “And you passed. Talk to me about your team. Tic Tac? And your cousin, Lucas?”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll want to meet them both.”

“Talk is cheap but go for it. I’m not the boss of you.”

“Am I the boss of you, Lilah?”

“No one is the boss of me.”

“Tell me about Kane.”

“Read his file. That’s as close to me talking about Kane as you will ever get out of me.”

“Murphy thought he was an asset.”

I consider that comment, which seems to indicate he really did communicate with Murphy. “Kane and I are not a package deal.”

“Murphy thought you were.”

“Murphy assumed a lot.”

“He’s your husband. Word on the street is he’d kill for you.”

---