Page 13 of Keeping Her Secrets

Mustique nodded. “Maybe.”

“Okay, let’s get settled and form a fucking plan,” Ash said with a little more force than she was used to from him.

They entered the house, and while it looked ordinary on the outside, on the inside to anyone with a trained eye, it was clear it was not an average family home. The motion sensors, cameras, and perimeter lasers were all high-level stuff. Definitely not from the local hardware store.

Mustique inspected the place. “I’m guessing there’s a mini armory somewhere? You all strike me as the type of people to be prepared.”

“This way.” Nick led them up a flight of stairs and into what should have been a second bedroom, except it was set up as a mission control.

“These cameras go anywhere?” Ash stepped closer and studied the four monitors covering the outside of the property from all angles.

“Yeah, it feeds back to Trident. Brody can also monitor it from his place and will be on watch tonight, so you can get some shut-eye when we leave.”

A yapping sounded, and Mustique moved up behind Ash, laying her hand on his back as she leaned in, the heat from his body like a furnace even through his shirt. He’d discarded his tux jacket on the way over and had rolled his shirt sleeves to his elbows. She’d liked his James Bond look though; men in suits or uniform had always been her weakness.

“What in the ever-loving-fuck is that noise?”

Nick laughed at Ash. “That, my friend, is the best security you can have. Mrs. Carelli and her very noisy, very nosey Pomeranian, Joey. He barks anytime someone comes anywhere near the property line. She probably just got home from her daughter’s place.”

“She a talker?” Ash asked.

Jake shook his head. “No, she’s mostly deaf. That’s why the rat doesn’t bother her, but she’s a sweet lady.”

“Now, the armory.” Nick walked to the built-in wardrobe and opened it to reveal a steel door. He keyed in a pin and the panel slid aside to reveal two rows of handguns, four long guns, and an assortment of knives and other weapons.

“Is that an Omega Six IP7?” Ash picked up a very futuristic-looking weapon.

“Yes, it’s not on the market yet and don’t ask how we got them. You need to have the smartwatch on to fire it. Not great long-range but short-range it’s as good any other handgun on the market,” Jake said as he showed Ash and her to use it.

After they had been fully informed of the weapons at their disposal, they went back downstairs.

Mustique began to pace the living room. “We need to discuss our next move.”

“Who gave you the intel in the first place?” Ash asked.

She stopped mid-stride. “Fuck. It was a tip-off from a source in Germany. I’ve used him several times, and he’s never let me down.”

“Call him.” Ash handed her one of the burner phones Nick had given them along with several spares.

Mustique took it and dialed but got a pre-recorded message that the call could not go through. She disconnected and slid the phone into her back pocket. “If we assume my contact is playing both sides of the game, then they knew we were coming.”

“Maybe but nothing is certain. Let’s have Brody run some searches on your contact and see if we can pick up any chatter elsewhere,” Jake said, retaking the lead. “In the meantime, someone needs to speak with Senator Craven and let her know her daughter is a direct target, and that she could be as well if she backs this bill.”

“Can you do that while Ash and I dig into Ramin Hashemi? He’s attending a charity dinner for Orphans of War in three days, and I think that’s when Hanley will want to hand over the girl. We need to stop him, and if the worst case scenario happens, be there.”

Jake nodded. “It makes more sense for us to work Hashemi as we have more resources and let you two look into the kidnapping angle.”

Mustique knew he was right, but she’d wanted to avoid this at all costs. Still, she would suck it up and do what she had to if it meant protecting the innocent. “Fine. Can your geek get us on the guestlist for the event? And what about the shooter? We need to find him or her.” Mustique added.

“Ian already has people looking into that.”

“He does?” Ash asked.

“He was with us at the club when you called.”

“Ah.”

Mustique had no idea what club they were referring too but let it go; she didn’t need to know either. “So, the event?” she asked instead.