“Fine, we’re going!” Will said through chuckles.
“You will be missed tonight, G-Man.” Rex paused in the doorway. “And in all seriousness, man, if you’re this annoyed by Will’s lame jokes, this woman must be special. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
“It’s just—” I started to say, but Rex was pulling the door closed behind him.
“It’s just innocent fun,” I said out loud to myself. I pinched the bridge of my nose. I shouldn’t have to keep reminding myself of this. “Damn it. It’s just a neighborly outing, and it’s just innocent fun.”
CHAPTER 7
KAT
In ten minutes, Gage would arrive for our neighborly…whatever we were calling it. Tree shopping adventure? Outing? Date? I shook out my hands, which were weirdly numb, and smoothed down the front of my pale green sweater. Blue sweaters tended to draw compliments on my eyes, which was not the reason for this evening, and red clothes could send too strong a signal, at least if I remembered correctly. I hadn’t spent time alone with a man who wasn’t a colleague or a criminal in longer than I cared to admit. And I hadn’t felt this nervous before an operation since my first year on the job.
But this isn’t an operation, I reminded myself. It was a way to keep an eye on the do-gooder, with the side benefit of finding my Christmas tree. And if the good neighbor wasn’t as innocent as he seemed in his dealings with Roxy Energy, I’d be on the ground and prepared for whatever operation HEAT might need to run. But X continued to stonewall me, so I was out in the cold if something went wrong, which is spy speak forscrewed six ways from Sunday.
I stared at my phone, willing it to ring. Of course, it didn’t. I glanced over at the corner of the kitchen, where Gage had set up the box nest. Mr. Whiskerbottom Fuzzypants was curled on top of the blanket, his back end safely tucked into the sideways box. I mean, the guy had won over my very discriminating foster cat. I didn’t really believehewas dangerous. But if the spy business had a motto, it would be,Don’t trust, and for God’s sake, verify.
“It’s time for a new plan,” I told my furry friend.
He glanced at me through eye slits, then dropped his head and went back to his very important nap.
I couldn’t spend another evening second-guessing my gut. I needed the deep-dive background check on my neighbor. I dialed another HEAT number, this time bypassing my boss and going straight to the nerve center. I smiled when I heard Jack Pasco’s voice.
“Hey, KitKat. Miss me already?”
“Hi Pasco. Of course, I do. How’s one of my favorite hackers in the world?”
He sighed. “If you’re buttering me up for a favor, the least you could do is call me your number one. I suppose Jensen is your other favorite?”
Pasco, who was new to HEAT, was one of two of the best white-hat hackers in the world. He’d been brought into the agency by the GOAT, our IT director, Jason Jensen. The two were lifelong frenemies, but after a HEAT team, which included me, rescued Pasco from a bad situation he’d gotten mixed up in last summer, Jensen convinced Pasco it was in his best interest to pick a side. Namely, ours.
“Don’t ask me to choose between the two of you,” I said. “I love you both like brothers. And I know you would do almost anything for your sister.”
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful for your call, but aren’t you on vacation? Wait,” he lowered his voice, “Kat, are you in some kind of trouble? Do you need me to dispatch a team—”
“No, slow your roll.” Pasco hadn’t quite yet developed the nerves of steel required for our work, so I needed to spell out my needs carefully before he shot off a flare gun that would attract way too much attention to my situation. “I just need a little information, and X is being elusive.” As I spoke, I could hear Pasco typing.
“Oh,” he said. “I take it this is about your neighbor, one Gage Halifax? There’s already a file on him.”
Of course, there was. I’d known there would be since the minute he’d mentioned Roxy Energy on Sunday, but having proof that I was being shut out of whatever the hell X was up to made my blood boil and my stomach sink.
I sat on one of the counter stools and pressed my forehead against the cold marble countertop, bracing myself. “He can’t be on the wrong side. My gut’s never been that wrong.”
“Halifax? No problems there. He’s clean.” Pasco made a low whistle. “A damn boy scout. I see your issue. Roxy Energy. But there’s no evidence he knows the truth about them. I can’t dig any deeper without setting off alarms and—”
“And getting Jensen all up in your business. I get it.”
“Oh, but here’s a picture of Mr. Halifax. Didn’t take you for a woman who likes the pretty boy type.”
“Don’t be jealous. He’s a neighbor and…” I struggled to finish the sentence. What was he to me?
“And you’ve appointed yourself his protector? Kat, I’m not a tactical expert like you, but even I can see the red flags waving all around this plan of yours.”
“I was going to say he’s my friend. And until I hear otherwise, I’m going to assume I’m allowed to be friends with my neighbor.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be lying low and blending in?”
“I am.” I mean, who had really noticed me? Gage. Janie at Sammi’s Grocer. Florence in 6C. Mrs. Welby in 5B. The little girl in 2C who had asked if she could play with my cat. But none of them were a threat to me, so I was counting my efforts as a win.
