Thank God. X had called in the best of the best, Kessler and Li as tactical operatives and Penn as a logistics expert, who’d recently been promoted to a team lead position.
“If Kessler and Li tell X they want you on the operation, X will cave.”
“Thanks for that, Pasco.”
“See you tomorrow, KitKat, bright and early,” he said loudly and clicked off the call.
I immediately sent a text to Kessler’s private number. When she got back to me, I’d plead my case. Until then, I needed another drink. I poured my third—and last, I vowed—Cognac, sank down onto my comfy sofa, and sipped my drink until it was gone. Mr. Whiskerbottom Fuzzypants hopped up beside me.
“Hey, buddy, it’s just you and me tonight. Not quite as cozy as last night, huh?”
He chirruped, then settled himself beside me.
“You’re right, this is pretty good.” I petted his head a couple of times, then stopped so he wouldn’t tire of it and leave me for the comfort of his kitchen box. I set my glass on the coffee table and closed my eyes.
I was startled awake by a sound in the hall. I’d only been out for fifteen minutes. It was barely 8:00 p.m. I didn’t expect Gage to be home so early. But Florence was never out this late, and 6D was out of town until January. I quietly extricated myself from Mr. Whiskerbottom Fuzzypants, reached under the sofa, and wrapped my hand around the reassuring handle of my Glock.
I tapped my phone to check the hidden cameras HEAT had installed in the hallway before I’d moved in, which was standard procedure for all operatives’ domiciles. A woman with long, curly blonde hair stood outside Gage’s door, using one hand to search through the purse hanging from her shoulder. She turned, and I saw the toddler propped on her opposite hip and her beach-ball-sized baby bulge. Gage’s sister-in-law proceeded to drop her purse, sending the contents everywhere.
I put the safety on my gun and slid it back under the sofa before heading to my front door. I pulled it open and leaned into the hallway. “Hi. Do you need some help?”
“Yes, please. If I get down on the floor to pick up that mess, I’m not getting back up.”
“No problem. I’m Kat. Six B.”
“Ohhh.” She smiled. “Youarea hottie.”
My cheeks flushed with one of my rare blushes. I used the excuse of gathering her keys, wallet, lipsticks, and hand sanitizer off the floor to keep my head down. “Gage mentioned me?”
“He has, but not that way. I was paraphrasing. He was much more respectful.”
I arched an eyebrow at her as I stood.
“Really?” she said with a laugh. “My brother-in-law is a bit of a—”
“Do-gooder,” we said at the same time, then smiled.
“I’m Stacia, by the way. This is Max.” She nodded toward the blond boy whose face was barely visible under his coat and scarf. She turned so I had a full view of her profile and ran a hand over her belly. “And this is Emma, who will be making her arrival very soon.”
“When are you due?”
“December thirty-first. But between you, me, and everyone else in the world, she’s not going to wait that long.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” She shifted her son’s weight.
“Oh, you probably need to get inside and sit down. Here are your keys.” I held them up.
“Would you do the honors?”
“Sure.” It felt wrong, slipping the key into the lock on Gage’s front door after the way we’d left things. I opened the door for them and handed her the keys.
“Thank you. Could you watch him while I pee?” She set Max on the living room floor.
Before I could answer, she dashed off to the guest bathroom. I couldn’t very well leave a toddler to fend for himself, so I stepped inside the apartment and joined Max in the living room.
I knelt beside him and smiled. “So… Come here often? I’ve only been here once before myself. It’s weird without your uncle here.”
