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John nodded again, his expression, his entire demeanor thoughtful. “I’ll look forward to that meeting then.”
Myron rose slowly to his feet. “You and Bailey will come alone,” he informed John. “No security. You’ll have to trust that Warbucks considers you important enough to provide for that. The meeting will take place tomorrow night.”
John rose slowly to his feet. “He’s expecting a lot of trust for very little in return,” he stated.
Myron inclined his head in agreement before turning to Bailey. She could see something in his eyes, a tiredness, a wariness that warned her everything wasn’t as calm as Myron wanted them to believe between himself and his employer.
“Bailey has extended her trust and has been rewarded countless times in return. Haven’t you, my dear?” he asked her.
“Many times,” Bailey agreed, even as she hated acknowledging it.
“Very well,” John finally said, though it was apparent he wasn’t comfortable with it. “I’ll accept Bailey’s trust in this.” His arm went around her back once again as he pulled her close. “We look forward to the meeting.”
“Very good.” Myron smiled again before rising and moving to Bailey.
Gripping her hands, he stared down at her fondly. “I watched you grow,” he said softly. “I didn’t always agree with you, but I must say, you’ve turned out to be a fine young woman. One I have the highest respect for.”
He bent, kissed her cheek, then moved away from them.
“I’ll see my own way out,” he stated. “Good night.”
The door closed behind him seconds later.
Emerging from the connecting room, Travis stared at John and Bailey curiously. John moved to the dresser, pulled the electronic listening device detector from the drawer, and went over the area Myron had been in.
He found two devices he’d left in place. Drawing Bailey over to the door, he indicated that they keep their voices low.
“Call the boss?” Travis asked softly.
John nodded. “We don’t have much time. Get it together.”
Bailey moved away from him as Travis retreated to his room, her gaze returning to the door before moving to the position of the listening devices. Myron had been smooth, very smooth. She hadn’t even noticed him placing the bugs on the chair and beneath the little table that separated it from the love seat.
Turning back to John, she watched him with a strange sense of regret. It was almost over. Almost. Twenty-four more hours and they would achieve both their goals. Warbucks would die.
Would John Vincent then “die” as had Trent had, leaving her forever?
She told herself she was prepared for this, but as she stared back at him she realized that no preparation could have steeled her for it.
They had one more night together. It would have to last forever.
CHAPTER 21
BAILEY HAD PROMISED HERSELF over the past two weeks that she wouldn’t regret the end of the mission. She wouldn’t beg John not to leave her, she wouldn’t hurt either of them with anger or recriminations. She had built her memories. She had loved him with everything she had inside her. She had given him every part of her heart, her soul. She hadn’t held back. She hadn’t saved enough of herself to go on, and she knew it.
The next evening she dressed in jeans, a heavy sweater, and hiking boots. A long leather jacket was laid out on the bed. A search of the garment would reveal nothing, but she knew where the weapons were. A small knife here and there, but no gun.
They were to go unarmed, and there was no way hide a weapon other than the smallest and most inconspicuous.
Such as the derringer in the heel of her hiking boots. That was the best she could do. The other heel held ammunition. She could possibly get by with it. She was damned sure going to try.
John was dressed similarly. Jeans, a heavy sweater, boots, and a long black leather jacket.
At least they could be tracked. Several skin tags dotted her bare skin, just as they did John’s. The small trackers had only a few seconds of activation, just enough to pinpoint their location for the backup team that would move in once Warbucks was identified and the missiles verified. How they would know that, she wasn’t certain. She knew it had something to do with the watch Travis had given John earlier. Hopefully, it would work as it was supposed to.
They were to take no cell phones, Raymond had told them earlier that day. No communication devices at all. This was a meet, greet, and verify. They would see the missiles again when the auction took place in seven more days.
This was a gesture of trust and goodwill, plain and simple, as far as Warbucks was concerned. As far as Bailey was concerned this was the end of Warbucks’s little game. Once the night ended she and John would be dead, or Warbucks would be.
