Seth rises from his seat. “I’ll dig into VerityCrypt’s filings first. See if anything’s twitching under the hood.”
“Appreciate it,” I say, meaning it. If he can juggle sick toddlers and federal takedowns, maybe there’s hope for me to have a life outside of the job one day too. The image of Cybil flashes through my mind—Cybil in my arms, Cybil looking at me like she’d seen a ghost. I shove the thought aside. One crisis at a time.
Seth leaves us with Katherine, who sits in her chair and pins me with a look that churns the coffee in my gut. “Let’s talk about last night.”
The memories rush back. Someone attempting to break into the museum library. Sammy Pawson appearing—and disappearing. Cybil. How the meeting was cut short unexpectedly when Earl Edmond questioned Lorenzo Ramirez about someone interfering in his business in Italy.
I included all of this in the report I sent to her late last night—everything except my personal connection to Cybil. Because if I revealed that, I’d have already been pulled from the mission. And I can’t leave. Not now. Not when the collateral damage has a name, beautiful brown eyes, and a smile that could either jump-start a heart... orcrush it.
“What do we know about Edmond Developments?”
Katherine’s question snaps me back to the present.
Ruby flips open a file. “Luxury real estate, high-end commercial and residential properties. Earl Edmond built it from nothing, transforming underdeveloped areas into prime real estate developments. His son, Sebastian Edmond, is the CFO but also has a cryptocurrency company on the side. Cybil Langford graduated from University of North Texas with a political science undergrad and started working for Edmond.” She closes the folder. “I’ve got an agent digging for more information on her.”
I shift in my seat. It won’t take long to connect the dots from Cybil’s life to mine. I open my mouth to say something when Katherine continues.
“And Sammy Pawson?” she asks.
I shake my head. “After the initial sighting, he disappeared. Ramirez and Rook didn’t mention him.”
“I lost him,” Ruby says flatly, clearly still annoyed. She was circling the museum while I was trapped in the world’s shortest meeting. “What about the museum surveillance?”
Katherine’s fingers fly over her keyboard. She frowns. “Jammed.”
“By us?” I ask.
“No,” she says. “Not our people.”
Ruby frowns. “So no footage of whoever was trying to break into the library before us?”
“Not at this time.” Katherine shakes her head. “Any theories on who might be behind that?”
“I wouldn’t rule out Ramirez,” I say. “He hates leaving a trail, and the timing fits. The meeting hadn’t even started before Earl Edmond questioned Ramirez about his interference with a supplier in Italy.”
Ruby crossed her arms. “I’m surprised Ramirez didn’t lose it.”
“I was too.” I sit forward and my focus sharpens. “But here’s the strange part. While Ramirez didn’t deny it, he also seemed caught off guard by the accusation. He seemed suspicious.”
“Of whom?” Katherine asks.
“Earl Edmond. Earl’s son. Something wasn’t right. Ramirez mentioned something to Rook about VerityCrypt afterward. I looked it up last night. It’s a cryptocurrency company owned by Sebastian Edmond. I’ve asked Seth to check it out and get back to us.”
“Maybe that’s why Sammy ‘The Paws’ Pawson showed up,” Ruby says, arms still crossed. “You said Ramirez needs Edmond to secure some kind of property overseas, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, something about an old manufacturing site in Italy.”
“If Edmond’s stalling, Ramirez might’ve invited Sammy to apply pressure. A little reminder not to get cold feet.”
The theory makes too much sense. And if Ramirez was worried enough to bring muscle to a gala full of witnesses, then Cybil—standing right in the middle of it—was already too close to the fire.
Katherine’s brows pinch. “Do you think the deal is going to get squashed?”
I don’t hesitate. “If it does, we’re dead in the water. The only way we nail Ramirez is through that laptop—and the only way I get near it is if this deal stays alive.”
Ruby leans back in her chair and smirks. “Simple. Keep the deal alive to stay alive—our new motto for the mission.”
The words hit harder than they should because I know exactly what can blow this deal, and the weight of it is pressing down on me. I glance at Katherine. “There’s something you should know about Cybil Langford.”
