I’ll have to resign when this is over.
Stealing evidence. Not reporting evidence. Giving intel to civilians not authorized by the CIA. Hiding a person of interest in a decades old cold case. Using a black ops team to clean up the mess rather than reporting it back to the CIA. Killing two CIA officers, maybe more. It didn’t matter that they were corrupt and traitors to our country; my job was to find the evidence and let the system judge them.
The Singers tried. The system failed them.
No way Kane and Gable are getting away with it again.
Chapter 47
Nina
Nana Sue and Matt were watching TV when I walked in with Austin and Ryan. I tried to convince them to wait outside, but I might as well have been talking to a brick wall for all they listened.
SSI had two guys watching the house, so I didn’t understand why they insisted on staying inside. It didn’t matter. I lost the argument and had to come up with an explanation for their presence.
“Nina, how was your evening? Matt and I had fun, though he doesn’t share my love of cop shows.”
“I’m glad and I’m sorry. How are you feeling?” Matt had sent texts to keep me up-to-date, but I wanted to hear it from her.
“Oh, I’m fine, dear.”
Her color looked better and her voice sounded strong.Thank God.
“You know you don’t need to ask someone to stay with me? I would’ve been okay on my own.”
“I was just worried because you weren’t feeling well this morning.” It was only half a lie.
“So, who are these handsome young men?”
“Nana Sue, this is Austin and Ryan.” I pointed at each. “Austin. Ryan. This is my grandmother.”
“Mrs. Novak, it’s nice to meet you. Nina’s told me so much about you I feel like I practically know you,” Austin poured on the charm.
Nana blushed. “Please, call me Sue.”
She said the same thing after Gibson, who was even more charming than Austin, called her Mrs. Novak.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ryan said.
“Good looking and they have manners? Nina why aren’t you dating men like this?”
Because Nana, these guys are much older, successful, and they’d never be interested in a girl like me.
The guys ignored the part about dating but thanked her for the compliments.
“Are you hungry for dinner?” I asked, knowing she wouldn’t stay awake for long after we ate.
Austin helped me make chicken and veggies while Ryan and my grandmother argued about the sarcastic qualities of one of the show’s main characters. Nana thought he was too mean. Ryan thought he was funny.
During dinner, I told Nana I was going to visit Nikki for a few days. She was fine with that news but didn’t like hearing that I’d arranged for her to stay at a care facility while I was gone.
This would be so much easier if she could stay here. Dwelling on it didn’t help, so I put on a smile and begged, “Will you please do it for me?”
“Okay, Nina, if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll go for a couple of days.”
Austin and Ryan carried the rest of the dinner conversation while I did my best to enjoy the last few hours I’d have with my grandmother.
Stop it.It’s not like you’ll be gone forever.You’ll see her again.
