“Thornton.” Hammer’s voice pulled Draco out of his musings. The big man had circled the table and taken the empty seat beside Draco.
“Sir.” Draco gave the leader of the International division his attention.
Hammer tipped his chin toward Cate, who was talking with Phantom about his most recent mission in Texas. “You’ve got point with Ms. Marsh.”
Draco nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Do you need a team for backup or any assistance? I have the manpower to spare. Just say the word. I already put in a call to your boss, Royce Fontaine to let him know we’ll be working together and that our headquarters and team are at your disposal.”
“Thanks. It’s good to have local support.” Draco’s gaze briefly swept over Cate before he faced Hammer and shook his head. “Cate’s used to working alone. As a PI, she likes to disappear in plain sight. Having me along will make it hard for her to fade into a crowd. At least she could pretend she’s on holiday with a boyfriend. Adding more people will only compound the problem.”
Hammer nodded, his lips curling at the corners. “A couple on vacation. Makes sense. You can take photos, and no one would question it.”
“It’s a good cover.” Draco hoped Cate would agree. She might punch him in the face for the suggestion, and he’d take it because he deserved it.
Hammer tipped his mug and took a long swallow of his beer before placing it back on the table. “Dmytro will follow the money and the phone records as far as they take him. He’s reaching out to contacts in England to see if they can locate Freddie Hackett. I’ll set you both up with communications devices, a vehicle and our numbers where you can reach us day or night. My team is at your disposal, and we’re licensed to operate in-country. That will allow you to carry as long as you don’t do anything crazy.” His lips tipped upward. “I don’t relish explaining you to the Kantonspolizei.”
Draco nodded. “Understood.”
All humor left Hammer’s face as he leaned closer, shoving his mug to the side. “Whoever sent that driver had to have been watching our building. They had to know which female was Cate before she got into the vehicle. Taking off with her wasn’t a warning. It was an attempt.”
Draco’s gut and fists clenched. “I know.”
Hammer stared at him for a long moment. “Don’t get comfortable.”
Draco snorted. “I haven’t been comfortable since I left Miami.”
Hammer’s gaze held Draco’s a moment longer before he gave a quick nod. “Then we understand each other, and you’ll let me know when you need backup.”
“I won’t hesitate,” Draco said.
“That’s what I want to hear.” Hammer pushed to his feet.
As if on cue, the others around the table rose and moved toward the door, pulling on their coats.
Cate stood with Marta, hands clasped together.
Marta’s brow furrowed as she spoke in a low, fierce tone that made Cate’s own eyebrows form a V over her nose.
Crusher stood behind Marta like a man guarding the best thing that had happened to him.
After all Crusher and Marta had been through together, Draco figured Crusher had a right to feel that way. By the looks they exchanged between each other, Marta reciprocated the sentiment.
As Draco reached for his jacket and the backpack he’d brought with him from Hammer’s headquarters building, he found himself envying his teammate. Crusher had been much like Draco, a confirmed bachelor with no intention of marrying.
Until he’d met the right woman for him, that woman was a super-smart scientist, proving that opposites really did attract.
He wondered how it felt to be able to freely admit to loving a woman, to finally take the leap into commitment.
A hand on his elbow brought him back to reality. Draco turned to find Devon Marsh standing beside him.
“Walk with me,” Marsh said.
Draco recognized the man’s words as a command, not a request, and fell in step with him.
Marsh led him into the narrow hallway between the private room and the front of the restaurant. Here, the air smelled of coffee from the kitchen and fresh rain off the street coming in on a breeze through an open window.
Devon Marsh stood for a moment with his hands in his pockets, staring at the window, allowing the breeze to blow in. This wasn’t just a man who worked for the State Department, a diplomat who’d traveled the world. This was a father who’d almost lost his only daughter twice in as many weeks. She was the only family he had left. “I’ve read your file,” he finally said. “At least what I could get my hands on.”
