Page 26 of Drowning in Darkness

“Who else is coming?” I check.

“Thompson and two other agents,” Camryn explains.

Thompson, I trust. “Who are the others?” I demand, pulling out my phone.

“Agent Fiona Harris and Agent Patrick Henry.”

I shoot my sister the names, asking her to do a deep dive on them. I already know the cult has links to powerful politicians. We have to be careful with every person brought in.

“Two teams switching out?” I check.

“That’s right,” Camryn says. “They’ll be here early in the morning. I had to pull them off surveillance.”

I don’t care where she’s pulled them from. “I’ll stay until then,” I tell her.

Stephanie’s shoulders tense. I get she wants me out of her space as soon as possible, but not at the cost of her safety. She’ll have to just suck it up.

Stephanie yawns.

Camryn stands and grabs the handles of Stephanie’s duffel bag. “I’ll show you to your room.”

“Thanks,” Stephanie mumbles as she follows Camryn up the stairs. She spares me a last glance over her shoulder. “I don’t agree with your methods, but I appreciate you looking out for me, James.”

She’s halfway up the stairs when she asks a question that makes me grit my teeth. “Does my bedroom lock?”

“No,” Camryn answers.

Stephanie sighs. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”

Then she’s gone, leaving me turning over her words for far too long. What does she think I’m going to do? I occupy myself by finding all the security cameras tucked away and checking the security system before I venture into the backyard. This safe house is on a leafy residential street, secluded enough to ensure the agents can protect and defend, but not so much that would draw attention. By now, the FBI will have had everything from the local mail carrier to the garbage collection reassigned to make way for their own people who can monitor the street each day. The locals might register the changes, but these are skilled people.

Camryn is waiting for me in the kitchen as I step through the back door, a mug of coffee in her outstretched hand. I take it, grateful for the pick me up.

“So,” she says with a raise of her brow. “How long have you been in love with the girl?”

I almost choke on my drink. “You’re reading that all wrong.”

“Am I?”

“Yep, she’s the little sister of the man my sister is in love with. She would never forgive me if I let something happen to her.”

“I see,” she says with a smile that communicates her lack of confidence in my assessment. She can think whatever she likes. I’m not capable of loving anyone.

An alarm dings on her phone, and she flicks open the screen. There’s no surprise on her face, so I assume it’s Agent Thompson.

“Backup is here,” she mutters. “And he’s not pleased to be dragged away from his daughter’s fourth birthday party.”

“I beg to differ. A gang of four-year-olds hyped up on cake and sugar is everyone’s nightmare.”

She rolls her eyes but keeps a close check on her phone. The front door opens, and the familiar man comes straight through to the kitchen.

“Followed the scent of coffee that I need more than life,” Agent Thompson grumbles with an unimpressed look my way. “And you moving up the timeline because you got the heebie-jeebies is not amusing, although you have saved me from a two-day migraine caused by twenty-two four-year-olds and a donkey. Don’t even get me started on the clown that’s going to cause mule nightmares for half the kids.”

I snort and give Camryn an I told you so look.

“Did we get the food ordered?” he wonders. “I could go for a pizza.”

“No, but Stephanie said she’s easygoing, so to order whatever we like.”