Page 33 of Dead Drift

He followed her into the mall, where she chose a store called Anthropologie to hang in. A glance about showed him it was the kind of shop where she could get into some serious trouble, a place her mother would no doubt frown upon but that suited Kate perfectly. Kate was free-spirited and eclectic, while her mom was prim and proper, vastly different from Kate in just about every way possible other than her looks. Kate had her mom’s blond hair and blue eyes.

The thought of parents—his own in particular—made him waver. He’d lost so many years with them, caused so much damage in so many lives. The only thing that brought an inkling of solace was the certainty that he’d been serving his country, thereby protecting those he loved from men like Ebeid.

After leaving Kate in Anthropologie, he made his way to the food court down one level and off to his left.

Mack sat in the second-to-last booth.

Luke ambled over, scanning his surroundings. Finding them clear, he slid into the last booth, his back to Mack’s.

He remained silent, waiting for Mack to begin, as he always did.

“How’d it go with Hank?” Mack inquired.

“It took a couple drinks at the pub next door to his tattoo parlor to wriggle my way in, but I mentioned I was looking for a job, being new in the area.

“He asked what I did. I told him I had my CDL, and he said he might know of something. Asked me to meet him tonight at a place called Jiffers. I’m sure he’s running my legend now. Checking me out before he invites me any further in.”

“No worries. Garrett Beck’s legend is perfectly in place.”

He knew it would be. Mack always had his back. In more ways than one. “We’ve got one hiccup.”

“Oh?”

“He expects Katie—aka my girlfriend, Jasmine—to be there.”

“So bring her along.”

“I don’t want her in the middle of all this.”

“Too late for that.”

He swallowed, knowing Mack was right, and it was his fault.

“Check in again after tonight’s meeting,” Mack said.

“Okay.” Luke stood to go.

“One more thing . . .”

Nervousness tracked through Luke, immediate concern for Katie filling him. “Yeah?”

“Malcolm’s incensed.”

“I don’t care.” Especially now that he was home and surrounded by those he’d walked away from. It had been his choice, and he had to take full responsibility for that, but looking back, it was obvious Malcolm had been grooming him, manipulating him throughout his college years. The mentor Luke and his friends had admired so much had been molding Luke into the agent he wanted him to be since his first day in Malcolm’s criminal justice class. Luke had looked up to Malcolm, respected every word that came out of his mouth. So when the invitation came . . .

“I’ll be in touch.” Without a glance in Mack’s direction, he walked away as quickly as he’d come.

15

Would you mind grabbing my bag off the back seat?” Griffin asked as they pulled out of the lot. “The profile’s in it.”

“Sure,” Finley said, leaning back. But it was just out of reach, so she unbuckled. Making him nervous as all get-out, she rustled around and grabbed the bag. Thankfully she quickly returned to her seat, clicked the buckle back in place, and set his bag on her lap.

“It’s in the zippered, middle compartment.”

She nodded, and metal teeth rasped as she slid the zipper open and pulled out the document. “Got it.” She set his bag on the floor to the left of her feet.

“Don’t set it on your left, love. You’ll block the heating vent, and I want your feet staying warm.”