Page 38 of Dead Drift

“If that’s the case, why would the CIA keep her on?”

“Nothing’s been proven, and she does the work they require with startling speed and accuracy.”

Luke banked onto the off-ramp and then onto the back-road maze he was about to take Lauren through.

“But if she’s in the Agency, like you, surely she can’t—”

“She’s in the Agency, but she’s nothing like me.” Or at least he prayed deep in his soul he was nothing like Lauren, or Margaret, or any of the legends she’d gone by.

He shifted gears and pressed the gas pedal, practically flying around the sharp bend. Orange and yellow leaf-blanketed trees followed the curved lines of the road.

“You really think she’d try to kill me?”

“Without hesitation.” He hated to upset Kate, but better she knew what she was facing than get blindsided. Lauren took lives as casually as one flicked lint from a sweater—without a second thought. And now she likely had her sights set on Kate. “Lauren possesses a certain skill set.”

“Seducing men?”

He choked at Kate’s quick wit. “She does that with some. Not me. But I was referring to her unique methods of accomplishing her assassinations.”

“Such as?”

“Let’s just say Lauren takes great pleasure in putting other people through pain, even if it’s only momentary.”

“So what are we going to do?”

He loved the sound of we, though Lauren was the last person he wanted Katie involved with.

“Two more turns and she’s gone.”

“And then what?”

“I talk to Malcolm.”

16

Luke grabbed his cell phone while still driving like a NASCAR racer, but driving fast and skillfully seemed to be second nature to him. Kate imagined defensive driving had been a part of his Agency training, but she was curious who he was taking the time to call. Perhaps Malcolm?

“Hey,” he said into the phone. “I’m bringing Kate to you.”

“Bringing me to who?” she said, stiffening.

“Hang on,” he said to her. “Please.”

She swallowed and waited, not happy she was being discussed as if she were an asset.

“Lauren showed up in the store with Kate. Where are you? Okay. See you there in twenty.” He hung up.

“See who? When?” She wasn’t a child to just be dropped off.

“My local handler, Mack. He’ll keep you safe while I pay Malcolm a visit.”

“Mack? . . . As in Declan’s friend Mack?”

“Yeah, turns out they became friends over the years with Mack being Declan’s contact at the Agency.”

“No offense, but if Lauren, or whatever her name is, was Malcolm’s doing—the Agency’s doing—do you really think leaving me with your handler is the wisest option?”

“I trust Mack. He’s safe.”