Page 40 of Dead Drift

“Come inside,” Mack said, indicating the cabin-style home perched on a hill overlooking a portion of the reservoir.

“No offense, but if Lauren knows Luke, she probably knows your connection to him, which means she knows or can discover where you live.”

Mack smiled. “You catch on quick, but don’t worry, this isn’t my house.”

“Then what is this place?” she asked as she followed him inside.

The cabin was cozy and welcoming, but she had a strong feeling it wasn’t often used for cozy and warm purposes.

“It’s a safe house I use occasionally. One of several.”

“Does Malcolm know about it?”

“Not this one,” he said, exuding an air of steadfast confidence.

“Why not?”

“Because this is my own.”

She arched a brow, curiosity creeping through her. “You have your own safe house?”

“A couple.” He set a black case on the entryway table and took off his coat, draping it over the coatrack. “I may no longer be in the field, but how you function in the field, your training and tactical skills, never leave you, or at least that’s been my experience.”

She wondered if that’d be true of Luke if he left the Agency.

“How come you’re no longer in the field?” she asked, scanning the books on the corner case. Gram had a similar corner cabinet—though hers was white and this was pine, like the rest of the wood furniture and flooring in the room.

“Injury,” he said.

“Oh.” She hadn’t expected that.

“No worries. I’ve adapted.”

She was curious, but it’d be extremely inconsiderate to ask.

“My hearing was compromised in an explosion,” he said, clearly sensing the question forming in her mind.

“I’m sorry.” That sucked.

“It’s okay. I still hear fine for most situations, but in the field, compromised hearing can get you killed. Here, I’m able to make adaptations.” He pulled a small hearing aid out of his right ear and then popped it back in place. “I used to be able to hear long range. Now, not so much, so I take other measures. I have triggers in place to alert me if anyone comes near my property. Like I said, operative training never leaves you. Once an operative, always an operative.”

She got that. She could never quell the curiosity and observational skills she used as a private investigator. She spotted inaccuracies in conversations, observed illicit liaisons before they fully occurred, and had a knack for sizing people up. Though she’d apparently completely blown it with Lauren.

“So how long were you in before your injury?” Might as well ask since he’d brought it up.

“I went in nearly eight years ago. Luke and I went through training together and then were sent into the field. Our second op in, there was an explosion. Thanks to Luke, I only lost some hearing.”

“What?”

“He saw it coming before I did and raced toward me, signaling me to get back. It wasn’t quite enough to preserve my ears, but Luke flat-out saved my life.”

“What about Luke? No injury?”

“He was still far enough back that he came through with just some gashes and flash burns.”

Flash burns? She wasn’t even going to ask what had caused that explosion because there was no way Mack would be able to tell her.

A thought occurred to her. She felt terrible even pondering it, but she wondered how things might have been different if it were Luke who’d gotten sent back home and Mack who’d stayed in the field. Of course she wouldn’t have wanted Luke to suffer hearing loss, but she’d rather have had him home with his hearing slightly impaired than not have had him home at all.