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“How do you know?” I asked. “What did you hear in that conversation that I didn’t?”
“I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I think the forensics team is going to agree with me when they examine the evidence.”
“Why?”
Before he could respond, there was a heavy knock, interrupting the answer I needed. Our eyes darted to the door.
“Agent Hart,” someone called from the other side. Another knock followed.
“Hold on,” AJ groaned, hopping off the bed. “I can’t believe this.” He strolled to the door and whipped it open. “What is it, agent?”
“Can you step into the hallway, sir? I have a sensitive message. It’s from the director.” He adjusted the earpiece cord trailing into the collar of his suit.
“You can’t tell me now?” I heard the agitation in AJ’s voice.
“No sir. It’s classified. I need you to step out of the suite.”
“Damn it,” he muttered. He looked over his shoulder at me. “Are you ok with this, Syd?”
I nodded. “It’s all right.” I wanted to hear why he didn’t think Ethan sent the text, but I understood there were pieces of information flying in rapidly. How did we know if the classified intelligence was a break in the case?
“I’ll be right back. Some things can’t be relayed over phones,” he explained. “I’ll be in the hall. That’s it. If you need me I’m right outside.”
“I’ll be fine.” I wanted to sound confident.
I smiled. It seemed as if he finally understood that neither one of us liked the idea of being out of sight from the other. At least while hell was trying to consume us.
I folded my legs beneath me and hit play on the recording again. I listened more intently this round. I wanted to hear what AJ heard. I wanted to know what it was that tipped him off. What didn’t match up with the conversation and the text? How was it so easy for AJ to identify it when he hadn’t met Ethan in person? Why didn’t I notice it Monday morning? It would have saved us both so much fear and pain. It was likely we wouldn’t be here now. We never would have been trapped in the farmhouse.
I studied the text. I listened once more and then I heard it. The one word that should have tipped me off. It was in the text twice. I had two opportunities to see it and change my course of action. I shut the screen on my laptop, irritated with myself.
I looked at the door, waiting for AJ to stroll back through. I wanted to tell him. How long had he been in the hall? I checked the time. It had to have been fifteen minutes. I dressed and dried my hair. The spa robe was comfortable, but if agents were going to walk in and out of the suite, I needed to be presentable.
I chose a pair of soft gray pants and a white tank top from AJ’s bag. I had little to choose from.
I checked the time again. Thirty minutes had passed and AJ was still in the hallway.
I crossed the room. I didn’t like how this felt. I opened the door. One of the agents greeted me.
“Ms. Miller, do you need something?”
“Where is AJ?” I looked from one end of the hall to the other. It was empty.
“Agent Hart is with one of the other agents receiving classified intel,” he answered.
“I thought it was only supposed to take a few minutes,” I questioned.
The agent crossed his hands in front of his waist. “It can take a while. You should wait in the suite.”
I didn’t like his answer. “Where is he exactly?”
“I can’t say, ma’am.”
“Is he on this floor?” The tiny knots started in the lower part of my belly.
“Again, I can’t say.”
“Can you tell me if he’s in the hotel?” I pressured. The prickles under my skin didn’t feel good.
