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Thirteen
Aria was pouringher first cup of coffee when a knock sounded from the door of the house on Kythnos. She was debating whether she should answer it when Cole appeared at the back door like a bloodhound on the scent ofprey.
“How did you hear that in the guest house?” Aria said as he drew his gun and started for the frontdoor.
“I heard it,” hesaid.
He parted the curtains an inch and peered out the front window, then opened the door slowly, the gun still in hishand.
“What can I do for you?” heasked.
Aria couldn’t see the person on the other side of the door, but she knew it was a woman from the voice that drifted into the house as they exchangedwords.
“Wait here,” Cole said, closing the door and turning to Aria. “Did Damian or Locke say anything about a woman coming today? Someone named NoraMurphy?”
The name sounded vaguely familiar, but her head was still fuzzy with sleep. She shook herhead.
Cole removed his phone from the pocket of hisjeans.
“Shouldn’t we let her in?” Ariaasked.
“Would you want to let her in if she were a man?” Coleasked.
He had a point. It was totally sexist to assume someone wasn’t dangerous because they were female. Aria had gone to Velvet to make sure Malcolm was dead, would have killed him herself if she’d had thechance.
“It’s me,” Cole said into the phone. “A woman is at the door, name of Nora Murphy. You know anything aboutthat?”
He listened, then sighed. “Fucking-A. Thanks for thewarning.”
Aria assumed he was talking to Locke, because Cole would never in a million years talk to Damian thatway.
He put the phone back in his pocket. “She’s legit. Part of Locke’s team, delivering intel onGatti.”
He opened the door. “Sorry aboutthat.”
A woman with glossy blond hair and striking blue eyes stepped through the door. “I understand,” she said. “I’m sorry if I surprised you. I should have known Locke wouldn’t mention that I wascoming.”
Cole shut the door behind her. “Yeah, communication isn’t his strongsuit.”
Her laugh was short but warm. “That’s putting itmildly.”
She held out her hand. “NoraMurphy.”
“ColeGrant.”
They shook hands and the woman turned to Aria. “You must beAria.”
Aria nodded. She needed way morecoffee.
Nora approached the kitchen and set her bag on the counter that divided it from the living room. She held out herhand.
“It’s nice to meetyou.”
“Nice to meet you,” Aria said, shaking her hand. “Would you like somecoffee?”
“I’d kill for some coffee,” she said. “Not even a private plane can make that flightpleasant.”
She slid onto one of the stools at the counter as if she’d been there a hundred times before. Maybe shehad.
