Intercepted Risk

by Sidney Bristol

  The senator’s offices were located in a low trafficked part of the building. The surrounding offices appeared to be dark, likely still closed for the holiday.

  The door leading into Dixon’s office was frosted glass and lit from within. Someone had already hung a wreath out front.

  Logan braced himself, grabbed the handle and entered.

  It was time for this job to really begin.

  While most of the building had been relatively quiet, Dixon’s office buzzed with activity. Logan had to quickstep out of the way of a harried looking man talking over his shoulder while straightening his tie.

  Did Dixon fear for his life here? In the one place, he should be safest?

  The building appeared to be locked down tight, and this was the middle of a typical business day.

  If Logan made the cut, there would be time for questions. Until then, he’d rather keep his suspicions to himself. It wouldn’t be a good look to come in and start stirring things up. Their objective was to observe for now, nothing more.

  “Here for the interview?”

  Logan stiffened. He’d been tracking the crooked tie man. He’d never seen her coming.

  Slowly he turned his head and took in the curvy figure holding a clipboard in front of her.

  She held it out, the hint of an amused smile curving the corners of her mouth.

  Kelsey.

  She didn’t look like herself. Not one bit.

  Her previously pixie short hair was curled and...fluffed? It framed her face in a curving, elegant way as opposed to its unruly nature. She wore make-up, which only served to accentuate her eyes and the fullness of her lips. That was the only thing suggestive about her. The blouse she had on under her suit jacket buttoned up to her collar bone and her loose trousers only hinted at the curves underneath. And yet, she was as sexy as ever. Damn him for noticing.

  He cleared his throat, aware that he was once again staring at her.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “Sign this. I’ve got some paperwork for you. Have a seat?” She amped up the smile and gestured to a line of chairs against the wall.

  “Thank you.”

  She spared him one last smile before turning toward a minimalist secretary desk with only a laptop visible.

  So much for hoping they’d stay away from each other.

  Logan turned his attention on the competition. A few other men sat waiting for their turn. They wore either suits, like him, or slacks with polo shirts advertising their company.

  Another marker of just how unusual all of this was.

  For the most part, members of congress entrusted their safety to the Secret Service. Those who needed additional security usually contracted one of the many firms to handle issues for them. These days letting an agency or firm handle security reduced a lot of the headache, but for some reason Dixon wanted to manage it all himself.

  Why? Just what had Dixon done to kick the hornets’ nest? And how far did this go?

  3.

  Tuesday. Unknown.

  Skilton drummed his fingers on the desk.

  This next task would be the worst. Every update from his CIA resources was more and more problematic. When he’d first been appraised of the joint task force, he’d assigned resources and put it out of his mind. This wasn’t the first time a government agency had set out to investigate events Skilton had orchestrated, but it was the most annoying. They’d already interfered with several plans in the works and eliminated Skilton’s pet team of guard dogs.

  Nothing to do but rip the bandage off and handle them himself. Perhaps it was something he could do while addressing his problematic senator?

  He opened the report and skimmed the first few lines.

  “They’re—what?” he snarled and reread it all again.

  How did they know? Where was this information coming from? And why were his people just now learning of it?

  Events were in motion that could not be stopped.

  He read the rest of the report once, then the full thing again.

  These annoying Americans knew about Dixon, but did they know everything?

  Skilton doubted it. If they did, Dixon would be in custody.

  Where were they getting this kind of intel?

  His forger, Obran, must have rolled over. Skilton had put some stock in the man’s silence, seeing as nothing had happened following his disappearance into federal custody. It was a gamble Skilton had taken and now lost.

  He massaged his temples.

  This could be salvaged, but after this anyone with even the slightest connection to Obran would need to be dealt with. That was highly inconvenient considering how heavily Skilton had leaned on the man.

  And it was time to handle this task force. Skilton couldn’t afford to allow their plans to be ruined again.

  He’d go to Washington and handle this personally. Once on the ground, he could better devise a plan for dealing with the feds. Maybe he’d get lucky and kill two birds with one stone?

  Either he figured this out, or it would be his head on the chopping block. That was how these things worked.

  WEDNESDAY. SENATE OFFICE Buildings. Washington, DC.

  Kelsey was beginning to think this undercover assignment was a trap.

  Her identity was the perfect cover story for this gig. Thanks to all her undercover work and the FBI cloaking her pre-federal employment in a false trail, she was a prime candidate for the job. And to sweeten the deal, she’d managed to wrangle a letter of recommendation out of the Supreme Court Justice she’d been assigned to during another FBI case. Clearly including that with her resume prior to arriving had made quite the impression. Her whirlwind interview hadn’t been as much about vetting her for the job as much as it had been about working out the structure of who would do what. That she got the job was obvious after the first five minutes. It was simply a matter of signatures.

  It was no surprise to Kelsey that her first batch of duties were all the types of jobs no one else in the office wanted to do. Things like filing, handling tedious paperwork. The exact kinds of things she was happy to do, because they fit her ulterior motive agenda. Or would have, if she wasn’t so damn busy.

  What had happened to Dixon’s other staff? Why were they out to fill three vacancies and add security?

  And how had Dixon survived with only the one assistant?

  The man needed a small army, and she still had no idea what the man actually did.

  At least she wasn’t expecting to see Logan today. She’d shamelessly embedded herself in the process with the hope that she might nudge her new boss in the right direction and pick Evan or Tucker. Instead, she was once more stuck with Logan.

  Nope.

  Not thinking about him!

  Her phone vibrated against her hip.

  Kelsey bit her lip and stifled the urge to snatch at her phone. Her direct boss, Robert Brown, was a stickler about phones and personal life encroaching on professional.

  She glanced over her shoulder.

  Robert was in with the senator who Kelsey hadn’t formally met beyond taking his coat this morning and offering him a latte. That left Kelsey with the grumpy guy at the back desk and all the other new hires.

  She scooped up the top folders on the never ending tower of filing and carried them into the closet where the monster sized printer and scanner were kept along with a coat rack and space for people’s personal items.

  Satisfied she had as much privacy as she could get, she pulled her phone out. She only cared about the rules to the extent of how they impacted her real objective. With luck, she’d be out of here in a week or two at most.

  A text illuminated her screen.

  Nadine Baker: Do well today!

  Kelsey frowned at the text message.

  Nadine was not on the list of people who were in the know about the undercover portion of this operation. According to the official logs, Kelsey was assigned to what amounted to delivery duty. It was both a necessary role and would keep her away from
the office.

  Could Nadine be the mole?

  Kelsey rolled her eyes and discarded the idea immediately.

  Nadine was a veteran of the CIA. If she were a mole, she’d be crafty. They’d never see her coming. That grandmotherly air about her was disarming. In short, she’d be the perfect mole which was why it couldn’t be Nadine. She was too obvious. Her partner, however, he was on Kelsey’s mind. Agent Joon was too put together. Too squeaky clean. There had to be dirt there.

  Thanks. Hopefully all deliveries will be on time!

  Kelsey sent that reply, then to cover her bases she took a screenshot of the exchange and sent it to Diha.

  Nadine couldn’t be the mole, but until they had factual evidence that cleared her, Kelsey had to treat the woman as if she were a suspect. It sucked, especially because Kelsey was growing to admire Nadine. She made Kelsey think about the future and what she wanted from her job at the FBI, or if she wanted to take a different path entirely.

  Kelsey hadn’t started this job with grand ambitions. She’d had limited options after graduating high school while still navigating her parent’s post-divorce life. A job working the evidence desk at her local station had turned into going to the Police Academy. A two-year stint as a beat cop then led to working with a joint FBI team and her first undercover job.

  She’d been hooked.

  From there it was just school and time that got her where she was. But she couldn’t do undercover her whole life. No one could. It changed a person. Did things to their psyche she couldn’t explain, she just knew it was wrong.

  “Young, where are you?” a harried voice called out.

  She shoved her phone in her pocket, clutched the files to her chest and stepped out of the closet.

  It was barely ten in the morning, and already Robert Brown looked as though he’d run a marathon in his suit. The top button of his collar was undone, his tie askew,, and he had a permanent worry wrinkle across his brow.

  “Something I can help you with?” she asked, putting a bit more cheer in her tone.

  “Come now.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at the carpet.

  She arched a brow.

  Did he just beckon her like a dog?

  Just a few weeks...

  She slowly closed the distance between them. Her smile never once faltered, but she did picture planting her fist in the guy’s face.

  “Senator Dixon wants to meet you,” Robert announced.

  “Oh. Okay.” She set the files back down on her desk and picked up a notebook, just in case. “Should I bring anything?”

  “No. Come on.”

  Robert turned and scurried toward the senator’s office.

  Kelsey followed at a slightly slower pace.

  The man reminded her of a beetle, the way he hurried about with his head hunched all the time.

  Did he know why this mysterious Skilton guy wanted the senator dead or whatever?

  Robert glanced back. “Come on. Dixon has a meeting in forty-five minutes, which leaves a little bit of time in case he wants to address something with us. Do you have a pen? Good.”

  “A meeting?” Kelsey frowned and mentally brought up the agenda for the day. “There isn’t another meeting until four.”

  “Personal meeting,” Robert said without skipping a beat.

  Kelsey didn’t know how Dixon ran his office. This could be perfectly normal. Time would tell.

  Robert paused with his hand on the office door and turned to face her. He speared her with what was probably supposed to be an intense stare.

  He spoke softer now. “He’s very stressed, so the less talking you do, the better.”

  “Understood.”

  Stressed?

  Because of work or because he knew there was someone out there targeting him?

  Robert pushed the door open and stepped in.

  The room was as she’d seen it yesterday, after the senator had left in a hurry for something. She’d poked her head in just to have a look around. Had his swift departure been another important personal engagement?

  Dark oak walls. Leather chairs and sofa by the fire. Big, stately desk. Red and blue were the predominant colors, giving off a strong patriotic vibe.

  And there, sitting on the sofa with notebooks, paper and a binder spread out around him, was Senator John Dixon.

  “Robert.” Dixon bounded to his feet.

  Kelsey stopped in her tracks and blinked.

  She’d seen enough pictures of Dixon to describe him in her sleep.

  Thirty-eight. Six foot. Sandy brown hair. Blue eyes. Swimmer’s build.

  The man couldn’t take a bad photo if he tried, but what all those snapshots had failed to capture was the magnetism radiating off him.

  In that single moment she understood the comments that said he would be a presidential candidate someday, despite his lackluster career thus far. The man had this pull to him she could feel.

  “You must be Miss Young.” Dixon turned his gaze and smile on her.

  “Yes, Senator Dixon.” She smiled in return while puzzling out her reaction to him.

  There was a part of her that fell victim to that smile. Most women would in her shoes. And with it came the instinct to smooth her clothes and hair. She didn’t, but the urge was still there.

  This was a man with many enemies. She couldn’t lose sight of that.

  “You settling in, okay? Robert here running you ragged yet?” Dixon smacked Robert’s shoulder.

  Robert rocked forward with the blow and hunched his shoulders a bit more.

  “Not at all. He’s been very patient while I get my bearings.”

  “Great.” Dixon gestured to the sofa and chairs. “Have a seat. Let’s discuss this coming week.”

  “Now, sir?” Robert glanced at her.

  “No time like the present.” Dixon turned and went to the vacant spot on the sofa.

  Kelsey took the chair furthest from the door. It gave her the widest view of the room.

  “Do you have the agenda for the rest of the week? I need to familiarize myself with the people I’ll be meeting with.” Dixon asked.

  “Right here.” Robert produced a sheet of paper.

  “Make sure Miss Young has this, too.”

  Robert paused, then glanced at her.

  Why was a list of names making the man pause? Who was on that list?

  “Robert, come on. She’s part of the Dixon team now. Let’s treat her like it.” Dixon winked at her.

  Kelsey found herself smiling back at him before she realized it.

  Robert passed another page to her.

  She took the detailed agenda printout. It was different from what she had access to on the senator’s official calendar. The entries she saw included a time, a title and notes. This also listed people attending the various meetings.

  Her gaze caught on a name. For a moment she didn’t hear what Robert was saying. All of her attention focused on one name.

  Was it a coincidence? Or could it be that easy?

  “Who are these people?” She hoped her tone seemed casual, but on the inside she was ready to jump up and down.

  “The senator has a barrage of meetings happening in the next few days,” Robert said.

  “I saw that.”

  “These are the vendors, clients, and people he’s finalizing details with.”

  “Do you have that list of new security, Miss Young?”

  “Yes.” She pulled the sheet of paper out and handed it to the senator.

  Two lists. Two headaches.

  Why was it that out of all five men, the only one who’d made the cut was Logan?

  WEDNESDAY. LOGAN MULLER’S Apartment. Washington, DC.

  Logan dragged the towel over his hair.

  He wasn’t cutting it. He didn’t care what the head of the senator’s staff said, the hair was staying. For years he’d cut it for the SEALs. Now, he was growing it for himself. He wasn’t sure why, it just felt right. Part of him.

  A sharp knock at hi
s door made him frown.

  Who the hell was that?

  Jamie was at his girlfriend’s.

  Evan had mentioned taking his wife to a movie.

  Tucker was likely still at work, shadowing Zora.

  And Harper? Who the hell knew what Harper was doing.

  Logan crossed the apartment to the door and peered out the peephole.

  A petite figure stood outside with the jacket collar flipped up. It was the height that gave her away. And, well, the jacket. He’d know that black, faux-fur-lined coat anywhere. She was never without it.

  He unlocked the door and stepped aside. Kelsey entered without an invitation. Snow flurries swirled around her as she crossed the threshold.

  She paused just over the threshold, scowling at him.

  “Where are your clothes?” Kelsey demanded.

  Fuck.

  How was it she made him forget everything? Even that he was practically naked?

  “I just got out of the shower.” Wearing nothing but a towel was not how he wanted to face this woman. “What are you doing here?”

  He crossed his arms over his chest and waited.

  Kelsey glanced at her phone and frowned. “Zora’s busy. Shit.”

  “What do you need her for?” Logan’s frustration was rising to the surface. Why was Kelsey coming to him yet asking about someone else? Couldn’t this wait?

  Kelsey sighed and set her tote bag down with a thud. “I can’t be for certain, but one of our flagged names is on tomorrow’s agenda. He’s some plus five to a meeting Dixon’s having tomorrow.”

  Logan stiffened.

  So soon?

  “I thought those people weren’t in the country yet,” he said.

  “Apparently this one is. If it’s the same guy.”

  “Which one?”

  “Oliver Reid.” She pulled out her phone and showed him the screen. “I took a snapshot of the list and sent it to Diha earlier. Zora indicated she wanted to meet and talk about it tonight, but I guess not.”

  “What time is this meeting?”

  “Tomorrow. It’s just after lunch. I have no idea what it’s about. It’s not on his official calendar. I got pulled into a meeting to take notes so I got to glimpse this alternate calendar Robert’s keeping, but that whole section of the day is just labeled as, Meetings. They won’t tell me anything about it. It’s like they don’t trust me or something.” She fanned her face. “It’s sweltering in here.”