by Violet Paige
“What?”
He brought his finger to his lips. “At least let Eloise believe you are. We’ll work it out. You can fail. But she needs to believe you are trying. It will buy us some time while I build the door.”
“How do I let her know?” My head was trying to figure out how to organize all the information.
He huffed. “Don’t worry. She’ll be back in touch. Maybe even tomorrow. She’s not the kind of woman who is going to let what you did slide.”
“God, she’s horrible.”
“Yeah, well, she’s made a reputation for herself by being the best in the company. She has a way of motivating people.”
“Motivating? That’s a lovely way to put it.” I rolled my eyes.
“I’m switching our phones again tomorrow,” he explained. “But I’m adding a second phone. Not a Blackwing phone. You can’t call me on it in the apartment, but you can text me. Just don’t forget to use the first one like you always have. The activity needs to look consistent and normal.”
“Blackwing monitors our phones?” I eked. I thought about the sexy texts. The private messages. The plans we had made.
He shrugged. “They encrypt them. They’ve always had access to our data.”
“And you’re just now telling me this?”
“It wasn’t important. It didn’t change anything.”
I halted abruptly at the elevator. “I don’t know if I can go back upstairs knowing they are listening to us.”
“Just try to think about something else. We’ll binge watch a show. You’ll forget.”
I shook my head. “And when we have sex? They’re listening?”
Vaughn tapped the elevator button. “You don’t think our neighbors have heard us? Or Greer ever heard us?”
I groaned. “That is not the same and you know it.”
“I’ll blast music and turn on the shower. They won’t hear you scream anymore.” He winked and I slapped his chest.
“Not funny.”
We stepped into the open carriage.
“Can you do this, Em? Can you play both sides to win our freedom?”
I nodded. I rose on my tiptoes to reach his mouth. “If it means I get to be your wife.” I kissed him slowly. He leaned over, scooping my legs into his arms with a protective hold.
“You’re going to get more than that,” he growled.
“And if it means I get a dog.”
“Keep going.” He kissed my throat. “Ordinary, remember?”
“Oh yes, I’ll do it for the cute house.”
“And the Sunday crossword. And the brunches with neighbors.
“If it includes brunch then I’ll do it,” I teased.
The doors retracted and he carried me to the apartment. The corridor was quiet. I never saw anyone else on our floor.
“I think it’s show time, Kate Birch.” He turned the antique knob. “You can do this,” he whispered.
I nodded, not exactly sure how I could pull off something that was nearly impossible for me to do. But with Vaughn carrying me over the threshold, I knew I wasn’t alone.
This was our chance to take back our independence. To crawl out from under Blackwing’s thumb. We had to outmaneuver the masters. Outwit and outplay them. Lie better than the devil.
His athletic frame closed the door behind us. His arms held me tightly. He turned the lock.
His eyes fell to my lips as he kissed me.
“Let’s finish that bottle of wine.”
The new game started now.
Chapter Fourteen
It was two more days before Eloise crossed my path again. Enough time that I had been able to practice exactly what I would say and do when she appeared. Vaughn reminded me it was only a matter of time before I saw her, and he was right.
We had been careful about what we discussed in the apartment. I grumbled and complained about her like I normally would, only we didn’t discuss the new plan.
The sun was out. I crossed the street ready for a cup of hot coffee. Today I planned a trip to the library. I would have to mask my research in case Blackwing was watching. Vaughn thought that was unlikely. As long as I went along with Eloise she would back off. He still believed they weren’t interested in alienating me, but rather indoctrinating me. Still, I wasn’t going to take a chance.
I wanted to research sanctuary cities. We needed a location that would offer political asylum. I was determined to make a case that Vaughn’s work for the government and his high-level of training and security clearance had always made him a target for foreign adversaries. He was compromised because of what the government did to him. It was a weak argument, but it was all I had at this point. I hoped we never had to use it, but we could at least start to narrow down cities that would give us the most leniency if I ever had to persuade them to keep us safe.
I expected a long afternoon in the library, pouring over stacks of French herb collections which hid international law documents. Documents I hoped would give me legal precedents to use in applying for asylum. I hadn’t convinced Vaughn asylum was the best option, but only because I wasn’t armed with enough information. Yet. I shook my head when I made it to the other side of the street. How in holy hell had this become my life?
I checked my wallet before I stood in line to place my order. I had plenty of cash.
“Bonjour, Marie,” I greeted the coffee maker behind the counter.
“Ahh, Kate. Bonjour.” Marie grinned.
“The usual,” I ordered.
“Make that two.”
My neck bristled when I heard Eloise behind me. I turned to see her wearing a bright red scarf over her leather jacket. Her beret was tucked over one eye.
“Kate?” Marie seemed confused.
“Oui.” I nodded. “Deux cafes, sil vous plait.”
“It’s nice we can meet for coffee, Kate. And it’s a gorgeous morning. Sunshine finally after all the snow and ice we’ve had.”
I gritted my teeth. I was ready for this. Ready to play my part in our escape.
I paid for the coffees and handed one to Eloise. “Here.”
“Merci.” She tugged on her scarf to loosen it against her throat. I noticed her curls were practically straight today.
“Where are we going this time?” I asked begrudgingly.
“Let’s sit here, shall we? It’s warmer in here than on the street or at the park.”
I shrugged. “Whatever you want to do, Eloise.”
We slid into a corner table away from the register and cases of pastries. She sipped her coffee.
“It’s been two days since we talked. I wanted to follow-up on our conversation. I hope I gave you enough time to think.”
“By follow-up I assume you mean pressure me into doing something you know I don’t want to do.”
She exhaled. “There is no pressure. There are facts you need to consider. But never any pressure. This is always going to be your decision.”
“So if I walked out of here without agreeing with you, that would be ok? You’d let me do that, Eloise?” I baited her.
“Of course.” She spun the cardboard sleeve around the cup. “But don’t you want the facts first? You are our resident attorney.”
“Has something new happened?”
Eloise flipped her phone over and tapped the screen. My stomach fell to my feet when I saw the image flash in my direction.
“You know, we thought it was strange that you made a call to North Carolina before Christmas. Not that strange, but considering how close you and your husband are, I knew it was out of bounds. I had our techs dig into it a little and I discovered this was the person on the other end of that call.”
I covered my mouth with my hand. The picture of Garrett looked recent. He was smiling. His eyes were clear. He was clean-shaven.
“Why do you have a picture of my brother on your phone?” I glowered.
“Do you know what would happen if the FBI discovered where you are? Have you really thought about it? Do you know how easy
it would be to transfer this call you made on to one of your new phones? Just a little micro-blip and it would show up on the FBI’s radar.
“It’s not like anyone would blame you for reaching out to your brother. They are watching him. They are looking for just this kind of thing. We protected you when you made this call. It was our technology. Our security that allowed you to speak to him without being traced, but that can easily be reversed. And you wouldn’t even know it.” She shook her head with a disappointed frown.
“One call from the American agents to their French agency and you would be scooped up like a baby kitten. Taken into custody. Deported immediately. After that, who knows what would happen. And it could all happen in less than five minutes. Just a blip. And suddenly you’re on their radar again.”
“Why are you doing this?” I dug my nails into the table.
“You need to recognize your contribution is necessary. You could be an asset. Or you could be expendable.”
I huffed. “You are bluffing about all of it. You’d never hand me over to the feds. I know too much.”
“Do you?” Her eyebrows raised. “What would that do for you? Alone back in the States without him? He can’t free you twice. And he certainly won’t go back there and risk being taken into custody on his own. No. He might love you, but he’s not exactly the martyr type. You will be completely alone.”
The pit in my stomach was going to swallow me whole. I knew this was the part I had to play, but there was also a viciousness in her voice that unnerved me. I was fighting to stay on track. Fighting to remember this was how I helped Vaughn build the door. I had to keep Eloise distracted. I had to go along with her insanity just a little while longer.
“I-it would risk everything you want from Paul Auclair,” I argued. “I would tell them everything. I’m calling your bluff.”
She peeled what was left of the cardboard into a single spiral like a long spaghetti noodle and cupped the coffee. She shrugged. “By then we’ll all have our money. Paul’s formula and research about his trials will have disappeared. There will be no proof. No evidence. There never is. That’s why we’re so good. All you’ll have is the confession of a sad young girl, heartbroken and desperate against what? A ghost?”
She smiled.
Marie walked over with a full carafe of coffee. “Plus, madames?”
I waved her off. It was the rudest I had ever been, but I was shaken. I knew none of the things Eloise threatened would happen, but they were dark thoughts. Bitter images. I didn’t want to go back to that place where Vaughn and I didn’t exist. I didn’t want to live in a world where he abandoned me. Where I spent every fucking afternoon with Agent Kenneth.
“What are you thinking? Have I helped you at all?”
Giving in was what I had to do, but even now I had to force myself to remember this was the path to freedom. I hated her for it. The deepest parts of my stubbornness resisted. They dug in, resisting the inevitable.
“Yes.”
“I think that’s a good decision. It’s better not to involve your brother. Not to worry about traveling home. You do fit in here. A vivid American in Paris.”
I had to hold my coffee tightly to keep my hands from trembling.
“I was hoping you and Aubrey Auclair could spend some time together today in her apartment.”
I straightened my back. The hardest part was over. “Aubrey has a salon appointment today. She and Paul are going somewhere for dinner. I can’t remember where. It’s a charity thing. She’s busy all day getting ready for it.”
“Surely you could stop by before they leave.”
“And get caught by both of them? Paul is always in his study when he’s home. No. I don’t think today is going to work.” I didn’t know how long I could stall the assignment. We needed more than days to finalize a plan. We needed weeks, but Vaughn and I were quickly running out of time.
“Then it will have to be tomorrow.”
I leaned into the table. “I said I would do this, but I have no idea how to get the code. Are you going to give me any tips? Hosting a dinner party was one thing, what you’re asking me to do now is completely out of my element. I am an attorney, not a secret agent.”
“You are also dramatic.” Eloise rolled her eyes. “Tell her you’re drawing up a will and that you and Leo don’t have any family in Paris. You want her to know where all your important legal documents are in case of an emergency. You’re just being very practical.”
“I open up in the hopes that she opens up and volunteers their personal safe’s digits? But we don’t have wills.”
“You have until tomorrow to come up with your cover. That’s my suggestion. Use it. Don’t use it.”
“All right. I’ll use your story. And the code? Once I have it, who do I give it to?”
“Someone will stop by to collect it,” she explained.
“Why can’t I just give it to Vaughn?” I wanted to tell her I’d just shout it into the bugging devices planted through the apartment, but I was certain we had covered our tracks. If she knew we had discovered the audio chips, she didn’t let on.
She retied the ends of her scarf, fastening the thick material securely around her neck. She picked up her handbag. It was another expensive one, similar to mine. “Follow the instructions. Someone will stop by.”
“Who? What if I give it to the wrong person?”
“Don’t the endless questions exhaust you, Kate?” She shook her head. “You’ll only have one option. He will stop by.”
“Fine. Got it.”
“This needs to be taken care of tomorrow. You do understand that? Your new phone rotation is another day.”
I sighed. “I understand. I know the timetable.”
“Good.” She patted me on the shoulder as she rounded the table. “Welcome to Blackwing, Kate. I think you’re going to fit in beautifully.”
I watched her walk away, the leather bag swinging from the crook in her arm. She pushed designer sunglasses to her nose. She oozed sophistication, taste, and treachery.
I finished my coffee.
“Don’t count on it, Eloise.”
Chapter Fifteen
“How is the chicken?” I asked Vaughn over dinner
“This is what you made when Paul and Aubrey came over, isn’t it?”
I nodded, holding a glass of white wine. I couldn’t say fuck you out loud to Blackwing, but I had subtle ways of saying it just as loudly.
“I thought I would try it again.”
“It’s good.” He looked up from his plate.
I didn’t want the conversation to be stilted, but ever since Vaughn told me he suspected we were under audio surveillance, I wasn’t comfortable talking openly. I knew I had to work on it, or Eloise would become more suspicious of me. I was already dangerously close to making her an enemy.
“I saw Eloise this morning,” I announced.
He eyed me. “What happened?”
“She tracked me down in Marie’s when I was in line for coffee.” I replayed the encounter. I didn’t leave any details out.
“I don’t want you to go through with this,” he lied.
“I don’t have a choice anymore, do I?” I took a bite of salad. “I either get the security code from the Auclairs’ apartment, or Blackwing is going to throw Garrett into the middle of the investigation.”
“I wish you had told me you wanted to call him.” He sighed. “We could have prevented this kind of leverage against you. I could have protected you, but now Eloise has something on your family.”
“I know it was dangerous. I shouldn’t have. But it was right before Christmas and I was homesick. It was a mistake. I realize that now.” I paused. “He sounded good. Strong. Like the brother I used to have.” I still hoped Vaughn would meet him one day, but there wasn’t a plan for that yet. “I can’t let this break him. I won’t. Pulling him into the middle of an investigation isn’t the kind of thing he’s equipped to handle. I’m going to go through with what Eloise wants me
to do.”
“I don’t like it, but I agree. You need to get that code. But no more. Do you understand? This has to end.”
I nodded at him. Our dinner theater was bizarre. Our conversation was layered with truths we hid between words. I had started exploring objects in the flat. Picking up lamps, running my fingers along the edge of the drapes. I stared at the light fixtures and the blades on the fans. I never found anything. I never saw the bugs. But even now, I still knew they were there. Somewhere in this gorgeous gourmet kitchen, Blackwing was listening.
Vaughn helped me clear the dishes and put everything way.
“What do you say we get dessert out tonight?” he suggested.
“What were you thinking?”
“I know Marie’s is closed, but what about that place that just opened by the bookstore?”
“Jean’s?”
“I think that’s it.” He threw a kitchen towel over his shoulder, and suddenly looked irresistible. I forgot about the bugs, and reached up to kiss him.
His arms wrapped around my waist. Big strong protective arms that blocked the rest of the world. The kiss burned my lips and my tongue. I wanted him. I needed him. But I wasn’t an exhibitionist. I hadn’t been able to have sex the past two nights. The thought that our most intimate moments were being recorded made my stomach turn.
It was killing me not to touch him. Not to lose myself in him. Not to get naked and wrap my body around his.
He growled. “Or we could stay here.”
I shook my head. “I think I want something chocolate. Ohh, I know. The mousse. I’ve heard people talking about it. I want mousse.”
He laughed. “Of course you do. Come on, let’s get our coats and go out.”
The mousse at Jean’s was everything people raved about it being. Creamy, smooth, and decadent as promised. I scraped the bottom of my parfait glass with the long-handled spoon.
“Should we order more?” Vaughn teased.
“No. One is enough. I’ll run tomorrow.”
“Should we walk back along the river?” he asked.
“Sounds nice. It’s not as cold tonight.”
