Edge of Honor: An EDGE Security Novel

by Loye, Trish

  Cat nodded. “Fine, you and your aunt can stay.” She held up her hand to stop Charlie from speaking. “For now. I’m going to clear it with Blackwell. And I’m going to need more backup.” Cat ran a hand through her hair. “I can call back a team, but most of them are in Turkey right now. I’ll see what Blackwell wants to do.”

  Charlie debated for a moment. “I think I know someone who could help us.”

  7

  Charlie woke the next morning to her alarm and groaned when she moved her arm to shut it off. She shifted herself up in bed using her other arm and turned on her light. Her forearm was slightly swollen and mottled purple with bruising.

  Damn, she was lucky it wasn’t broken. At least it was her left arm. In the shower, even though it hurt, she made herself wash her hair using both hands. The ache disappeared somewhat as the muscles warmed up.

  She dressed in black cargo pants rather than her itchy wool ones. She didn’t want her movement restricted at all. She added a sky-blue sweater, hoping to dress them up a bit. She put her hair up in a ponytail to keep it out of her way, and passed over the black ballet flats she’d brought to wear with her outfits and picked up her black boots. She wanted to be able to kick, especially if that asshole with the baton showed up again.

  She frowned at her reflection. It kinda looked like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to play soldier or librarian. And neither look really suited her.

  She shook her head. It didn’t matter what she looked like or what she wore. She was here to help track down Spider, not try to impress people with her fashion sense. And she certainly wasn’t here to impress a bodyguard who didn’t like kissing her.

  She snagged her messenger bag, and stuck in her laptop and a few other items she might want. Now she was ready to go play scientist and find Jack. Cat had gotten the go-ahead last night from Colonel Blackwell to try to entice Jack to help them out. Blackwell wasn’t thrilled about the idea and frankly neither was she. But Jack already had a cover and he would be another set of eyes.

  She popped over to Cat’s room, where Cat set Charlie up with a tiny earpiece and a very subtle mic that taped to her skin just below the collar of her sweater.

  “What’s your plan?” Cat asked when she’d finished checking in with Gears over the radio.

  “Breakfast first and then approach Jack.”

  Cat nodded. “Let’s go.”

  The ballroom of the hotel had long buffet tables in the middle, laden with eggs, bacon, waffles, sausages, and grilled tomatoes. They filled their plates and Charlie grabbed a cup of tea while Cat took coffee. Her left arm ached and she grimaced slightly.

  “Do you see him?” Cat asked.

  She nodded. “Table in the corner, near the far door.” Dr. Levington sat with some cronies eating breakfast while Jack stood with his back to the wall nearby. She led the way over to them. Dr. Levington looked up as they approached and his lip curled when he saw her. She ignored him and sat at the table beside him in a spot where she could watch Jack.

  He didn’t move or acknowledge her presence in any way the whole time it took her to eat breakfast. But she knew he tracked her. She could feel his gaze on her at one point, and she dropped the fork in her left hand.

  She grit her teeth. Everyone dropped utensils. It wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about.

  “Relax,” Cat whispered.

  She took a final sip of her tea and nodded, before slipping from her seat and strolling over to where Jack stood. Dr. Levington faced away from them and if she kept her voice quiet he wouldn’t even notice if they spoke.

  “Good morning, Jack,” she said.

  “I’m working, Sherlock,” he said.

  “I know. That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

  He didn’t say anything, just kept scanning the room. She didn’t want it to, but it bothered her that he didn’t look at her. She straightened her shoulders.

  “We’d like you to work for us,” she said.

  “Who’s we?”

  “British Intelligence,” she lied. She couldn’t mention EDGE because it was covert even in the special ops world.

  “You don’t work for British Intelligence.” He still didn’t look at her. “CIA?”

  “No. And it’s not important.”

  He waited a beat. “I have a job.”

  “We’re not asking you to quit, just keep your eyes open for us.”

  “You’re working with Ethan?”

  Ethan? She studied him. “Was that the man who was following you yesterday?

  Jack didn’t say anything. She took that as a yes.

  He still hadn’t looked at her. Was he embarrassed about her kissing him yesterday? Or more likely, trying not to give her a chance to repeat the incident? She wanted to tell him that he didn’t have to worry about her getting too close to him again. She crossed her arms and flinched slightly when her good arm pressed on her sore one, before shifting them so the sore one was on top.

  “You’ve been favoring your arm,” he said, still not looking at her. “What happened?”

  She frowned. He’d been watching her more closely than she thought. “It’s just a bruise.”

  Now he did look at her, studying her face and then her arm. He reached for it. She flinched back before he could touch it.

  “Just a bruise?” he asked quietly, and held out his hand.

  She looked into that lean rough face and those guarded hazel eyes and something compelled her to put her arm in his hand. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Cat straighten at their table, her attention riveted on them.

  Jack gently pushed up the sleeve of her sweater, his fingers brushing against the sensitive skin under her forearm. Goosebumps prickled up her arm and her heart beat harder. He turned her arm over to reveal the dark bruise covering half of it. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

  “How’d you get it?” he asked, his voice deep and rough.

  She tugged her arm away, but he didn’t let go of her hand.

  “It’s not important,” she said.

  He still held her hand, and looked into her eyes. “Why are you in this business? You’re going to get hurt worse than this.”

  Now she yanked her arm from him, ignoring the flash of pain. “Do you think I can’t do this job?”

  He stepped back. “No. I’m sure you’re very competent. But everyone gets hurt. It’s just a matter of time.” He turned back to the room, as if dismissing her.

  Her irritation grew. “Will you help us?” she asked.

  “No,” he said.

  “Why not?”

  “You’ve seen my file. I don’t work well with others.”

  She blew out an exasperated breath. Fine. She’d had enough of this.

  She shook her head at Cat to indicate Jack’s answer and stalked from the room. It was time for her to start going to seminars and begin checking out the other potential targets.

  She stood outside the ballroom and pulled her conference agenda from her bag. She’d already highlighted the sessions most likely to be attended by the people they suspected as targets.

  “What was that all about?” Cat asked as she came up to her.

  Charlie didn’t look up from the agenda. “The guy has major issues. He’s not going to help.” She hated the fact that a little pang went through her at the thought.

  “So where are we going first?”

  “Room Temperature Superconductors: Fact or Fiction?”

  Cat groaned. “Maybe I should just monitor you from the hallway, or my room. I’ll have a better chance of staying awake that way.”

  She laughed. “This is—”

  “I can’t wait to introduce you to my niece,” her aunt’s voice carried from across the mezzanine. “She loves science, too. She’s at this conference.”

  Charlie froze. Was her aunt seriously talking her up to some random man? Seriously? “I’m going to kill her.”

  “Charlie? What’s wrong?” Cat asked.

  She turned slowly and spotted her aunt
in gray pants and a green sweater, standing beside Logan Frost. Logan smiled down at her as if she was just a sweet old lady. Charlie wasn’t sure if she should go confront her aunt or run screaming back to her room.

  “I’m in hell,” she whispered.

  “Shouldn’t your aunt be out on a tour?” Cat asked.

  She nodded. “Why is she speaking to Logan?”

  “He’s the cutie from the elevator,” Cat said. They both listened for a bit to her aunt describe Charlie as sweet-tempered and pretty, if not beautiful.

  Cat snickered. “And I thought my mother was bad.”

  Charlie turned and started for the elevator.

  “Where are you going?” asked Cat.

  “Away from my aunt’s matchmaking.”

  Cat laughed again. And it was loud. Too loud.

  “Charlotte,” her aunt called. “Charlotte, come here.”

  Charlie stopped walking and hung her head. Cat giggled.

  “You owe me more candy for this,” Charlie said.

  “Sorry,” Cat said, biting her lip, though her eyes twinkled.

  “Charlotte?”

  “Lots of candy,” Charlie said.

  “Copy that. You’d better go see what she wants.” Cat grinned. “Let me know if you need a rescue.”

  “I need a rescue.” Charlie strode toward her aunt, counting to five. Her aunt still sang her praises. She counted to ten.

  “Aunt G,” she said. “Aren’t you supposed to be on a tour?” She tried to keep her voice light, but knew she failed by the way Logan’s eyes widened. She forcibly unclenched her jaw. “I mean, you wouldn’t want to miss it.”

  “Nonsense, Charlotte. It doesn’t leave for another hour.” Aunt G smiled at Logan. “Here’s my girl. Didn’t I tell you she was pretty? How often do you get such a combination in a girl?”

  “Bua!”

  Logan turned to her. “You are mistaken, Ms. Singh.”

  Charlie turned her glare on him.

  “Your niece isn’t just pretty,” Logan continued. “She is beautiful.” His voice lowered at the end, like he was trying to make it an intimate moment between them. Her aunt preened, as though she had something to do with Charlie’s looks.

  “It’s nice to see you again, Logan. Would you excuse us?” She needed her aunt alone ASAP.

  Logan frowned slightly before his face cleared and he smiled. “But of course. I hope to see both of you beautiful women again. Perhaps at the dinner dance tomorrow evening?”

  “Ummm,” Charlie said. She hadn’t planned on bringing her aunt.

  Her aunt fairly beamed with pleasure. “That would be lovely.”

  Logan gave them a nod in farewell and finally walked away.

  “Bua, I love you, but you have to stop trying to find a man for me. Especially here,” she added. “This conference is not the place to find a date.”

  “And why not?” her aunt said as she walked to the elevator. “There are more men than women. And I’d say they must be successful if they’re here.”

  Charlie rolled her eyes and followed. “Not necessarily. And that’s beside the point. Can you lay off the matchmaking while we’re here?”

  Her aunt stepped onto the elevator and sighed. “I just see your life passing you by as you hide away in a lab. What do you even do in there all day? Make new combination locks?”

  I invent communication tech, imaging equipment, weapons to help keep my team safe. I deal with micro-technology, explosive chemicals, and state-of-the-art IT. I’m allowed to use all the creativity I can muster.

  But she didn’t say any of that. Her aunt couldn’t know. The elevator reached their floor and she walked off. “I love my job, Bua. Can you just be happy for me?”

  Her aunt stopped in the middle of the hallway and held out her arms until Charlie leaned down and hugged her. “I just want the best for you, pyari ladaki,” her aunt said in her ear. The endearment always made Charlie go to mush inside.

  She gave her aunt an extra squeeze before releasing her. “Now tell me about your plans for the day, before I head to my first session.”

  “I met a man while getting a tea downstairs. His name is Dr. Nigel Harper. I think he’s going on the same tour as I am…”

  Charlie had just unlocked her aunt’s door when a door across the hall opened. Jack stepped out, followed by Dr. Levington. Jack gave her a small nod, while Dr. Levington ignored her entirely.

  Great. She’d be seeing more of both of them.

  “This is such a nice room,” Aunt G said, pulling Charlie’s attention from the men walking away down the hall. Charlie scanned the room. Elegant, though simple. Done up in light grays and dark woods. The room faced the river Thames and from the window they could see the London Eye, the giant Ferris wheel, on the south bank.

  “I have to run, Bua.”

  “Oh, of course. You go ahead. I’m going to freshen up and then meet the tour.” She clapped her hands together. “Maybe I’ll go shopping this afternoon.”

  Charlie smiled. When was the last time her aunt had been this happy? She needed to make sure the woman traveled more. “I’ll check in with you at lunch time. Maybe I’ll be able to sneak away.”

  Her aunt waved her out of the room. Finally—time to get to work.

  Charlie decided to take the stairs, just to get a bit of exercise. It was only four floors to the level that held most of the sessions. She pushed open the heavy fire door into the concrete stairwell. A door opened on the floor above as she went down the steps.

  Footfalls echoed through the stairwell. She glanced up. Two men in suits hurried down toward her. One had his hand on something under his jacket. Her instincts kicked in, making her hyperaware of the situation.

  She picked up her pace.

  They did the same.

  8

  The men gained on her as she moved quickly down the stairs, not quite at a run. She glanced back. They were only a flight away now, both laser-focused on her. She stuck her hand in her bag, reaching for a weapon. Her gun was in the hotel safe, but she had other gadgets she could use. No matter what her instincts screamed, they could just be normal men in a hurry to get to the superconductor session.

  Yeah, right.

  She started skipping steps to get ahead of them. So did they.

  “Dr. Singh?” one of them called out. “We’d like to speak with you a moment.”

  “Make an appointment,” she called over her shoulder, now racing down the steps. Should she try to get out of the stairwell and onto a floor? What if it was empty? Or worse, what if there were innocent people on it?

  Time for backup. She touched her throat mic. “Gears? Valkyrie?”

  No answer. She kept running. “Gears, Valkyrie, this is Q, over.”

  Either the concrete stairwell was blocking her signal or something was jamming it. No backup. She was on her own. And they were going to catch her before she made it to one of the public floors. They could leap on her from behind as soon as they closed the gap a bit more. She started jumping more steps trying to stay ahead of them, never so thankful for her sensible boots.

  The next landing had a door, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to open it before they were on her. Time to face them. She still had a few tricks they didn’t know about.

  She leapt the last few steps to the landing and spun, putting her back to the concrete wall. She shoved her hand into her messenger bag, her fingers clasping one of her inventions.

  The two men stopped running when she did. Neither breathed hard. One had skin darker than hers, while the other had pale red hair and freckles. The dark-skinned man held up his hands, coming down another step while Freckles stayed put and kept his hand inside his jacket, probably on a gun.

  “We don’t want to hurt you, Dr. Singh,” the man with his palms up said.

  “I don’t want you to hurt me either,” she said. “Now leave me alone.”

  “We can’t do that.” He stepped down again. “We need you to come with us.”

  “Who
are you?”

  “We’ll explain on the way.”

  She tilted her head as if pretending to consider his words. “Do you work for the government?”

  “You could say that.”

  She could say it, but it didn’t make it true. These were not government men, where were their badges? The man stepped closer, a friendly smile on his face. “Please, Dr. Singh. It will only take a moment of your time.”

  She needed him closer still so she stepped forward, keeping her shoulders loose. “Well, you could have said that to begin with, instead of freaking me out. How long will it take? I have some sessions I really want to see today.” Freckles’ hand left the inside of his jacket. Good. He no longer saw her as a threat.

  She gripped her invention in the palm of her hand and slowly withdrew it from her bag. It was small enough to stay hidden in her palm.

  The dark-skinned man smiled. With his close-cropped hair and goatee, he had the air of a wannabe actor, but his eyes gave him away. The smile didn’t even approach the same neighborhood as his cold, flat eyes. But at least he dropped his hands. “I’m so sorry if we frightened you. That wasn’t our intention.”

  Bullshit.

  He waved a hand for her to precede them down the stairs. “Please. It won’t take long at all, Dr. Singh.”

  “If you say so,” she said. She stepped by him. Close enough. She put her hand on his arm, making sure only the device touched him and not her fingers. Less than a thousand volts of electricity shot from it through his body. The normal amount in a TASER was fifty thousand, but hers was still a more dangerous weapon.

  It wasn’t the number of volts that mattered, but the current, the speed with which the electric charge ran through the body. She’d worked hard to lower the resistance on the wires in her device, allowing a greater current. Not high enough to kill, but enough to knock someone out.

  He exhaled sharply, his eyes widened, and his body stiffened.

  “Tom?” Freckles said, stepping onto the landing.