Brothers in Arms

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Hayden put the phone down after another odd conversation with her boss. Gates had just rung to inquire about Lauren Fox’s mental state. Now the secretary had told her he was on his way to meet the woman. Hayden had warned him about the news reporter, Sarah Moxley, who continued to hang around but her boss seemed unperturbed.

The man had changed since his wife died. The fast-thinking, clear-talking, inspiring leader had been replaced with something cloudier. Something more suited to politics perhaps, but not something she could stake her career on anymore.

A situation that needed reviewing, but not yet. The high-class hooker, Lauren Fox, had been rumbling on about going home for the last twenty minutes.

“You should stay for your own safety.” Kinimaka was telling her, the huge Hawaiian looking out of place as he sat next to the small, pretty woman, dwarfing her. Hayden found a smile flitting around the corners of her lips as she stared at him, seeing his discomfort like no one else could, knowing him so well after their long working relationship, and wondering more and more often how the other kind of relationship might get started.

Lauren waved at him. “I already proved I can look after myself.”

“Your assassin was one of many, Miss Fox. You are the fourth victim in a few days. Sorry, attempted victim.” Kinimaka coughed. “We don’t know the scope of this thing yet. If you could help by giving us your movements—”

“I already told you! I get about. My job calls for some travel every now and then, alright? I gave you my movements.”

Trouble was they didn’t match up to all the previous victims. Not yet anyway. Kinimaka was studying the paper she’d written on. “How about early January? Let’s try that.”

Hayden thought about the previous victims. All dead because, as strangers, they had crossed paths with someone dangerous. And they had pretty much travelled in the same areas. At least, that was the theory. How they fitted in with suicidal, faceless assassins was a mystery that had them all beat.

“I have clients,” Lauren was saying. “If you’re not gonna charge me, at least let me contact them. My business is my livelihood.”

Kinimaka looked surprised. Alicia, still sitting next to the feisty woman, brightened up. “Tell you what, Foxy. I haven’t had a shag in months. How ’bout I spend a few days standing in for you?”

Lauren was about to answer when a shout rose from the control room. Hayden sped off immediately, Alicia a step behind.

The banks of monitors were flashing. Both Ben and Karin were standing. Torsten Dahl was buckling into a bulletproof vest.

“Move!” the Swede cried. “Fifth attempt in progress! The victim and the cops’re holding the assassin off at a friggin’ service area not thirty minutes from here!”