Chapter 9

9

The LED clock on the wall blinked 3:17 p.m. Each digital flash mocked Alex’s mounting frustration. Two more hours had passed, and they were no closer to settling on a new identity for their client. A task that should have been straightforward—pick a location, create a backstory, forge the documents—had devolved into a circus of indecision and increasingly outlandish suggestions.

Alex’s fingers hovered over her keyboard, poised to input whatever choice the group finally landed on. The sooner they decided, the sooner she could start weaving the intricate web of digital breadcrumbs that would support the man’s new life. And more importantly, the sooner she could get Jason Reilly out of her underground sanctuary, and out of her life.

She breathed deep, trying to center herself amidst the cacophony of voices. “Alright, let’s try this again. Mr. Munsinger?—”

“Gravy,” the guy interrupted, right on cue.

Alex bit back a sigh. It was going to be a long afternoon.

She rubbed her temples, the tension kindling a dull ache behind her eyes. “Mr. Munsinger, what about?—”

“Gravy,” the man insisted for the umpteenth time. “Call me Gravy.”

Alex shot a look at Jason, who merely shrugged, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

The computer blinked, offering its latest suggestion: “Retired lighthouse keeper in Nova Scotia.”

Gravy’s face scrunched up. “Do I look like a lighthouse kind of guy?”

“You could learn,” Mac offered helpfully.

“How about somewhere warm?” Jason chimed in. “Gravy’s always talking about beaches.”

“What about a surf instructor in Bali?” Gabriel suggested.

Gravy perked up. “Now we’re talking!”

“Can you even surf?” Liv asked skeptically.

“I can learn,” Gravy replied, undeterred.

Alex pinched the bridge of her nose. “This is why we let the computer do this.” The program she’d created was a masterpiece that she tweaked after every new client. Input aptitudes, personality traits, likes and dislikes and let the software come up with ideas. Her program was tuned to finding workable—and enjoyable—new lives that clients could actually maintain for as long as necessary.

Jason’s brow furrowed. “I’m surprised you didn’t have all this ready to go.”

“The people we work with don’t plan their disappearances. Typically, people deny they’re in danger until the very last second. Then it’s all ‘help me disappear NOW.’” She waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. This is what we do. Our usual procedure is to get the client out of danger and drop them on one of the off-grid luxury resorts we’ve vetted while we take a couple weeks to work our magic.”

“So we’re stuck here for weeks?” Jason’s tone held a hint of challenge.

“Not here. And not you. Mr. Mun—I mean Gravy, will need to vacation while we attend to all the details, but you’re free to go. Now would be good.”

She turned back to the screens, determined to find a solution that would satisfy everyone—and more importantly, get Jason Reilly out of her hair.

Bali was not happening. The last place she’d put a guy with Gravy’s apparent lack of sense was a mega-popular tourist area. He liked beaches. And mountains. She keyed the info into the program and waited.

Jason’s voice, low and intense, caught her attention. She glanced over her shoulder, watching as he paced, phone pressed to his ear.

“What do you mean, Seven-Five?” The edge in his voice chilled her.

She tried to focus on her work, but found herself straining to hear every word.

“How can you be sure?” he asked, his free hand clenching into a fist. “So they could have been after Gravy. Or me.”

He paused, clearly listening. “Copy that. I agree. It doesn’t much matter which of us they’re after. They’ll take both.”

Alex swiveled in her chair, abandoning all pretense of not listening. Her eyes narrowed as Jason continued.

“No, absolutely not. You’re not coming here,” he ordered, his voice sharp. “I want Jane and Kellen, Tenaya and Avery, all of you, as far away from this as possible.”

The protective streak in his voice was unmistakable, and despite her growing anger, Alex felt a twinge of something she couldn’t name. Respect? Admiration? She quickly squashed the feeling.

“This is my mess,” Jason continued. “I’ll handle it alone. One last mission.” He ended the call.

Her temper boiled over. One last mission? Alone? Not anywhere near RAVEN headquarters.

She stood, chair scraping loudly against the floor, and stalked toward him. This cowboy was about to learn that in her world, no one rode solo. Especially not when they were putting her team and her client and her operation at risk.

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to watch the impending confrontation.

Fury radiated off her in waves, making her throat tight. “Who, or what, is this Seven-Five?”

He pressed a hand to his injured side. “The highlights? Rich bad guys. Secret cabal. Highly lethal.”

The weariness in his tone made Alex falter for a moment, but she quickly steeled herself. “And you led them to us? You just wore out your welcome, Army.”

“You can’t take on Seven-Five without help,” Jason argued.

Her laugh was sharp, cutting. “I’m not taking on anyone. I disappear people. Period. This Seven-Five crowd is your problem, not mine.”

Gabriel, ever the peacemaker, stepped in. “She’s just trying to protect us. It’s what she does.”

Alex’s glare silenced her cousin. She turned back to her screens, forcing the conversation back to the task at hand. “You flew your plane out of Redemption Creek to meet Gravy, right?”

Jason nodded, suspicion clear in his eyes. “So?”

“We’re sending you home, Army.”

His stance widened as if preparing for a fight. “Not until I know where Gravy’s heading.”

Ignoring him, Alex addressed Liv. “Can you arrange a turboprop ASAP?”

Liv jumped up, energized. “I’ll connect with Mondo right now.”

“He’ll have one passenger to Redemption Creek.” Alex stared Jason down.

The tension in the room rose a couple more degrees. Jason opened his mouth to protest, but she held up a hand, silencing him.

“Listen closely. You’re going back to your team. Gravy’s getting a new life. And I’m getting you both out of my hair.”

She turned to her team, a plan forming. “Mac, set up a decoy trail leading away from the Idaho house. Gabriel, I need you to create a digital footprint for our friend here.” She nodded towards Gravy. “Make it look like he’s heading to ... Bali.”

Gravy perked up. “Really?”

“Not even close,” Alex shot back. “But that’s what anyone who finds the digital trail will think.”

She faced Jason one last time, her expression unreadable. “You wanted to protect your team? This is how. You go back. Play bait. We’ll make sure Gravy disappears so thoroughly, even you won’t be able to find him.”

The challenge in her voice was clear. Jason held her gaze for a long moment before nodding slowly. “Fine. But this isn’t over.”

As he turned to leave, Alex felt a mix of relief and ... something else. Something she wasn’t ready to examine too closely. She shook it off, focusing on the task at hand.

“Alright, people,” she called out. “Let’s make a man disappear and a soldier reappear. We’ve got work to do.”

The room burst into action, screens flickering with data, voices overlapping as plans were made. And if Alex’s eyes lingered on Jason’s retreating form for a moment too long, well, that was nobody’s business but her own.