Chapter 21

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

"Who is the vehicle registered to?" Kai's spine stiffened as he waited to hear what Gage had found out.

His colleague stared at his computer. "A man named Howard Monarch."

Kai leaned back, almost disappointed at the news. "I've never heard of him."

"I'll see what else I can find out." Gage typed several more things into his laptop.

Kai tried to be patient as he waited to hear more about the man who owned that vehicle.

Because if Kai hadn't gotten to Tori when he did . . . he hated to think about what might have happened. His muscles hardened at the thought.

Just as Kai finished his meal, Gage's computer dinged the results. "Looks like Howard owns a tech firm here in Atlanta called Broadreach. But other than that, there's not a lot popping up about him—nothing controversial, at least. I'm going to have to dig a little deeper."

"What about Alfie?" Tori asked. "Could you do a search on him as well, especially now that you know his last name and address?"

"Of course." Gage typed something else in. "He's from Pensacola. Dad was military. Parents divorced. His mom is a Botox expert. He works in the pharmaceutical industry. Never been married. It looks like his story checks out."

All of that sounded normal. So why was Kai still bothered?

Maybe because Alfie's explanation seemed too simple. Maybe that was because he'd operated in a complex world of covert missions and espionage—a world where nothing was ever that simple.

He glanced out the window at the darkening sky. If they were going to enact the next part of their plan, they needed to do it soon.

"You still want to break into the office?" Tori asked, almost as if reading his thoughts.

"I need to know the truth," he told her. "You think they're closed yet?"

She glanced at her watch, her expression pensive. "It's past six. They should be."

Kai's gaze slid from Tori to Gage as he nodded. "Then let's get a plan together as to what we're going to do when we get there."

After they finished eating, Tori, Kai, and Gage had hit the Walmart across the street to buy more appropriate clothing before their outing tonight.

Tori couldn't deny she was nervous—about everything.

But sometimes, risk was necessary. This was one of those times, she reminded herself.

By the time they checked out it was past nine p.m.

Kai and Gage had indicated that anytime past ten would be ideal for breaking into the building. First, they needed to be sure that no one else was working late or lingering nearby.

They climbed back into the SUV and, before they took off, Gage grabbed his phone.

"I have more information on Howard," Gage started. "Broadreach is a cybersecurity company and . . . it turns out they're under contract with the government."

"Do they have something to do with Project Elevate?" Tori asked.

"Hard to say."

"If not, why would someone who owns a cybersecurity company be following me?" Tori asked. "I pretty much hate technology. I don't have any top-secret files or even a money trail to follow."

"That's an excellent question. I'm not really sure." Gage turned the screen toward her. "You ever seen him before?"

Tori stared at the picture of a sixty-something man with a balding head, a leery look in his eyes, and a tight smile.

"I've never seen him before," she said. "He isn't the guy who approached me in the SUV yesterday."

"I'm sure he has men," Kai said.

"He has men following us?" Tori clarified. "Is that how they found us at Alfie's apartment building?"

"Good question." Kai pressed his mouth closed, his jaw muscle visibly tightening.

"Let's go stake out the doctor's office." Gage started the engine. "See if everyone's gone. Then let's get this over with."

Dread pooled in Tori's gut at the thought of it. She didn't want to do this. Didn't want to be caught breaking in.

But she knew it was the only way.

However, another bigger thought loomed over her.

If these men who were following them had located them once, they could do it again.

How would things end next time?