Colby Velocity by Debra Webb Page A

drive.”
    Like he realized earlier, the lady had moxie.
    Rocky re-mounded the charcoal, replaced therack and closed the lid. He couldn’t help eyeing the windows of the town house as he dusted his palms together. “We should get moving.”
    â€œI’ll hook this up to my laptop when we get back to the hotel.” Dirty bag or not, Kendra stashed her find beneath her cream-colored jacket.
    â€œWe don’t need back inside for anything, right?”
    She shook her head.
    Being a good citizen and because Burton would know who’d unlocked the back door, Rocky locked it, then checked to ensure it was secure. No need to tick off Kendra’s one official contact.
    The alley was still deserted except for that determined cat who’d found himself an edible treasure. Once in the rental car, Rocky resisted the impulse to zoom away from the scene of their crime. Drawing unnecessary attention wouldn’t be smart.
    Kendra tucked the bag with its contents beneath her seat and reached for her seat belt. She hesitated, then reached for her cell phone.
    â€œKendra Todd.”
    The sound of her name made him smile. When he’d first learned that the Equalizers would be joining the Colby Agency he’d had some reservations. But now, after getting to know the staff—Kendra in particular—Rocky felt pretty much at home.
    â€œWho is this?”
    Rocky shifted his attention to her as he braked for the first intersection.
    Kendra drew the phone from her ear and stared at the screen.
    â€œWhat’s up?” Tension rifled through Rocky.
    Her gaze connected with his. “We have a rendezvous where we’ll supposedly receive evidence about Yoni’s murder and the identity of the killer.”
    Rocky checked the cross street then pulled away from the intersection. “Your caller didn’t ID himself?”
    â€œNo.”
    The single syllable carried a truckload of confusion and disbelief.
    â€œDid he name Sayar’s killer just now?”
    â€œYes.”
    Their gazes intersected once more.
    â€œSenator Castille.”

Chapter Six
    Lincoln Memorial, 9:00 p.m.
    Kendra waited in the shadows of the Lincoln Memorial. Yoni Sayar deserved justice. Having his death swept under the rug as a random act of violence was wrong. Kendra intended to right that wrong.
    â€œWe’ve got company,” Rocky whispered in her ear via the communications link.
    â€œBlack sedan,” she confirmed.
    Room service at the hotel had provided the fuel she’d been lacking. With no sleep, she’d been on the verge of total exhaustion. But the anonymous call along with a ham and cheese on rye back at the room had energized her. With Rocky’s help she’d spent two hours attempting to make some sense of Yoni’s electronic files. Her friend hadn’t warned her that the files would be encrypted.
    Why would he ensure she knew where his external hard drive was hidden if she couldn’t makesense of the information stored there? Rocky had downloaded the files and sent them to the Colby Agency for further attempts at decoding. Two staff members from research were pulling an all-nighter toward that end.
    She and Rocky had assessed their needs and selected the essential equipment, including their weapons, for this covert rendezvous. Arriving an hour early had provided the opportunity to survey the area and get into place. The minutes had dragged by like hours. Exhaustion had crept back into Kendra’s bones.
    A man emerged from the sedan she’d spotted and headed for the steps leading to the monument. He carried a slim briefcase or portfolio. Kendra checked the weapon at the small of her back beneath her jacket. Whatever this guy’s game, she was prepared. Rocky was less than ten feet away, lost in the shadows, as well.
    Before the man reached the top of the steps he reached up and ran a hand—his left hand—through his hair. Irritation burned through Kendra. She