victim?”
“ Absolutely not,” Amelia said with such conviction it startled him.
He rolled away from the window to stare at her. “Based on?”
“ She’s been a guest at some swanky parties all over Europe.”
“ Isn’t that part of her job?”
“ It is. Along with her family connections the social agenda shouldn’t surprise me.”
“ What aren’t you telling me?”
Amelia set aside her binoculars as well. Scooting closer to him, she relaxed onto her side, propping her head on her palm. Her soft smile was a warm beacon in the near-dark.
“ The watch was a gift, yet Adam claimed she found it in the safe. In theory, that means Renata knew what she’d been given.”
“ It was a Rolex. Valuable enough that I bet most people keep them in safes. Or should.”
“ True. But according to her schedule these last few months, she’s spent a lot of time with World War II biographers at various receptions.”
“ You mentioned the diplomat she travels with has been attending museum and archive events since September.”
“ Yes, on official business.” Her voice dripped with skepticism. “Combine that with her unofficial boyfriend in Madrid living in the same neighborhood as a famous historian and it adds up to something bigger,” she said. “She’s Italian.”
“ Yeah, so?”
“ While everyone can point an accusing finger at Hitler, Mussolini wasn’t much better. I’m concerned about Renata’s consistent presence at these events. She might be connected to what happened to you and the others.”
“ You’re implying she works for UI?”
“ No, but she’s been nosing around things that they would find interesting. It can’t be coincidence.”
“ Maybe it’s a hobby.” It bothered John, primarily because it bothered Amelia. She had a knack for rooting out the truth. As a personal security expert – a glorified babysitter – he’d usually been told he didn’t need to know anything beyond his assignments, but he’d kept an eye on politics when necessary, simply to help him identify potential threats. “Does the Vaccaro family have some old connection to the dictator?”
“ Not that I’ve found. It could take me months to unravel that kind of detail.”
John crept closer and pressed a kiss to her lips, pulling back before it became too much of a distraction for either one of them. “People don’t usually brag about their time spent with the losing side.”
“ If it’s there, I’ll find it.”
“ Of course you will. For now, let’s keep Sandman protected while he waits for Renata to recover.”
They both returned to their respective windows. “I haven’t given Selena any update.”
“ Smart.” John wasn’t entirely comfortable knowing the woman dating a former spy had Amelia’s number, but that’s what disposable phones were for. “We don’t want to chance anyone intercepting the call.”
The horizon was still dark in all directions and he caught the tell-tale sound of a yawn from Amelia’s post, but she didn’t complain. It was no surprise to John that neither of them noticed Ben’s arrival at the farm until he walked up the stairs, purposely stepping on every squeaky tread in a tacit warning. “Any news?”
“ Yeah. Big news. I barely made it out of the city ahead of End Game,” Ben said, using his favorite nickname for one of Messenger’s top assassins. “Messenger just ordered him to terminate Sandman.”
“ Hang on,” John said. “You’re talking about the same Cleaner that was working with Galloway? How is he back on the program?” John asked, referring to the official list of active UI agents caught in Messenger’s web that Ben had given him a few days ago.
“ Guess he never officially left.” Ben scuffed his boots against the floor, letting them know he remained near the top of the stairs.
Well, the news confirmed one of his suspicions. Messenger’s top assassin had been working as a double agent during his time with Galloway. John
“ Absolutely not,” Amelia said with such conviction it startled him.
He rolled away from the window to stare at her. “Based on?”
“ She’s been a guest at some swanky parties all over Europe.”
“ Isn’t that part of her job?”
“ It is. Along with her family connections the social agenda shouldn’t surprise me.”
“ What aren’t you telling me?”
Amelia set aside her binoculars as well. Scooting closer to him, she relaxed onto her side, propping her head on her palm. Her soft smile was a warm beacon in the near-dark.
“ The watch was a gift, yet Adam claimed she found it in the safe. In theory, that means Renata knew what she’d been given.”
“ It was a Rolex. Valuable enough that I bet most people keep them in safes. Or should.”
“ True. But according to her schedule these last few months, she’s spent a lot of time with World War II biographers at various receptions.”
“ You mentioned the diplomat she travels with has been attending museum and archive events since September.”
“ Yes, on official business.” Her voice dripped with skepticism. “Combine that with her unofficial boyfriend in Madrid living in the same neighborhood as a famous historian and it adds up to something bigger,” she said. “She’s Italian.”
“ Yeah, so?”
“ While everyone can point an accusing finger at Hitler, Mussolini wasn’t much better. I’m concerned about Renata’s consistent presence at these events. She might be connected to what happened to you and the others.”
“ You’re implying she works for UI?”
“ No, but she’s been nosing around things that they would find interesting. It can’t be coincidence.”
“ Maybe it’s a hobby.” It bothered John, primarily because it bothered Amelia. She had a knack for rooting out the truth. As a personal security expert – a glorified babysitter – he’d usually been told he didn’t need to know anything beyond his assignments, but he’d kept an eye on politics when necessary, simply to help him identify potential threats. “Does the Vaccaro family have some old connection to the dictator?”
“ Not that I’ve found. It could take me months to unravel that kind of detail.”
John crept closer and pressed a kiss to her lips, pulling back before it became too much of a distraction for either one of them. “People don’t usually brag about their time spent with the losing side.”
“ If it’s there, I’ll find it.”
“ Of course you will. For now, let’s keep Sandman protected while he waits for Renata to recover.”
They both returned to their respective windows. “I haven’t given Selena any update.”
“ Smart.” John wasn’t entirely comfortable knowing the woman dating a former spy had Amelia’s number, but that’s what disposable phones were for. “We don’t want to chance anyone intercepting the call.”
The horizon was still dark in all directions and he caught the tell-tale sound of a yawn from Amelia’s post, but she didn’t complain. It was no surprise to John that neither of them noticed Ben’s arrival at the farm until he walked up the stairs, purposely stepping on every squeaky tread in a tacit warning. “Any news?”
“ Yeah. Big news. I barely made it out of the city ahead of End Game,” Ben said, using his favorite nickname for one of Messenger’s top assassins. “Messenger just ordered him to terminate Sandman.”
“ Hang on,” John said. “You’re talking about the same Cleaner that was working with Galloway? How is he back on the program?” John asked, referring to the official list of active UI agents caught in Messenger’s web that Ben had given him a few days ago.
“ Guess he never officially left.” Ben scuffed his boots against the floor, letting them know he remained near the top of the stairs.
Well, the news confirmed one of his suspicions. Messenger’s top assassin had been working as a double agent during his time with Galloway. John
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