Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“And Alec, I’ll need you to speed up Tessa’s training. This mission is potentially very dangerous. I wish we didn’t need her so soon, but it’s necessary. Do what you must to get her ready.” The way Major and Alec looked at each other, I had a feeling there was more to Alec’s involvement in this case than just self-defense lessons.
“Major, I know how to fire a gun and I’ve been taking karate since I arrived here,” I said.
“A few years of karate and knowing how to fire on an unmoving target aren’t enough. In the next few days, Alec will teach you how to fight for your life.” Major trained his gaze on Alec. “Teach her how to walk away from a fight as the winner.”
The fire in Alec’s eyes sent a jolt of electricity through my body. Training alone with him wasn’t the worst thing . . .
“Kate, Tessa, get ready. We’ll set out in thirty minutes.”
Alec smiled encouragingly as he walked past me. I wanted to return the gesture but the muscles in my face refused to obey. I was going on my first real mission. As bait.
I hurried along the ocher corridor, in the direction of my room. The dismal yellow shade reminded me of the carpet in my old room back at home.
Three years.
Sometimes I forgot how long I’d been living with the agency. The last image I had of my mother was of her back as she’d let Alec and Major take me away. She hadn’t even turned around to say good-bye. And now I was supposed to pose as someone else’s daughter, become a part of a normal family, which was the last thing I knew how to pretend. Even before I came to the FEA, a family was the one thing I’d never had. I couldn’t remember a single thing about my father since he left with my brother when I was only a toddler.
Loud booms greeted me as I stepped into my room. Holly was sprawled out on her bed, reading a book and moving her legs in rhythm with the music. I switched the speakers off, launching the room into a sudden silence. Holly whirled around and sat up. “What did Major want?”
I leaned against our door, trying to take some weight off my trembling legs. Outside the picture windows, dark clouds were gathering in the sky over the forest—harbingers of another snow storm. It was March but here in Montana, so close to the Canadian border, the winters were long and brutal. In the distance I could make out the mountains of Glacier National Park, their peaks still crowned by snow.
“He wanted to talk about the serial killer case in Livingston. There’s been another victim—the fourth. She’s still alive, but she doesn’t have long, and—” I hesitated a moment before continuing, “I’m supposed to take her place once she dies.”
Holly’s eyes grew wide. “You’re going on a real mission?” She couldn’t keep the envy from coloring her voice. Holly and I had started at the agency at the same time and were usually called into training together. I was sure her invisibility had the head of the CIA and the Department of Defense salivating. If she ever got a grip on her talent.
“The mission can’t start until the girl is dead.” Maybe she hadn’t absorbed that detail the first time I told her.
Holly still looked enthusiastic. “Wow. I can’t believe they’re going to let you work on a real murder case. I’ve always wanted to pretend to be someone else. You must be so excited.”
I shot her a withering glance. I was about as far from excited as one could get.
“So wait, you’re leaving now? Are you going out in the field already?” Holly asked close behind me as I gathered my coat and slipped a few essentials into my purse.
I shrugged. “Today’s just preparation. The real action doesn’t start for a couple of days.” The flight to the hospital would take at least two hours, enough time for me to completely and utterly freak out.
“Good luck!” Holly shouted as I left the room.
I would need more than just luck.
The gray facade of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital loomed above me, lightning flashing in the sky behind it. If it hadn’t been for Kate and Major, I’d have turned on my heel and hidden in the sleek black Mercedes limousine that brought us here from the heliport.
The sliding doors glided open without a sound, giving way to the sterile white reception area. My nose stung from the smell of disinfectants. We breezed ahead without asking for directions. Major knew his way and nobody stopped him; not the nurses who whispered to each other as we passed or the doctor who nodded his head in greeting. The FEA was thorough in absolutely everything.