Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Thirty minutes before he’d felt safe and secure. Tash and Zach showing up reminded him how fast things could change.
How had Tristan lived like this for so long?
“Yes, I do understand,” Tris was saying. “Uncle, you don’t have to tell me how stupid I am. I know. I’ll take a look at the glasses from this end.” He sighed. “I won’t know what could have happened until I look at them. If it’s not a software issue, then I need to actually have them in my hands to check them.”
So Tris was having a fun night, too.
He would be so fucking happy when they were done with this and they could be together without the threat of a mission over their heads. When he didn’t have to walk his fiancée around because she shouldn’t be without an escort.
“They’re here.” Tris nodded to Tash and Zach. “Yes, I will work on getting my head out of my ass. Aidan can certainly help. It’s why I picked him.”
Aidan snorted. Sometimes the only way to deal with an angry Uncle Ian was to concede everything.
Tris hung up and slid his cell in his pocket. “Tash, sorry. I have been properly yelled at, and I’m apparently looking forward to some serious torture, including being keelhauled. Your father promises he’ll buy a bigger boat just for the occasion.”
Tash snorted and sank down to the sofa. “Dad thinks he needs a new boat. He’s looking for an excuse Mom will buy.”
“But it was stupid to leave your phone where you wouldn’t hear it ring.” Zach stayed standing, arms crossed over his chest. “I get it, man. You’re dealing with some personal stuff, but we’re also in the middle of a mission. I know it seems easy…”
“Nothing’s ever easy,” Tris interrupted. “I know it. All right. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. And please tell Big Tag not to be too hard on Kala. We needed the privacy. We were fine. She was still in the hotel. Now she’s with Carys, doing her job. So what do you have for me?”
Aidan was interested, too. When Tristan took a seat on the couch across from Tasha, he sat down beside him. “Did Phoebe find something? I heard Parker giving Adam permission to send what his agency had on Huisman’s recent financials.”
Tasha’s head shook. “Nothing yet. It’s late, though, so I would bet we won’t hear from Phoebe until tomorrow. No, I wanted you to be aware of something weird we found. We managed to get the schedule for the symposium.”
“Weird?” Aidan asked. “It should be a series of meetings. A couple of speakers. Meals. I know he schedules what he calls ‘free thinking’ time, which is basically where everyone sits around and exchanges ideas.”
“The schedule isn’t the problem.” Zach paced behind Tasha. “Included with the schedule is a list of the attendees. When did you say you got the invitation, Aidan?”
“Two months ago. I received the invitation to apply for the symposium six weeks before that,” he replied. “So my initial contact with the foundation was roughly three and a half months ago.”
Tasha looked back at Zach. “So before Australia.”
Before they’d met Huisman himself. “That’s good, right? If Huisman hadn’t even met you, then it does feel like the timing backs up the idea this was all a coincidence.”
Tris had gone tense beside him. “Unless all of this was a plan and we’re playing catch-up.”
“We can’t know,” Aidan said.
“Aidan’s name is not on the list.” Zach frowned, a grim expression. “There are sixty-two registered attendees, but no Dr. Aidan O’Donnell. Did you have to send in anything like a bio?”
“Of course.” It kind of hurt, but he could come up with a couple of reasons he would be left off. “I sent in everything they asked for, including a bio and professional photo. I would bet it’s because I’m the only resident in the group. Everyone else is either a fellow or an attending. I can see where he wouldn’t give a resident the same page space. I’m literally years behind most of these guys. Or it could be a mistake. I can’t imagine another reason they would leave me off.”
“Plausible deniability,” Tasha replied.
Tristan took a long breath. “You think he wants to be able to pretend Aidan wasn’t there at all?”
“I don’t know,” Tasha admitted. “If that’s his plan, then this is more dangerous than we previously thought, and it’s time to get Aidan and Carys to a safe house. I’m worried Huisman will make his move the minute they enter the compound. Ben has done a lot of research concerning the house. He’s got serious security, and if they’re Huisman’s personal army, we could be outnumbered.”
Tris sat back, seeming to think for a moment. “Uncle Ian didn’t say anything about ending the op. Is he leaving this in my hands?”