Read Online An Extraordinary Match (The Match Series Book 3) by Barbara Dunlop - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Barbara Dunlop
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Jade’s stomach. Something was going on here, something she didn’t understand.
“It’s temporary,” she told them.
“Perhaps,” said Ewan.
“I didn’t do anything, so they have no evidence.” She’d admitted to hacking into the Twin Peaks’ server, but the worst that would get her was a fine. Possibly probation, certainly no jail time, and she’d fight like hell to keep from having a criminal record.
“Perhaps,” said John.
“Perhaps what?” she snapped.
His eyes narrowed. “Perhaps there’s more evidence than you realize.”
“There can’t be more—” She stilled again, blinking at their cocksure postures, the satisfied confidence in their expressions.
Ewan spoke. “Is that a light bulb I see going on above her head?”
“I believe it’s a light bulb,” said John.
“What the hell?” she repeated, looking from one to the other. “ What the hell ?”
“We’d truly like you to join the team,” said John.
“You planted evidence against me? WNT framed me? Who are you people?”
“The best of the best,” said Ewan. “And you should be honored to be invited in.”
“I’m not honored. I’m ticked off. You have absolutely no right to mess with my life. And I’m going to scream this from the rooftops.”
He shrugged. “Good luck with that.”
“Who are you ?” she asked again.
They were highly skilled, that much was clear. They were tenacious, and they didn’t seem to mind breaking the rules.
“Government?” she asked.
“You won’t find us listed.”
“Tech black ops?” She’d heard rumors, but she hadn’t ever truly believed them.
John spoke up again. “We can have you out of here in thirty seconds. We can make this all go away. Or we can make it much, much worse.”
“You think I’d even consider working for you after this?”
Ewan looked at John again. “She needs time to think about it.”
“I’m not going to think about it,” she warned.
“She needs time to think about it,” John agreed.
They both turned away.
After a couple of steps, Ewan turned back, bracing his hand on one of the cell bars to glare at her. “We set this up in fifteen minutes. Never mind breaking a sweat, we didn’t even put down our martinis. We want you, Jade. So you’re ours. Say yes now, or say yes later. But you will say yes.” He glanced around her cell. “If you don’t, this place will start to look like a five-star hotel.”
Then they did walk away.
She stepped shakily back, breathing deeply, lowering herself onto the hard mattress. For a moment, all she could wonder was what could be worse than this place? Would they have her declared a terrorist and sent to Guantanamo Bay? Would they use extraordinary rendition, packing her off to a black site in some Third World dictatorship?
Could they do that?
Who the hell were they?
She was desperate for a computer to do research, or even her cell phone to call Virgil. It was definitely time to come clean with Seaboard. They were the only people who had the remotest hope of helping her.
More footsteps sounded in the hallway, and she tensed.
But Sheriff Edwards appeared, a deep frown on his face. She was reminded that Logan’s relatives were also the sheriff’s relatives. He was obviously taking her supposed crime personally.
She tried not to be frightened, but things seemed to be moving very quickly out of control. And there didn’t appear to be a single person on her side.
“The judge will see you now,” he told her, producing an almost comically large key ring and unlocking her cell with a clatter and a clang.
Even though it was likely temporary, she couldn’t stop the rush of relief at stepping out of the cell. She wasn’t normally claustrophobic, but that place kept feeling smaller and smaller.
He snapped a set of handcuffs on her wrists, securing her hands behind her back. She wanted to protest that handcuffs were unnecessary, but she was afraid to argue with him. She walked meekly alongside him,
“It’s temporary,” she told them.
“Perhaps,” said Ewan.
“I didn’t do anything, so they have no evidence.” She’d admitted to hacking into the Twin Peaks’ server, but the worst that would get her was a fine. Possibly probation, certainly no jail time, and she’d fight like hell to keep from having a criminal record.
“Perhaps,” said John.
“Perhaps what?” she snapped.
His eyes narrowed. “Perhaps there’s more evidence than you realize.”
“There can’t be more—” She stilled again, blinking at their cocksure postures, the satisfied confidence in their expressions.
Ewan spoke. “Is that a light bulb I see going on above her head?”
“I believe it’s a light bulb,” said John.
“What the hell?” she repeated, looking from one to the other. “ What the hell ?”
“We’d truly like you to join the team,” said John.
“You planted evidence against me? WNT framed me? Who are you people?”
“The best of the best,” said Ewan. “And you should be honored to be invited in.”
“I’m not honored. I’m ticked off. You have absolutely no right to mess with my life. And I’m going to scream this from the rooftops.”
He shrugged. “Good luck with that.”
“Who are you ?” she asked again.
They were highly skilled, that much was clear. They were tenacious, and they didn’t seem to mind breaking the rules.
“Government?” she asked.
“You won’t find us listed.”
“Tech black ops?” She’d heard rumors, but she hadn’t ever truly believed them.
John spoke up again. “We can have you out of here in thirty seconds. We can make this all go away. Or we can make it much, much worse.”
“You think I’d even consider working for you after this?”
Ewan looked at John again. “She needs time to think about it.”
“I’m not going to think about it,” she warned.
“She needs time to think about it,” John agreed.
They both turned away.
After a couple of steps, Ewan turned back, bracing his hand on one of the cell bars to glare at her. “We set this up in fifteen minutes. Never mind breaking a sweat, we didn’t even put down our martinis. We want you, Jade. So you’re ours. Say yes now, or say yes later. But you will say yes.” He glanced around her cell. “If you don’t, this place will start to look like a five-star hotel.”
Then they did walk away.
She stepped shakily back, breathing deeply, lowering herself onto the hard mattress. For a moment, all she could wonder was what could be worse than this place? Would they have her declared a terrorist and sent to Guantanamo Bay? Would they use extraordinary rendition, packing her off to a black site in some Third World dictatorship?
Could they do that?
Who the hell were they?
She was desperate for a computer to do research, or even her cell phone to call Virgil. It was definitely time to come clean with Seaboard. They were the only people who had the remotest hope of helping her.
More footsteps sounded in the hallway, and she tensed.
But Sheriff Edwards appeared, a deep frown on his face. She was reminded that Logan’s relatives were also the sheriff’s relatives. He was obviously taking her supposed crime personally.
She tried not to be frightened, but things seemed to be moving very quickly out of control. And there didn’t appear to be a single person on her side.
“The judge will see you now,” he told her, producing an almost comically large key ring and unlocking her cell with a clatter and a clang.
Even though it was likely temporary, she couldn’t stop the rush of relief at stepping out of the cell. She wasn’t normally claustrophobic, but that place kept feeling smaller and smaller.
He snapped a set of handcuffs on her wrists, securing her hands behind her back. She wanted to protest that handcuffs were unnecessary, but she was afraid to argue with him. She walked meekly alongside him,
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