Read Online Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig - Free Book Online Page B

dead—murdered.”
    “So you speak Marathi and listen to police scanners. Should I be impressed?”
    “As of an hour ago, Khalid was still alive.” He tossed the bait and waited.
    Gradually, her shoulders lowered as she set the bag back on the rock. “What do you want?”
    “To talk.”
    “Alone, in the dark, on a deserted beach?” Sarcasm coated her words, but he heard the uncertainty there too.
    “I had to be sure of a few things.” He nudged the bottled water toward her with his booted foot. “It's spring water. Untampered.”
    “Says you.”
    The corners of his lips quirked, but he stopped the smile. “You’re dehydrated and weak.”
    “Says you.”
    “You’re wasting time, Shiloh.”
    She drew in a quick breath.
    Reece scooted to the edge of the rock and rested his elbows on his knees. “A lot happened today.” He looked to the sea. “I imagine you want some answers.”
    “And you have them?”
    “Some.” Tempted to stand, he opted to give her the appearance of control and remained seated. He lifted the water, took a sip, and handed it to her. “If you want to live to see your boyfriend, you might want to start with this.”
    She snatched it from his hand, glaring down her straight nose at him. “You know a lot about me. I’m at a disadvantage.”
    Nice try. He wouldn’t let her drag information out of him.
    The wind kicked up, tossing long strands of hair off her shoulders. She lifted her jaw as she pushed her gaze to the street. “How do you know who I am?”
    “That's not important. That you have a powerful terrorist organization after you is. As you witnessed today, they aren’t afraid to kill.”
    With a sidelong glance, she twisted the lid off the water. “That was you on the Indian Coast Guard boat. The hospital. Then on Market Lane.”
    He shrugged his acknowledgement and held out the small artifact he’d lifted from her pocket in the sterile environment.
    She took the piece without a word and stuffed it into her pack. Cool as a cucumber. All the same, he had seen the wariness and surprise in her eyes moments ago. He had taken her by surprise. Now with the lamp, he had her undivided attention. An ounce of disappointment clung to him at how easily she’d been ensnared by his advantage. Then again, she wasn’ttrained to hide what piqued her curiosity. But it wouldn’t take much to make her a top-notch agent.
    Reece controlled his thoughts. That wasn’t why he had intentionally crossed their paths. Her safety was.
    “You shaved,” she said.
    “You changed clothes.”
    “I thought it was fitting.”
    “And smart.”
    This time she turned her head. “My father taught me not to talk to strangers.” She dumped the water out in front of him, tugged up the pack, and started toward the street.
    “He taught you more than that.”
    She flinched but kept walking.
    Reece shoved to his feet. “Where are you going, Shiloh? Too many people are scouring the city for you.”
    “They won’t find me.”
    “I found you.”
    She stopped, her head tilted back as she stared at the sky. “I suppose you put a tracking device on me or something.” Slowly, she turned toward him, her face bathed in the pale blue of moon glow. The eerie hue made her appear vulnerable.
    He shoved a hand into his jacket pocket and withdrew a phone. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it to her. “When you’re ready to talk, use that.”
    Defiance hardened her face. “Do you really think I’d want anything to do with you? It's not like you’ve helped …” Her words faded. Her eyes dropped.
    No, keep your head up. Always keep your head up. Reece bit his tongue. He couldn’t guide her, although her skills outshone most he’d trained. “I’ve put a lakh of rupees in your pack. Find a hotel and food for the night, then call me.”
    Shiloh studied the phone. Finally, she glanced back at him. “What makes you think I will?”
    “A guy can hope.”
    She bounced the phone in her hand.
    By the look on her