Read Online How Spy I Am by Diane Henders - Free Book Online Page B

our
system. However, all publicly accessible records will indicate that
you are Arlene Widdenback. You will be issued appropriate
identification in that name tomorrow.”
    I emerged from the
shelter of my hands to beg Stemp one last time. “Isn’t there any
other option?”
    “No. This is the
best-case scenario, since the videos pre-date Aydan Kelly’s
official death and the woman in the videos is unquestionably you.
If they’re suspicious, Fuzzy Bunny will be looking for identities
that begin to show activity around the time you died.”
    Stemp gave me an
almost-sympathetic look. “You may, of course, publicly deny that
you are Arlene Widdenback. In fact, I encourage you to do so, as
vociferously as possible. Controversial media coverage will serve
to keep you in the public eye and fuel our disinformation campaign,
all helping to assure Fuzzy Bunny that you are actually Arlene
Cherry, not Aydan Kelly. God bless the media.”
    He gave me a short,
mocking bow. “Ms. Widdenback, it’s a pleasure to make your
acquaintance. Please report to Sirius Dynamics tomorrow morning for
your complete briefing and dossier.” He turned to Richardson.
“Please return her weapon before she leaves tonight.” He strode
out, leaving a gaping silence behind him.
    I collapsed slowly
forward to bury my face in the couch. “Somebody, please, kill me
now,” I implored the sofa cushions.

Chapter 9
    The silence stretched,
and I suspected both men were using the time to adjust their faces
to appropriate expressions of sympathy. I didn’t rush them.
    Eventually, I felt
Hellhound’s hands on my shoulders. “Come on, darlin’, it ain’t that
bad.”
    I could still hear the
smile in his voice, and I groaned as I let him lift me away from my
fervent communion with the couch.
    “You’re right. It’s
not that bad. It’s much, much worse.” I hid my face against his
chest, avoiding Richardson’s eyes. I wasted a few moments willing
my heart to stop but it kept beating away, cheerfully oblivious to
my humiliation.
    “Aw, come on now.”
Arnie raised my chin and smiled down at me. “Don’t worry, darlin’,
your friends know that fraud an’ porn stuff ain’t true, an’ ya
don’t hafta give a shit what anybody else thinks.”
    I blew out a long
breath and thumped my forehead softly against his shoulder a couple
of times before straightening up. “You’re right. I guess.” I gave
Richardson a quick, embarrassed glance before turning back to
Arnie. “I’m really glad you didn’t get in trouble over this. Thanks
for looking for me.”
    “No problem, darlin’.”
Hellhound heaved himself to his feet, reaching a hand down to me.
“Come on, I’ll take ya home.”
    I stood slowly, still
quivering with reaction. “Um… Good night, Mark.”
    “Uh… see you tomorrow,
I guess.” He didn’t quite meet my eyes when he handed over my
Glock.

    Belted into the
passenger seat of Arnie’s SUV, I turned to speak, but he held a
finger to his lips and put the vehicle in gear. When we cleared the
town’s few streetlights and got up to speed on the dark highway I
turned to him again in the dim glow of the dashboard lights,
raising my eyebrows.
    He shot a glance in
the rearview mirror before slowing to turn onto a deserted country
road. About a half-mile off the highway, he nosed the SUV onto a
crossing and stopped, cutting the lights.
    My eyes quickly
adjusted to the pale reflection of moonlight from the snowy fields,
and I raised my eyebrows inquiringly again. He shook his head and
reached into his jacket pocket to withdraw one of the small
scanning devices from Sirius Dynamics.
    I frowned at him and
he shrugged, giving me a grin. Stemp sure as hell wouldn’t hand out
that kind of technology to civilian private investigators, so
Spider must have sneaked it to him. Relief eased my shoulders at
the thought.
    When Arnie activated
the scanner, we both stiffened at the sight of the flashing red
light.
    He moved the scanner
methodically over