Read Online Lethal Affairs by Kim Baldwin, Xenia Alexiou - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kim Baldwin, Xenia Alexiou
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Domino to pull out a cell phone, or paper and pen. “Aren’t you going to write it down?”
“It’s not necessary.” Domino smiled at her reassuringly, and Hayley recited her number.
Then, before she could go, Hayley took her hand, as though to make sure she had Domino’s full attention. “Call me.”
Domino nodded. “How could I not?”
Pierce was outside, waiting for her, far enough away no one would see or overhear them. They walked a few steps in silence,
“That went well,” he said. “Miss Ward is obviously taken with you.”
“Apparently,” Domino replied. “What’s going on? What was tonight about, and where’s Cameo?”
“She’s waiting in the car. Did Miss Ward mention anything of interest?”
“That depends on what you consider interesting. She said she’s a journalist with crummy assignments.”
“Anything else?” he pressed.
“She mentioned she prefers what she referred to as political and investigative stuff. That she does it on her own time.”
“Is she investigating anything at the moment?”
“Didn’t say.” Domino felt impatient. “What’s going on? Why all this interest in an insignificant reporter? Besides, you could have gotten all this from Cameo. This is her assignment, after all, and why are you even here tonight?”
“I recently received word on the missing tape,” Pierce replied. “Whoever bribed the cop at the Miami PD had him send it to this particular insignificant reporter. I’m here to make sure this assignment goes to the right op.”
“Hayley Ward has the tape?” A strange, sick feeling invaded her stomach. “I see.”
“Yes. That much has been confirmed. But we don’t know why they chose her.”
“All this was about finding out if she would recognize me from that tape,” she said.
“Correct.”
“We apparently don’t have to worry about that.” Part of her was relieved Hayley hadn’t recognized her. But another part knew there was more to come, something Pierce wasn’t telling her. “What’s going to happen to Miss Ward? How will Cameo proceed?” She knew better than to ask about another op’s assignment, and she fully expected Pierce to tell her so. But she couldn’t help herself.
“She won’t. I’ve pulled her off this job.” He took her by the arm and steered her toward the waiting limo, as though ending the debrief.
But when they reached the car, he faced her. “Miss Ward is your target, Domino.”
The strange feeling in her stomach worsened. “Then why did you—”
“We’ll discuss details tomorrow,” he said, opening the door to prevent further inquiries. “I’ll be staying at my residence here until further notice.” He slipped into the seat beside Cameo, but Domino paused, staring back at the hotel.
C
HAPTER SEVEN
Saturday
H
ayley couldn’t remember when she had been so unable to concentrate on a hot story or had enjoyed someone’s company so thoroughly. She kept staring at the phone, willing it to ring and cursing herself for not asking for Luka’s number or even her last name .
Of course soon didn’t necessarily mean before ten the next morning, she told herself, especially since it was a Saturday, when most ordinary working folk slept in, or went to the market, or took their dogs to the park. And Luka had left her for another appointment…or was it a date?
Hayley freely admitted that impatience was one of her biggest flaws, though it kept her motivated when she was pursuing a story. Even when that story appeared to be a dead end, which the tape appeared to be, so far.
She had viewed it numerous times and still couldn’t make out anything about the woman who had killed Guerrero and the others. She also hadn’t been able to find any trace of this Elite Operatives Organization, and she continued to wonder who had sent her the tape. She absently stirred her coffee, frustrated that she had nothing useful.
The LexisNexis database of public records, court cases, and news stories had provided leads before, and she
“It’s not necessary.” Domino smiled at her reassuringly, and Hayley recited her number.
Then, before she could go, Hayley took her hand, as though to make sure she had Domino’s full attention. “Call me.”
Domino nodded. “How could I not?”
Pierce was outside, waiting for her, far enough away no one would see or overhear them. They walked a few steps in silence,
“That went well,” he said. “Miss Ward is obviously taken with you.”
“Apparently,” Domino replied. “What’s going on? What was tonight about, and where’s Cameo?”
“She’s waiting in the car. Did Miss Ward mention anything of interest?”
“That depends on what you consider interesting. She said she’s a journalist with crummy assignments.”
“Anything else?” he pressed.
“She mentioned she prefers what she referred to as political and investigative stuff. That she does it on her own time.”
“Is she investigating anything at the moment?”
“Didn’t say.” Domino felt impatient. “What’s going on? Why all this interest in an insignificant reporter? Besides, you could have gotten all this from Cameo. This is her assignment, after all, and why are you even here tonight?”
“I recently received word on the missing tape,” Pierce replied. “Whoever bribed the cop at the Miami PD had him send it to this particular insignificant reporter. I’m here to make sure this assignment goes to the right op.”
“Hayley Ward has the tape?” A strange, sick feeling invaded her stomach. “I see.”
“Yes. That much has been confirmed. But we don’t know why they chose her.”
“All this was about finding out if she would recognize me from that tape,” she said.
“Correct.”
“We apparently don’t have to worry about that.” Part of her was relieved Hayley hadn’t recognized her. But another part knew there was more to come, something Pierce wasn’t telling her. “What’s going to happen to Miss Ward? How will Cameo proceed?” She knew better than to ask about another op’s assignment, and she fully expected Pierce to tell her so. But she couldn’t help herself.
“She won’t. I’ve pulled her off this job.” He took her by the arm and steered her toward the waiting limo, as though ending the debrief.
But when they reached the car, he faced her. “Miss Ward is your target, Domino.”
The strange feeling in her stomach worsened. “Then why did you—”
“We’ll discuss details tomorrow,” he said, opening the door to prevent further inquiries. “I’ll be staying at my residence here until further notice.” He slipped into the seat beside Cameo, but Domino paused, staring back at the hotel.
C
HAPTER SEVEN
Saturday
H
ayley couldn’t remember when she had been so unable to concentrate on a hot story or had enjoyed someone’s company so thoroughly. She kept staring at the phone, willing it to ring and cursing herself for not asking for Luka’s number or even her last name .
Of course soon didn’t necessarily mean before ten the next morning, she told herself, especially since it was a Saturday, when most ordinary working folk slept in, or went to the market, or took their dogs to the park. And Luka had left her for another appointment…or was it a date?
Hayley freely admitted that impatience was one of her biggest flaws, though it kept her motivated when she was pursuing a story. Even when that story appeared to be a dead end, which the tape appeared to be, so far.
She had viewed it numerous times and still couldn’t make out anything about the woman who had killed Guerrero and the others. She also hadn’t been able to find any trace of this Elite Operatives Organization, and she continued to wonder who had sent her the tape. She absently stirred her coffee, frustrated that she had nothing useful.
The LexisNexis database of public records, court cases, and news stories had provided leads before, and she
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