Read Online Lightbringer by Frankie Robertson - Free Book Online

they were nuzzling each other.
    Dave made an adjustment that zoomed the focus in on Jared’s license plate, then wrote down the number. Too bad the boyfriend wasn’t staying; Dave would have enjoyed watching the show.
    At least she’d be back tomorrow. He’d seen her appointment book. She had clients off and on from eight until four. He’d watch and listen. See if she mentioned Pankrit to anyone. Figure out how much she knew about Afghanistan.
    He reluctantly punched in his employer’s private number. The CEO of MissionOne Security would want to know about any potential breach of secure information, but the only thing worse than making this call would be not making it.
    “Crandall.”
    He briefed his boss about Ms. Lewis’s weird mention of Pankrit.
    “What did you say to her?”
    “I didn’t say anything! She came up with it out of the blue. Maybe she’s psychic; she’s got enough books about that shit in her office.”
    “Progeny,” Crandall murmured.
    “What?”
    “Never mind.”
    Dave shrugged. “Anyway, I’ve got eyes and ears on her. If she knows anything and tries to tell someone, we’ll know about it.”
    “I don’t believe in coincidence,” Crandall said. “It’s obvious she knows something . I want this situation contained.”
    “It will be. She won’t piss without my knowing it. And by watching her, we might learn where she got her information.”
    Crandall fell silent for a moment, then said, “Listen very carefully. I’m giving the orders here. You do what I tell you.” His voice was as cold as a North Dakota winter.
    Dave spoke through clenched teeth. “I’m not a murderer.”
    “No?” Crandall put a world of meaning into that one word.
    “Not civilians. Not on U.S. soil.” That meant something. It was a line he’d never crossed.
    “Those weren’t civilians in Pankrit?”
    Something sharp twisted inside Dave. “What do you know about it? You weren’t there.” All Crandall could know was what the op reports contained.
    “I have the communications transcripts. I know everything that was said, every order given.”
    Hot anger washed through Dave. And shame. Some of those so-called civilians had been shooting his men. But not all of them. He’d made no distinction when he’d given the order to neutralize the threat.
    “We were there on your orders, doing your bidding,” he said. “You won’t expose your part in this.”
    Crandall’s laugh sounded genuinely amused. “You think I can’t have the recordings edited? Now take care of this problem,” Crandall demanded.
    Dave mentally gave Crandall the finger. If Crandall made those recordings public, it wouldn’t be just Dave’s reputation he’d destroy. His men would suffer right alongside him. “I’ll take care of it.”

    At the hotel, Cassie parked her car in one of the last spots remaining, at the far edge of the lot. Jared found a space just a few cars away. She let him carry her pack and walk her into the lobby, his hand on the small of her back. Her skin tingled under his touch, even through her sweater and jacket. It was an old-fashioned gesture, but comforting just the same. She’d told him it wasn’t necessary for him to follow her here, and it wasn’t. She could have managed this just fine without his supervision. But she was glad he hadn’t listened to her. After the visions and the cameras, she wouldn’t have wanted to walk across the long parking lot alone tonight.
    “Thanks for walking me in,” Cassie said, feeling awkward.
    His eyes crinkled and his cheeks dimpled. “You’re welcome.”
    At the elevators Cassie pushed the “up” button. “You don’t need to go all the way to the room with me. I can make it from here.” She held out her hand for her backpack.
    Jared just lifted a brow.
    Cassie tried to ignore her body’s awareness of his. It would be so easy to give in to her inclination to lean against his tall, broad strength. Too easy. A part of her wanted to trust him, while