Read Online The Manolo Matrix by Julie Kenner - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Julie Kenner
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Agent Brady solve the qualifying clue in time. Until they do, they are not my prey.
Of course, I’m tempted to strike early. In fact, it took all my willpower to not strike when I was in the man’s bed.
But I won’t break the rules. That’smy rule: never break the rules.
But that doesn’t mean I won’t find satisfaction.
I run my finger lightly over the top of my computer, remembering the message that came only minutes before, just as I’d been filing my report. Instructions, along with an address and a photograph.
I dress carefully, then check my makeup. I dab on an extra touch of lip gloss, then brush some blush on my cheeks. Prison has made my skin so sallow.
Finished, I do a pirouette in front of the mirror.
I tuck my weapon into my purse, then head out the door.
Time to go to work.
Chapter
13
JENNIFER
Andrew opened the door before I even knocked. “Jennifer?”
I nodded, and he pulled me inside. The place was stifling hot and I felt myself start to sweat.
He was tall and rumpled, but cute in a geeky sort of way. Behind his thick glasses, narrowed eyes
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
peered at me. His hair spiked up in a thousand directions, probably from hours spent running his fingers through it.
“You weren’t followed?” he asked brusquely.
“I was careful,” I said. “Just like you said.”
“Good.” He turned and moved toward a seating area on the far side of the room where, I saw, a window stood open.
“Damn heater’s on the fritz. The place is an oven. Not so bad over there, though.”
I followed him through the room to the other side. And that’s really all it was. Just one big room with metal beams protruding in various places, apparently to hold up the ceiling. Chain link fencing ran down the center of the room, and cables and wires twined through it, originating from dozens of computers scattered across battered tabletops. The place had absolutely no artwork except for a dozen or so posters of Devi Taylor, the movie star, plastered around. Also one of those cardboard standup things from her last movie. Weird.
Page 32
I must have stared, because he just shrugged. “I’m a fan. And it’s not like I’m trying forBetter Homes &
Gardens. ”
“Right,” I said, a little embarrassed. “Thanks for letting me come over. I couldn’t get in touch with Brady or Mel, and I didn’t know what else to do.”
“She’s in Geneva.”
“Excuse me?”
“NSA sent her on some spur-of-the-moment training thing in Geneva. They’re incommunicado for I
don’t know. Three, four days maybe.”
“And Matthew?”
“Beats me. He’s Homeland Security now. For all I know they sent him over there, too.”
“Oh.” I stood there, not sure if I was relieved or disappointed. Disappointed Mel wasn’t going to be any help to me. Relieved she was safe.
I decided that relief won out. After all, I had Andrew here to help me. “Like I said, thanks for helping me. Youcan help me, right?”
“I’ll try,” he said, snagging the chair closest to the window. “Tell me about the call.”
I sat on the little sofa across from him. Cooler, but still too warm for my taste. I resisted the urge to fan myself as I started to tell my story. I’d hit the high points on the phone, but I’d been a tad on the hysterical side. Calmer now, I told the story straight through.
I squirmed a bit when I got to the part about the Eddie and his teddy song, but I made my way through it. “It just doesn’t make any sense,” I said in conclusion. “If the song had said to hurry orAgent Brady might be dead, that fits. But why me? Isn’t the protector supposed to be safe? I mean, more or less?”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“That’s the way the game works, yeah.”
“Well, then what’s happening? What’s going on at ten tomorrow? Why amI the one getting a threat?”
“Dunno,” he
Agent Brady solve the qualifying clue in time. Until they do, they are not my prey.
Of course, I’m tempted to strike early. In fact, it took all my willpower to not strike when I was in the man’s bed.
But I won’t break the rules. That’smy rule: never break the rules.
But that doesn’t mean I won’t find satisfaction.
I run my finger lightly over the top of my computer, remembering the message that came only minutes before, just as I’d been filing my report. Instructions, along with an address and a photograph.
I dress carefully, then check my makeup. I dab on an extra touch of lip gloss, then brush some blush on my cheeks. Prison has made my skin so sallow.
Finished, I do a pirouette in front of the mirror.
I tuck my weapon into my purse, then head out the door.
Time to go to work.
Chapter
13
JENNIFER
Andrew opened the door before I even knocked. “Jennifer?”
I nodded, and he pulled me inside. The place was stifling hot and I felt myself start to sweat.
He was tall and rumpled, but cute in a geeky sort of way. Behind his thick glasses, narrowed eyes
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
peered at me. His hair spiked up in a thousand directions, probably from hours spent running his fingers through it.
“You weren’t followed?” he asked brusquely.
“I was careful,” I said. “Just like you said.”
“Good.” He turned and moved toward a seating area on the far side of the room where, I saw, a window stood open.
“Damn heater’s on the fritz. The place is an oven. Not so bad over there, though.”
I followed him through the room to the other side. And that’s really all it was. Just one big room with metal beams protruding in various places, apparently to hold up the ceiling. Chain link fencing ran down the center of the room, and cables and wires twined through it, originating from dozens of computers scattered across battered tabletops. The place had absolutely no artwork except for a dozen or so posters of Devi Taylor, the movie star, plastered around. Also one of those cardboard standup things from her last movie. Weird.
Page 32
I must have stared, because he just shrugged. “I’m a fan. And it’s not like I’m trying forBetter Homes &
Gardens. ”
“Right,” I said, a little embarrassed. “Thanks for letting me come over. I couldn’t get in touch with Brady or Mel, and I didn’t know what else to do.”
“She’s in Geneva.”
“Excuse me?”
“NSA sent her on some spur-of-the-moment training thing in Geneva. They’re incommunicado for I
don’t know. Three, four days maybe.”
“And Matthew?”
“Beats me. He’s Homeland Security now. For all I know they sent him over there, too.”
“Oh.” I stood there, not sure if I was relieved or disappointed. Disappointed Mel wasn’t going to be any help to me. Relieved she was safe.
I decided that relief won out. After all, I had Andrew here to help me. “Like I said, thanks for helping me. Youcan help me, right?”
“I’ll try,” he said, snagging the chair closest to the window. “Tell me about the call.”
I sat on the little sofa across from him. Cooler, but still too warm for my taste. I resisted the urge to fan myself as I started to tell my story. I’d hit the high points on the phone, but I’d been a tad on the hysterical side. Calmer now, I told the story straight through.
I squirmed a bit when I got to the part about the Eddie and his teddy song, but I made my way through it. “It just doesn’t make any sense,” I said in conclusion. “If the song had said to hurry orAgent Brady might be dead, that fits. But why me? Isn’t the protector supposed to be safe? I mean, more or less?”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“That’s the way the game works, yeah.”
“Well, then what’s happening? What’s going on at ten tomorrow? Why amI the one getting a threat?”
“Dunno,” he
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