Read Online Vanishing Point (Circle of Spies Novella) by Laura Pauling - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Laura Pauling
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rubbed his eyes and tried to focus on her. Understanding registered on his face.
“You drugged me?” He scrambled across the bed and stumbled into the bathroom. He returned with a complimentary blow dryer and held it up like a weapon. “I should have known.”
Marisa rolled off the bed. She had no idea what he was talking about.
“When I first received the warning, I should have known.” His words started to slur. “I have let my guard down. But that was what you were waiting for. Why else would a beautiful woman want to enter my bedroom?”
Marisa gasped. Beautiful woman? Was he really seeing her? It had to be the drugs.
He slipped into French and with each accusation thrust the blow dryer in her direction. He continued his rant, his words slowing, his movements becoming more awkward until he fell onto the bed.
She stared at the man lying facedown on the covers. What had he said about a warning? He should have known? Was he a target that Will and his family were investigating?
If so, she had to find out. She jumped on the bed and rolled the man over. “Wake up, Bernard!” She slapped his face. “Wake up!”
His one eye opened. He slurred, “Don’t let them kill me.”
She placed her hands on both sides of his face. “Tell me. What did you do?”
Before he could mumble out an answer, his eyes closed and his mouth dropped open. He was out. Marisa jumped off the bed and paced the room. The dots connected. He received a warning. They must have found him guilty so they brought her in on their act of judgment to see if she’d intervene and save him.
The more she glanced over at the man on the bed and her role in his current state, the angrier she got. She’d vehemently told Will she would play no part in their assassination and she would not stand for it.
She didn’t want to cross Will and his family but she couldn’t leave this man here to die.
She had to save him.
Nine
Soon after, Marisa strolled through the lobby of the historic hotel. A couple in the corner of the lounge didn’t look up from their smooching. Several older and distinguished ladies snubbed their nose at her, probably for not wearing Prada. They whispered amongst themselves about her mousy brown hair as they patted perfectly dyed curls.
An older man lounged at the bar and didn’t give her a second look. Marisa’s gaze traveled from his fine suit down to his shiny black shoes. Was he connected to Will? She studied his chiseled jaw, his profile. He reminded her of an older version of Will. His father perhaps?
Her fears might be correct. They were almost done with their “research” and the man upstairs was in serious trouble. Marisa strode, not too fast and not too slow, to the front desk. Using her credit card, she paid for a room. Then with the key card in hand, she slid into the nearby elevator. If anyone in the lounge had taken a closer look, they would’ve noticed her trembling arms and her stumbling French.
Back up in the room, Marisa shut the door and leaned against it, breathing heavily. She was quite certain the man would be up after his drink.
“Bernard?”
He stirred.
Hopefully he could walk.
Somehow she managed to get him to his feet and walk him to her room down the hall. He fell onto the bed and groaned. Marisa pulled the covers over him. “Sleep it off. Sorry, Bernard.” And she meant it. “I have no idea what you’ve done but it might be best if you disappear for a bit.”
“Ms. DeWilflower?” he mumbled.
Marisa hesitated at the door. “Yes?”
“Why?”
It was the only word he could manage but Marisa knew what he was asking. Why did she drug him just to save him? What was her role in this? Why did Will continue to use her in these missions instead of just doing away with her?
Marisa didn’t have any answers.
***
The smell of french toast was simply heaven and the sunshine streaming through the windows glorious. Marisa hummed and set the breakfast table with
“You drugged me?” He scrambled across the bed and stumbled into the bathroom. He returned with a complimentary blow dryer and held it up like a weapon. “I should have known.”
Marisa rolled off the bed. She had no idea what he was talking about.
“When I first received the warning, I should have known.” His words started to slur. “I have let my guard down. But that was what you were waiting for. Why else would a beautiful woman want to enter my bedroom?”
Marisa gasped. Beautiful woman? Was he really seeing her? It had to be the drugs.
He slipped into French and with each accusation thrust the blow dryer in her direction. He continued his rant, his words slowing, his movements becoming more awkward until he fell onto the bed.
She stared at the man lying facedown on the covers. What had he said about a warning? He should have known? Was he a target that Will and his family were investigating?
If so, she had to find out. She jumped on the bed and rolled the man over. “Wake up, Bernard!” She slapped his face. “Wake up!”
His one eye opened. He slurred, “Don’t let them kill me.”
She placed her hands on both sides of his face. “Tell me. What did you do?”
Before he could mumble out an answer, his eyes closed and his mouth dropped open. He was out. Marisa jumped off the bed and paced the room. The dots connected. He received a warning. They must have found him guilty so they brought her in on their act of judgment to see if she’d intervene and save him.
The more she glanced over at the man on the bed and her role in his current state, the angrier she got. She’d vehemently told Will she would play no part in their assassination and she would not stand for it.
She didn’t want to cross Will and his family but she couldn’t leave this man here to die.
She had to save him.
Nine
Soon after, Marisa strolled through the lobby of the historic hotel. A couple in the corner of the lounge didn’t look up from their smooching. Several older and distinguished ladies snubbed their nose at her, probably for not wearing Prada. They whispered amongst themselves about her mousy brown hair as they patted perfectly dyed curls.
An older man lounged at the bar and didn’t give her a second look. Marisa’s gaze traveled from his fine suit down to his shiny black shoes. Was he connected to Will? She studied his chiseled jaw, his profile. He reminded her of an older version of Will. His father perhaps?
Her fears might be correct. They were almost done with their “research” and the man upstairs was in serious trouble. Marisa strode, not too fast and not too slow, to the front desk. Using her credit card, she paid for a room. Then with the key card in hand, she slid into the nearby elevator. If anyone in the lounge had taken a closer look, they would’ve noticed her trembling arms and her stumbling French.
Back up in the room, Marisa shut the door and leaned against it, breathing heavily. She was quite certain the man would be up after his drink.
“Bernard?”
He stirred.
Hopefully he could walk.
Somehow she managed to get him to his feet and walk him to her room down the hall. He fell onto the bed and groaned. Marisa pulled the covers over him. “Sleep it off. Sorry, Bernard.” And she meant it. “I have no idea what you’ve done but it might be best if you disappear for a bit.”
“Ms. DeWilflower?” he mumbled.
Marisa hesitated at the door. “Yes?”
“Why?”
It was the only word he could manage but Marisa knew what he was asking. Why did she drug him just to save him? What was her role in this? Why did Will continue to use her in these missions instead of just doing away with her?
Marisa didn’t have any answers.
***
The smell of french toast was simply heaven and the sunshine streaming through the windows glorious. Marisa hummed and set the breakfast table with
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