Page 33 of Under Fire in Big Sky

As soon as the job was done, Eli had taken time off and flown straight to Colorado. Liv was the first person he wanted to see. The only person he wanted to tell. He had explained most of it to her, leaving out certain names and classified details.

“The manhunt for those two fugitives?” Trujillo asked. “Wasn’t one of them a US marshal?”

“Yes.” But they were both his friends, people he cared about and wouldn’t hesitate to protect again. “Do you think you can make it happen?”

Trujillo shook his head. “Oscar Baccarin is way above my level. Then I’d have to explain how I know about a classified program I shouldn’t know about, and getting access would be a huge ask on my part.”

“Maybe the onus should be on Aegis,” Olivia said. “Lauren Hahn is one person who knows everyone at the top of the food chain and has the influence to get it done.” She took out her satellite phone and strolled away from them to make the call.

Eli didn’t care for Lauren, as a person or a boss. Not for one second did he believe she had Olivia’s best interest at heart. Provided the woman had a heart. But if Lauren managed to pull this off, getting access to the facial recognition program, then she’d serve a purpose he could get behind.

The sooner they got their hands on Audrey Carter, the sooner they could disrupt NDR’s next move.

Chapter Eight

After they picked up groceries and prenatal vitamins for Olivia, they headed to a hotel. She was ready to eat and shower, something she’d been unable to do since they were discharged because they had to rush to meet Trujillo. If they hadn’t been at the house by 11:00 a.m., the FBI agent was going to question Maben without them.

The call to Lauren had been quick. Her boss knew Oscar Baccarin well and was already aware of the highly classified facial recognition program, none of which surprised Olivia. Lauren believed she could persuade the deputy director to assist.

Now, they had to wait until they got a hit on Audrey or Kevin. If they were as close as Maben had suggested, then they’d most likely be hiding out together.

The Carters were going to be careful since authorities were looking for them. Since Montana lacked a robust CCTV system, which the facial recognition program relied on, finding them might take longer than they hoped.

Eli pulled up to the entrance of the Second Home Lodge and stopped. Since they were a three-hour drive from his house

and the investigation’s path was uncertain, they decided to remain in High Country County.

Olivia stared at the budget motel. “I was thinking a Westin or Four Seasons. Aegis is footing the bill, remember.”

“Their suites come equipped with a full kitchen,” he said, and she doubted the lodge’s definition of a suite was the same as hers. “I need to be able to cook.”

“Need? I thought it was simply something you enjoyed. Like a hobby.”

“Cooking is a form of therapy for me. Helps me focus and relax.”

“I didn’t know that.” After five years, there was probably a lot she still needed to learn about him. “How did you get into it?”

It was a basic skill, but one she didn’t possess.

“When my mom had cancer, it was just the two of us. I learned to cook for her from watching the Food Network.”

His mother had suffered for four years. “You said you were only eleven when she was diagnosed.”

“Yeah.”

“Awfully young to handle that level of responsibility.”

Eli shrugged like it was nothing. “There was no one else to do it.”

“What about your aunt?”

“She lived an eight-hour drive away and had her own family to take care of. I stepped up and did what was needed. It wasn’t a big deal.”

But it was. Olivia reached for his hand.

He moved it away, grabbing his phone. “I’d prefer us to share a room, but if you’d rather have your own, like at the resort, then I understand.”

“Two rooms fit our cover. I didn’t want to give the impression I was sleeping with my supposed assistant,” she said, and his shoulders relaxed. She put her hand on his thigh. An electric current slid through her down to her core. “Business as usual. One suite. Okay.”