Page 29 of Avenging Angel

“Possibly,” Vinny says. “What I deduced from the conversation is that Kenneth is a threat. To what end? That’s what we need to figure out.”

Chapter eleven

Daisy

We park my SUV in the lot near Vinny’s cabin and begin the quarter-mile trek up the trail to ours. There’s a dark blue Dodge Challenger we don’t recognize, but it’s easy to draw conclusions from the rental decal in the lower left corner of the windshield. We have company.

“Owen must be waiting for us,” I say as I trudge up the hill. “Scott shouldn’t be too far behind him with their equipment. Only my brother would rent a car that’s flashy and stands out. He prefers stealth when he’s in the woods with camo paint, but in everything else, he likes to be the center of attention.”

Angel frowns. “Shouldn’t your perimeter alarm have sent you an alert? Even though the laptop is useless, your phone should have pinged.”

“Not if Owen knows how to bypass it. He likes to dress in tactical gear and sneak up on you, so keep your eyes and ears open.”

Vinny mumbles, “It’s a family trait.”

Turning on my heel and walking backward, I grin. “You know it! Owen taught me everything I know.”

Angel and Vinny stop in their tracks, their gazes moving past me toward the cabin. The looks on their faces are anything but welcoming. I turn slowly and see a man who is far too handsome for his own good, leaning against the steps as though he’s posing for a modeling spread.

My blood turns cold, and my hand reaches for the modified weapon I carry hidden under my shirt. “Who are you, and why is my front door open? I’m sure the campground doesn’t look kindly on heating the outdoors.”

The man stands, straightens his suit, and walks toward me with the confidence of a man who always gets what he wants. His salt-and-pepper hair, crystalline gray eyes, and one-day-old scruff that screams “sexy” do the opposite of what he’s trying to accomplish, which I’m sure is for me to fall prey to his young Sean Connery good looks and melt into a puddle of goo.

“My name is Bennett Gray, and I believe you’re poking your nose into places it doesn’t belong.”

Angel steps in front of me, blocking me from Bennett’s view. Vinny also becomes a human shield, his broad shoulders expanding when he widens his stance and folds his arms across his chest. The fact that neither of them is reaching for a gun leads me to believe that Bennett isn’t so much a threat as he is an annoyance. He’s also the man whose name is attached to my case file.

I, however, have my hand on my modified weapon, ready to shoot Bennett with a simunition round if he even twitches in the wrong direction. I love the paralyzing agent because it allows me to shoot first and ask questions later. Literally.

Angel widens his stance. “We have every right to poke our noses wherever we want. For the last 15 years, you certainly haven’t been doing it.”

Vinny adds, “Let’s cut to the chase. You’re here because our search triggered a shutdown virus.”

Last night, Vinny warned that we’d be getting company. I just didn’t realize it would be this soon.

“You are correct,” Bennett says, his voice deep, rich, and smooth as melted Godiva chocolate. “But I’m also here to help where I can while protecting confidential information. Two months ago, the file for the disappearance of Sadie Alekseev was accessed by one Officer Angel Conway.”

Bennett looks pointedly at Angel. “Before you ask, yes, I was aware you were looking into the teenager’s disappearance. It wasn’t until the shutdown virus was activated that I realized you were doing more than reading the file because you were bored. Might I ask what has garnered your attention in a kidnapping case on American soil?”

I laugh and push my way past Angel and Vinny. “I could ask you the same question. Why is the CIA interested in domestic abductions? It’s not in your purview.”

“You first,” Bennett replies.

“Actually, credentials first,” Vinny says. “No one says another word until I see ID. I want proof you are who you say you are.”

Under my breath, I ask, “Do spies carry ID? James Bond never showed credentials.”

Angel snorts. “Bennett is no Bond, despite his desperate attempt to appear so.”

Bennett reaches into his back pocket, which puts me on alert. I draw my gun quicker than he can blink.

“No need for such hostilities, Mrs. Conway.”

“Huh?” I ask, confused by the title he’s given me.

Angel’s neck turns red as Vinny bursts out laughing. I’m not sure what’s funny until Vinny says, “The cabin is rented under the names Angel and Daisy Conway.”

“That’s some pretty wishful thinking,” I murmur to Angel.