Chapter Forty-Six

Lena remained quiet as Task Force Phoenix worked out the particulars of the assault like any other people might plan a birthday party. Justin had gone out to get pizza and beer, and they laughed and told stories while they ate.

They used a lot of acronyms which left her confused, but Lena got the general feel. They had to trust each other with their lives, which had obviously created a bond far deeper than the one she’d had with the stylists at her salon.

No one would end up dead if she cut someone’s bangs too short. At least, not every time.

She was actually settling in and feeling like this would all work out until the alarm went off on her phone. Everyone abruptly fell silent and whipped their gazes to her.

“It’s time for me to call in to Viktor,” she said nervously.

Angel snapped her fingers as if just remembering something. “You need to give him something, some information, so he thinks you’re getting somewhere. We’re going to need a few more days and we don’t want him to get impatient.”

“Right.” Lena gave a half smile. “We wouldn’t want to make Viktor wait when he’s so eager to kill people.”

Justin laughed at her inappropriate humor. “I think I like her, after all.”

Angel handed a paper to Lena and one to Dane. “I’ve written out scripts, but feel free to improvise if needed.”

“You want me to give him this name? Is that safe?” Dane asked, looking surprised.

Thorne nodded. “Yeah. It’s a perp who ran off to Mexico before we could grab him up. If we can get Viktor to use his resources to find him, it helps us with another case. And it will keep him chasing his tail for a little while, until we’re ready to strike.”

Dane’s boss was a genius.

Lena took a calming breath, and dialed the number for Viktor. The paper shook in her hand.

“Where are you?” Viktor asked, his voice gruff as if he’d been sleeping. It was almost one o’clock in the morning. But he was the one who’d given her that time to call. She was only doing her job.

She started reading from Angel’s script, trying to sound natural.

“We’re outside of San Antonio,” she told him. “We have a lead.”

It was difficult to concentrate with everyone staring at her.

“It’s about damn time. Tell me.”

“I got him to give me his name.” Her voice shook and she swallowed, forcing herself to keep calm so she could play her part.

“Vanderhook’s real name?”

She lowered her voice as if trying to hide what she was saying. “The one he’s been using in Witness Protection. It’s Evan Masters. We went to the construction site where he’s been working and showed his photo to his co-workers. They said it’s him. He’s not scheduled to be there today or tomorrow, but he’ll be on site on Thursday. The only address they had for him was a P.O. box, so we’ll have wait for—”

Dane suddenly came at her like he meant to strangle her, shouting and getting in her face. “You stupid bitch! What the hell are you doing?”