KELSEY BARELY SLEPT. When they’d arrived in Tehachapi, they’d found the hotel easily enough. They even located Murphy’s car. Kudos to Jerry for giving them the license plate. That was when the fight started with Quinn.

“I have enough C-4 to blast his car to the moon.”

“Nothing subtle about you, is there?”

He’d cursed. “I know how to get the job done. Why do you think I’m here?” He’d stormed away from her to his room, but later Kelsey heard him go out again. She could only guess where. And that was when it dawned on her the answer to his rhetorical question. She knew why he was there. He was going to kill her as well. It was foolish to think that her employer sent him along for any other reason. Like Jerry and the computer guy, she was a loose end. The only question was, when would he strike and would she be ready?

Quinn had asked her exactly what Murphy was doing here, and she’d played stupid, wondering if having that information gave her any advantage at all. Kelsey already knew what Murphy was doing, of course, but it behooved her to make Quinn believe she was as incompetent and blind as he thought she was. He’d make his move when he didn’t need her anymore. Maybe he’d even kill Murphy and then make certain she was blamed for it. Thinking out possible scenarios had kept her up all night.

She swallowed an energy drink and changed her clothes, struggling to make herself presentable. There was no way to get rid of the bloodshot eyes.

It was dawn and the sun was brightening everything now. They’d stayed at a different hotel. Kelsey wondered if Quinn would want to do a drive-by of the La Quinta to be certain Murphy was still there. She double-checked her weapon, a habit from work she’d never tried to break. A knock on the door made her jump.

“Yes?”

“Just me.” Quinn. “You ready to go?”

“Be right with you.”

When she stepped out of her room, Quinn was leaning against the wall across the way like a male model. He looked like a GQ secret service agent, and the smirk on his face troubled her.

“Let’s saddle up.” He headed for the door, Kelsey on his heels. “I spoke to the chief,” he said as he walked, without turning toward her. “There’s been a change in plans.”

Kelsey’s hand was on her gun. Quinn called their boss chief simply to grate on her nerves. Kelsey herself had retired as a deputy chief, and for some reason Quinn thought that was a failed career. Their boss had never been chief of anything. And that their plans would change without Kelsey’s input was troublesome.

“What do you mean?” she asked as they stepped out into the parking lot.

“The chief likes my solution for Murphy. So I’m taking the lead here.” He stopped at the car and turned to face her. “You got a problem with that?”

Would it matter if I did? Kelsey thought. What she said was, “No, just as long as you get the job done and don’t screw it up.”

“Ha-ha. Like that would happen. I’m not you.” He opened the car door, laughing at his dig while all Kelsey could do was hurry around to the passenger side.