Two years later
Puffs of smoke sailed across the room. Danten paced the floor, rolling the cigar between his thumb and fingers before lifting it to his mouth. He paused.
“Did you find her?” Danten finally asked.
The seasoned investigator, who called himself Jones, waved the smoke away.
“She’s covered her trail completely, sir. No credit card, phone, or any other kind of data exists. Even her comrades — ”
“Former comrades,” Danten said quietly.
“Even they haven’t seen her.”
“Not that they would want to after her former lover turned against his own team. She had guts wanting to finish him off face-to-face.” Danten puffed on his cigar a few more times and went back to rolling it between his fingers, knowing she hadn’t pulled the trigger. But then … no one knew who had but him. “When she walked out on the mission, it was the final straw. They could understand being taken in by a lover, but not a comrade leaving them high and dry in a mission.” He knew the silent code of honor.
She would be on her own.
Jones stepped forward slightly, hesitating. “Why look her up after all this time?”
“Because she can take care of her sister’s debt.”
“But you’re — ”
Danten snuffed out his cigar back and forth with gentle motions. He laid the cigar down and waited. “Do you have any other leads?”
Jones hesitated again. Was he having second thoughts? “No. I’ll let you know as soon as I receive any info.”
“I see.” Danten’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded and smiled. As Jones turned away, he asked, “Don’t you want your other half of the fee?”
There was the slightest pause, but Jones continued out the door. “No. I can get it when you get the rest of your information.”
“Our deal was paid in full regardless of the outcome as long you uncovered every nook and cranny.”
“I did.”
“I have your money.”
Danten had picked the investigator for the greedy soul he possessed. And his refusal of the money meant he was letting his scruples get in the way of doing the job. Danten opened his desk drawer — and in a moment it was over.
Danten didn’t wait for the investigator’s last breath before reaching inside the man’s jacket and pulling out the envelope he found there. He ripped the envelope open. Just as he suspected, Jones had found her.
Sliding the envelope and its contents into his briefcase, he snapped the locks into place. A few well-placed leads under the right noses and he would take it from there.
In time, Selena would pay her sister’s debt.