When the announcement came, Asher couldn’t wait to return to his desk to look this mystery man up. There was little information. Holden was friends with the up-and-coming international political star, Daniel Pamphili.
Asher shot his new partner, Olivia Hamilton, a surprised look. One of Holden’s first directives as head of the FBI was to shake things up. He’d severed Asher’s and Declan’s partnership and assigned them new partners. Holden had done the same to most of the agents under him.
“You mean Will Grayson?”
The anger in the director’s eyes lashed out at him long before his words. The man placed his hands on the table and leaned in close, forcing Asher to back away. “That’s what I said, isn’t it?”
He was about to correct the director when Olivia kicked him under the table.
Asher got the message. Don’t talk back to the man in charge. “We haven’t spoken to either Will or his wife since they were here.” It was on the tip of his tongue to ask what this was about, but he somehow kept the question to himself.
“Get them on the phone. Now.” The director held out his phone for Asher to place the call.
Something ominous was going on here, and Asher had a bad feeling it had nothing to do with the case. He took the phone and dialed the number for Will Grayson. The call went straight to voicemail. “There’s no answer.” Asher handed the phone back to the director, but he refused it. “Try the wife.”
The call to Lizzy yielded the same results. He shook his head. “Sorry, no luck.”
Holden snatched the phone back and pocketed it. “I thought you two were keeping them abreast on what’s happening with the Van Gogh case.” The suspicion on Holden’s face confirmed in Asher’s mind the man had a hidden agenda.
“We were, but there hasn’t been anything new. Besides, they’re in Washington state, as you know.” Asher didn’t understand all this urgency. Everyone knew where Strike Force’s headquarters was.
“They are not.” The words came out through bared teeth. “They’re—“ He bit back the response before it came out, and Asher’s brows shot up. Holden knew more than he was saying.
“The Graysons haven’t done anything wrong, sir.”
Director Holden’s anger exploded. “After hearing the news, you have the nerve to say that to me?”
Of course, Asher had heard the allegations being lobbed against the team known as Strike Force as well as the president, but Asher couldn’t imagine there being any validity to them. The truth would come out in time and it would exonerate them. Until that happened, he kept his mouth shut and waited for the director’s anger to blow over.
“Call the sheriff who’s been helping them. I want to hear what he knows.”
Asher called Sheriff Callahan whose jurisdiction was over a small county in Washington near the compound that had once belonged to a terrorist known as Martin Collins.
“Asher, good to hear from you again.” The sheriff’s jovial voice reached his ear while Holden demanded to hear.
“Sheriff, hang on a second. I need to put the call on speaker.”
Director Holden glowered. He apparently hadn’t wanted the sheriff to know he was listening in on the conversation, which told Asher he was hoping to gain some insight into Will and Lizzy’s whereabouts without the sheriff knowing.
“What’s going on, Agent?” Sheriff Callahan’s tone became official.
Asher peered at the director because he had no idea why this man wanted to speak to the sheriff.
Holden snatched the phone from Asher. “This is Robert Holden, the Director of the FBI. I’m looking for the team of people who was staying outside of Rock Cliff at Collins’ old place.”
The sheriff remained quiet for a long time. Asher imagined the man choosing his words carefully. He would definitely pick up on Holden’s deception.
“Well now, as I recall, that investigation is being handled by your people. My men and I assisted with the initial canvassing, but you Bureau folks are working with the team from Strike Force to bring down that Collins fella. Maybe I should ask you where they are?”
Asher kept his smile to himself. He’d spoken to Sheriff Callahan on numerous occasions and knew the man to be straightforward and knowledgeable. There was no doubt in Asher’s mind the sheriff had kept tabs on what was happening at the former compound of Martin Collins, and he’d know the FBI had left a few days back.
“My people have flown back to D.C. to continue the investigation here. But as you know, the team you referred to have been exposed as traitors and must be brought to justice.” Holden waited for the expected agreement that didn’t come. His anger showed in the flare of his nostrils.
“I’m afraid I have to disagree with you, there, Director Holden. I worked with them for several days and didn’t see anything but a group of patriotic men and women. Now, was there actually something related to the Van Gogh case that I can help you with?”
Holden’s displeasure was carved on his face. “You will contact me the minute you hear from them. Understood?”
Asher glanced over at Olivia. Both knew the sheriff well enough to know he wasn’t going to take kindly to Holden ordering him around.
“Well, I tell you what, Director. If I hear from them, I’ll be sure to tell them you’re looking for them.” Before Holden quelled his indignation enough to speak, the call disconnected.
Asher feared Holden would toss his phone across the room. His face turned a mottled red. Eyes flashing fire. The director set the phone on the table and straightened himself and his suit. He stared Asher down. “The minute you have news from them, I expect to hear. Do you understand?”
Keeping a calm exterior wasn’t easy. “Understood.”
The director held onto his gaze for a long moment before he whirled on his heel and stormed from the room, leaving a shocked room in his wake.
“What was that about?” Declan said in a surprised voice.
Asher shook his head. “Whatever it was has nothing to do with the Van Gogh case.” He motioned Declan and Olivia to the back of the room. “I’m going to reach out to the sheriff and have him warn Will and Lizzy. There’s no doubt in my mind Holden is going to track his and Lizzy’s cell phone. They need to know they have a target on their backs from the people who were supposed to be working with them.”
◆◆◆
Her eyes shot open. Heart raced. His face was inches from hers. All the terrible things he’d done at the command of his mentor swirled through Lizzy’s frightened mind.
Her husband’s arms tightened around her. “Are you okay?” Will turned her toward him. The concern on this handsome man’s face tugged her back from the darkness.
It was just a dream. He wasn’t here with her. The man who had hurt her so badly was dead. . . but his apprentice was still out there somewhere. He’d tried to kill her while they were still in Washington. What would he do now that he realized she was gone?
Lizzy’s heart raced, and she placed her hand against it. Tried to reassure him. “Yes, I think so.” She looked up at Will and forced a smile. “Just a bad dream.”
He held her closer. This strong man who had moved heaven and earth to find her again was entrenched in a battle against evil like nothing seen before, and her little problems weren’t worth troubling him with.