“Do you need a few moments before our meeting?”
“Um…sure,” she answered. “How did you know my…never mind. I’m sure it was in Dr. Benjamin’s notes.” My guess was she was about to ask how he knew her first name was actually Emerson, but decided against it.
“I’ll show our guest to the conference room,” I offered.
“Wait. Were you aware we were meeting with Mr. Edgemon instead of Dr. Benjamin?” she asked me.
“I was.”
Emme looked puzzled, and I wondered if she’d asked why I hadn’t shared that information with her.
“I received an email. I assumed you did too,” I said, hoping that would be enough of an explanation.
“Hmm,” she murmured, picking up her bags and walking in the direction of her office.
“Follow me,” I said to Lynx when Emme disappeared down the hallway. “Coffee? No, wait. You’re a tea drinker.”
“Neither, thanks. Water would be nice, though.”
I led him into the conference room. “I’ll forewarn you that Emme—Dr. Charles—can be…quirky, and that’s an understatement. But she’s a brilliant analyst.” While I was on a first-name basis with her, the idea that Lynx would eventually be as well, rankled. I’d do nothing to encourage it.
“As well as strategist.”
I grabbed an envelope from the other side of the table and slid it in Lynx’s direction. “Beautiful too,” I mumbled, wishing I hadn’t as soon as I said it. My feelings for Emme were proprietary, given we’d worked so closely together over the past few months. I had to remind myself—again—that I was undercover and whatever I felt for her was inappropriate.
“How close are the two of you?” he asked.
I couldn’t help but be curious why he would want to know. The question seemed as inappropriate as my own feelings. I wondered if there was something more between them than either was letting on. I decided to press harder to gauge his reaction.
“Not as close as I’d like, but after this mission is over, who knows?” I wasn’t surprised when that appeared to have pissed him off.
“She hasn’t given the impression that she knows anything about Saint’s disappearance,” I said quietly when I returned with his glass of water. “Or Dr. Benjamin’s.”
“That was evident.”
“How so?”
“We crossed paths at their apartment building.”
“What did she say?”
“Nothing specific, only that her demeanor when I mentioned knowing Niven was one of curiosity rather than concern.”
“Serendipitous, meeting her,” I commented.
“Or not.”
“Have a seat.” I motioned to a chair.
“I’ll wait for Dr. Charles. In fact, I’d prefer to meet with her alone.”
What the fuck was this guy up to? “Why? She expects me to be in the meeting.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of some reason you’re unable to join us.”
“Let me know when you’d like to debrief.” I walked out of the room and headed straight to call Cope.
“I don’t trust this guy,” I told him, giving him the rundown of what had happened so far this morning.
“His behavior does seem odd.”
“Maybe he’s the mole.”
Cope was silent.
“I especially don’t trust him with Dr. Charles.”
“Keep close watch, and in the meantime, I’ll see if I can find more information on Edgemon.”
“Roger that.”
Fifteen minutes later, I found Emme and Lynx in the lobby, blood pouring from a gash in her scalp.
“What happened?” I gasped. I looked from Emme to Lynx, whose pants appeared to be drenched.
“A little accident. I spilled water, and then things just got…worse,” she answered, trying to get around me.
I put my hand on her arm and led her over to a chair in the lobby. “Sit there and don’t move.” I turned to Lynx. “She has a first aid kit in her office.”
“Yes,” he said, pointing to something Emme held in her hand.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“It’s a liquid bandage. If you’d just put some on my cut, it will stop the bleeding,” she said, trying to hand it to me.
“Is she kidding?” I asked Lynx.
“I’m afraid she’s somewhat intransigent.”
“Let me have a look.” I moved her hand and lifted the sopping paper towels. “It’s bleeding a lot and looks to be about five centimeters. I’m sorry, Emme, but you’re going to have to go to the emergency room.”
“No!” she shrieked, startling me. “No hospitals.”
When Lynx nudged me out of the way and knelt in front of her, I wanted to belt him. However, Emme’s head was bleeding profusely and needed immediate attention. If he could convince her to get medical care, I’d step aside.
“The laceration is this long,” he said, spreading his fingers. “Your desired treatment won’t stop the bleeding. You need to see a doctor.”
I pulled out my phone and checked the schedule for the on-campus clinic. “Medical services is closed until two,” I said. “What about Cambridge Urgent Care?”
“I’ve another idea. Give me a moment?” said Lynx.
We both watched as he pulled out his phone and made a call.
“Emerson, where is building 14?” he asked a couple of minutes later.
“Right behind that building there,” I answered for her.
“Is it where the medical services are located?”
“Yes, but—”
The bastard held up his hand as if to silence me. Before I realized what was happening, he was escorting her from the building.
“Wait. Will you be okay?” I walked over and squeezed her shoulder.
“I’ll be with her,” Lynx snapped.
“Right. Well, I’ll be in the office later if you need anything,” I said, although it didn’t appear either heard me.
Hours later, I had no idea where either Lynx or Emme had gone, other than to the clinic, which was closed, when I got a call from Cope.
“I’ve received word that before he disappeared, Saint managed a brush pass with one of our agents.”
The term referred to one operative essentially “brushing past” another in order to hand off some kind of physical item, most often a coded message. “What did it say?”
“First of all, he confirmed tracking Dr. Benjamin to Hong Kong. Second, and I’m quoting, ‘We don’t protect them because they are weak. We protect them because they are strong, and strong people make enemies.’”
“He has to be referring to Dr. Charles.”
“Or Dr. Benjamin.”
“Doubtful, but okay. Was that the extent of it?”
“Affirmative. Do you want to relay this information to Edgemon?”
“Roger that.” I didn’t want to tell Cope how long it had been since I knew where he and Emme were. If they didn’t surface in the next hour, I’d alert him.