Penumbra (Spook Squad 3)

Stephan’s smile faded. “Keep away from her, Gabriel. She has a job to do, and I don’t want you getting in the way.”

“What I do in my own time is my business, not yours,” Gabriel said, voice flat. “I’m warning you, don’t ever try to control my personal life.”

Stephan raised an eyebrow. “You have an obligation to both the SIU and the Federation, just as I have.”

“Yeah, right.” Gabriel turned and headed for the door. The Federation and the SIU could go hang if it meant letting Sam walk into a trap out of no more than ignorance.

He may have succeeded in getting rid of her as a partner, but that didn’t mean he wanted her dead.

“Gabriel, I’m warning you. Leave her alone.”

Gabriel stopped with his hand on the doorknob and glanced over his shoulder, meeting his brother’s gaze. “Or you’ll what? Censure me? Bust me down to field agent again? Do it. I don’t really give a damn.”

“This could be our one chance to draw Sethanon out!”

“That doesn’t justify sending her in blind.”

“Gabriel, I’m giving you a direct order. Do not go near her. Do not warn her.”

“Then you’d better get my file out and add the black mark to it now, because that’s one order I have no intention of obeying.”

And he slammed the door open and stalked from the room.

TWO

SAM GLANCED AT HER WATCH as she entered her office. It was just after four. She had an hour before she was due at the labs to have the studs attached and be shown how they worked.

All she really wanted was to go home—not that she currently had a home to go to. Her Brighton apartment had sold almost as soon as she’d placed it on the market. The new owners had gushed over its size and closeness to the beach. That it had been bombed twice in recent months was a fact she and the real estate agents had failed to mention.

She slapped the folder on the desk and sat down. “Computer on.”

A pink fluff ball with chicken legs appeared onscreen. “Afternoon, sweetness.”

“Afternoon, Iz. Any messages from that useless real estate agent of mine?”

“Not one.”

Typical. Two days ago he’d promised to get right back to her with the latest housing list. The man was either extremely forgetful or was tired of her nagging and trying to get rid of her.

Probably the latter, she thought ruefully. She leaned back in her chair and wearily rubbed her eyes. Maybe it would have been wiser to wait until she’d found somewhere else to live before she’d sold the apartment—as Gabriel had informed her the one time this week that he’d deigned to grace her broom closet with his presence.

And yet she didn’t really regret her actions, even if staying at hotels was costing a fortune. The apartment had never truly felt like hers—maybe because it was something she had been given rather than earned. Or maybe because the reasons for the gift had never really been clear.

Or perhaps it was the cop in her that couldn’t get past the idea that, in the end, such gifts usually proved costly.

She reached forward and picked up the folder Stephan had given her. Inside she found a series of photos—Wetherton’s friends, family and immediate associates.

She shuffled through them until she found one of Wetherton. He was small, round and balding. Spud material, definitely. And yet, there was something in his brown eyes that was not quite right—an odd sort of blankness that chilled her.

She threw the photo back down onto the desk. At least this assignment would save her some money, if nothing else. And she could still use the days to continue her search for a home.

Although, as her real estate agent had said—and more than once—if she weren’t so particular, she’d have something by now.

Someone knocked on the door. It opened before she could answer, revealing Gabriel.

“AD Stern. Fancy seeing you again so soon.” She couldn’t help the sarcastic note in her voice. The only time he’d ever bothered crowding into her closet was when he had some inane task for her to complete. But he wasn’t her partner now, wasn’t her boss, so why was he here?

He crossed his arms, leaning a shoulder against the door frame. His presence filled her small office in much the same manner as his frame did the doorway. With any other man, it might have felt threatening. With Gabriel, it felt cautious, almost aloof.