The original owners had splurged on the kitchen more than anything else with a built-in refrigerator, an eight-burner high-end cooktop, and a double oven that also had a warming drawer. The large island in the middle had a brick base and tile countertop that were both painted to look like stone.
There were three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second level, and the master was by itself on the third. It had its own luxurious bathroom, two walk-in closets, and a large sitting area near the door to the piazza.
“If you need anything else…” he heard Onyx say.
“Roger that. Thanks, bro,” said Dutch, patting Onyx on the back.
“Oh, and Doc said he’d check in later.”
“Roger that too.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Malin checking out the kitchen.
“As I told Dutch, if you need anything…” Onyx waved the piece of paper with the supply company info on it at her. She walked over, took it from his hand, and set it on the counter.
“Thank you,” she said, hugging him. “And thank Sofia for me too. Not just for the food.”
“Roger that,” Onyx repeated, walking toward the door. “I feel like I forgot something, but you know how that is. I’ll remember by the time I get to the dock, and I’ll send you a text.”
“I’ll walk down with you,” Dutch offered.
“Everything is secure, including communication,” Onyx told him when they got back to the boat. “Doc had a guy he knows at Shaw come over yesterday and test it all out. It’s bullet-proof.”
Dutch hoped they wouldn’t have any reason to find out whether it was or not.
* * *
He took his time walking back up the trail to the house, trying to figure out what his next step should be with Ma
lin.
When his phone buzzed and he took it out of his pocket, the first thing he noticed on the screen was that the call coming in was from a secure line. The code indicated it was from one of the K19 partners.
“Miller,” he answered.
“Dutch, it’s Doc. Onyx tells me you’re on the island.”
“That, we are.”
“There’s a small amount of chatter about Orlov.”
“From?”
“McTiernan.”
Kellen “Money” McTiernan had been promoted to Striker Ellis’ position at the CIA after he retired and joined up with K19.
Dutch didn’t know a hell of a lot about him. He’d worked with him once, and the guy seemed like more of an analyst than an agent. Word was, though, that he had an astronomical IQ and shouldn’t ever be taken at face value.
“What have you heard?”
“That the Russian disappeared in Islamabad.”
“Disappeared?”
Doc laughed when Dutch did. “Evidently the body hasn’t turned up yet.”
“Was there an agency-known connection between Kilbourne and Orlov?”