Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents 7)

There were so many potential targets in the city. Powerful men and women who fit Kenneth’s attack profile.

Ex-military.

Positioned with connections to all the big players in D.C.

There were senators, generals...

Hell, even the president.

And...

Mercer stared down at his phone.

There’s also me.

* * *

RACHEL GLANCED BACK at Kenneth. His face appeared calm. He’d spoken only to give them directions. His voice had been quiet, almost mild.

Soon, very soon, they were stopping at the harbor.

Rachel quickly exited the vehicle. Thomas pulled Kenneth from the backseat and kept a tight hold on the man. Dylan and Noelle marched toward them. The other agents hung back.

Kenneth was manacled—hands and feet—and he could only take slow, mincing steps. He should have seemed powerless. He didn’t.

“I’m not going to be able to get on a boat this way,” Kenneth said, yanking at his cuffs.

“That’s because you’re not getting on a boat,” Rachel snapped at him. She wanted to be done with Kenneth. “We’re here, and our bomb-sniffing dogs can do the rest. Your job is over.”

Rachel motioned to the van that had just pulled in the lot behind them. The doors opened, and the handlers brought out their dogs.

Dylan’s gaze scanned the boats. “Start with the Dreamer,” he ordered.

Rachel’s brows rose. Why had he picked that boat?

“It belongs to Senator Duncan,” Dylan said, glancing her way. “Mercer thinks the guy could be Kenneth’s target.”

Kenneth frowned at him. “Trying to steal my show? That’s not good form, Agent Foxx.”

Dylan advanced on the guy. “It’s not a show. It’s life. We did our part. We let you drag us out here, and now you—”

“Senator Duncan isn’t my target, though he is someone that I wouldn’t have minded killing.” Kenneth tilted his head to stare at Dylan. “But I had a very, very big fish to fry this time. The biggest of my career.”

“No...” Rachel whispered as a new fear snaked through her. She stared at Kenneth, hoping, praying that she was wrong.

A very, very big fish.

She grabbed for her phone, dialed the EOD.

“Too late,” Kenneth said as he glanced toward her. “I had to get you out of there, of course, before the explosion could commence. Didn’t want you getting caught in the blast. It was actually quite tricky to arrange everything, you know...”

I had to get you out of there.

“Mercer!” Rachel’s voice shook when he answered the phone. “Get out of the building! Get everyone out!” Her words were eerily reminiscent of his own from just hours before.

Kenneth shrugged. “You all gave me the idea with that little tracker under your skin... I learned about that a few months back, and thought, why not use it myself? Those trackers were so clever.”

“What the hell is happening?” Mercer demanded in Rachel’s ear.