Cassie Miles - The Final Secret

“His wife took classes with the guru, and she ended up hating him like I do. You’d think that the general would stand up for Ruby. But that didn’t happen. He talked to Murano, and they hit it off, literally. They’re golf buddies.”

Her phone and Zoey’s rang at the same time. Noah had sent a text to the entire ARC team, telling them to be on the lookout for Kenneth Warrick. If sighted, they should detain him. Gennie’s screen filled with a photograph of the man she’d once loved.

“He’s cute,” Zoey said.

“Not my type.” She noticed the tiny scar bisecting his left eyebrow, the only injury he’d sustained in the explosion that changed her life forever.

Zoey reached into her jacket pocket and took out an electronic earpiece. “Have you ever used one of these?”

“Nothing as sophisticated as this, but I understand how it works.” She adjusted the volume and placed the device into her ear before attaching a mic to the collar of her jumpsuit. “It’s weird having people talk inside my head.”

Zoey whispered into her microphone, “Any questions?”

“I’m good for now.”

“Okay, G-Fox. It’s time for you to move into position.”

“Copy that.”

With a nod, she moved to the quadrant of the ballroom that she was supposed to be watching. Because she was the newest member of the team, she was stationed toward the rear at the farthest point away from the riser and podium where a small jazz band was setting up. To her right were the windows that showcased a brilliant Rocky Mountain sunset. The wall to her left held portraits in elaborate frames, including one of Ruby on horseback. Too bad she wasn’t here! Gennie would have liked to hear her opinions about Murano. In spite of what Zoey had said, the guru couldn’t be a total jerkwad. After all, the general liked him enough to host this grand fund-raiser.

She glanced across the ballroom toward where Zoey was standing at the edge of a wide corridor with glass French doors that stood open. The powder rooms, an office and a library were in that direction. A couple of hours ago when Gennie had been scanning for explosives, bugs and other potential problems, she’d explored and fallen in love with the spacious library that had bookcases on every wall and comfortable overstuffed furniture for curling up and reading. The tall arched windows offered a charming view of the stable and attached corral. After this event was over, she might be able to spend some time in that library with the general, and they could reconnect.

Until then, she was on duty.

And the guests were arriving.

This type of high-class security while not in uniform was new to her, and she enjoyed exercising her powers of observation. While she watched and listened, the room gradually filled with polished gentlemen and well-dressed women. If half their jewels were the real thing, the Haymarket mansion would have been a bonanza for a thief. She caught a hint of gossip, mostly suggestions that the general was having an affair. The fact that Ruby had skipped this event fanned those flames.

Tony Vega’s voice came through the earpiece. “Heads up, everybody. The guru is here.”

While continuing to keep an eye on the people in her quadrant, Gennie circled around the outer tables where people were seated and surveyed the central array where others stood and drank and talked. Though many of the guests had arrived, the large ballroom wasn’t crowded. Curious, she took a position where she could get a peek at Murano. Others flocked around him, moths to a flame. In the midst of that adoring group, she glimpsed his shoulder-length black hair, heavy brows and toothy smile. He was shorter than she’d expected, probably only five foot ten. But there was something that made him seem large. His fan club would have called it charisma, but she sensed an over-inflated ego that puffed him up like a balloon. His trademark was a glittering circular brooch he wore at his throat as a bolo tie—an example of the famous Murano glass that was manufactured by his ancestors in Italy.

She spied Noah as he moved toward her. Now, there was a man who didn’t need sparkles to stand out! Her boss did nothing to attract attention, but she couldn’t look away. His stride showed a natural athleticism. Maybe she was imagining things, but it seemed like other people cleared a path for him. Gennie wasn’t the only one watching Noah. The bejeweled ladies took notice. And when he came to a halt beside her, she felt a little bit special.

“Have you seen your old buddy from Afghanistan?” he asked.

“He’s not my bud. And no, I have not.” When she looked back toward Murano, he seemed to be watching her...or not. Why would he be interested in her? “What else have you learned about Warrick?”

“He’s been working security for Murano under an alias.”

“That’s a scoop. How did you find out?”

“Anna Rose, our boss and resident cyber genius, tracked him down on her computer. I asked the head of Murano’s security about Warrick, using his alias. He’s not on the schedule for today.”

“How many guests?” she asked.

“Three hundred fifteen, including spouses.”

“And how many security people does Murano have with him?”

“Today, it’s three.”

ARC had twelve, including the guy on the roof, and Murano had three. Fifteen trained security agents to handle a couple hundred people at a fund-raiser in Denver seemed way over the top. The atmosphere felt forced, like the jazz band playing upbeat tunes. No blues for Mitch Murano. “What kind of event is this? When I worked security for the US Embassy in Kabul, we had fewer guards.”

“It’s what the general wanted. Not the way I would have handled things, but I’m not paying the bill.”

“Did you set up the metal detector?”

“Upon consideration, the general agreed with Slocum that his guests would be insulted by us asking them to disarm.”

“Wouldn’t want to upset the donors.” She felt like they were in a war zone.

“When I mentioned Warrick to the general, he denied having contact with him.”

Though she really wanted to be friends with the general again, she didn’t altogether believe his denial. “Wasn’t he the one who warned us about Warrick?”

“The instruction actually came from Slocum.”

“But the general must know that Warrick works for Murano. They golf together. Wouldn’t the general have run into him?”

“I’m not going to push. Figuring out the undercurrents isn’t our job.”

The hell it wasn’t. “With all due respect, Noah, you’re dead wrong. Security is about more than reacting to an overt threat. We need to be able to decipher the undercurrents and anticipate the enemy’s next move.”

She held her breath, watching him and waiting for his response. The minute she’d opened her mouth, she knew that she was being seriously insubordinate. Noah would be justified if he fired her on the spot.

“With all due respect?” He grinned. “You’ve got a real talent for making enemies.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“But I’m not going to line up against you, Gennie. I hate to admit when I’m dead wrong. So, I’ll just say that you’re right about figuring out what the hell is going on here. We need to know. In the meantime, we’ll watch over the valuables and try to keep these people from killing each other.”

“Yes, sir.”

A tall man in a rear admiral’s uniform waved to Noah. “I’ve got to meet and greet some of our past and future clients. If you see Warrick, use your mic and let us know. Hang in there, Gennie. You’re doing a good job.”

“Copy that.”

She restrained an urge to hug him or follow him across the room like a besotted puppy dog. Of the many officers and supervisors she’d worked under, very few would admit a mistake. Noah was a good leader. He made her feel valued, as though her insights mattered.