Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
She had the sudden insight that TJ getting rid of them would not necessarily lead to her getting back to work. And did he have to mention her nipples? Which were absolutely sore, but in a weirdly pleasant way. It was also kind of odd that she felt way more focused with TJ so close to her. When he touched her, she couldn’t work up the will to question him. “They’ll just come back.”
“Not if we barricade the door,” he whispered.
“TJ, let her work. You know this is all about you,” his mother pointed out. “She’s trying to figure out who’s after you. Give her some room.”
“She doesn’t need room,” TJ shot back. “Go on, baby. Tell them what you’ve found.”
“Well, the photo is real,” she announced.
“But I didn’t meet with an arms dealer,” TJ insisted. “I met with my team leader and a couple of my Army buddies.”
Lou managed to get the picture in question on the screen. “I’ve verified this photograph, but it proves nothing. I’d like to know who the man with him is.”
“It’s Zach,” Erin said, squinting. “I bought him that jacket for Christmas. I got his name for Secret Santa.”
TJ’s head came up, and he was suddenly interested in something other than how her nipples felt. “It’s a nondescript black jacket. How can you tell?”
His mom’s red hair shook. “Because this is what I do. I look at details and search for patterns. Do you honestly not remember walking around Berlin with this guy?”
TJ sighed. “No. I don’t remember every second of every day. I probably had a couple of beers. It’s what we do in our off time. It’s freaking Germany. Do you remember every second of every day?”
Theo shook his head like that was a mistake.
“Yes,” TJ’s mom replied.
“Well, some of us have normal memories. Now, what I do remember is that Zach wasn’t in Berlin at the time.” TJ stepped back, and Lou realized she kind of liked having an emotional support soldier while she worked. She was a little cold now.
“It’s not Zach. He’s not tall enough.” Lou had already gone through these scenarios. “Although he was in Europe. We all were, but in Prague.”
“And there’s a high-speed rail that could get him from Prague to Berlin in four hours,” Big Tag pointed out and held up a hand. “Not that I’m saying it’s him. I believe you on the height. But that is a nondescript jacket, and they’ve done what they could to hide their face.”
“Are we thinking this is a setup?” Theo asked.
“It’s obviously a setup.” Lou clicked a couple of keys that brought up the receipts for the bank account with TJ’s name on it.
TJ’s eyes went wide. “What is that? I don’t have an account like that. I barely have a regular account.”
“Well, this one was set up right before The Jester closed a sale of small arms in Bulgaria. Sofia, to be precise, and while the arms were small, the shipment was not,” Lou pointed out. “The payment was made in crypto.”
Erin snorted. “Like he knows how to deal with crypto. Whoever did this didn’t think the plan through.”
“I assure you this kind of proof will work on agencies that don’t know him.” Big Tag had gotten serious. “Someone has been setting TJ up for quite a while. I wonder who that could be.”
TJ shrugged. “I have no idea. I kind of thought most people liked me.”
“Sure. All the people you screwed over to get Lou probably think you’re a great guy,” Big Tag said.
Erin winced. “I hadn’t thought of that, but how would they be able to track him around Europe?”
Lou had some theories, but she didn’t want to put them out there yet since they led back to the person who set this all up using TJ to screw over someone else. She needed proof before making that accusation since it could hurt one of the Taggart sisters. “I don’t think this is someone who is so angry they lost my love that they’re willing to hack into classified systems.”
“I would,” TJ assured her. “I mean I would totally have Kala do it, but I would be super upset if I had you and lost you. What’s that professor doing?”
She barely managed to not roll her eyes. “The last I heard he was getting married, so he’s probably not trying to figure out how to screw you over. Besides, you said you didn’t do anything to him.”
TJ nodded way too fast. “That’s right. Because he seemed like he would be good for you. But what about Dennis? He’s back in your life now.”
Again with the need to roll her eyes. “Sure. He’s so desperate he’s coming after you over ten years later.”
“The best revenge is served cold and years after anyone would be looking for it,” Theo said. “What does this guy do?”