Darkness Read online

  “You’re thinking about Chris.”

  Missy teared up. “Yeah. I always do. I had my chance but lost it. He wouldn’t have moved to New York if I hadn’t been so set on finishing college before I married. What did I do with my degree? Nada. He and his wife just had their fourth baby.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I looked him up on the internet. You should see the nice family photos. They look really happy. That could have been me with my arm around him. I have a dog and a kitten instead.”

  “You have me too.”

  Missy grinned. “I know, but regardless of what your dickhead boss thinks, I’m not doing you.” Her humor fled. “My sex life only involves a vibrator. I know battery-operated-boyfriends don’t leave their clothes on the floor or fart in their sleep but I’d take all the flaws that come with a real person any day of the week over being so lonely. You can’t solve that for me.”

  “I understand.”

  “I know you do. So go after this guy, Kat. Get messy and be scared of having your heart broken. At least try. I would.”

  “I can’t exactly storm the gates of Homeland and I won’t be allowed back in. He made that clear.”

  “Call and bug him. Don’t let him sweep you under the rug. Give him hell.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “You do that.” Missy left, going down the hallway into her office.

  Kat closed her eyes and sighed. “Damn.” She missed Darkness but her pride would take a hit if she tried to call him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Justice peered at Darkness over his desk as he hung up the phone. He lifted the paper he’d written on and passed it over. “That is a list of every name Jessie’s father could get. He called in lots of favors. He’ll text the address if you can identify her by name. He wasn’t able to get ages or descriptions but he could pull one or two files without raising red flags. That’s everyone Mason could issue orders to.”

  Darkness accepted the list and read each name. One made him pause. The other names didn’t come close. He reread the ninth name again. “This has to be her. Katrina Perkins.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Darkness looked up. “She said everyone really called her Kat. With a K. Katrina could be shortened to Kat. She used the name Kathryn Decker to enter Homeland. Don’t they attempt to keep the first names close to their real ones when they go undercover? That’s what Tim told me. They use similar names because it draws their attention easier when it’s spoken.”

  “Agreed.” Justice picked up his cell phone and tapped the screen. “It should take a few minutes.”

  “I want to send four teams out to retrieve her.”

  Justice set down the phone. “Why do you want this female brought in? You’re the one who argued we should release her in the first place.”

  “All the information we received on Robert Mason alarms me. He’s been transferred seven times in four years. He kept requesting this post. I believe it was for a reason. You read the file. He hasn’t asked to be reassigned elsewhere. It’s possible he’s been working with Boris. They would have been able to have face-to-face contact to avoid leaving any traces of their meetings.”

  “There are no bank records to show any connection between Mason and the payments we made to the false account Boris set up. Mason seems clean.”

  “There wouldn’t be. Mason is a smart male who catches the mistakes of others for a living. He sent agents after True’s mate and then he sent in Kat.”

  “We still aren’t sure why.”

  “I know.” Darkness closed his mouth.

  “You assume he wanted information on Jerry Boris. I agree. They are linked by marriage.”

  “He has to know we’re digging into his background by now. I don’t want him to go after Kat in an attempt to silence her. Boris set up Jeanie. Mason could do the same with Kat. These seem to be males who don’t mind hiding behind females and allowing them to take the fall for their crimes.”

  “You want to toss her into interrogation?”

  That wasn’t the plan but Darkness just lifted an eyebrow. “She might have answers we need.”

  “I understand. We’ll wait for her file to make certain she’s the right female. The last thing we need is to bring in the wrong one.”

  “Let’s order the teams to prepare.”

  “Two should do it.”

  “I want four.”

  Justice frowned. “You think this female is that dangerous?”

  “I believe Mason is. He has agents at his disposal. He could order her arrested or sent on assignment somewhere. He could also hire someone to take her out.”

  “It’s possible if he really is working with Jerry Boris. I really dislike that male. You weren’t able to confirm their association beyond the family tie while you were in Medical?”

  “He showed signs of high stress. I didn’t want to kill him. You asked me to try to keep him alive.”

  “I read the updated medical report. You broke two of his fingers and inflicted cuts.”

  “Just a few.”

  Justice leaned back and sighed deeply. “You should have had the doctor present if you wanted to question him further.”

  “It’s done.” Darkness wasn’t about to apologize.

  Justice regarded him with an unblinking stare. Darkness didn’t blink either.

  “Fury feels guilt. You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”

  “The male has no reason to. Why are you bringing this up?”

  “He took you to Boris. I have a feeling you used that guilt to get him to agree. I have a problem with that.”

  Darkness stood. “I don’t use emotions to force males to do anything. I laid out why I wanted to speak to Boris and he agreed.”

  Justice stood. “Fury has a blind spot where you are concerned. We’re both aware of it, even if he isn’t. Family is very important, especially when shared blood is involved. It’s rare. Don’t use him again.”

  Darkness clenched his teeth.

  “Answer the questions he has, Darkness. You owe him that much.”

  “I plan to.”

  Justice sat. “Good. Go do that now while we wait for this file to arrive. I’ll contact you as soon as it comes and have Tim put together four teams.”

  “I don’t want Tim there.”

  “Trey can take lead then.”

  “I’ll lead them.”

  Justice seemed unable to hide his surprise. “You don’t like to leave the NSO.”

  “I’ll make an exception. I demand to be put in charge of retrieving Kat.”

  A calculated look entered the other male’s expression. “I see. Fine. I have calls to make.”

  Darkness strode out of Justice’s office but didn’t leave the building. He sought out Fury. The male was on the phone when he opened the door but he waved Darkness to a seat. He hung up a minute later.

  “What did Justice say?”

  “I’m surprised he didn’t call you as soon as I left him.”

  “We’ve already spoken. Did you find out the female’s real name?”

  “I believe so. Justice is having the Senator pull her file to make certain. He agreed I could have four teams to go pick her up. We’re just waiting for confirmation of the name and face matchup.”

  “I’m glad. She’ll be safer here at Homeland.”

  Darkness hesitated. Memories flashed through his mind—bad ones. “Her name was Galina. She was an attractive female in her early thirties.”

  Fury frowned. “That is Kat’s real name?”

  “No.” Darkness blew out a breath. “She was the female hired to come into the camp where my brothers…” He paused. “Our brothers were taken after they transported us away from Mercile Industries.”

  Fury swallowed, the muscles in his throat working. “Go on.”

  “She was a tall, blonde female with pretty light-green eyes. I don’t know if that was her real name but she was so frightened I could smell her fear. They brought her to where I