Catching Smoke: Ch. 25
“What’s the deal with the recruit?” Colin asks.
He hears Harlem grunt on the other line. He was probably sleeping, but Colin hardly has time to care. Somebody tried to break in and possibly steal his recruit. It’s possible the intentions were harmless, or even that Lydia created this mess just to make things more difficult for him. But there’s definitely something or someone after Emmalee that Colin needs to know about.
“Colin, it’s three o’clock in the morning. Go to bed,” Harlem says. “Or better yet, why don’t you finish your job?”
“That’s the problem, Harlem. How can I be expected to do my job when I don’t have all the information?”
“What more could you possibly need? You have enough to recruit, and that’s your job. Or have you forgotten already? I thought you said you wouldn’t have a problem with this girl. Do I need to assign you to another case because I can do that?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Then why are you calling me?”
“Because the mission was compromised. Somebody tried to break into the hotel room, and our shining recruit’s first instinct was to hide in the cupboard! I don’t think she’s been changing identities for the thrill. I think she’s been running from something, and I need to know what.”
“If I tell you I’ll look into it, can I go back to bed?”
“Thank you, Harlem. You won’t be disappointed.”
“I sure hope not.”
Harlem hangs up and Colin returns to the room with Emmalee. She already cleaned up the glass on the floor, and attempted to cover the hole with a sheet of foil. She jumps slightly when Colin enters the room, though, as if she’s still terrified it might be whatever took away her choice, and forced her to run. That’s what she said, wasn’t it? She didn’t have a choice. Running and hiding in someone else’s life was her only option in life.
But who or what is forcing her to run?
It’s time for Colin to find out.
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