Page 19 of Code Name: Harbor

“I know about your criminal record,” she says, and I blink at her in surprise. But then it hits me… of course she’d look me up. She’s got all the resources. “And I know you now own a fine art gallery, and—” She waves her hand toward the house. “And a mansion on Puget Sound.”

“That’s an interesting summary of my life, but I don’t disagree with any of it.”

“But… you knew that was Anatoli Voronin’s men and you most definitely knew they were trafficking those women.”

“What’s your point?” I ask before taking a sip of my drink.

“My point is you could help me with this case. I know you have some sort of inside scoop. I can’t figure out what it is, and really, I don’t care what it is. I’d just like your help.”

Of all the things I thought she’d say that never even crossed my mind. “You want me to help you catch Anatoli Voronin.”

The thought is appalling. Not that I wouldn’t like to see that son of a bitch put out of business and preferably rot in prison for the rest of his life, but because there’s no way in hell I’d get near this case. If he ever found out I helped her last night, I’d be dead in less than twenty-four hours.

I’m careful when I let her down. “Look, Josie. I don’t know what you think I am or what type of contacts I have, but I’m a fine art dealer. If you vetted me, you know this. And I don’t know anything about Voronin that could help you—”

“Now, see… that’s just not true. Please don’t lie to me, Finn. If you don’t want to help, just say so, but don’t ever lie to me.”

I’m properly chastised and I don’t normally fashion myself as someone who tells untruths. But she called me out on it and I incline my head. “I promise I won’t lie to you, Josie, but please don’t ask me questions you might not want the answers to.”

She swallows hard and nods in understanding.

“What I should have said was, I don’t want to get mixed up in anything to do with Voronin. Do you understand?”

“But I just want information,” she pleads her case. “It’s not like I want you to help me catch him red-handed.”

I rub at my jaw, irritated that I’m equally charmed by her dedication to this and pissed that’s all she wants me for. I thought maybe there would be more fawning over my heroic efforts to save her.

“I’ll take anything you can give me,” she continues. “Even leads. I’ll never reveal that I got it from you, and I’ll keep you out of everyone’s line of sight, including my own employer’s. I just need a nudge in the right direction.”

I hear it in her tone. There’s some sort of pain—a need so deep that it would be crushing if not attained. If I had to guess, it’s those women. She can’t stomach what’s being done to them.

If Connie and Marcus ever caught wind of what I’m about to do, they’d have me committed.

“Tell you what,” I say, swirling the liquor in my glass. “You go out with me on a date, and I’ll give you something on Voronin.”

Those blue eyes go round, and her mouth opens in an O of surprise. “A date?”

“That’s right. A date for info. Fair trade, yes?”

“But… but…” She gestures with her hand between us. “You… want to go out with me?”

More than anything, I think to myself.

“A man doesn’t send flowers to a girl if he’s not interested in at least taking her to dinner.”

Josie smiles, presses her fingers to her lips and ducks her head. It’s almost as if she might burst into laughter, but she manages to control herself.

“Okay,” she says. “A date for info. We have a deal.”

CHAPTER 5

Josie

Malik’s wife, Anna, has a habit of spoiling the Jameson agents. At least once a week, she cooks a meal for us all to eat in the communal break area. At least a few times a week, she leaves a basketful of sweet treats in the kitchen and today’s offering is oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I’m on my second one because today I’m eating my feelings.

The break room is more than what its simple name implies. It’s centered on the fourth floor, which houses apartments for agents who want to live at the Jameson headquarters. Like the rest of the building, it’s beautifully decorated. Tall windows look south over the Pioneer Square rooftops. Exposed brick walls are decorated with black-and-white photos of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline. Deep leather couches arranged around a flat-screen TV the size of a small car make up another good space to take a break. A full-scale kitchen gets used quite often except for the massive espresso machine that only a few have mastered.

All in all, it’s the best place in the building to disconnect and well… cookies!