Page 59 of Code Name: Harbor

“Wow” is all I manage to say.

She appraises me, eyes roaming top to bottom. “You’re kind of wow yourself.”

And then she steps into me, hand to my chest, and places a featherlight kiss to my mouth that punches me right through the gut.

I take Josie’s hand, lead her down to the car and help her into the passenger seat. I try not to notice the way the skirt rides up slightly as she swings her legs in, nor the devastating smile she gives me just before I close the door.

As I pull away from the curb, I ask, “How was your day?”

“Long,” she says with a huff. “Mostly working on the pattern stuff from your information. They’re going to set up a sting watch on that dock information you turned me on to since the focus is still trying to nab Mikhail red-handed and get him to flip on Voronin.”

I don’t tell her that I think it’s a long shot. Even if they get Mikhail in the act, chances of him flipping on Voronin are small. It would be a death sentence for him, but it’s not for me to say. I’ve done my part and now my job is to make sure Josie stays as safe as possible and hope to hell this all works out.

“How was your day?” she asks.

“My day?” There it is. The handoff. I don’t have a graceful way to do this and I’ve stopped trying to find one.

“Your buddy Cole came to my office this morning. Surprise visit and all.”

Josie’s head whips my way. “He did? He didn’t tell me.” When I don’t say anything, she says, “I’m sorry. He should have at least called you to set up an appointment.”

“It’s all right.” I reach over and take her hand, give her a reassuring squeeze. “And you and I both know that’s the way he should have done it. The element of surprise to set the tone. I assume he was looking for a reaction in real time.”

“Did he get one?”

“Not the kind he was looking for.”

I can feel the weight of her gaze as I drive. “What happened?”

“It was what you’d expect. Detailed digging into the night I pulled you out of the water. He was very focused on what I observed on the dock. Wanted to know why I was out there, how I managed to see you in the water.”

“That’s not so bad,” she murmurs.

“He didn’t push back on any of my answers. He didn’t catch me in anything. He asked the questions in an order designed to see whether I’d contradict myself, and I didn’t.”

“That’s great.”

“He then asked me if I knew Voronin.”

“And what did you say?” she asks, a slight tinge of worry in her tone.

“I lied to him, Josie. Told him I had no clue who he was.”

“Good,” she says on a gushed breath. “That’s good. He doesn’t need to know that.”

“But he didn’t buy it,” I tell her.

Once again, her head whips my way. “Why not?”

I glance at her. “Because he’s very good at his job and he can put two and two together. You came to them with information and I’m the most logical source.”

“Did he buy it?”

“What do you think?”

“No, he probably didn’t buy it. I’m sorry. I didn’t want you involved like this.”

I squeeze her hand. “He asked me what my relationship with you was.”