Autumn's Risk by Mary Stone

Author:Mary Stone [Stone, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-07-16T22:00:00+00:00

17

After the swift shopping spree with Winter, Autumn spent the rest of her morning poring over intel on Damien Parr and his group of followers. The details of each individual’s background were sparse at best. The cult wasn’t an open book to outsiders, and she became even more convinced that going undercover was their best bet.

“Wow.” Autumn pursed her lips. “Damien is a war veteran who specialized in defusing bombs? Can’t say the guy’s a dummy, that’s for sure.”

The only agents left in the conference room besides her were Mia and Chris. Of the two, Agent Logan alone was paying attention.

Mia swiveled her rolling chair to face Autumn. “He definitely seems intelligent to me. I don’t think a person could amass that type of following without brains.”

“Good point.” Autumn continued to read. “Damien Parr was written up several times while serving in Afghanistan before he was discharged. He returned stateside and devoted his life to community service. Hmm. Something had to have happened to him during the war to shift his stance. Sounds like he went overseas as one man and came back as quite another.”

“Sloan Grant was in the service around that same time.” Mia rolled her chair closer and studied Autumn’s iPad. “And they both defused bombs.”

Autumn fixed hopeful eyes on Mia. “Really? The same time?”

Mia blew out a long breath, looking like she might soon face a firing squad. “I can get ahold of her and find out if she knows any specifics on Parr’s overseas experience.”

The urge to jump at Mia’s offer was strong, but the pink hue infusing the other agent’s cheeks made Autumn hesitate. Sloan and Mia’s turbulent past wasn’t a secret. Not even for a newbie like Autumn. “You don’t have to do that. I can try to reach her myself.”

“No.” Mia shook her head. “I’m a big girl, and I can handle it. You’re going undercover. Today.”

Autumn chewed her cheek as she studied her friend. Of course Mia could handle it. On that count, Autumn had no doubt. The point was, should she have to? No special ability was required to see that the idea of contacting Sloan Grant troubled Mia. Far more than the agent was letting on. “Mia…I’ve heard enough about your history to know you probably dread talking to Sloan.”

Mia stiffened, but she played her reaction off by lifting a shoulder. “This would be the second time I talked to her in six months. I’m the one who had to call her to come in and defuse Winter. My feelings about the role Sloan played in Ned’s death have nothing to do with the Bureau or Damien Parr or Afghanistan. I can compartmentalize.”

“Can you?” The blunt question slipped out before Autumn could slide it through a softer filter.

“I can.” Mia straightened in her chair. Her chin lifted. “I’m a professional. I’ll get it done.”

“Really. I don’t mind making a quick call before—”

“Autumn?” Mia cut her off. “I want to move past what happened. Somehow. Contacting her is something I need to do.

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