Evie Ever After by Beth Ciotta

Author:Beth Ciotta [Ciotta, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
ISBN: 9780373773602
Goodreads: 5714403
Publisher: Hqn
Published: 2009-02-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“ACCORDING TO MY SOURCE, Crowe’s collecting sordid material on various officials in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Typical scandal-sheet material. Alcohol and drug addictions. Extramarital affairs. Domestic employment of illegal aliens. Misappropriated funds. He’s got conversations on tape. Documentations. Incriminating photos and videos.” Gina eyeballed Beckett. “Made me think of you and that DVD. Anyway, Crowe enlisted one AIA operative and an assistant to oversee a special unit. They farm out the dirty work to a select group of independent contractors, one of whom is my source.”

No one said anything. We just stared. I ping-ponged between horror that my Hoover scenario was grounded in reality and sheer joy that my Hoover scenario was grounded in reality. My signature happy dance seemed childish, not to mention inappropriate given this was a blow for our country. The director of the AIA was a bad sort. How bad, I didn’t know.

“I didn’t expect a round of applause, but some feedback would be nice,” Gina said. “What the hell’s wrong with you?”

The question wasn’t directed at any one person, but Beckett stepped up to the plate. “That theory I mentioned of Evie’s? I think we’re all a little stunned that it’s actually the mindfucking truth.”

Gina gawked at me. “You guessed that Crowe’s collecting incriminating evidence on key officials? Based on what?”

Okay. This was uncomfortable. Or rather Gina made me uncomfortable. She’d never liked me and now I’d stolen her thunder. This could get ugly. Or…maybe I could win her over. Life as a Chameleon would be easier if I earned her respect. Cagey and confident. “Woody learned about COPRODEM while trying to gain access to some top secret files, but he didn’t learn specifics.”

“Yet,” he added, sounding insulted.

“He didn’t mention COPRODEM when he called you?” I asked Gina.

“No. For the same reason I didn’t share my news over the phone. You never know who’s listening.”

“Oh.” I should’ve known. Not that I’d received official training or even a handbook on secret agent, antigrifting do’s and don’ts. Still, I have watched a ton of spy flicks. “Anyway, I took what little Woody did know and what we’d determined about Crowe during our last meeting, in addition to a documentary I’d seen on J. Edgar Hoover and I…”

She arched a brow. “Yes?”

“Used my imagination.”

I waited for her to make a snide comment. Instead, she borrowed from Beckett. “Huh.” She glanced down and saw the scribbled acronyms on my notepad. “Is this your work?”

I stiffened my spine. “Yes.”

“Close, but no cigar.”

Amazingly, it didn’t sound like an insult. “You know what COPRODEM stands for?” I asked.

“Covert Protection of Democracy.”

I blinked. “Wow. I was close.”

Her full lips curled into a semblance of a smile. “Guess Ace was right. You’re not just a piece of fluff.”

My heart swelled to the size of a cantaloupe: a) because Gina had just paid me a compliment. Sort of, b) because Arch had championed me. More than ever I wished he was here. Even though he wasn’t keen on me being an active

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