Free Atomic Beauty by Barb Han Page B

headquarters could be compromised.”
    â€œI don’t like the sound of that.” The shock in his voice registered as genuine.
    Another piece of the puzzle that didn’t fit anywhere yet.
    Her excuse was convenient and gave him an out as far as allowing her some leeway. She didn’t doubt her own skills or ability to disappear when she needed to for one second. Jace may have found her in Las Vegas, but she knew it had been a risk when she’d called him and, truth be known, she’d wanted to see him.
    Murdock blew out another sharp breath. “We can send in a drone. There’s no reason to risk your safety. And if you won’t come in, I’ll send someone to get you.”
    He sounded desperate. Guilty?
    â€œHe’ll disappear. All our hope of figuring out what’s in those pics will vaporize and you know it. As far as sending someone to pick me up? Good luck with that.”
    â€œI know he’s the best. I know you’re the only one who’s a match. Believe me, I didn’t want you on this assignment in the first place. Come home and we’ll close this case. It’s only a matter of time before tech breaks the encryption,” he said. There was a sad quality to his voice now.
    â€œCan’t do it, sir.”
    â€œYou have no idea what’s on the line here, Nile.”
    Alarm bells sounded inside Erika’s head, ringing in her ears. Why did he feel the need to remind her of the stakes? Her boss was holding back and something was off. What else wasn’t she being told? And why?
    Dammit, why did he feel the need to protect her?
    Her dad had trusted Murdock. And this reaction most likely had to do with sending her into a dangerous situation more so than not trusting her.
    Memories of assigning her father to the mission that had taken his life hadn’t dimmed. She’d seen it all over Murdock’s face, in his eyes and his actions for the past decade. The nights he drank until he stumbled to his room were even more heartbreaking.
    Murdock had never exactly been husband or father material, which was why he lived alone, but losing his best friend had screwed with his head. The anniversary of her father’s death seemed to be making him as testy as it was her. The date circled on his calendar every year was almost here. She and Murdock had lost someone special that day. His guilt had driven him to take care of her until she’d turned eighteen. His guilt had been the reason he’d worked with her, day in and day out, to make her physically and mentally strong. What he couldn’t teach her, he’d paid others to. And his guilt most likely drove his actions now.
    Erika knew exactly what she needed to do next.
    â€œThis is my assignment. Don’t take it away from me. I’ll bring him in and you can question him as much as you want.” She ended the call before he could argue.
    After throwing a few personal items into her backpack, she came up with her exit plan, wiped down the hotel and waited. She would leave in the middle of the night while Jace slept and not use any of her usual methods of transportation en route to Seattle where she planned to be in two days. In the meantime, there was a place where no one would find her. She needed to stop by the family’s cabin.
    The tenth anniversary of her dad’s death was in a few days. Her lungs clawed for air thinking about it, about him, about how empty her life had been with no family since his death. She’d lost everyone important to her before reaching adulthood.
    Murdock had done his best with her and she was grateful. He’d stepped in and provided a place to land when she’d bottomed out. Erika would not forget everything he’d done for her.
    * * *
    Jace woke to an empty room. Fuck . Erika was Sanctuary through and through. Finding her was a mistake. The simple truth was that Jace had needed to see her. He’d felt a connection with her and maybe that was