Free Until Noon by Desiree Holt, Cerise DeLand

this problem. I simply believed we
    needed another set of eyes on the situation and I hired Tony to get quick answers. Now he is dead and I am to blame for exposing him to this. But I must say I have seen no
    evidence of Russian interest in our facilities here.”
    Pilar struggled to keep her temper under control at Tafoya’s continued attempt to
    discredit her investigation. “I understand your motives and actions. But I am concerned about any activities by Russian companies. Russia only supplies eight percent of the
    world’s oil right now. If they could put Roca out of business and strike a deal with
    Libya, they would put a chokehold on the EU.”
    “Then I’m hoping you and Señor Cordona will make it your business to see that doesn’t happen.”
    “If they are using criminal means to subvert you, yes, I will do all in my power to
    end their activities.” She glanced over at Raul, who stared at her. She could almost hear his accusations that she had kept facts from him. Facts about the Russian mafia
    interests. About their insidious involvement in everything from the value of the Euro to the fluctuating prices in the oil market. She would do her best to explain herself. And if he could not accept her explanation, if he walked out because she withheld what she
    knew, then she might have created an adversary here. Well, hell.
    She and Raul were not at cross-purposes here. He was a good guy, interested in this
    case because he’d been nearby and capable of assessing facts. He was even a friend of the police detective on the investigation. She would leave here, listen to his outrage and learn if she’d made a big mistake agreeing to work with him. If, indeed, last night had been an even bigger mistake. She wasn’t sure what kind of sign she was looking for
    from him but he simply nodded to Tafoya as if everything were proceeding the way it
    should.
    The mood eased slightly when Tafoya’s assistant brought in a coffee tray and
    another copy of Tony’s reports. The three of them moved over to a conversation area to scan the papers. All of Tony’s entries seemed complete, in order. Pilar detected no red flags. Indeed, Tony seemed to be finding no clues to the identity of Roca’s adversary. At the end, Tony had assured the Roca Oil president that he would report in to him
    regularly.
    “Why do I not officially hire you?” asked Tafoya.
    Raul sat back, his brows arching in surprise. “That is not for me to decide. I am an
    employee of Nemesis.”
    Tafoya was gleeful as a child on Christmas morning. “I can call Maddie. She will
    agree. It makes good sense.”
    Pilar stood, unnerved. She could do nothing but agree. Yet would such an
    arrangement set Raul as her adversary? How competitive was the man in an official
    capacity rather than when he was doing a favor for a friend? This was the scenario that had destroyed her trust in Rhys. As head of security for a Welsh energy company, Rhys 41
    Desiree Holt & Cerise DeLand
    had kept facts from her in an investigation that ultimately led them to a French terrorist group. She had found out about his secretive nature. They had fought. Rhys had
    explained himself saying he needed a promotion and could not afford to let anyone in on what he’d learned. It was critical that he be the one to resolve things.
    Pilar knew that was bullshit. What he had really needed was a salary hike to pay
    his gambling debts. She had left him, cursing her stupidity and promising not to fall for any man in her line of work. Not ever again. And yet, here she stood. Shaking her head.
    Watching yachts and freighters sail the harbor of Barcelona.
    Raul had remained silent. “I don’t think it is a good idea.”
    Really? Why not?
    Tafoya laughed off his objection. “No, no. This would be good. Listen to me. I have
    spoken with your owners. You were at the murder scene. You and Miss Terrasona
    know each other and trust each other. I insist. I will call Maddie, make it official. What do you