Free Lethal Affairs by Kim Baldwin, Xenia Alexiou

hoped it might do the same this time. She researched similar cases—other unsolved political murders and any involving professional assassins—sorting through the seemingly endless list of possibilities. So far, every call she made had wasted time and long-distance charges.
    But the tedious chores would help keep her from going crazy as she waited for Luka to phone, so she returned to her list, and after two hours of scanning old Associated Press files, she found one that looked promising. An AP reporter based in Seattle had done a story on killersfor-hire more than a year earlier and might have some insights that could help her.
    She glanced at the clock as she searched online for the man’s home phone number. Only a little after seven on the West Coast, probably too early to call. Not everyone could survive on three or four hours’ sleep like she did. She’d wait another hour, then try him on her land line. She wanted to keep her cell phone free, since she’d given that number to her intriguing dance partner.
    Domino left for Pierce’s small ranch home in suburban Arlington when he summoned her the morning after the benefit. Because she was based in Washington, she’d been there a number of times.
    “I don’t think I need to tell you how unprofessional last night was,” she said without preamble.
“Good morning,” he said calmly, motioning for her to sit on the couch. He had forgone his usual suit for slacks and a polo shirt, but hadn’t relaxed his paranoia for secrecy. All the blinds were drawn, as they always were in his office at school when he spoke to an operative.
“Why aren’t you following protocol in this case?” She made no effort to disguise how unacceptable she found the situation.
“Remember who you’re talking to,” he said, more forcefully.
But she was determined. “I know damn well who I’m talking to. You sent me in there absolutely blind, when you knew she might recognize me. She’s probably watched that tape a million times.”
“I have my reasons, and I reassigned you on-site. You went in knowing everything you needed to know.”
“I didn’t know who to look out for, Monty. Now she knows my real name. I’ve been compromised, which makes this assignment way out of bounds. Perhaps you should do the remembering.”
“I didn’t intend for it to go like this,” he said, with a friendlier tone. “But her apparent interest in you will help speed up this operation. You do realize the severity of this situation, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. But severe or not, protocol is there for a reason. I should’ve been briefed. And I should have had a chance to objectify my target. Besides, we had a couple of dances, that’s all. You’re making more of it than it was.”
“I can tell the difference between casual conversation and real interest. She’s a potential threat, Domino, and that’s all that matters. This is an assignment, an important one, so you’ll do whatever it takes. Now, let’s get down to business. This will be Operation Eclipse, and Miss Ward’s code name will be Strike. We need you to get close, find out what she knows—who actually sent her the tape, and who she’s shared this information with.”
“Do we have any proof of her complicity?”
“It’s hard to believe someone randomly chose her,” Pierce said. “That’s why you’re to extract the information we need and find out who else is involved.” He was watching closely for her reaction. “Because of your compromised situation, someone else will eliminate her, if necessary.”
“When do I start?”
“As soon as possible.” He pulled a file from his desk and tossed it in front of her, then sat back and folded his arms over his chest. “Strike’s details. Find a way to contact her. I’m sure she won’t object. Her number’s in there—it’s also in the phone book, if she wants to know where you got it.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Domino said. “Ironically, my target gave me her