Free No Strings Attached: A Lexi Carmichael Mystery, Book Eight by Julie Moffett Page A

jotting notes to himself. When he felt he had a good grasp on her, he got started on the computer. I wanted to peek at what he was doing, but he kept the picture to himself until he had a basic composite drawn.
    Eventually he turned the computer screen my way.
    I studied it. “Wow, Kip. That’s good. Really good. You have a unique talent.”
    We worked together to further refine the drawing according to my memory. Since I was able to provide enough detail, he was able to create a 3-D version of her face.
    I stared at the composite. “Her forehead is slightly too high here.” I tapped the monitor.
    Kip fixed it and we sat back to contemplate. We were so engrossed neither of us heard Slash come in.
    “That’s her?” he asked, putting his hands on my shoulder and studying the screen with us.
    “Yes. That’s her. I can’t think of any more ways to refine the composite. It’s near perfect.”
    Kip leaned back and stretched his arms over his head. “Damn, you’ve got an incredible memory, Lexi.”
    “I’m glad I could help. A photographic memory does provide the necessary level of detail.”
    “We’re fortunate you were sitting at the table when you were,” he said.
    “We certainly are,” Slash said. “Can you send that image to Agent Martinez right away? We’d like to run it through the facial recognition database while you two work on the young man.”
    “Consider it done.” Kip tapped a few keys on his keyboard and stood. “I’m going to get a cup of coffee and then we’ll get started on the kid. You up for another round, Lexi?”
    “Absolutely. But this time can I just take a little peek at your program before we get started?”

Chapter Fourteen
    “Remind me why there are FBI agents accompanying us to my wedding dress fitting?”
    Basia slid me a glance as she pulled into the parking lot of the expensive and exclusive Thompson’s Bridal Boutique. It had been a long morning between the FBI and a visit with Slash to X-Corp, where we finally were able to provide my boss with a sterilized version of what was going on. Not surprisingly, Finn hadn’t been happy about it, mostly because I was in danger again. But at this point, there was little he could do about it. There was a fine line between what he could and could not argue about with the FBI and NSA, his excellent lawyer background notwithstanding.
    As for Basia, there was no way in hell I was going to tell her about the events of the past twenty-four hours. She was living on the edge as it was. Ever since announcing her engagement to Xavier a few weeks ago, she’d morphed into Bridezilla, obsessed with getting every detail right for the forthcoming nuptials. I didn’t want to add to that anxiety in any way, especially since I was part of the reason her fiancé was currently involved in a top secret, dangerous cyber operation.
    “Because Slash is in the middle of an important operation and they are keeping an eye on me as a courtesy to him so he can concentrate and not worry about what trouble I’ll get into next. Little black cloud and me, remember.” I pointed to my forehead. “I’m a walking accident.”
    I’d told her I’d walked into a door. She’d actually seen me do it before, so it wasn’t that big a stretch. Right now, however, she didn’t seem to be buying it. Still, she didn’t press. I think she just didn’t want to know. I didn’t blame her one bit.
    She nervously pushed her short dark bob off her shoulder, her lovely engagement ring glinting in the sun. Xavier had bought her a big, round-cut diamond surrounded by small red rubies in a platinum setting. It was delicate and pretty without being pretentious. He’d chosen really well. In fact, she loved it so much she got all teary whenever she looked at it, which was a lot lately. I was beginning to think being a bride required riding on some invisible, emotional roller coaster and forcing the maid of honor, and all in her orbit, to go along for the ride.
    “They