Free Sandman (Unknown Identities #3) by Regan Black Page A

where his key chain had been hooked moments before. “What the hell?” This guy had been busy and he’d heard far too much with his invisible act.
    But with a Cleaner bearing down on them, there was nothing to do but run. They had to take it one threat at a time.
    Renata lurched toward the barn with a startled cry. “Something pushed me.”
    “ Go on,” he urged, as understanding dawned. A friend in UI was a risky thing. It wasn’t encouraged and it was rarely helpful to anyone but Messenger.
    As Renata darted ahead, apparently unwilling to get another shove, Matthew paused to address the agent most often casually referred to as the Invisible Man. His real code name was as elusive as his appearance.
    “ You blew the kidnapper’s car,” Matthew said.
    “ Well, yeah.” A strange giggle sounded in the shadows. “What’s wrong? You weren’t in it.”
    Matthew looked at his own vehicle, one of the new muscle cars he ’d had modified to better suit his needs. If this guy hadn’t already tampered with it too, they might have a chance.
    “ Thanks?”
    “ Dude go, before you’re stuck here.”
    More than a little creeped out by the exchange, Matthew tossed the duffel and backpack into the trunk alongside his dismantled rifle and then slid into driver’s seat.
    Renata ’s dark eyes were wide with fear. “Is it a trap?”
    He wanted to comfort her, but he didn ’t want to lie to her. Not ever again. “We’ll find out.”
    He held his breath while he shifted into first. The doors at the far end of the barn opened, revealing the pale gray light of an overcast day.
    Matthew relaxed a little as he rolled slowly toward the widening space. He reached out for Renata ’s hand. If he had to die, there were far worse ways to go than a quick explosion while sitting by the woman he’d never stopped loving.
    Clearing the barn, Matthew followed the rutted track out toward the fields.
    Hearing a three-round burst of gun fire, he checked the proximity of the threat in the rearview mirror. Beside him, Renata twisted to look back, her hand still clutching his.
    “ Is that the man who warned us?”
    “ No. That’s a ghost,” Matthew finished in a whisper, catching a profile glimpse of the man posted at the corner of the house, gun raised toward the drive. It made him feel better that Renata saw him too, but there was no way that could actually be John Noble. The most likely explanation was Messenger had subjected a new recruit to plastic surgery. Would it be that hard? In light of the things he’d both seen and done in training and on UI missions, it was surprising facial reconstruction wasn’t mandatory.
    Fairly certain the Invisible Man hadn ’t rigged his car, Matthew stepped on the gas, eager to get Renata to safety.
    “ A ghost?” She squeezed his hand. “Is that some new classification?”
    “ If you’re going to ask questions using loaded terms like that, Renata, you’d better be ready to elaborate.” Matthew couldn’t spare her a look, the road – or more accurately defined as a lack of road – required his full attention.
    He pulled a hard left between two fields, aiming east to connect with the paved two lane road leading to the nearest small town. From there they could make a decision about how the next step to getting her out of Messenger’s reach.
    He checked his rear view mirror, grateful the dim light and damp winter morning kept the dust trail to a minimum. The last thing he needed was a car chase with a Cleaner.
    “It’s a long story,” she said, releasing his hand.
    “ For both of us,” he agreed, fighting the car’s drift as he took another turn with too much speed. “Start talking before it’s too late.”
     

Chapter Eight
     
    “What the hell,” John muttered under his breath. The Cleaner was nearly to the house and they were about to lose their narrow advantage. “This is no time for a Q and A session.”
    He squeezed off three rounds into the grill of the approaching vehicle.