ever would have thought.”
Because his words arrowed a little too near the truth for comfort she shrugged. “Me? I’m an open book.” But she knew without looking at him that he remained unconvinced. She’d have to work on that. The problem with close proximity assignments was with what could be revealed without one even being aware of the disclosure. Eve was no newcomer to such tasks, but this case required a whole new degree of closeness.
And it was imperative that she return to her job at the State Department with her cover firmly intact.
The frigid outside was the only thing that could make Eve grateful to reach the shabby apartment. Heat greeted them when they stepped inside, which wasn’t always the case so she didn’t take it for granted. She went directly to the vent next to the couch and stood over it for a couple of minutes, thawing out. Declan went immediately to the closet and withdrew the detection device to begin the same methodical search he enacted each time they returned to the place.
Finally warming enough to take off her gloves, Eve removed them and crossed to hang up her coat. Halted in her tracks when Declan turned toward her, one finger to his lips.
The device in his hand had a small red light that was blinking rapidly. He took a couple of steps toward the bedroom and the flickering slowed. He turned and took a few strides toward the kitchen area and it sped up.
“Bug or camera?” she asked in Scottish Gaelic.
“This device would pick up either, but it’s definitely a bug.” He lowered the instrument to scan the small space with his gaze.
An icy finger traced down her spine. Someone had been busy today while they met with Shuang. Declan had assured her that the security measures taken with the door and windows would ensure that no one could enter without them being alerted. Which made her wonder how a listening device had been planted.
Declan moved toward the ancient stove and peered above it. Going to his side the first thing Eve noticed was the light sprinkling of plaster dust on the appliance. Raising her gaze she saw a small dime sized spot she might have thought was a water hole in the wall a few feet above the stove.
“How did they get in?”
“They didn’t.” She followed him to the door, which he unlocked and they moved into the hallway. Saw the electrical plate screwed into the wall in a spot that would match up with the bug they’d found. White plaster dust on the floor was as telling as a shout.
Declan surprised her by heading back into the apartment. Trailing after him, she shut the door behind her and relocked it. Somehow securing the multiple locks no longer made her feel safe. “Aren’t you going to remove it?”
“Finding it gives us the advantage.” He returned the surveillance detection device to the closet shelf. “It’s doubtful the listener speaks our language, so there’s no danger of us giving anything away. And the detector has jamming capabilities if there’s ever a time we need more privacy.” His grin was just a bit ruthless. “Our new business partner doesn’t trust us, it seems. Which means she’s smart and careful. So are we.”
His words had a familiar adrenaline punching through Eve’s trepidation. The game of cat and mouse had begun. And from the looks of Declan’s smile he was looking forward to the challenge. The recognition had her feeling a sort of affinity with the man. Because she was more than ready start the assignment that would guarantee Royce Raiker’s safety.
_______
The property boasted two attached garages, each large enough to house half a dozen vehicles. Adam had deliberately left the one on the far end of the house empty, and Jaid had soon learned why when a truck full of lumber had arrived shortly after they had. The mini half pipe ramp had taken less than a day to construct, but she’d often thought the structure had saved her—and Royce’s—sanity numerous times over the past weeks.
She watched him
Because his words arrowed a little too near the truth for comfort she shrugged. “Me? I’m an open book.” But she knew without looking at him that he remained unconvinced. She’d have to work on that. The problem with close proximity assignments was with what could be revealed without one even being aware of the disclosure. Eve was no newcomer to such tasks, but this case required a whole new degree of closeness.
And it was imperative that she return to her job at the State Department with her cover firmly intact.
The frigid outside was the only thing that could make Eve grateful to reach the shabby apartment. Heat greeted them when they stepped inside, which wasn’t always the case so she didn’t take it for granted. She went directly to the vent next to the couch and stood over it for a couple of minutes, thawing out. Declan went immediately to the closet and withdrew the detection device to begin the same methodical search he enacted each time they returned to the place.
Finally warming enough to take off her gloves, Eve removed them and crossed to hang up her coat. Halted in her tracks when Declan turned toward her, one finger to his lips.
The device in his hand had a small red light that was blinking rapidly. He took a couple of steps toward the bedroom and the flickering slowed. He turned and took a few strides toward the kitchen area and it sped up.
“Bug or camera?” she asked in Scottish Gaelic.
“This device would pick up either, but it’s definitely a bug.” He lowered the instrument to scan the small space with his gaze.
An icy finger traced down her spine. Someone had been busy today while they met with Shuang. Declan had assured her that the security measures taken with the door and windows would ensure that no one could enter without them being alerted. Which made her wonder how a listening device had been planted.
Declan moved toward the ancient stove and peered above it. Going to his side the first thing Eve noticed was the light sprinkling of plaster dust on the appliance. Raising her gaze she saw a small dime sized spot she might have thought was a water hole in the wall a few feet above the stove.
“How did they get in?”
“They didn’t.” She followed him to the door, which he unlocked and they moved into the hallway. Saw the electrical plate screwed into the wall in a spot that would match up with the bug they’d found. White plaster dust on the floor was as telling as a shout.
Declan surprised her by heading back into the apartment. Trailing after him, she shut the door behind her and relocked it. Somehow securing the multiple locks no longer made her feel safe. “Aren’t you going to remove it?”
“Finding it gives us the advantage.” He returned the surveillance detection device to the closet shelf. “It’s doubtful the listener speaks our language, so there’s no danger of us giving anything away. And the detector has jamming capabilities if there’s ever a time we need more privacy.” His grin was just a bit ruthless. “Our new business partner doesn’t trust us, it seems. Which means she’s smart and careful. So are we.”
His words had a familiar adrenaline punching through Eve’s trepidation. The game of cat and mouse had begun. And from the looks of Declan’s smile he was looking forward to the challenge. The recognition had her feeling a sort of affinity with the man. Because she was more than ready start the assignment that would guarantee Royce Raiker’s safety.
_______
The property boasted two attached garages, each large enough to house half a dozen vehicles. Adam had deliberately left the one on the far end of the house empty, and Jaid had soon learned why when a truck full of lumber had arrived shortly after they had. The mini half pipe ramp had taken less than a day to construct, but she’d often thought the structure had saved her—and Royce’s—sanity numerous times over the past weeks.
She watched him
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