“Siron has forbidden Christy from doing anything. If she were to find out…” Halluis interrupted Ace.
“We have no choice. This is not something the three of us could ever hope to do on our own. We need Division’s backing on this.”
“That’s easy for you to say when it’s not your prancing feathers on the chopping block.”
“But it is and I’m willing to put them there. Christy is onto something, and I say we do it right or don’t do it at all. I believe in the information you’ve found, Christy. We could totally do this, if we had the right resources. We need bugs. We need trackers. We need people to listen to the bugs, and a team ready to move when we uncover where the drive is. I hate to admit it, but we are over our heads on this one.”
I stared at them, my mind running on fast forward. “I see what you’re saying, but I still don’t know if it’s the right move to bring Siron in on this.” What would happen if they failed again? Even if they were right, would she listen?
“It’s really Christy’s call, Halluis. It’s her butt on the line.”
As much as I didn’t want it to be, Halluis was right. I was going to have to tuck tail and go to Siron. “Convincing Siron to listen will be a mission in and of itself, but we can’t lose that drive now. Yes. We go to Siron. It’s the only way to have what we need to get the drive before it’s sold to the highest bidder.”
“We have four days, right?” Halluis said.
“Less than four days. The drive will be sold on the fourth day.”
“Listen,” I said. “I’m going to go in to talk to her alone. I don’t want you two anywhere near when I do.”
“Pshhh!” Ace said. “Screw that. We’re going to go in as a team. And, as you both know, we are the three greatest minds to hit the streets of Paris and can handle one little old Division head.”
“We’re in serious trouble if we can’t.”
Ace glared at Halluis, who loved to add skepticism to every conversation. “I guarantee Siron is a bit panicked right now because she’s going to have to report to Central soon and she doesn’t want to do that without something to show. She will be happy about a solid lead. We won’t have to tell her everything, just a little truth and a little lie. She’ll kick and scream, but in the end, she’ll give in because she has nothing else. Soon she’ll discover Christy should be commended for what she’s accomplished on her own.”
Jeremy flashed through my mind. I still hadn’t heard from him. He would have been sick with worry knowing what I’d been doing.
“We can convince her!”
I loved that Ace was always so optimistic.
Chapter 10
Bright and early the next morning, Siron walked into the conference room. When she saw me, her hands went to her hips and she turned back toward Halluis and Ace, who followed her in. “Tell me I’m not seeing what I think I’m seeing. Tell me this isn’t the emergency.”
Halluis said, “Hear us out.”
“So, it’s ‘us’, is it?” Siron’s neck was red. “I hope you’re ready to join Christy on leave.”
Ace shut the door and I saw an eye roll. Halluis gestured to Siron to go further into the room. “You are going to love what you hear.” He was trying hard to make the atmosphere relaxed. She sighed, but walked to the head of the table, staring at me on the opposite side. Once there, she said, “You have two minutes. Speak.”
I glanced at the boys and they both gave me a slight nod. “Last Tuesday, I left the apartment to get food and stumbled onto something. I saw the pickpocket who stole my bag that had the drive in it.”
Siron’s eyes rounded briefly and then narrowed. “You were just out getting something to eat?” The derision in her tone was cold as ice. “So you contacted your team. The one I told you to stay away from?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “Anyway. The pickpocket was there, and I thought I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by.” I didn’t pause to give Siron a chance to say anything else. “He led me to the person above him and I was able to find out that the drive is still in play and I know who has it.”
Siron bit the inside of her cheek, eyes narrowing further as she stared at a spot on the dark mahogany table for several beats. Her head popped up and she stared at me hard. “You did this without sanction. Without protection or backup?”
I nodded.
“You know where the drive is?” Siron had finally digested what I’d told her.
“Not exactly. But, I know who has it.”
She turned a skeptical eye on the guys and then peered back at me. “Tell me more.”
“Kamal is the man who has the drive. He’s a middleman of sorts. We hit upon some major luck because his drive buyer has been out of town and won’t be back for four more days. Kamal has been collecting and saving the drives to sell him on his return.”
“I don’t understand. Are you saying you don’t have the drive?”
“No. I’ve checked Kamal’s apartment and it isn’t there, but it is somewhere he thinks is safe.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t retrieve them before coming here today.”
I swallowed hard. “That’s actually what I was hoping to do, but things have changed.”
“Now the bomb drops.” Siron sighed.
“Someone is actively searching for the drive and has upped the bounty on any drives stolen for the next week. We can’t let this buyer get the drive before we do. In order to do that, I need Division’s help.” I wanted to say I was sorry I’d let her down before, but I didn’t want her to think about it if she hadn’t already.
“Impulsive girl,” Siron said. “You should have come to me the second you
