I shrugged. “Why not? We’re about to go home. Might as well get to know each other.” Bart chuckled at that.
“I have a daughter, Briana,” Brown answered. “She’s thirteen. Lives in Virginia with her mother. I don’t see her much.”
“Why not?”
He raised an eyebrow and gestured around him at the hotel room. “Because of the job.”
“Where do you live?” When I imagined Brown’s home, it looked like his suite at the Eagle’s Nest. “And you, Bart?”
“You listening?” Brown’s words were harsh, but his tone was gentle. “Wherever the job is. I’m here, or I’m in D.C. Just last year I was in London, Singapore, Rio, and Reykjavik.”
My face crinkled. “Where’s that?”
Brown’s eyes narrowed then, like he couldn’t believe I asked that. “It’s the capital of Iceland.”
“Iceland? What was the job?”
“Six-week film shoot.”
“Who with?”
“Mason Ford.”
“Seriously?” My voice lifted. Mason was a hottest-of-the-hot new Hollywood actor.
“Oh, yeah, glamorous job. Freezing my ass off outside his trailer as a steady stream of women visited, all while being treated like the hired help.” He made a scornful noise, and Bart nodded his understanding. “Beautiful country though.”
“What will you do next?” I asked.
He sighed. “Take a little time off. Spend time with Bri. Wait for the next assignment.”
“What about you, Bart?” I asked.
“I live outside London, to answer your first question. No family.”
Brown snorted. “His babies are vintage luxury cars he keeps in a custom-made barn on his property. Impressive place.”
“When I’m home, I like to relax. Get away from people,” Bart said.
I thought about it. Xene was single, too, no children. I hadn’t bothered to wonder why that was before.
“Do you guys get tired of the life?” I asked.
Bart shrugged. My chief fixed me with a look. “Yeah, sometimes. But this is what we do. This is us. You ready to be us in a few years, Green? Still solidly single? Or divorced with a kid who’s given up on counting on you to be there?”
He was challenging me, but his question was honest. I pulled at a thread in the hem of my shirt. I might want a family and all that someday, but I had plenty of time to think about it. Anyway, my life didn’t have to go the way Brown’s had. Maybe he was a crappy husband and father. Except I didn’t think he would be.
“I don’t know, Chief. I’m just trying not to screw up this job first.”
He nodded. “Good plan.” His phone buzzed; he picked it up and eyed me. “The clients want to see us.”
Sweat gathered under my arms as Brown and I followed the man down to the Venkatesans’ suite where the guard let us in with a keycard. Now that I had a chance to study it, the sitting room of this suite looked like Brown’s, only nicer. Everything was leather and wood. A couple of flower displays preened on tables, and a sizable balcony overlooked the mountain. SSA didn’t skimp, but their suite was another level.
Veena slumped between her parents on the couch. Her eyes were puffy, and she clutched a massive wad of tissues in her hand. She sniffed every few seconds and stared at her feet. I didn’t know what had happened in here, but it couldn’t have been good.
“Mr. Brown, Ms. Rossi, please have a seat.” Ms. Venkatesan motioned us to a pair of club chairs. Her face was calm, and her hands rested in her lap. Veena’s father didn’t look quite so put together. His hair stood on end like he’d been dragging a hand through it repeatedly.
“The . . . events today frightened us, as you might imagine,” Ms. Venkatesan said.
Brown and I nodded. You could say that.
“We were having our meal, enjoying being with Veena again, when the security person ran to the table to say she was gone.” Tears sprang to her eyes, and she paused. Veena took her mother’s hand.
The Venkatesans were pulling the plug—no question. Veena wouldn’t put her parents through more of this. Her mother smiled at her and then looked at me. “Thank you, Nicole. Thank you for finding her and for saving her from those . . . people.”
I glanced at Veena, ashamed. She must not have told them that I left her standing alone when the shooting started.
“We thought our security team would be able to protect Veena and us sufficiently.” She glanced coolly toward one of the men.
For a second, Brown looked like he wanted to pile on the guy. Instead, he demurred. “The abduction was well planned. They took advantage of the storm and the road closure.”
“But Nic was brilliant.” Veena’s voice was raw.
I sent a grateful smile her way, but her praise wouldn’t matter. I knew what was coming from her parents.
Mr. Venkatesan spoke to Brown. “We were told the highway patrol lost track of the kidnappers’ vehicle.”
He nodded with thin lips.
“Then her mother and I would like Veena to come home with us today. We don’t want her exposed to this dangerous situation for another moment.” Mr. Venkatesan’s voice thickened. “Her safety is most important. She has learned to manage the risks of snowboarding, but she cannot control this.”
“I understand,” Brown said. “Your daughter’s safety has been paramount for the past month, but these people are willing to take incredible risks. Your fears are justified.”
Veena made a pitiful sound. Much as I hated to, I jumped in, ignoring the sadness pressing on my chest. I was about to put myself out of a job.
“He’s right, Veena. After what happened today, you can’t pretend this isn’t incredibly dangerous.”
“I know it is.” She crossed her arms and wouldn’t look at me.
I didn’t want to make her angry, but the girl sometimes had a warped sense of risk. That must happen naturally when you strap yourself to a board and fly forty feet above a wall of ice on the regular.
“We’ve discussed this, beta. We only want you to be safe,” Mr. Venkatesan said.
Veena’s voice was barely a whisper as she spoke through tears. “What good
