was 3:00 a.m. in Washington, D.C., but Callie knew that Gillian would be anxious to hear about the information she possessed about the Ghost.
“Can you get away?” Gillian asked.
She sounded very tired, but fatigue came with the job. “I only have a moment. We’re getting ready to fly back to Napa. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”
“I’m sorry about that. I’ve been on the phone with the DEA,” Gillian said.
“I have much more pressing news.”
“Gina, I’ll take the bags downstairs and check out. We still have enough time for you to talk to your sister,” Jammer said as the bellboy rapped on the door.
She chatted about Amsterdam as the bellboy efficiently stacked their bags on the trolley. He and Jammer left the room.
“Okay, he’s gone. You’ll never guess who Jammer really is.”
“I hate to steal your thunder, but I already know he’s the Ghost.”
Callie paused in pulling on a short black boot. “What? How is that possible? I just found out last night, and the only other two people in the room were Joost Roorback and Dieter Fromme.”
“Yes, that is true, but the DEA director called me himself. They had an agent in the organization who overheard.”
She pulled on the other boot. “Is that going to be a problem for us?”
“No, but you can’t arrest him until the Fuentes deal is done. The DEA has an operation going and they don’t want to jeopardize the agent they have in the field.”
“So we have to back off.”
“Don’t worry, the DEA director promised me there would be enough of the Ghost to go around. Just don’t lose him. Stick to him like a second skin.”
Callie smiled at Gillian’s words. Her boss had no idea how close Callie was to the Ghost.
“Oh, and, Callie, watch out. The Ghost is notorious for eliminating anyone who knows his identity. Roorback and Fromme have disappeared.”
“What?” Callie sank down on the unmade bed, her heart pounding.
“Yup, off the face of the earth. It takes some doing to make people disappear without a trace. I don’t want to lose one of my best agents. If it gets hot, abort and return to D.C. Let the DEA take over.”
Callie stiffened. “I don’t think so. I have lost this guy too many times to let someone else nab him.”
Gillian chuckled at Callie’s stiff tone. “I’m not going to lie and tell you this wouldn’t be a feather in Watchdog’s cap. But, Callie, I’m serious. Protect yourself first.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t get smart with me,” Gillian said, and added quietly, “Be careful.”
“I didn’t take the job to be careful, Gillian, but I won’t be reckless, either.” It was way too late for that, anyway. That advice would have served her much better if she’d heeded it the first time she’d ever laid eyes on Jammer, the sinfully sexy bastard.
She exited the hotel room and met Jammer in the lobby.
“Did you have a nice chat with your sister?” Jammer asked as she came abreast of him.
“Yes, I did,” Callie replied, easily letting the lie roll off her tongue. She couldn’t stop thinking about Joost and Dieter. Had he killed them to keep them quiet? It was hard to reconcile this man with the reputation. There was something about him that suggested he wasn’t a cold-blooded killer, but what had happened to those two thugs?
He checked the slim Rolex on his tanned wrist. “She’s up at 3:00 a.m.?”
Was there suspicion in his voice? “Yes, she’s a party girl. Doesn’t get to bed sometimes until dawn.”
Jammer nodded. With his hand settled comfortably against the middle of her back, he ushered her out of the hotel and into the waiting cab.
“So what is the next step? When do you deliver?”
“Not for a few more days. Thanks to you and Roorback, I’m ahead of schedule.”
The airport was as crowded as she suspected, so it took them quite a bit of time to get through customs and security.
Three flights and seventeen and a half travel hours later they landed in San Francisco. Shortly after that, they were back at Jammer’s Napa Valley winery.
Jammer dropped the luggage at the front door, then grabbed their toiletry cases and her hand. “Time to get some sleep,” he said with a yawn.
“Really?” she inquired.
“Yes, sleep. We’re both exhausted. I’ll need to be fresh for the harvesting that’s going on here. I have details to handle regarding the shipment for Fuentes and travel arrangements for our trip to Colombia.” He pulled her forward.
“I’m all for some rest. I’m beat.”
“Good.”
As they climbed the stairs, Callie asked, “So did you have Joost and Dieter killed?” She had to ask. It had been on her mind the whole trip back to California.
Everything about him went utterly still for a split second, as if her question had literally stopped him cold. But he recovered so quickly, Callie almost convinced herself she had imagined the response. He turned to look at her. “How did you hear about that so soon?”
“It’s a natural assumption. I know how you operate, Jammer. Everyone does. Those who find out the Ghost’s identity quickly disappear.”
“I did what was necessary to protect my alter ego. The Ghost needs to remain a secret. It’s the way it works.”
“Why is that?”
“For one, it keeps me out of prison. You can’t arrest someone who doesn’t exist. For another, it’s also very difficult to find someone who doesn’t exist. Jammer is a good cover. I’m just the Ghost’s muscle. No one usually pays me much attention.”
“I think it’s a brilliant idea. Sure had me fooled.” She scooted past him on the stairs, remembering where his room was.
“I can’t have anyone knowing who I really am.” He caught up to her and followed closely as they moved down the hall.
She turned to him, her tone serious. “Who are you?”
He yawned again and grinned at her, his smile bright in the dimness. “A tired man.”
She let him duck the question, because soon enough he was going to have to reveal who he really was. When she snapped handcuffs around his wrists. Confusing and conflicting emotions twisted and writhed in her chest, the pressure building like a steam engine.
“I know who the Ghost is. What are you going to do about me?” she asked, poking him in the chest. Outside they heard thunder rumble.
They hadn’t quite made it to the bedroom and Jammer hadn’t had a chance to turn on a light. The only illumination came from the moon, which was quickly getting swallowed up by clouds outside the wide windows. He suddenly pushed her up against the wall.
His gaze, hot and magnetic, caught her, his dark eyes glittering. “I don’t think you’re going to tell anyone my secret.”
Callie looked up into his face and felt her heart break. She’d already told her boss he was the Ghost. Already breached his trust. But, she rationalized, Callie wasn’t Gina Callahan and she wasn’t an arms dealer. She also wasn’t deeply, hopelessly, in love with the Ghost. All she had to do was repeat that to herself over and over again until it sank in.
“Why wouldn’t I tell anyone?”
Lightning flashed in the distance, casting his hard, handsome face in silver. “Because you’re not a blabbermouth, and you will keep the secret because it’s to your advantage. Now you have some leverage over me.”
“Do I?”
