Page 77 of Jacqueline's Quest
"And ruin my reputation in the industry?" she scoffed. "No, sorry. I can't help you, even if Uranium is involved. For what it's worth, I'd run in the opposite direction. Anyone willing to buy or sell Uranium on the black market is fucked in the head. They know what will happen when the element is put into the wrong hands."
“Who said anything about ruining your rep?” He tilted his head, not willing to agree with her assessment of the situation. He knew it too. It was what made the job all the more dangerous. “Why can’t we keep your involvement with me quiet?”
She finished her drink and stood. “No. You don’t know how to keep your mouth shut. It’s why I’ve gone off the grid and started working for the dark sites.”
He didn’t understand. He never talked about her job or anything he saw. Plus, they’d only been together in Ireland. How the fuck could he possibly be the reason she stepped away from her government jobs? “You’re not making any sense.”
“Sure. Thanks for the drink and catch up, Schoell.” She started away from him.
“Wait.” He grabbed her hand, almost tripping over his two feet. “We can make this work Maggie. I need your help. I swear. You have connections even I don’t have within R.O.O.T.” He grabbed the folder and snatched one of the pages out of it and wrote his number on the empty corner of the paper. “Here, take this.” He ripped the piece off and handed it to her. “It’s my number. Please take a couple of days to reconsider my offer. I’ll be in Colombia doing a follow up with the President’s staff and asking questions.”
She blew out a breath. “You were always a persistent asshole.”
“Yes, but it’s one of my endearing qualities.” He grinned.
“Now, you’re pushing your luck.” She turned from him. “Stay out of the dark web. There are people still looking for you.”
Alex swallowed hard. “You’re joking, right?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “I never joke about a job.”
As she strode away from Alex, he collapsed onto the couch and groaned. How had he allowed her to get under his skin? He knew there was a chance there was still a contract out for his head, but in the last ten years, no one had come at him, so he pushed it aside—until now.Son of a bitch. I guess I deserve it after sticking my neck out for her.
Alex finished off his beer and headed out. By the morning, he’d be on a plane to Bogota. What he didn’t tell Maggie was that he’d inserted into the President’s security detail. As an EOD and IED expert, he had skills to keep the President alive and safe. His skills were sought after and taking the job meant being exactly where he needed to be in case someone tried to take out the President again.
When he stood, he stared off at the door where Maggie had exited. There had to be some way to convince her to join him. How or what would do the trick, he wasn’t sure, but without her, his job would be ten times harder.
Damn it, Maggie. Help this old dog hunt.
