Read Online Operation Proof of Life by Misty Evans - Free Book Online Page A

She shook her head. “If I thought I could save that little girl, Con, I’d have taken the assignment in a heartbeat, but it would have been for Ella, not Michael.”
    He nodded and left the doorway. Reappeared a moment later. “Want me to pick up some strawberry pie for tonight?”
    Julia smiled at him, crossing the room to kiss his lips. “I’d love some.”
    He smiled back and dipped his head for another kiss. “You okay?”
    “I didn’t get enough sleep last night, but I’m fine.”
    “No queasiness? Dizziness? You don’t have Zara’s flu bug?”
    Julia shook her head, again remembering her very sick friend. “I should stop back by the hospital after the ceremony. You should track down Lawson and let him know Zara’s in the hospital. They won’t let her use her cell, and he may be trying to reach her.”
    “I’ll let him know.”
    They kissed again, and as Con left the apartment, Julia jumped in the shower. No matter how foolish it was, she was going after Brigit Kent like a flea after a dog.

Chapter Nine
    Washington D.C.
    Brigit sank into the cushy backseat of the limo and accepted a bottle of water from Truman. She kicked off the pumps, flexed her toes and took a sip of water. Under her clothes, she trembled.
    Truman eyed her with interest, ending a phone call and removing the Bluetooth from his ear. “Did the Great and Mighty Oz grab your ass or something? You look like you’re going to throw a whitey.”
    The way her stomach churned, she just might throw up. Sliding down even further into the leather, Brigit pushed the button to close the motorized privacy panel between them and the chauffeur, giving Truman a warning glance. The last thing she needed was a scandal involving the president of the United States bringing her into the spotlight. “This sucks the big one, as you always say.”
    “Literally? You gave the big guy head?”
    As an assistant, Truman’s organizational skills and willingness to abide by her confidentiality protocol on all cases were extraordinary. His attitude and snarkiness when he was alone with her, however, was always a test of her patience. “Don’t be crude. I was referring to the situation with the Penningtons and the president.”
    “You have to take the kidnapping out of the picture. It’s making you emo.”
    “Emo?”
    “Emotional. Whiny. ” He pushed buttons on his phone and replaced the earpiece. “I sent today’s itinerary to your crackberry. We’ll hit the office first for a meeting with Roz, then do the O’Bern dedication and reception. At two, you’re sitting in on the Ethics Committee hearing at the Capitol.”
    Brigit held up a hand. “The O’Bern dedication?”
    “Cormac O’Bern. Poet laureate and famed peace monger?” Truman shuffled in his man bag and brought out a book. Dreams of Peace by Cormac O’Bern. “There’s a dedication and outside reception at the Randolph library today. Your invitation came while you were in London. I RSVP’d for you and a friend. I’m the friend, by the way. Total Cormy cult member. Hope you don’t mind.”
    She reached out for the book, flipped through the pages absently. Cormac O’Bern was in town. Like Tetris blocks dropping into a grid to form a straight row, Ella’s kidnapping and Tory’s appearance snapped into the ah-ha grid in Brigit’s mind. Peter and Cormac, the inseparable troublemakers. Everything became so clear.
    She shut the book with a snap. “Reschedule the meeting with Roz. I need to go home and change my clothes.”
    Truman’s call must have gone through, because he greeted the person on the other end before covering the mouthpiece and frowning at her. “You have to wear the prison guard suit all day. No exceptions.”
    He returned to his call. Nausea cramped her stomach. Again, her brain ran through the past twenty-four hours and a row of blocks formed, flashed and blinked out. She buzzed the chauffeur. “Change of plans. Take me back to my loft.”
    Truman threw his hands up