Alex bent over the lockbox at the door, not in any particular hurry. Jackson and Lena laughed as they came up the street arm-in-arm behind him, posing as a young couple out too late. Alex wasn’t worried about this stretch of their journey. They’d already made it through the worst of the public streets without any attention. Fortunately, the “new prosperity” Councilor Three bandied about in his speeches meant it was no longer uncommon for young people to be out at obscene hours.
They turned into the alley. He waited inside the entry. As soon as they joined him, Jackson dropped her hand like it had burned him. She rolled her eyes as she passed Alex, leaving the two men together in the small space. He was tempted to comment, but Jackson had done the job. Anyone who had been paying attention would have believed they were a young couple drunk on love.
“Let me get her settled in then I’ll take you around through the gates so you can check in proper.”
Jackson gave him a restrained nod. No more babysitting. Jackson was now Agent Lee.
Alex entered the small living area as Lena returned from the tiny hallway at the back which held the entrances to the three tiny sleeping areas and one bathroom. He gave her a grimace of apology, knowing she’d be stuck here for the week. “It’s small.”
She laughed. “It’s positively palatial compared to the last one. And the kitchen is ‘wow.’”
He nodded and looked over at the kitchen opening on the left of the living area. Bigger than the main area, it had broad counters, a wide, energy-sucking refrigerator, and an old-style stove. Even the sink was wide and roomy.
“The kitchen is the point,” he told her. “You’re going to be spending most of the next week learning how to cook Three’s favorite meals from memory.”
“I—what? Why?”
“Because that’s your cover.”
“I’m a cook?”
He wasn’t sure her face could be any more doubtful. He wished he’d bothered to ask if she could cook. He’d assumed, since she lived alone, she could. She’d have to be a fast learner. Done was done.
Instead of voicing his concerns, he nodded. “You are a cook. It was the easiest placement and the best way to keep you out of Three’s sight. He has very specific tastes. He takes a chef and one assistant from his favorite restaurant for himself and his senior staff. You are the sous chef. This keeps you out of view, for the most part. Three is the only one who can ID you concretely—Hernandez is dead, Lucas is gone, and no one else got significant face time.”
“What about the guards who were in the room? The ones who brought my Mom? They left, but they were in there for a little while.”
“They’re not an issue.”
She raised her brows at the stern certainty, but she let it stand. “And the chef? He’s okay with this?”
He felt satisfaction and knew it reflected in his smile. “The chef is absolutely okay with this. In fact, I’d say he’s eager to start.”
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What did you do?”
Alex shrugged. “I didn’t do anything.” He changed the subject, gesturing down the small hallway. “You have your pick of the bedrooms. Jackson will be in temporary Agent housing because he’s official now. My people will be drifting in to leave status updates. Use them to give you feedback on the cooking.” He grinned. “We’ll have your official papers by Thursday, and you’ll show up for inspection and placement on Friday with everyone else. It’ll be a madhouse. Three doesn’t travel to Council small.”
She had all the information she needed. He should go. Instead, he paced into the kitchen and opened and closed the pantry and the refrigerator doors, inspecting the contents. Everything was in its place and fully stocked. Of course it was.
Her recipe book rested on the counter. He slid it toward himself to flip through it. “I don’t have to tell you to stay put and work your ass off to learn these recipes, do I?”
“No.” She laughed. “Other than Ace, there’s no reason for me to want to leave.”
“Ace is gone.” He closed the book and handed it to her. “I checked to see if he could keep you company, but he was prepping for his own trip out. He left this morning with the trade caravan. They head in early to be set up and ready for all the Council households and their C-notes. It’s quite the experience.”
She nodded, obviously not surprised. She flipped the pages of the book, but seemed distracted.
Alex waited.
She opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it.
“What? Lena, speak up. I need to be confident we have everything dealt with before I leave you alone.”
“I would like to see Danny, if it’s possible?”
Her brother. Alex’s heart fell. He’d been afraid she’d ask for him. “It’s not,” he told her. “In fact, it would be a very bad idea.”
She looked up at him, eyes enormous and ridiculously green, and she shook her head imploringly.
He made himself go on. “He’s not interested in seeing you.” He wanted to be as gentle as possible, but he needed to be thorough.