Double Vision (Unknown Identities #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

will." He hesitated, running his fingertips along the embossed business card looped to the gift bag handle. "The host said I can bring a date. On the off-chance you don't have anything better to do tonight, Miss Vaccaro."
    "That's…" Selena didn't know quite what to say.
    "Forward, I know, but New York feels like a forward kind of city."
    "Yes, it is." She smiled. "But I have to say no. I have other plans tonight."
    "Sure. I understand." He took the bag and headed for the door. "You'll still come by for lunch, right? I haven't scared you off?"
    If only he was the most scary thing in her world. "Of course not. Happy holidays, Mr…?"
    "Call me Adam."
    "Okay. Have a very Merry Christmas, Adam."
    " You do the same."
     

Chapter Three
     
    In the abandoned loft across the street from Vaccaro's showroom, Adam stared at the mirror over the sink, trying to see what she'd been talking about with his eyes. They looked the same to him no matter what fabric he held near his face.
    He tossed the tie and the two t-shirts aside and returned to the j ob he was supposed to be doing. Watching for her to make contact with Galloway. As promised, Messenger had sent more of the dossier UI had gathered on Vaccaro, but not even Adam's experienced eye could pinpoint a motive to associate with the slippery traitor.
    After he'd left her showroom, Vaccaro had put the closed sign out, but she didn't leave. According to the ghost he had on her computer, she'd been clearing out her email. She sent replies to designers, a one-liner to a friend confirming her plans to meet up for the evening, and yet another email to one of her many cousins asking about the family gathering on Christmas Day.
    He couldn't imagine what that gathering would look like. From his observations, Vaccaro's extended family enjoyed spending time together and took care of each other. Two more reasons why her connection to Galloway didn't fit the pattern or profile.
    "What does he have on you?" Adam asked aloud, his gaze on the showroom window.
    The biggest problem Adam could see was covering his ass while he tailed her tonight. Galloway's bold face to face with Vaccaro without bothering with an alias meant the man didn't expect to be in town long.
    Adam's instincts were telling him the exchange was going down tonight. Ideas rolled through his mind as he watched the foot traffic on the street below.
    He ran through the more practical options first, sorting out most likely actions and reactions to his presence if he did get caught tailing her. He could claim it was a coincidence at her friend's party, that he'd been invited out of pity. Bumping into her on the subway coming or going was another option, though she'd probably take cabs tonight.
    Why couldn't the recovery be somewhere simple like a greedy diplomat's hotel room? And when had he become such a prima donna that the challenge of the unknown didn't excite him?
    When it was his end goal on the line. He wanted the data for Messenger, but he wanted Galloway to himself. No way he'd let that bastard slip through his fingers.
    The case could be worse than following a beautiful woman around the city. His enhanced vision would provide better back up than any partner but he practiced a few plausible excuses to use if she did catch him on her tail.
    Adam turned his attention toward the people on the street. Galloway didn't shirk on the details when he was invested. Someone down there was on his payroll. While Adam's brain wanted to lock onto every separate detail, he narrowed his focus to those who didn't fit in.
    He had a feel for the rhythm of the neighborhood now and the general pattern of those who belonged here. And those who tried to look like they belonged, he thought with an inner smile as a tall man moving with a lethal stride emerged from the Subway stairwell.
    After years of trial and error, fine-tuning and practice, applying his enhanced thermal vision was almost as easy as blinking. He tuned in, looking for cool spots on the