Mission: Out of Control Read Online Free PDF Page A

them…
    Brody’s gaze went to his plate. Finally, he picked up his fork. “Yes, sir.”
    Hmm. The silence after his words had even Ronie clinking her plate with her fork, dividing her asparagus into chunks.
    Outside, twilight had descended, shaggy fir trees shifting shadows into the yard, and the cicadas had come out, buzzing in the night. Ronie longed to push away from the table and escape outside into the sultry, thick air, slip off her shoes, feel her toes in the cool grass. If she listened hard, perhaps she’d hear laughter from the playhouse on the far edge of the yard, maybe even see Savannah beckoning to her from the swing set.
    Not the Savannah that peered down upon them from the oil on the wall behind her in the dining room, but the one with long brown hair, so soft for braiding, the one who knew all the voices to Little Women.
    â€œSo, I suppose you visited a lot of interesting places in the military?” Ellie to the rescue, still trying to pawn off the rolls.
    â€œYes, ma’am.” Brody accepted another roll, set it next to his already cut and buttered one. What, was he going to slip it into his pocket for later?
    â€œHave you seen action?”
    â€œOh, Ellie, don’t ask him that.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Brody said, again that strange glance down at his dinner. The entire affair felt not unlike a KGB interrogation. They just needed the bright lights and the toothpicks. For a second, Ronie had the urge to rescue him.
    Thankfully, it passed.
    â€œMr. Wickham’s offices are in downtown Prague,Ellie.” The senator turned to Brody. “Beautiful city, Prague. Went there on my twenty-fifth anniversary, with my wife.”
    Ellie looked over at him with a smile, not a hint of warmth in her eyes. “Yes. Very beautiful.”
    Her father had finished off his bourbon and switched to merlot. He swished his wine by the stem of the glass. “I saw that you worked for Hans Brumegaarden. Something about a birthday party, and Snow White?”
    Was that a blush on Wickham’s face? Maybe, but then it vanished and he caught Ronie’s eye, straight on. “Yes. Our security firm was asked to dress the part while protecting Gretchen Brumegaarden during her Disney-themed birthday party. I was a dwarf. I’ll do anything to keep a client safe. Even if she is five years old and dressed up in some crazy costume.”
    What? No, he didn’t just call her a five-year-old, did he? Her mouth opened. Oh, she so had words for him. But no, she was a Wagner. She’d keep it to herself.
    At least tonight.
    â€œI need some air.” She pushed away from the table. “Thank you for dinner. I’ll see you all in the morning.”
    Brody rose from the table. The senator stayed seated. Ellie put out her hand, catching her arm. “Veronica—”
    â€œIt’s Ronie, Mom. My friends call me Ronie. Or, if you want, Vonya would work, too.” She pulled away and glanced at the Boy Scout. “The tour starts in a week. Try to stay out of my hair until then.”
    She was turning away when she heard him mutter, “Which hair?”
    And oh, she shouldn’t have, but she couldn’t stopherself. In fact, yes, she turned right about five years old as she picked up one of the rolls and hurled it across the table, right at his smug little kisser.
    â€œVeronica!”
    He caught it with one hand.
    Smiled.
    Nodded.
    Game on.
    Fine. If that was how he wanted it. She turned, ignoring her mother’s hand as it tried to catch her.
    The moon had lifted above the trees, a spotlight in the sky, skimming over the cool grass. She toed off her sandals, sifting the grass through her feet as she treaded over to the swing set.
    She sat on it. Heard the voices of the past.
    â€œWhen I grow up, I’m going to be a famous actress.” Savannah’s voice filtered from the yellow playhouse, its windows like eyes, dark and empty. “I’ll