Once Upon a Dream Read Online Free PDF Page B

you took this new case.”
    “As a favor to a friend. It’s minor. A retrieval of information rather than a person.”
    She nodded. “Which is why I thought we were changing focus to become a private investigation service. It’s brilliant, if you think about it.”
    “I don’t want to think about it. I want to retire.” He sat behind his desk and picked up the file she’d compiled. Trudy was exceptional at her job. She had a way of getting information that amazed even him. They’d been a good team.
    One half of the team glared at him relentlessly. He pretended to be engrossed in the file, but he felt her stare like a sharp dagger between his ribs.
    “I can’t believe you’re doing this to us,” she finally said.
    “I’m not doing anything,” he mumbled, feeling an odd pang. It took him a moment to realize it was guilt. He looked up, angry. “I’m pensioning you with enough money that you never need to work again. I don’t understand why you’re so upset.”
    “Because what am I going to do?” The chain wrapped around her wrist clanked as she threw her hand in the air. “I back a mercenary. We extract people for a living. I arrange for false IDs and weapons that can’t be traced. I infiltrate unhackable computer systems. Who’ll hire a person with those skills?”
    “The KGB?” he offered.
    “I don’t want to defect,” she said succinctly, hands on her hips. Giving him the evil eye, she turned on her heels and stalked from his office.
    He winced as she slammed his office door. That could have gone worse, he supposed.
    Compartmentalizing his employee’s dissatisfaction, he went over her files, hoping she’d found something in her search through Ryan Huber’s life, but he was either innocent or really good at covering his tracks. Jon bet on the latter—if Bradley suspected the man enough to bring Jon in on the case, the man was crooked.
    He downloaded the file onto his phone, checked to make sure it was all intact, and changed into his disguise. Finally, when he couldn’t avoid it any longer, he braved Trudy’s ire by walking through the reception.
    She had her headphones on, listening to something that was loud and abrasive even from his standpoint. He waved to her, but she pretended to ignore him.
    It was just as well. He was doing her a favor by getting her out of this business. One day she’d thank him.
    Jon arrived at Peregrine Investments for his appointment with Huber late enough to show casual disregard for time without being disrespectful. He walked in and smiled wide at the receptionist.
    “Hey, baby. I’m here for Ryan Huber,” he said, playing up the American accent. He figured it was the most appropriate voice for his character: a nouveau riche man in his prime with more money than he knew what to do with. To complete the image, he wore torn jeans, a faded T-shirt, and a linen coat, all high-dollar items to make him look like he had a lot of money. “My name is Jon Lincoln.”
    She flushed, stammering a moment before batting her eyes and replying. “Yes, sir. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
    “Aren’t you sweet?” He winked at her and strutted to a chair. Reclining, he propped an ankle on his knee and tapped his fingers against his leg. She hadn’t recognized him from the day before, but then he hadn’t expected her to.
    The receptionist stood and sashayed toward him. Jon could tell it wasn’t her usual manner of walking because her gait looked slightly awkward. He had the urge to warn her to stay far away from men like him, but that wasn’t the role he was playing now, so he gave her an appreciative, wolfish grin.
    Her cheeks flushed and her finger fidgeted at the hem of her shirt. “This way, Mr. Lincoln.”
    “After you.” He gestured to her and stood slowly, making sure she caught him looking at her ass. Also part of his cover. Normally he didn’t ogle women.
    For some reason, Ryan Huber’s fiancée came to mind, but she didn’t count. That was