True Honor Read Online Free PDF Page A

spun the combination, retrieving the phone inside. “There’s a medical kit in the suitcase.” She dialed and waited for the security scrambling at both ends to synchronize the call.
    Sam opened the suitcase and raised an eyebrow as he held up a comic book by two fingers. She smiled at him.
    “Gabriel Arneau please.”
    Sam found the medical kit and opened it on the bed. He tore open two of the large sterile bandage packets and found tape.
    “Darcy, where have you been? I’ve been pacing!”
    The punch of her partner’s words was enough to cost her some of her hearing. “Sergey was late.” She sucked in her breath as her dress caught on the cut. “Gabe, here, talk to Sam. I’m bleeding all over the carpet. I need to change.”
    “What do you mean you’re—?”
    She tossed the phone toward Sam and walked into the bathroom, taking the bandages and the top layer of clothes from the suitcase with her.
    “Thanks a lot, Darcy,” Sam called after her. “Who’s this?”
    Darcy left them to their conversation. Sam and Gabriel could sort it out.
    She closed the bathroom door behind her and turned on the heat lamp above to quickly warm the room. The dress was ruined. She eased it off, blinking away tears. She held her breath as she studied the cut across her ribs, cleaned it, and firmly taped down the bandages. So much for a peaceful return to the field. She leaned against the counter when she was done, gripping the marble edge. Events were catching up with her.
    Lord, thanks for saving my life. She wanted to go to heaven someday, but not tonight. She wiped her eyes and had the odd desire to laugh at the unexpected relief she felt. She’d been anticipating someone trying to kill her for so long that she was almost grateful that there was something real to finally deal with.
    The last thing I feel like doing is forgiving Sergey, but I’ll give You the benefit of the doubt that he’s redeemable. Forgive him, Lord, and let him live long enough to realize that he was wrong. I want at least an apology for this when he comes to his senses.
    She didn’t want to love her enemies and pray for what was best for them, but she’d do it because God told her to, because she also had a healthy sense of self-interest. If Sergey found God, he wouldn’t try to kill her again.
    She felt sorry for Sergey. He’d just ensured that every morning she was going to pray for him, and every afternoon she was going to hunt him down with every bit of skill she had in order to bring him to justice. Fair was fair. He’d started this. She had been minding her own business, happily retired . . . Well, maybe a touch bored but retired. Now she had a problem to solve. She hadn’t earned that Intelligence Star for being easy to shake off.
    She reached for a loose button-down shirt. She bypassed jeans for sweats. How was she going to explain this to her doctor when she got home? Shelton was a small town. And since the doctor was married to her sister, there wasn’t much chance of keeping this hidden.
    A brisk knock on the door interrupted her. “Darcy, your partner is not happy talking with me.”
    Gabe had been pacing . . . Knowing how difficult physically it was for him to do that these days, she had a feeling Sam was understating things considerably. “Just a minute.” She slid on her watch and transferred the cash from the inside pocket of her cosmetic bag to her shirt pocket. She needed to move hotels again later tonight. It was one thing to hide from random trouble, another to hide from another spy. This room would be good for a while, but someone at the hotel would recognize her picture if Sergey started really searching for her.
    She walked out of the bathroom carrying her things and looked with longing at the bed. The adrenaline was fading and being replaced by a pounding headache. She’d love to close her eyes for a few minutes. She set down the wet clothes on a towel and took the phone from Sam. “I’m back. I’ll