VANISHED, A Romantic Suspense Novel (Edgars Family Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page B

protest and fixed his lieutenant with a cold stare. “Have them check out the businesses, too. This time, insist they leave no trace we’ve been there. Her disappearance in tomorrow’s news will be bad enough.”
    The younger man swallowed hard, but didn’t let his gaze drop. He’d gotten this far by being cool in a crisis and thinking ahead. “Once I realized she didn’t have the item with her, I sent someone to watch the condo to see if anyone had arrived to contact her.”
    “And was there?”
    “They reported the police and news crews were already there, but I’ve instructed to continue their surveillance until further notice.”
    “Good.”
    “And the woman? She is quite a beauty.”
    “When she ceases to be of use to us, make her disappear in whatever manner you see fit.”
     

CHAPTER THREE
    A light snoring came from the other room.
    Abigail lay in her bed, curled on her side, her heart pounding in her ears as she waited in the dark to be sure the snoring continued. For the past half hour she’d resisted turning on the light. She could hardly breathe in a dark room, much less sleep, but she’d never give Luke the satisfaction of knowing how scared she was of the dark.
    What kind of field agent would she make if every time she needed to work in the dark she had to spend half the time fighting off panic attacks?
    If Luke knew that information, he’d have her on the first plane back to Washington.
    She sighed, then strained to listen to the sounds from the other room. The snoring sounded steady.
    Thank goodness. Her hands shook as she clicked on her light and took a deep breath.
    Great. It would be hours before she calmed down enough to sleep. Might as well get some work done.
    She retrieved her laptop from the desk then scooted back under her covers to stay warm in the cold, drafty room. Sitting with her back against the headboard, she bent her knees and used them as a prop for her laptop. Before she started, she listened once more for sounds from Luke’s room.
    Still snoring.
    Some bodyguard. If someone slipped into the room, he’d never hear it.
    Then her gaze drifted to the hallway door. A chill ran over her skin. She reached beneath her pillow and pulled her service weapon out from where she’d hid it for the night and set it next to her right hip.
    Even if you had an experienced field agent asleep in the next room, it never hurt to be prepared. You never knew when a monster would invade your life and change it completely.
    “ Poor little thing. You say she was there when her mother was killed?”
    The kind looking lady in the black-and-white outfit reached out a hand to her. Still clutching her mother’s pink sweater, she released the policeman’s hand and took the lady’s.
    The big policeman in the dark blue suit nodded. “We’re not sure how much she witnessed, Sister. We found her hiding in the closet. She hasn’t said anything but ‘Mommy’ since.”
    The lady in black smoothed her work-roughened hand over the little girl’s hair. “And there’s no father?”
    “ Not that we’ve been able to find. In fact, there’s no family at all.” The policeman handed the sister a box with her clothes in it. “If you can get her to tell you anything, we’d appreciate you giving us a call.”
    He turned and left.
    The lady smiled. “You’re safe here, little one. I’m Sister Rose Thomas. Won’t you tell me your name?”
    She stared into the Sister’s gentle, wrinkled face and compassionate eyes. “I’m Abigail.”
    Sister Rose Thomas was the first to notice her unusual abilities.
    “ Your mind is like a huge filing cabinet, Abigail. Whenever you want to remember something, you reach in, pull out the image, and it’s as if you’re seeing it again for the first time, isn’t it?”
    Abigail managed a smile. Other than her mother, Sister Rose Thomas had been the only other gentle person in her life. Her death had left another hole in Abigail’s world. One she doubted would ever be