Ghostwalker 02 - Mind Game

especially Nicolas, and I can’t afford a backlash of energy. All of you will have to just stay put.”

    Nicolas raised his eyebrow, his tough features completely expressionless.

    “That’s a big negative,” Sam said.

    “I don’t think so,” Kaden objected simultaneously.

    Gator just laughed. “Oh, ma cher , your sense of humor is growing being around us all.”
    The smile widened. “Or are you just trying to give Nico heart failure?”

    She ignored him and looked at Max. “They seemed to forget I’ve managed all these years without them.”

    “What exactly are you planning on doing, Dahlia?” Max asked.

    There was a sudden silence. They all looked at her. “Well, gee, Max, I don’t know.
    Something to do with my job. You know, that highly classified job we both share.”

    “I don’t see Jesse here giving you orders.”

    “No you don’t, do you, because he’s laid up in a hospital somewhere and I’m going to find out who put him there.” Dahlia’s black eyes flashed, glittering like hard gems. “They killed Milly and Bernadette, Max. And I’m finishing my job.”

    “Did you talk to the admiral?”

    “I don’t have to talk to the admiral to finish my job.”

    Max shook his head and looked over at Nicolas. “And you’re fine with this?”

    Before Nicolas could reply, Dahlia glared daggers at Max. “ He has nothing to do with it.
    He doesn’t work for the NCIS, I do. He isn’t my boss. Just back off trying to be intimidating, because it irritates the hell out of me.” And it did. Her temper was rising in direct proportion to the testosterone levels in the room.

    Nicolas was happy to see the real Dahlia back in fighting form. She didn’t lie down for anyone. Not that she was going anywhere as dangerous as Lombard Inc. without the GhostWalkers to protect her, but what was the use in arguing with her? He wasn’t going to change, and neither was she. It was good practice for the men to have to guard their emotions carefully in the field. He met Maxwell’s eyes. The man subsided immediately with a small nod of understanding.

    “See anything in the photos?” Tucker asked. “I looked through them, but I was mainly looking for places, more than people. I know you think Charter’s not involved, Dahlia, but I did find this.” He passed a pen deliberately to Max to give her.

    Max sucked in his breath, reading the advertisement for Lombard Inc. Without a word, he handed it to Dahlia.

    She took it reluctantly, turning it in circles. “Anyone could have given this to her.
    They’re everywhere. It’s a big company.”

    “It’s a tie to her,” Nicolas said. “And to Martin.”

    “What other information do you have on him?” Max asked.

    “Lily’s thorough. We have everything from his grades to his classified missions, but what interests me the most is his relationship with his family. He’s an extremely loyal man. Not only to his siblings, but also to Louise Charter. I think it’s genuine. I think he’d exhibit the same loyalty to his country and to the NCIS and his friends,” Nicolas mused aloud.

    Kaden nodded. “I see where you’re going with this.”

    “I don’t,” Dahlia said. “Are you eliminating our only suspects?”

    “Who else has access to the Charter home, Dahlia?” Nicolas asked. “Who else would come and go?”

    Her fingers curled around the photos. “But how would they get classified information?
    Louise knows me, knows my clearance, and the only thing she really told me in the entire conversation was Jesse’s condition and that’s because no directive came down saying it was to be treated as classified. She’d never sit down to dinner, even with someone she considered a son, and reveal government secrets.” Dahlia shook her head. “I don’t know Martin Howard, but if he’s as solid as you all say, I can’t imagine he would be that chatty either.”

    “Trust me, he would never say a word, accidentally or not,” Max affirmed.

    “No, but his brothers would have access to both the Charter home and her office. She would allow them to come see her at work, even meet her to have lunch, that kind of thing. The same with Martin. Why would they ever suspect a family member of planting bugs? Techs go over the computers, but considering there’s so much security in the rest of the buildings, how often do you think the offices are swept? Even if a bug was found on the secretary’s phone or her computer was attacked, would anyone