A Spy for Christmas Read Free

that way.
    The other speaker was loud enough for her to catch most of
what was said. The first part didn’t make sense, though. These people didn’t
seem to speak normal English.
    “I need answers now,” Grayson bit out. “I can’t hold her
hostage.”
    “Keep her safe and out of sight. Let us sort this out, and
we’ll let you know when you’re clear.”
    “Any ETA on that?” Grayson sounded like he didn’t like it
one bit.
    “Let’s say a week. Now go enjoy your Christmas vacation.”
The line went dead.
    “Damn it!” he tossed the phone into the middle console.
    Robin realized she was completely tensed up and holding her
breath. After watching him grip the wheel hard and grit his teeth, she offered,
“You know…they don’t have to know if you let me go. It’s obvious you want to
part ways too.”
    He turned his head her way, his eyebrows raised. “Please
don’t take my behavior personally, Robin. I’m not angry that I have to spend
time with you. You’re an amazing woman. I’m upset because I don’t like doing
this to you.”
    Grayson held her gaze for a few seconds. She let herself
believe him, if just for that time, and tried to calm down.
    “On the plane,” she started, “you never told me your last
name.”
    He glanced over but looked away to say, “Holbrook.”
    “Is that really your name?” she pushed. Grayson Holbrook.
    “For this mission…but Grayson really is my first name. The
others don’t matter, not as much as they change.”
    What did that say about this man? When he looked into her
eyes, Grayson came across as more honest than anyone she knew. But it was his
job, and apparently he was very highly trained.
    The terrain changed to cow pastures and farms, and he found
a small back road where he could turn off for a minute. He pulled out her cell
phone and handed it to her. “You need to change your message.”
    She could spring out of the car while hitting 911. “Change
my message? To what? Why?”
    “People will worry about you. But we have to stay under the
radar. This is important, Robin. People could get hurt. I need you to change
your greeting to say you’re taking another week off. You’ll be out of cell
service but you’re having fun. Keep it short and vague.”
    All of this happened so fast! What was she doing in a car
with him, headed out into no-man’s land? Robin was having a hard time
comprehending what was going on and she doubted her own ability to make sound
decisions on her own; yet she could not fully rely on this stranger. She shook
her head. “I don’t have any proof that I should trust you.” He stared her down
for a long minute. Finally he took out his wallet and pulled a tiny picture
from behind the cards and handed it to her. It was worn and blurry, but she
could make out a young woman.
    “I can’t always keep people safe. I don’t want another
picture in my head. Please, let me keep you alive.”
    She hit the button for her voicemail.

Chapter Four
     
     
    They skirted Gresham and continued on 26, which would cut
through a few tiny country towns before heading up into the mountains. Robin
made a noise and added, a minute later, “So you do know the area.”
    Grayson gave her a slightly quizzical look. “I never said I
didn’t…but I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea on the plane.”
    She laughed a nervous laugh. It must have been contagious.
He smiled and added, “I walked back there hoping it wasn’t a horrible place to
sit…and then there you were, looking like a winter fairy with your red hair.”
At that, he glanced over and drank her in with his gaze.
    She liked the attention but looked out the window, wondering
what to make it of it now that he was basically holding her prisoner.
    “I knew it’d be a sad Christmas, after my break up, but…”
She didn’t finish. Hadn’t she planned on skipping the festivities this year
anyway? She could feel his gaze on her as she faced the side window.
    They reached Sandy, a quaint