Stolen Read Free Page A

time. He had twenty minutes before he had to be in place. The hotel had a museum access hall open during regular hours but closed during evening events. He’d determined that route was the easiest to breach.
    He took out his cell phone and called Lucy.
    “Hello,” he said when she answered.
    “Sean, hold on.” He heard her excuse herself, the clink of dishes and utensils, the hum of voices in the background. Dinner at the FBI Academy’s cafeteria.
    A moment later, Lucy said, “It’s good to hear your voice.”
    “You stole my line. Sorry to interrupt dinner.”
    “I’m done. Just chatting.”
    “How’s everything?”
    “Good. We’re past the mid-point. Nine more weeks. It feels surreal.”
    “You’re going to graduate top of your class.”
    She laughed, a deep and genuine tone that Sean loved to hear, especially when he was with her. He hadn’t seen her in three weeks, since the weekend before he moved to New York. He missed her more than he could say.
    “I’m sorry I had to cancel our plans this weekend.” He’d hoped to get away to see her—he needed the connection to his real life, to the life he hoped to regain when this was over. But now that Colton had set the schedule for the week, Sean wouldn’t be able to leave.
    “You’re busy, and it gives me more time to study. We have a PT test on Tuesday and the big legal test on Wednesday. That’s the one I’m worried about.”
    “You’ll ace it.”
    “I wish I had your confidence. What about you? Are you enjoying New York or just working?”
    “Mostly working.”
    “Have you seen Suzanne?”
    He’d avoided FBI Special Agent Suzanne Madeaux for the three weeks he’d been in Manhattan. He and Lucy had met Suzanne last February when he was looking for his runaway niece and tracked her to New York. Since, he, Lucy, and Suzanne had become friends, and Lucy had told Suzanne that Sean had taken a job in New York. Twice Suzanne called him to meet for a beer. Sean had ignored the first call, then told her the second time he was swamped with work. She’d asked questions; he evaded and could tell she was irritated. As long as she was only irritated and not suspicious, Sean thought.
    “We haven’t connected. My hours are erratic.”
    “Are you okay? You sound down.”
    Lucy was perceptive—Sean should have known better than to call her. He forced a smile into his voice. “I’m only depressed because I had to cancel on you, princess. I miss you.”
    “Miss you, too. Since you’re busy, why don’t I fly up to New York next weekend and we’ll have dinner?”
    “Sounds extravagant.”
    “I planned on spending the night.”
    He laughed, even though he realized he could never allow Lucy to visit him in the city while he was still working for Colton. It would jeopardize everything, and he couldn’t risk her finding out what he was doing.
    “I’ll see if I can swing it,” he said. “But I should only be here for a couple more weeks.” He hoped it was shorter than that. It might be over after Thursday. Or that operation might be just another move in the game.
    “Talk to you tomorrow?”
    “Same bat time, same bat channel.”
    She laughed. “I love you, Batman.”
    “Love you, Batgirl.”
    He hung up. His chest was tight and his eyes burned.
    You didn’t lie to her.
    Not lying didn’t mean he was telling the truth. He didn’t want to deceive Lucy, but he couldn’t avoid it. Not now, with so much at stake. He had to give Lucy a clean slate. He had to make amends for his past. All of it, the good and the bad.
    He leaned over the dresser, his palms on the cool, glass top, and breathed deeply. Ten years ago deception had come easily for him. Even now, when he shouldn’t be committing a crime, the thrill was electric. The danger drew him in; bigger and harder challenges enticed him. He’d grown bored with RCK long before he quit. Even opening his own office in D.C. with his best friend, Lucy’s brother Patrick, had become predictable. Sean