To Russia With Love (Countermeasure Series) Read Free Page A

“Besides, if he bites we’ll be way ahead of the game.”
    Laughing, Trevor sent the information to her computer and Cassandra began her background checks. The only sound that filled the office was the clack of the keys as their fingers danced across their keyboards. Trevor stretched back in his chair and was about to call it quits when he heard the familiar beep of an email hitting his inbox. He opened the application to find Devlin’s name on the screen. He cleared his throat and called out to Cassandra, “Heads up. I think we’ve got a bite.”
    Cassandra swiveled her chair to face him as he opened the email. After a few minutes of deep silence she asked expectantly, “So?”
    “Yep. A big bite. He’s agreed to the exchange. But I still need to stipulate a condition.”
    “Condition? What condition?”
    “That Mucha has to handle the exchange in person. I need to meet the man.”
    “To pick his brain about your father?”
    Trevor nodded. “If he spent time with my father right before he disappeared, he might have pertinent information and not even realize it.” He composed a second email to Devlin to which he received an immediate response.
    Agreed.
    “We’re on. I gotta let George know.”
    A rush of adrenaline hit Cassandra her. They were a go. The hunt was on. She loved working these cases with Trevor because it gave them time together. Granted it was busy time, mostly spent buried in work, but it was an enjoyable partnership. The ring of the landline startled her, and she quickly grabbed the phone.
    “Hello?”
    “Hello, Cassandra.”
    “Stephan! What’s up?”
    “I’m calling to see if you two are free for dinner tonight. It’ll be a foursome, as Terese will be joining us.”
    “Not tonight. We’re up to our ears in work. Maybe another time?”
    “Maybe another time then. Has Robert mentioned when he’ll be visiting? I still have that Bushmills bottle I mentioned waiting for him.”
    “No word yet, but I am sure it’ll be soon. Oh, by the way, remember my friend Jessica? You met her at the wedding.”
    “Yes,” he said hesitantly. “I remember her. Sweet lass.”
    Cassandra’s excitement at her friend’s visit inundated her voice, “We extended a job offer to her to help alleviate some of our load, and she’s accepted! I’m hoping to have a nice dinner to celebrate when she gets here. You’ll join us, of course.” Silence filled the line. “Stephan, are you still there?”
    “Yes. Yes, I’m here. That’s great Cassandra,” he said in a low, composed voice.
    “Well…make sure you block some free time in your busy schedule when she gets here.”
    “I need to go. Just tell me when and I’ll put it on my calendar.”
    “Do you want to talk to Trevor?”
    “Something’s come up. I’ll call him later. Goodbye Cassandra.”
    “Goodbye.” Cassandra stared at the receiver in her hand and wondered at Stephan’s reaction. During the rehearsal dinner and the quick farewell after the wedding ceremony, she had caught Jessica’s eyes hovering on Stephan Connellan, Trevor’s honorary uncle. Between both Stephan’s skittish behavior and Jessica’s strange reference earlier, one would think they were interested in each other.
    Trevor glanced up at Cassandra and noticed her raised eyebrows. “Who was that?”
    Cassandra turned to him with a bewildered look. “Stephan.”
    “And?”
    “Let’s just say for the record, I expect Jessie’s move here to be an interesting one.”
    “That’s brilliant. She accepted! Why will it be interesting?”
    “Don’t ask me; just a hunch.”
    *****
    Stephan dropped the phone in the cradle, fell back in his chair, and laid his head against the headrest. His heart raced in his chest and anticipation rippled in his gut, tightening his stomach muscles in knots. Jessica. When he had traveled to California for Trevor’s wedding, he hadn’t thought he’d get a surprise in the form of Jessica Forrester. He had been seated next to her at dinner