COLLATERAL CASUALTIES (The Kate Huntington mystery series) Read Online Free Page B

exactly,” he finally said. “I’ll tell my contacts who he really is, and he’ll be deported.”
                “And then?”
                Miller hesitated again. “He’ll probably end up being executed for treason by his government. That’s why I’ve got to be sure he’s the man I think he is.”
                The horror Kate felt must have shown on her face because he quickly added, “I have no choice. It’s not just about me. I’m terrified he’ll go after Jill or the kids if I don’t show up for this meeting on Friday.”
                “Why is he waiting so long to have that meeting?”
                Miller shrugged. “He could be buying time while he sets up another hit on me. Or he might be watching to see what I do in the meantime.”
                “Oh, good, so here you sit talking to me.”
                “He won’t think you’re anybody important to me. When we’re done here, we’ll stand up, shake hands and I’ll say, ‘Thank you for your time, Ms. Smith. I’ll get back to you soon.’ Then you thank me, using my real name, and we part company. I’m being very careful to make it look like I’m not worried, that I’m just going about my business as usual.”
                “And do you usually interview applicants over lunch in the mall?”
                “Actually, yes. I work out of my home now, as a consultant on engineering projects. I don’t like to bring strangers to the house so I often meet with customers, or potential temporary employees I might need for a certain job, over a meal out in public.”
                His failure to acknowledge her wave now made sense. He’d apparently been a good spy. Either that or he was having a psychotic breakdown and this was all an elaborate delusion.
                “Have you seen the movie, A Beautiful Mind ?” Kate asked.
                Miller let out a short bark of laughter. “I’m not crazy. You saw the letter. This is all horribly real.”
                Yeah, if the letter was really from this ambassador and not some kind of weird sales pitch or scam that had become part of his delusion.
                “I’m sorry. I’m not going to involve my husband in this. It’s too dangerous. And you don’t even know that this guy means you harm. If he’s an ambassador now he’s probably one of the good guys, in his new identity at least.”
                “I seriously doubt it. Three decades ago, this man was part of a movement to overthrow the government of his country, and they used some pretty nasty tactics to try to accomplish that goal.”
                Kate frowned.
                Miller leaned forward. She thought for a moment that he was going to take her hand, but then he caught himself. “I understand that you don’t want to jeopardize your husband’s safety, but I really don’t think there’s much risk. I wouldn’t even ask just for my own sake, but like I said, I’m scared for my family.”
                “I feel for you, Miller. I really do. But this is totally out of Skip’s league. And I just couldn’t handle it if anything happened to him, not after losing Eddie. I’d... I’d be the one who would be crazy, and I’ve got kids who need me, need their father. I’m sorry.”
                Miller sat back in his chair. “No, I’m sorry. I should’ve realized it was too much to ask. I just thought... I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ll find another way.”
                “Let me ask Skip for some referrals of other detectives. People he knows are good.” And a little crazy.
                “You can’t tell him any of this, Kate. I really shouldn’t be telling you. I could be prosecuted for treason for breaching security, if it got out that I’m talking about