Conard County Spy Read Online Free

sometimes he felt old.
    Ten minutes later he heard the knock. Rising, he opened the door, wide-awake and hating it. Ryker stepped in, carrying a cardboard tray with four tall coffees.
    â€œTrying to hurry me out of town?” Trace asked bluntly as he plopped on the bed and reached for one of the cups.
    Ryker spoke very quietly. “Cell phone?”
    Without question, Trace rose and got the phone from the pocket of his jacket. He didn’t say a word as Ryker pulled the back off of it and removed the battery and SIM card.
    â€œLater,” Ryker said, “get a new phone. A burner. That one is about to head out of town on the next truck that leaves the lot across the street.”
    Trace understood, and he didn’t like what he understood. If the right person had that number, they could have been listening to what was going on in this room at that very moment, at least until Ryker pulled the phone apart. “I’ve been getting fresh burners all along.” Because he wasn’t a total idiot, although he had to admit every time he’d gotten one, he’d had to use his debit card, even if only at an ATM. Hell, if the worst case proved true, he might as well have kept his original phone. “What about yours?”
    â€œMy cell is still at home. We’re going to send this one out of town this morning. Just in case. Anyway, everybody else may be kicking you to the curb, but I’m not.”
    That jolted Trace, and he looked over as Ryker took the only chair and reached for a coffee. “Why not?”
    â€œI talked to Bill. Are you on meds?”
    â€œI’m still waiting for it to hit.”
    â€œOkay. Does it help?”
    He met Ryker’s dark gaze and saw something very like the sympathy that had been missing last night. “Yeah, when I take enough of it.”
    â€œProbably not often, knowing you.”
    â€œNot when I can avoid it. What’s going on?”
    Trace could feel the buzz coming, so he finished his coffee and reached for another before sitting on the edge of the bed again.
    Ryker sighed and sipped more coffee, then leaned back and crossed his legs at the ankle. “I told you I talked with Bill. I was going to rake him over the coals for giving you my address, but it turns out he gave it to you for a reason.”
    Trace sat up a little straighter, suppressing a wince. “What reason?”
    â€œApparently he thinks there’s more going on than you’ve been told and that you desperately need an ally.”
    Trace felt his heart accelerate. “That’s news to me.” Important news. Something to give his full attention to. “Did he say what’s happening?”
    â€œNo. He doesn’t know.” Ryker blew a long breath and glanced at his watch. “A few more and then we go. No, he doesn’t know, but he was unhappy about it. He thinks they’ve cut you loose and don’t give a damn.”
    â€œI was right. I’m a liability.” Instead of just wondering, now he knew, but he was damned if he knew why. So much was becoming clear, and he didn’t like it.
    â€œMy guess is you’ve passed your expiration date because of your injury, and they’re more interested in catching the tiger that’s on your tail than whether you survive it.”
    â€œOr alternatively, they have a reason not to stop the tiger. I’ve heard of it.”
    â€œSo have I, but I’ve never known it to happen.”
    â€œMe, neither, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. You know how much butt-covering goes on.” And secrets. Secrets that only a handful might ever know. Those secrets could be good for the country, essential even, but they could also cover up more nefarious activities.
    A sense of betrayal began burning in him, but this wasn’t the time to let it take over. Trace forced it down, trying to clear his head, suddenly wishing he hadn’t taken the pain pill. It