Matt Drake 14 - The Treasures of Saint Germain Read Online Free Page B

remind him of it.
    “So you’re still here,” he said gloomily.
    “Helping you people has its perks,” she said. “And also keeps me under the radar of several notorious kingpins who may or may not be on the lookout for me.”
    “Not to mention the hope that the US government gives you a pass on older crimes,” he said.
    “Yeah, and I wish they’d, how do you say: get their asses in gear?”
    Dahl saw no reason to remind her yet again that he wasn’t American, or English or any other of the nationalities she kept coming up with. Together, they started down the corridor, side by side.
    “You given Mrs. Dahl the hoof yet?”
    Dahl rounded on her. “That’s none of your business. And, Kenzie, stop trying to get under my skin.”
    “Where would you like me to get?”
    He tried not to see her long black hair and lithe body, the promise in her eyes.
    She grinned. “I won’t be around for long, you know. Best take advantage while I’m agreeable.”
    “Why? ’Cause you’re gonna be trying to kill me in a month or two?”
    Kenzie shrugged, not ruling it out. “Sides change, my English friend. As do allegiances. Every day sometimes. Just ask the Americans. Oh, and speaking of side changers . . .”
    Dahl glanced up as she nodded. Mai Kitano and Beauregard Alain were heading up the corridor, also side by side. He found it a little odd at first that they’d arrived together, then realized Kenzie and he must appear the same way. He nodded at Beau and smiled at Mai.
    “Heard anything from Grace?”
    The Japanese woman smiled softly. “All the normal, natural, content and typical things that one might expect from a teenager.”
    Dahl returned the smile. “I’m happy for her.”
    The group carried on, treading the halls with care, at least two of them more than a little wary of the signs of heavy security that were positioned all around. A few moments passed in silence and then Beau spoke up.
    “Do you think they, ah, found us a new headquarters?”
    Kenzie studied him with a critical eye. “Who knows? So where’s the bodysuit, my friend? I much prefer the bodysuit. Makes things . . . easy on the eye.”
    “They prefer I dress normal in the five-starred building.”
    “I bet they do.” Kenzie laughed and even Mai smiled.
    Dahl followed Beau’s thread. “I hope they have. This constant security tires me.”
    “You guys do have a bad track record for HQs,” Kenzie pointed out, having been apprised of most of the SPEAR team’s history by now.
    “Point taken. But the new Secretary of Defense may well move us out of here.”
    Mai looked back. “See anyone else arrive?”
    “Ah, no, sorry. They may already be here.”
    “They?”
    Dahl grimaced. “I thought you meant Drake and—”
    “There are ten people on our team.” Mai threw Kenzie an appraising glance. “Well, nine for sure.”
    Dahl stayed silent, regretting his lapse. Seemed like no matter what he did he constantly upset the opposite sex these days.
    “So, Mai, you’re staying for good this time then?” Kenzie loved the conflict.
    “I might be persuaded to take a week’s leave just to drop you off where you belong.”
    “Really? And where do you think I belong?”
    “Some kinda hellhole. Atoning for all those you’ve directly or indirectly caused harm.”
    “And I guess you never hurt anyone, eh?”
    Mai gritted her teeth. Dahl could hear the grind. “Be careful, Kenzie,” the Japanese woman hissed.
    “Oh, my. Did I say something wrong?”
    A guard they recognized stood up ahead. Dahl engaged him in a little chit-chat as the others stood in a twitchy silence. It occurred to him again that maybe they should get rid of Kenzie as soon as possible, the thief appeared to present no more than a wart on the skin that held the team together.
    Best not to explain it that way though.
    The door to their office stood open just ahead, inviting, welcoming, but through the gap Dahl could see nothing—only a deep patch of darkness. Shrugging off