Personal Target: An Elite Ops Novel Read Online Free

you—Oh?”
    Nick’s heart sank. He’d been hoping he was wrong on the visual ID, but he wasn’t. It was Jennifer Grayson in the photo, Angela’s best friend.
    Drew came back on the line. “I take that back. There is someone at the house. Jennifer Grayson, you remember? Jenn? We all hung out that summer after Mom and Dad’s accident . . .” Drew’s voice drifted off. “She’s Dr. Grayson now.”
    Oh yeah, Nick remembered all right.
    The summer my life imploded.
    Drew’s voice pulled him back to the conversation at hand. “Jenn was coming by to get the mail, feed the cat and guinea pig, and generally look after things. She called Angela yesterday while we were shopping in port. The bottom of her water heater had fallen out, and her house flooded. She needed a place to stay until everything dried out and was repaired. Angela told her to stay at our house. It never occurred to her that might be a problem. Is Jenn alright?”
    “I don’t know yet.” Nick explained the package he’d received on the beach. “I’m emailing a photo to your cell. You should be able to get it if you’re just leaving shore. Tell me if you recognize the woman. And Drew, don’t let Angela see it.”
    Nick put the picture through his portable scanner and waited. He could hear his brother’s breathing over the phone. When he was agitated, Drew’s asthma made him sound like he was climbing stairs, even if he was sitting still.
    Nick could hear Stephanie and Jeff playing in the background, the sound of his niece’s and nephew’s high squeals as they laughed and giggled with their mom made his chest hurt. God, he wished he was there and away from this mess. He loved his family, but separating himself from them sometimes seemed the kindest thing he could do.
    “It’s coming through,” said Drew. There was a beat of silence. “Shit. That’s her. She did something to her hair. God.” His breathing sounded worse.
    “I need you to erase the email now.”
    “Alright. Done.”
    “Good. Take a deep breath,” said Nick.
    “Yeah. Thanks. Aw, Christ. Angela’s going to go crazy when she hears this.”
    “Don’t tell Angela ’cause we don’t know anything yet. I need Jennifer’s cell number.”
    “Sure. Just a minute. I have it in my contacts list.” Drew rattled it off and Nick copied it down, though he didn’t hold out much hope that Jennifer would be answering her phone.
    “I’m catching the first flight to Dallas, and then I’ll let you know what I find. Keep Angela and the kids close. And don’t tell anyone about this.”
    “Be careful, Nick. Find Jenn.”
    “I will.” He hung up and dialed Jennifer’s number on the very off chance this was all some sick joke.
    He got a recording. Jenny’s voice was like he remembered. Soft, low. He asked her to call him as soon as she got the message.
    Next he called Marissa, his boss and the co-owner of AEGIS, to explain the situation. Again, he wasn’t holding out hope that he’d get the answer he was looking for. Two hours later he was on a redeye flight bound for Dallas.
    His vacation was over and he was back to work, whether his doctor liked it or not.
    Saturday morning
    Dallas
    F IFTEEN HOURS LATER Nick sifted through the rubble of Drew’s living room in North Dallas. The Christmas tree was tumbled on its side, decorations and lights tangled. The stockings had been slashed with malicious abandon, the sofas overturned, knickknacks toppled to the floor.
    Every surface in the house was swept clean or scattered with pieces of something that had been destroyed. The one surprising thing Nick found intact was a handbag sitting in a puddle of red wine at the back door. He assumed it was Jennifer’s. He reached inside and found car keys, a makeup bag, and a wallet with an ID.
    He wasn’t positive it was Jennifer’s bag till he opened the wallet and saw her driver’s license. This was the Jenny he remembered: dark blonde hair, big green eyes, dewy skin, generous smile. Even