Chapter 10

“IT STARTED WITH the number twenty-six. Then it said come prepared to see something that will tip the scales in our favor. It was signed A.”

“What did you do with this note?”

“I gave it to Douglas of course.” Marissa opened her eyes. Both Niail and Firbin were looking at her intently. “I even made a joke about how I wasn’t certain it was for him because it was address to twenty-six.”

“Did he say anything?”

Marissa shook her head. “He laughed and then we discussed the rest of the correspondence.”

“Did you eat or drink anything?”

“Coffee, but I brought my cup in with me.”

“Did you leave it unattended?”

“I left his office to get a report that he requested, but I was only gone a few minutes.”

Niail and Firbin exchanged glances.

“You don’t think he put something in it?” Marissa couldn’t imagine Douglas doing anything that crazy. “He was sitting in the same position when I returned.”

“He had time to drug you.” Firbin clenched his hands into fists. “He will answer for that.”

“You’re just speculating.” Marissa tried to push down the uneasiness that was building inside her. What if they were right and Douglas was responsible for her being kidnapped? “Why would he do such a thing?”

“You had seen a message that was in code.” Niail’s voice was definite. “It was probably about the weapon. Was your boss planning any meetings outside of the city?”

“There was nothing on his calendar. We were meeting the Saudi government representatives, but that was later in the month. As a matter of fact, that is why I was at his home to begin with. He had asked for a report on the oil acquisition and I brought the day’s correspondence along with me.” Marissa shook her head. “That doesn’t mean he wasn’t meeting someone. He’d often take off unannounced.”

“You did not find this suspicious?” Firbin asked.

“No. He’s the boss.” When Marissa got blank looks from the men, she elaborated. “He can come and go as he pleases. I am in no position to question his movements.”

“He does this often?” Firbin frowned.

“At least once a week.” Marissa shrugged. “He usually checks in during the day to make certain there’s nothing urgent that needs his attention.”

“Don’t you find this behavior strange?” Niail’s voice was filled with concern. “I worry when humans become secretive. That usually means that they are hiding something.”

“You said you were aliens.” Marissa couldn’t help the defensiveness in her voice. “What do you know about humans?”

“My mate is human.” Niail’s voice was quiet. “Our children are human also.”

Marissa felt as if she’d been hit with a brick. She’d never considered that these men had families. Her cheeks reddened and she cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me. I spoke out of turn.”

“We are trying to help.” Niail’s voice was sincere. “We want to protect you, but we need to understand about your boss.”

“Because you think he’s the one who had me kidnapped.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll try and help.” Marissa realized she’d been actively trying to excuse Douglas’s behavior because she couldn’t imagine him harming her. She stood and started to pace her room. “He always seemed so nice to me. It’s hard to believe that he would do something like this.”

“We understand,” Firbin said. “Hunters do not lie, so one of the most difficult things for us to accept is that humans sometimes use subterfuge to harm others.”

“You can say that again.” Marissa sighed and walked to the living room. She sat on the floor with her legs crossed. “I’ve only been working with him for the last six months. I thought it was a dream job when I accepted the position.”

“It might still be that.” Firbin eased himself down beside her. “We just have to rule him out.”

“We also have to find out about the weapon.” Thero was standing by the door with his arms crossed. “It is the only way we can ensure your safety.”

Niail pulled out a chair from the table and sat. “Is there anyone else you had contact with that day that might have drugged your drink or food?”

Marissa shook her head. “He’s the only one.”

She leaned against the wall and groaned. There was no escaping it. Douglas Norcott was the only person who could have drugged her. That meant he was the one who had her kidnapped and staged her house to look as if it had happened after she came home.

“He has enough money to pay for someone to kidnap me.” Marissa’s voice was filled with resignation as she spoke her thoughts aloud. “Why do people have to be so predictable?”

“What do you mean?” Firbin’s voice was filled with confusion.

“I mean he has money and lives a privileged life. I thought he was one of the rare ones. Good and truly worthy of my loyalty.”

“Not all humans will disappoint you.” Niail’s voice was soft. “My mate and her children accepted me and gave me a place in their home when I was injured. They did this at great risk to their lives.”

Marissa nodded. “You’re right. I’m just feeling sorry for myself. Douglas paid me good money to be his assistant. I was a loyal and honest employee. That is all the loyalty he deserved, especially if he repaid me in this way.”

“So you are willing to take us to him?”

“Yes.” Marissa pushed herself upright. “I have a few questions of my own.”

Niail moved to the door. “We will need to take your vehicle.”

“Did you clean the mat?” Marissa shuddered. “I don’t think I can drive in it knowing blood is all over the floor.”

“They have been removed.” Thero opened the door. “The sooner we speak with this man, the sooner we can find the weapon.”

“He might not be the person you want.”

“He is.” Niail’s voice was definite. “The message you remembered is proof.”

“It was pretty cryptic.” Marissa shook her head and reached for her purse. “I don’t see how you think it can be used against him.”

“We have seen numbers used to address people before.” Firbin’s voice was apologetic. “When I was in London and we were working on infiltrating the Albirsion Corporations records, the board members were referred to as numbers.”

Marissa stopped. “That’s incredible. Why would anyone use something like that?”

“We think it has to do with their position on the board or when they were initiated into the Shadow Government,” Firbin explained. “Your boss is number twenty-six from the top.”

“How many people are on this board?”

“We are unsure.”

Firbin touched Marissa’s elbow and a jolt of fire went through her body. She forced herself not to jump away. After a second, she found the sensation wasn’t unpleasant. Quite the opposite. She leaned into his touch and let him lead her from the house. A feeling of happiness and well-being filled her.

Firbin helped her into the driver’s seat. Thero handed her the keys and she put them into the ignition and started the car. She glanced down at the floor, and sighed with relief to see all evidence of blood was gone. At least she would be able to drive in peace. When the three men were in the vehicle, she put it in reverse and backed out onto the road.

“He uses his residence as his personal office. We’ll probably wake him up, but that can’t be helped.”

“At least he’ll be there.” Firbin smiled at her from the rear of the car.

“Where does he live?” Niail asked. He was sitting beside her in the front. “Will it take us long?”

“Twenty minutes at the most. There shouldn’t be any traffic at this time of the morning.” Marissa eased the car into an intersection and then made a left turn. “He has one of the private villas at the Galactic Grand. It’s quite luxurious and comes with its own butler.”

“That must be expensive.” Thero’s voice was a low growl. “A sure sign that he may be involved with the Albireons.”

“His family comes from a long line of wealth. K.T. Oil was one of the first in Texas and they’ve expanded it to be a world-wide oil conglomerate.” Marissa eased onto North Decatur Blvd. At this time of the morning the traffic was moving at a quick pace.

“So he owns a very rich company?” Niail turned to look at her.

“Extremely.” Marissa’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “That’s why I wanted to work for him. It was the ideal position for someone with my education and experience. I’d already worked for several oil companies, and after I graduated with my MBA, the experience of working with one of the leading CEO’s was too much to turn down.”

“Is there anything unusual about your job?” Firbin moved forward in his seat so that he was leaning against the back of the driver’s seat. “Any special requests?”

“Other than the fact that he can afford to live at one of the villas at the Galactic on a permanent basis?”

“Is that expensive?”

Marissa snorted. “Very. Some of it is a write-off because he does business from the villa.”

“Why stay there?”

“Security and convenience.” Marissa shrugged. “He says it would cost him just as much to run his own house with personal full-time security.”

“It is unusual that he would need this safekeeping.”

“Not really.” Marissa’s voice was nonchalant. “Like I said, he is very rich. Don’t forget he makes his money from oil and doesn’t apologize about it. Threats from kidnappers and environmentalists come in almost every day.”

“Then he will be ready for us.” Niail looked back at Thero and Firbin. “We should be prepared.”

Marissa glanced in the rearview mirror. Firbin was looking back at her with a reassuring smile. Somehow she sensed that he was trying to ease her fear and tension. She appreciated it. If Douglas was responsible for what had happened to her, then she doubted any of them would be safe. The man had limitless resources at his disposal.

Money could buy anything.

“Explain how this villa works.” Niail brought her attention back to their immediate problem.

Gaining access.

“It is very similar to the Mansion at the MGM Grand, except the security at the Galactic is far superior. There is a gate that has to be opened before we can even get into the building.”

“They will let you in?” Firbin asked.

“I doubt it. Even though they know me, the entrance is restricted to the hotel’s vehicles. All the guests who stay at the villas have access to a private Rolls Royce. There is no need for parking.” Marissa bit her lip. “We’ll have to park in the regular hotel parking and try and gain entry from the main lobby. It’s a bit earlier than usual, and who knows what Douglas may have told them to expect.”

“After we get to the entrance, then what?”

“The butler will have to escort us to see Douglas.”

Marissa turned behind the hotel and pulled into a parking lot. She parked as close to the entrance as possible, but they were still a long ways from where Douglas was staying. It was just after six in the morning, but that wouldn’t matter at the hotel. Guests came and went at all hours.

“There’s no turning back now.” Marissa turned the ignition off. “We’re here.”