Page 67 of No More Lies

“Sorry, what?” He refocused on the call.

“Diane doing better?”

“Yeah, she is. Thanks. You need me to help run potential targets? Financials? I can do some from here.”

“No, we got this.”

“Hey, I just saw the news about Admiral Andrews.”

“Yeah, I heard. Heart attack a few days ago.”

“Fuck. I had no idea. Kind of been out of the loop with the news.” Admiral Andrews was retired, but well known on Coronado. The team had the honor of meeting him a couple of times.

“You and me both. I only saw it earlier today. Kelly’s signaling, I got to go. Focus on your wife, Steve. Depending on what his plan is, Volkov might still make contact, and she needs you right now. I’ll keep you posted.”

***

DIANE GAVE STEVE A small smile as she took the cup of tea he’d made for her. He sat down and surprised her when he placed an arm around her shoulders. She sighed and relaxed into him, letting his familiar masculine scent fill her nostrils.

“I know him,” Steve said when the Admiral’s picture came back on screen.

Diane turned her head to face him. “I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t know him well. The team met him a couple of times when we were SEALs. He retired a few years back.”

“Work all those years, then have your retirement cut short. It's horrible.” She focused back on the screen. “I guess they’re planning a memorial. He was a big deal.”

“I’m sure he’ll get a full naval burial.”

“Was that Dex on the phone? Did he have news?”

Steve’s body tensed.

“I guess you can’t tell me,” she mumbled, trying to hide her annoyance.

Several long seconds of silence passed before Steve spoke.

“Volkov was staying at the Fairmont under an alias. He already checked out. We don't know where he is right now. Natasha, her daughter, and their lawyer are all missing.”

Diane sat up straight, facing him. “Oh, my God. Missing? Do you think they are dead?” He placed a finger over her lips and shook his head.

“We don’t know. We suspect he’s taken them. Natasha and Anya, we understand, but the lawyer? Makes no sense. Arnold Janssen is also missing. Hasn’t been seen in weeks.”

Diane stared at him, shocked at what he was telling her. The fact he was actually telling her anything.

“That’s why Volkov didn’t want me looking for Janssen. He warned me off him. He probably is dead, isn't he?” she asked quietly.

“Probably. Yes.”

“I didn’t know him, but he was just a lawyer doing his job. Does he have a family?”

“No one close. He wasn’t married, no children. Just him and his cats from what we understand.”

“Oh, God, that’s terrible. He didn’t deserve to die just because he lost at arbitration.” She swallowed and met Steve’s gaze. “If I lost the hearing, he might have....” When she bit her lip, Steve pulled her back into him.

“We don’t know that, and it won't happen now. We are not even sure he needs you anymore. If he’s taken Anya and Natasha, he may just leave with them.”

“But why did he go to such extreme lengths with me? Following us? The photos? If he was always going to snatch them?”