Page 21 of Sam's Salvation
“Get out of Vegas to one of the smaller cities nearby. Regroup. Figure out who tried to kill me. I called you because I need someone I can trust. Someone outside of the op. I know it’s a lot to ask, but will you help me?” She wrapped her hand over the back of his and speared him with her dark brown eyes.
Sam’s gaze roved over her tired face, taking in the deep purple circles under her eyes and the paleness to her cheeks, even as he spoke. “Of course I will.” He didn’t need to think about it. Their relationship—and he used the word lightly—might have ended ten years ago, but it wasn’t on bad terms. Their lives just went in different directions. Memories of their time together had gotten him through some of the worst moments of his life. He was happy to repay her in any way he could.
“Finish that.” He turned his hand over, giving hers a quick squeeze, then untangled their fingers and pointed to her plate. “We should get out of the public eye. I think I have a plan.”
Nine
Audra finished her crepe and disposed of her trash on their way out of the café. Sam laid a hand on her back and guided her through the light crowd as they walked toward the Horseshoe to go downstairs to take the monorail. He wanted to get off the Strip, and now that they were together and looked like a couple, she’d be less conspicuous than a woman alone.
They boarded the train and rode it one stop to the MGM Grand. From there, they snagged a taxi for the short trip to a hotel adjacent to the airport. Normally, he’d walk, but Audra was limping. The trek to the train station had been enough.
“What’s your plan?” Audra asked as they exited the cab and walked toward the hotel’s front doors.
“We’re going to check in as a newly married couple. Put that Claddagh ring you always wear on your other hand.” He glanced down at her hands. Audra tugged the ring off and put it on her left ring finger.
“Once we get into a room, I’m calling my friends. I know you don’t want the details out, but one, I need to tell them where I am. And two, I think they can help.”
She frowned. He could see that she wanted to ask more questions, but her curiosity would have to wait until they were alone.
He smiled at the young man working the front desk while Audra hung back. She looked a little ragged from her ordeal, and they didn’t want to rouse the clerk’s suspicions. “Hello. We need a room for the night.”
“Of course. One bed or two?” the young man asked.
“One. We just got married.” If Audra didn’t want to share a bed, he’d sleep in the chair, but they needed to keep up appearances. Newly married people didn’t typically ask for a room with two beds.
The man smiled. “Congratulations.” He turned to the computer screen. “Let’s see what we’ve got here.” His fingers fluttered over the keyboard. “I’m afraid all I have right now is a double queen suite with a balcony.”
“That’s fine. Do you have anything on the first floor?” He wanted to be able to make a quick exit if need be.
The clerk’s hands moved over the keys again. “I do.”
“Great. We’ll take it.”
“Okay. I just need your license and a credit card.”
Sam handed both over. The clerk entered his information and ran his card, then passed over a paper for Sam to sign. He scrawled his name on the page, acknowledging the charges, and handed it back.
“You’re in room one fifteen. Breakfast is served in our dining area from six-thirty until ten. Enjoy your stay, and congratulations, again.” The young man passed a small folder with two key cards across the counter.
“Thank you.” Sam took the keys, then Audra’s hand, and headed down the hall.
Their room was just off the main lobby. He let them in with a soft snick of the lock, and flipped the light switch, then threw the bolts once they were inside. A yellow glow illuminated the entryway, and the lamp between the beds cast dull shadows on the beige carpet.
“Okay, explain how your friends can help. I know they’re all former military, like you, but what can they do?”
“Actually, they’re not all former military.” He set his bag down on the red, gold, and copper bedspread of the bed closest to the door. “We have a former CIA analyst as part of the group. Asher Horn. He’s a whiz at finding information. If it’s online, he can find it. Anywhere. And my friend, Ford, has contacts all over the world. So do the others. And me, for that matter. We can help.”
She pursed her lips and studied him. “I don’t know, Sam. I could lose my job. I could get charged with disseminating classified information if I read them in on this. I still could because I told you.”
Sam wrapped his hands around her upper arms and peered into her face. “I won’t let that happen.”
She scoffed and tipped her nose up. “How do you plan to prevent it?”
A crooked smile tipped his mouth. “Like I said, we have contacts all over the world. I think the most they’ll do to you is give you an official reprimand.”
“That’s enough. I’ll get stuck behind a desk.”
“Would that be so bad after the last two years?”