Page 42 of Sam's Salvation
Sam stopped the video. “Damn.”
“Damn is right,” Dean said. “We saw that on the television downstairs while we were getting breakfast.”
“Dee was supposed to take care of my involvement.” Audra ran a hand through her hair, her mind working overtime. This was not good. And not only because it thrust her into the spotlight. If Liam didn’t suspect something, he would now. The entire Vegas branch of the Irish mafia could be on the lookout for her.
“She probably did until Theo showed up dead,” Sam said. He looked at Dean and Max. “We need to get out of this hotel and find a short-term rental.”
“Honestly, I think we need to get out of town.” Dean’s gaze shifted between him and Audra. “I know you want to stay because the investigation is here, but you can’t do anything when you can’t even go out in public.”
A thought struck Audra. “Let me see that.” She pointed at Max’s phone.
Sam handed it to her. “What are you doing?”
“I ditched my phones, but that doesn’t mean the numbers are inactive. I wonder if Dee called and left a message.” She dialed her burner phone’s number.
“Can we trust anything she says?” Sam asked.
“I don’t know, but in any case, it’ll be information we didn’t have.” She touched the speaker button, and they listened to the line roll straight to voicemail. She punched in her code, then the automated voice told her she had two messages.
“Ridley, where are you? I don’t know what you’re doing, but you better be on a plane.”
“She doesn’t sound pleased,” Max said.
“No.” Audra saved the message and the next one played.
“Obviously, you weren’t on a plane. I can’t reach Theo, either. I don’t know what’s going on, but you need to call me. There’s a lot riding on this operation and you need to debrief, so we can hopefully salvage some of it.”
Audra saved the message and hung up.
“She didn’t sound suspicious,” Sam said. “Just concerned. Are you sure we can’t trust her?”
“I don’t know who to trust. Someone knows who I am. Why else would they try to kill me?”
“If the ‘TS’ in Brogan’s ledger was Theo, then maybe he’s the only bad actor.” Dean crossed his arms.
“Possibly, but I’m not willing to put my life on the line and find out.”
“I agree.” Sam laid a hand on her leg. “We need to work this alone for now.”
“What about your other phone?” Max said.
“My other phone?” Audra frowned.
“The one you used to be Alexandra. Have you checked that voicemail?”
Her face heated. “No.”
“Do that. Maybe there will be something there.”
She ducked her head. The phone screen swam as she punched in the number to Alexandra’s phone. Some spy she was.
Sam squeezed her leg. She pressed her lips together, holding in the tears. She liked to pride herself on her independence and her ability to handle most any situation, but she didn’t know how she would have gotten through the last few days without him. He’d not only been a safe space where she could let her guard down, but he helped settle her emotions so she could stay focused.
Her voicemail picked up, and she typed in the code to access her messages. When the robotic voice told her she had seven, she groaned. “What do you want to bet they’re all angry ones from Liam?”
“Play them,” Sam said.
The first message was from Liam’s sister, asking her if she was free to go over more wedding details. So was the second one. The third one was from Siobhan, ordering her to call Hannah back.