“No reason? You dropped off the radar four months ago, you perverted little shit. After all I did to get you relocated to Arizona, fulfill all your bizarre requests, and you go AWOL on me? Damn right I’m going to call you names. You nearly cost me my job.”

“Well, I am sorry, Edward dear. It was unavoidable.”

“My ass it was. And now you’re in trouble and you’re asking me to get you back in the program?”

“I knew you’d be happy to hear from me,” Beauty purred.

There was a heavy sigh from the other side of the call. “This is the last time. You understand? You disappear on me again and I’ll let them have you.”

Chapter 36

Georgetown

XANDER WOKE JAMES Denon with a nudge of his boot to the man’s leg. He’d been sleeping like the dead on the couch, an arm thrown over his face to block out the light. Only an innocent man could sleep in the midst of such chaos. Or a guilty one, confident he wasn’t going to be caught.

Denon sat up and yawned. “What time is it?”

“Nearly five. You’ve been asleep for a couple of hours, and the natives are getting restless.” He pointed at Denon’s people, all sitting around the dining room table with laptops and cell phones out, so absorbed in their work they didn’t notice the boss was awake.

“Didn’t sleep last night.” He spied the sandwich on the plate, reached for it. “Thanks. I’m starving.”

“Tell me about Juliet Bouchard.”

Denon’s hand paused, the sandwich halfway to his mouth. He set it gently back onto the plate.

“Where did you get that name?”

Xander didn’t budge. His face was hard, a look that would make most men shake in their boots. His First Sergeant face.

Denon was susceptible. He looked at the floor and shifted uncomfortably. “She didn’t have anything to do with this.”

“How can you be so sure? She came to the States with you. She was on the plane’s inbound manifest out of London. I have video of her getting off the jet at Teterboro. And then she just ups and disappears, and you nearly get shot? Too much of a coincidence for me.”

Denon shook his head vehemently. Heedles noticed her boss was awake, started to rise from the table. Denon held up a hand, and she subsided back into the chair, looking worried. He spoke quietly, ducking his head. “Juliet’s a friend. I gave her a ride. That’s all.”

“Where is she now?”

“I don’t know.”

“We need to find her.” Xander nodded toward Denon’s phone. “Why don’t we give her a call, see where she is.”

“I’m telling you, she’s got nothing to do with this. I know her. You have to believe me.” He was already speed-dialing a number.

He put the phone to his ear. Xander could hear the ringing, then voice mail pick up. “Call me,” Denon said, then disconnected with a frown.

“That’s odd. She usually answers whenever I call.”

Xander changed tactics. “How well do you know this woman? What’s her role in your organization?”

“I know her quite well, and she doesn’t work for me.” He crossed his arms and sat back against the white leather, clearly finished talking about the woman. But Xander wasn’t deterred.

“Mr. Denon, let me tell you what I’ve found out about Juliet Bouchard. She’s a French national. She came to the United States on your plane. She currently works for a company called BARE in Paris. She’s got a degree in microbiology and worked at the Sorbonne and the Pasteur Institute.”

“Yes?”

“And she died in 1942. So you can see why this raises my suspicions.”

Denon squinted at him, tapped his fingers against his jaw.

“That’s not possible. Juliet—”

“Sir. I can’t protect you if you don’t tell me everything that’s going on. Chalk’s in there ready to blow this woman up. If she’s a friendly, you’re going to have to prove it, and fast.”

He put up his hands. “Don’t. Don’t. She is a friendly. We’ve been dating, okay? She’s my girlfriend.”

Xander glanced at Denon’s thick gold wedding ring. “Your mistress, you mean. I take it Mrs. Denon doesn’t know about it?”

“Mrs. Denon wouldn’t care a whit, so long as her accounts are paid at the end of the month. We’ve had an understanding for a very long time. She does her thing, I do mine. We’re discreet about it, very discreet. This is the sort of thing that brings down CEOs.”

Xander crossed his arms on his chest. “Why don’t you just get divorced?”

“Because I don’t particularly want to be married to anyone else. This arrangement is beneficial to us both. My wife and I have been great friends for a very long time. We do things together. Events, parties, holidays. We have children, though they’re grown now. We just don’t have sex anymore. At least, not with each other. Divorce isn’t necessary.”

“And Juliet? The latest in a string of casual encounters, or someone special?”

“Very special. We’ve been exclusive for months now. She likes the arrangement, as well. It suits her needs. She’s very busy, and doesn’t have time to cater to a man any more than I do another wife.”

“Where did you meet?”

Denon looked to his team, typing away, industriously keeping his company running through the air. He met Xander’s eyes. “Come now, my boy. Is this really necessary? This is my private life we’re talking about.”

Xander’s smile was grim. “It is absolutely necessary. You’ve managed to keep something very personal under the radar, Mr. Denon. It makes me wonder what other secrets you’re keeping.”

“There are no other secrets. This is my great shame.” He laughed, not pleasantly. “My wife’s family is exceptionally rich. I need the funds to keep things running. It’s as simple as that.”

“Where did you meet Bouchard?”

Denon sighed heavily. “In Paris, June, last year. I was speaking at a conference, she was an attendee. She approached me after my speech, offered to buy me a drink. One thing led to another. I got a leg over, and she seemed not to mind too terribly much. We met up regularly after that.”

“She’s much younger.”

The mischievous schoolboy was back. “Aren’t they always?”

“Where is she now?”

“She had some sort of conference to attend in New York. I gave her a ride across the pond. She’s finding her own way home.”

“Does your staff know?”

“Only my secretary. And she’s been with me longer than my wife.”

“How did you explain her presence on the plane?”

“They all know Juliet is a colleague. It isn’t unheard of for me to give colleagues rides.”

Xander nearly groaned aloud. Why was it men never thought people knew about their affairs?

“Are we through?” Denon asked. “I need to check in with the office. I’m sure they’re going mad by now.”

Xander wanted to believe him. He liked the man, damn it. But his respect had dropped a few notches, and while the story rang true, Xander wasn’t a fool. Something was up.

“One last thing. Why is she traveling under a fake name?”

Denon’s eyes grew cold. “You’re sure about this? Juliet Bouchard isn’t her real name?”

“Absolutely. It wouldn’t be readily apparent, but Chalk and I are very good at what we do. I’m certain it’s an assumed identity. All the info she’s using is attached to the woman who died in 1942.” He paused for a moment. “I have to ask. Why didn’t you have a background check run on her?”

Denon was troubled. Xander could see the far-off look in his eyes as he tried to rationalize what was happening. “I did, God help me. Apparently, my people missed it. Which is why, as I’m sure you can understand, I am bloody well going to fire everyone who worked on it.” This anger was real, and the flare of it made Xander remember who, exactly, he was dealing with. James Denon was a very powerful man, and he could make or break Xander and Chalk at will. He needed to step carefully.

“We’re looking into your staff right now, trying to see if anyone has a grudge or has been contacted by an outside group. And we’re looking at everyone you met with while you were here in the States. But a mistress using a fake name is a good jumping-off point.” He stood, shook Denon’s hand. “I’m sorry to ruin your day. Hold off getting in touch with Juliet again for the moment. Let us see if we can find out more.”