Bare Witness by Katherine Garbera Read Free Book Online Page A

Kevlar vest for you and Constance to wear. I didn’t think to bring one small enough for Piper. But I called my partners and they will have one for her when we land in Lima.”
    “Flying into Lima isn’t the most direct route,” Nigel said. With his private plane, he was used to flying to the exact location where he needed to be. Lima was a good day’s ride from Cusco. And from Cusco, it was half day’s drive in a Humvee to get to the factory.
    “Safety is my concern, Nigel. Not directness. We’ll get you there in one piece.”
    “I wasn’t complaining.”
    “I know. I just…”
    “What?”
    “Nothing.”
    But Nigel sensed it wasn’t nothing. He and Justine had crossed a line earlier. One that client and bodyguard should never cross. It didn’t matter that he was thinking about crossing it again. Right now, all that mattered was that Justine was shaken because of it.
    And now he knew that he needed to pull back. His being distracted wasn’t a problem, because if he missed a detail at work no one would die. If Justine was distracted, there was a very good chance that she’d lose that vigilance she had—and that could mean Piper’s life.
    “Is that all?”
    She glanced at him with that tough-as-nails gaze of hers, shaking her head. “Put on the vest and make sure Constance does as well.”
    He nodded and watched her leave the room.
     
    Justine’s BlackBerry twittered as soon as she stepped out of the bedroom. She glanced at the caller ID screen before answering. The job, she thought, knowing that was what she needed to be concentrating on, instead of thinking about Nigel and that huge bed in the back room.
    “What’s up, Anna?”
    “Hello, Justine. I’ve been trying to find out more about the group of mercenaries who we believe are responsible for the attack on Jenkins, but so far I’ve gotten nowhere.” Anna said.
    “What about Sam and his contacts?” Justine asked. Mercenaries weren’t the team’s favorite people to go up against. It was easier to deal with adversaries who were fighting for a cause or their beliefs, instead of someone who killed simply for money. Justine had no problem with killing to protect someone for a cause, but for money…that had always pissed her off.
    Like you had no allegiance. She shook her head to clear it, as she realized Anna was saying something.
    “Sam’s contacts are being quiet about this one. Other than saying they believe it was a group of mercenaries who attacked Jenkins, they’ve said little else,” Anna said.
    “If Sam can’t get any info, that must mean there’s more to this than the environmental concerns of some local villagers,” Justine said.
    “That’s my thought as well. I don’t like the variables we are dealing with. Bringing a kid into this situation is irresponsible. Is there any way you can talk him into sending the girl back to the States?”
    “I doubt it.” Nigel had been adamant about keeping Piper with him. And she admired him for that, but like Anna, she knew that with the variables they would encounter on this mission, having a kid along was a complication they just didn’t need. Piper could tip the scales in the mercenaries’ favor so easily.
    “Doesn’t he care about his daughter at all?” Anna asked.
    Justine knew that Nigel did care very much for Piper. But she didn’t want to explain all that to Anna. “He cares a lot for her.”
    “Well, then play on that,” Anna said.
    “Do you know something you aren’t telling me?” Justine asked as she realized there was a real determination behind Anna’s desire to keep Piper from entering Peru.
    “Nothing concrete, just some rumblings from my contacts, and…”
    “What?”
    “A feeling in my gut that the kid is a vulnerability.”
    “A child’s entire existence is fragile,” Justine said, her mind drifting back to her own childhood for a second. She was caught between this conversation with Anna and her own past.
    “True enough, but we aren’t usually