Dire Distraction by Dee Davis Read Free Book Online

worked covert operations for one thing. Which means my cover is pretty damn tight. And my background is buried really deep. And it doesn’t hurt that no one out here really gives a damn about the ins and outs of American politics. Besides, I’m good at what I do. Anyway, you’re one to talk— Professor Solomon.”
    “Dean of students actually—and I’m pretty damn good at doing that. But you’re right, of course. Langley has made an art form out of creating covers. I was just surprised. I actually know your father, professionally at least.”
    “Then you must run in some pretty high-level circles.” She turned with a frown, her gaze assessing now. “My father isn’t the shake-hands-with-the-plebeians type.”
    “We served on a task force together once. And I’ve run into him from time to time in Washington over the years. Anyway, the point is, I’ve always been impressed.”
    “He’s a good man. Just a little myopic when it comes to certain things.” Again Sydney shrugged, but Avery had the feeling that there was more to it than that, but he didn’t know her well enough to push for more. And besides, he had more important things to deal with—like finding Shrum and, potentially, Evangeline.

Chapter 4
    S yd slipped a sideways glance at Avery, then turned her attention back to the river. She wasn’t sure why she’d told him the truth about her father. It wasn’t something she usually discussed. But he’d asked her point blank and there was just something about the man that demanded truth. She wondered again just exactly who Avery Solomon really was. Clearly there was more to the man than just his job with A-Tac. Which in and of itself was pretty damn impressive.
    When she’d pressed her contacts for information, she’d been surprised with the range and accomplishments of the team Avery had assembled. They’d single-handedly managed to thwart a number of potentially deadly terrorist attacks, including an assassination attempt on one of the Middle East’s rising diplomatic stars.
    A-Tac was definitely one of Langley’s most elite units. And Avery had headed the team since its inception. Which made it all that much more puzzling that he’d come here on his own without their backing. She’d have understood if the op was off the books, but her orders had come from the top—the very top. And yet, here he was, hunting Shrum on his own.
    Not that she was complaining. The opportunity to work with someone of Avery’s caliber was a definite turn-on. And there was always the chance, if she handled it right, that she could segue this gig into a permanent placement with A-Tac. She’d hadn’t lied when she’d told Avery that she preferred going solo. But that didn’t mean she didn’t want to advance her career, and one way to do that was to make sure you were surrounded by the best of the best.
    It was one of the lessons her father had drilled into her at an early age. Always play tennis with people better than you. Much, much better.
    And if her intel was right, Avery Solomon was as good as they got.
    “Any chance this is going to let up?” Avery asked, breaking into her cascading thoughts.
    She looked up at the swollen sky and shook her head. “Probably not. It looks like it’s socked in for the rest of the day. Or what’s left of it.” She glanced down at her watch, surprised to see how late it had gotten.
    “So have you got somewhere we can put in for the night?” Avery asked, his gaze moving to the river banks and the palm trees whipping wildly in the wind.
    “I was hoping we’d make it as far as the cut off to Shrum’s. But it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. Better to just find a place to hunker down and ride out the storm. Then we can try again in the morning. There’s a place a couple miles up the river from here, belongs to a friend of mine.” Belonged . She contained a shudder. She hadn’t been to Tim’s place since he died. Too many memories. Still, this wasn’t