Hidden Agemda (Kate Diamond Adventure) by Leighann Dobbs Read Free Book Online

relaxing effect. The snow dampened any sounds from the rest of the hotel. Kate burrowed into the down mattress, threw the animal fur blanket over herself and fell into a deep, restful sleep.

Chapter Six

    The beeping of the alarm on Kate’s watch interrupted her dream. The same dream she’d had over and over for the past year. The one where the director of the FBI was asking for her badge and gun.  
    Kate eagerly opened her eyes and shook off the last vestiges of sleep. She hated that dream.
    Crawling out of the sleeping bag, she stood and stretched, then checked herself in the mirror. Wig still on straight, makeup not smudged. Perfect. She pulled out the self-heating gloves and socks that Gideon had sent and shook them up to activate, then slipped them on.  
    Slipping the pearls over her neck and threading the matching pearl stud earrings through her pierced ears, she grabbed a black fur cape and threw it over her shoulders. The cape, her black ribbed turtleneck and black thermal pants along with the heated gloves and socks should keep her plenty warm while still looking somewhat fashionable. She slipped on her fur-lined boots and headed out to the shared bathroom before meeting the others.
    Kate emerged from the bathroom refreshed and ready for the night’s activities. The hotel was small with only one corridor, so she didn’t have to do any guesswork to figure out where she’d find the rest of the guests.  
    Seven people milled around in the icy lobby, six she’d never seen and Crowder. Kate didn’t know if the six had arrived while she’d been sleeping or had already been there relaxing in their rooms. The thick snow-packed walls of the hotel had acted as soundproofing and she’d heard nothing while she slept.  
    Kate plastered a disinterested smile on her face as she approached the group.  
    “Ahhh, Miss Hunt.” Crowder turned to her. “I trust you slept well?”
    “Like a baby,” Kate said.
    “Good. Then let me introduce you to everyone else.” Crowder tugged on her elbow, pulling her closer to the crowd. “Everyone, this is Chyna Hunt.”
    Conversation stopped and everyone turned to Kate who tried to smile while remaining aloof. Not only was that what the real Chyna Hunt would have done, but she also didn’t want to encourage any friendships. The less she talked to anyone the better.
    “Mr. and Mrs. Palmer Powell.” Crowder gestured toward an older couple who stood close together. The woman appraised Kate critically. The man didn’t seem interested in her at all. Kate smiled and nodded.
    “Ms. Carmen DeLuca.” Crowder pulled Kate toward a thirty-five-ish woman with long caramel colored hair and eyes to match who was bundled in a pure white snowsuit. She narrowed her eyes at Kate, but stuck out her heavily gloved hand for a limp and noncommittal handshake.
    Crowder turned to the next person in line. An elderly man, hunched over with a cane and clear plastic tubing running from an oxygen tank at his side to both nostrils. “Mr. Jon Nguyen.”
    The old man let out a long, dry wheeze as he bowed his head at Kate who returned the greeting.
    “And this is Mr. White.” Crowder nodded toward an incredibly tall albino who stared at Kate without making any move to greet her.
    Kate suppressed a shiver and turned to the last man—average height, average hair, average eyes, the man was almost invisible and certainly very forgettable.  
    “This is Simon,” Crowder said.  
    As Kate shook Simon’s hand, she realized it was no mistake that he was so average looking. He was most likely a hired hand, sent to bid on behalf of a collector who wanted to remain anonymous.  
    Looking down the row of people, she realized any of them could be hired hands. Maybe none of them were the real collectors. For all she knew, all of the names were fake. She didn’t really care one way or the other, but she knew Crowder must know the real names or who was behind them. Surely, he would have checked them out before