Operation Zulu Redemption: Act of Treason - Part 4 by Ronie Kendig Read Free Book Online Page A

to sleep, anticipating the jet lag she’d suffer before this was said and done. Six hours after wheels-up at Dulles, when the plane landed she had a crick in her neck and a kink in her mood. Rubbing out the knot, she yawned.
    They disembarked and immediately grabbed a taxi to get them to the ferry that would deliver them to Dover. Even as they crossed the sea, Annie wished Sam was with her to see the white cliffs. The Dover Castle on the rolling hills. Beautiful, stunning.
    “And I get to see it alone,” she mumbled as they left the ferry.
    “With me,” Nuala said, sidling up next to her as she gave a backward glance to Téya, who lagged a few feet behind. Nuala had an infectious smile. The only one of their crew not affected by some recent morbid tragedy.
    Not true. Though Nuala hadn’t suffered a direct loss, she felt deeply. Annie knew that much. To the side, she noted Boone and Rusty striding confidently up the street toward the town. They’d split up to avoid attracting attention. If Ballenger was here, they didn’t need to alert him.
    “He’s not in a good way,” Nuala said, her eyes locking onto Boone. “I’m concerned.”
    “Well, right now we need to be concerned about finding the Black Lion,” Annie said, tugging out a page she’d ripped from a tourist book. That’s where they’d stay. Supposedly, it had a decent shot of the water. But more importantly, of Ballenger’s flat. “Just can’t understand how he could afford a flat here.”
    “The apartments on the north side are run down.”
    “Yes, but they’re still by the water,” Annie said.
    Soon, the paved road gave way to the bricked road, which somehow felt better on Annie’s feet and back. Halfway up the street, they spotted the white awning with the black pawing lion. Lettering below it announced their destination.
    Annie glanced back to let Téya know, but found the road cluttered with foot traffic. Loads of people but no Téya. Stowing her irritation at her friend’s moodiness, she smiled at Nuala. “Let’s check in, then come down for a scone and some tea.”
    “
Mmm
, delicious,” Nuala said with a giggle.
    Armed with a room key ten minutes later, they made it to the second-floor suite and let themselves in. They each claimed a bed, then Annie walked the room, checking out the bathroom, vanity, closet, and—
    The door in the wall swung open. An adjoining door admitted Boone and Rusty. “Where’s Two?” Boone asked.
    “Sightseeing, I guess,” Annie said. “She was gone when I turned around. She’ll show.”
    As if on cue, the door opened.
    Annie turned, heart in her throat as Téya entered, casually aloof. “How’d you get in?”
    Between two fingers, lifted a key card. “Cleaning lady set it down.” She glanced around the room, then slung her backpack on a bed. “When are we heading over?”
    “How did you know what room we were in?” Annie demanded.
    “You weren’t exactly trying to hide that,” Téya said.
    “Where were you?”
    “Are you my mother now?”
    “What is your problem, Téya? We’re a team. We need to have our heads in the game.”
    “My head is in the game,” Téya said. “I was able to ascertain your location and access to your room without arousing suspicion or trouble.”
    “You should have been with us.”
    “Well, I wasn’t.”
    Annie shoved her hands into her curly hair. “What is your problem?”
    “My problem is we have an assassin trying to take us out and we’re running all over the world, and being careless at that.” She snatched up her pack and stalked toward the door. “
I
want to stay alive.”
    “Where are you going now?”
    “To recon. To make sure you don’t get us killed.”
    Annie felt a primal growl rolling up her throat. But the hurt that came with Téya’s sharp words cut it short.
What did I do to deserve that?
    “Hey.” Boone’s gruff voice pulled Annie around. “Focus on the mission. We need Ballenger. Need to know what he knows. Got