“Just the way you like me.”
“That is true.”
Omar had surprised him by agreeing to allow Elsa to attend the auction. Ash had thought he’d have to do more convincing, but it was apparent that Schrader was quite a fan of Elsa Olsen.
He subtly nodded to a corner across the room where they could talk without being overheard. Weaving through small pockets of people, Humphrey made little acknowledgment of speculating eyes. And Elsa stared through the others as if they didn’t exist, showing that, without a doubt, they were a perfect match.
Stopping at the small alcove, he heard Jules inhale slightly and looked at her sharply. “You okay?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “Neither Elsa nor Jules is a fan of large crowds.”
“Humphrey and Ash agree with you both.”
Taking a sip of her champagne, Jules asked, “Do you think everyone knows what’s going on here?”
“Doubtful. Omar has a reputation for throwing lavish parties. He probably thinks it’s amusing to have all these people out here enjoying themselves while people in another part of the house plot death and destruction.”
“I hope you’re right. Two of my favorite actors are over there, happily gobbling caviar.”
Ash followed her gaze and though he recognized the young woman as the star of a television detective series, he didn’t recognize the man.
“Who’s the—”
His earwig dinged once. He had worried that they wouldn’t be able to use their comms inside the house, but so far they hadn’t had any issues. Once they entered the auction, he expected to lose contact.
“Ash, can you hear me?”
He glanced over at Jules and saw no indication that she’d heard Serena’s voice. The ding had been his notice that all comms had been cut but his. He gave a grunt to let Serena know he’d heard.
“We’ve got a problem. Can you walk away from Stone for a moment?”
More confused than concerned, he asked Jules, “More champagne?”
Jules shook her head. “Ice-cold water would be heaven, if you can find some.”
“Be right back.”
Turning away from her, he headed toward the large double doors leading to a balcony. He stepped out, barely noting the cool, crisp night. “What’s going on?”
“Something’s come up on Stone’s background.”
He had told Serena to stop looking. He trusted Jules. Any other secrets she had, he wanted her to feel comfortable sharing with him. And while he could tell his communications specialist to forget about any further intel, he wouldn’t. This mission was too important to risk not knowing anything that could ruin it.
“What is it?”
“The monthly tracker analysis came in a few hours ago. I didn’t pay much attention to it since we’re all accounted for, but since we had some downtime between the party and the auction. I just thought I’d—”
She was rambling, and that was uncharacteristic. “Get to the point, Serena.”
“An anomaly came up on Jules…the day before she arrived at headquarters that first day.”
That would’ve been the day after she’d received the tracker.
“Okay…so what is it?”
“She flew from Arizona to Ohio.”
Dread began to trickle in. “Where in Ohio?”