“It’s not his usual assignment,” Zale said. “He practiced by watching tapes, although he is good at gambling and wins most of the time. That helps shore up our cover story.”
Vienna took a slow sip of water while she digested what he’d told her. “You were never part of Wallin’s security, and you never got close to him like the other two agents who disappeared did,” she mused aloud, the way she did when she had to think things over. “Your boss cut off contact with him—” She broke off and looked over at him, pressing her finger to the strange birthmark she had on her wrist—a perfect heart. “How did he get in touch with your boss? Computer? Phone? How would he even know about your boss? I wouldn’t. If it weren’t for Sam, I wouldn’t even know you existed.”
“I believe Wallin and his friend go way back. His friend and my boss were old friends. The mutual friend knew how to reach out to my boss using a code indicating trouble. From there, my boss was in touch with him, and that would have been on a line that would be fully secure.”
“The breakdown would have had to occur after the agent came to the hotel and joined the protection unit guarding Wallin,” she surmised.
Zale agreed with her. “I’m certain whoever is responsible for the disappearance of both agents is in Wallin’s personal security force. When our agent joined, he had to be vetted and allowed to be hired. Wallin vouched for him, so that would red-flag him to anyone that wanted Wallin dead.”
That strange awareness brushed abruptly along the walls of her mind, making Vienna grateful Zale hadn’t gone in as part of Wallin’s bodyguard force. She dealt in percentages and placed bets accordingly. “I have to think about this, Zale. If Daniel Wallin’s life is in danger, there’s a reason for it. He’s surrounded by security all the time, especially now that he’s been threatened twice. If you wanted to get to him, how would you do it? Bribe a bodyguard, right? More than one to ensure it happens.”
Zale smiled at her. His smile wasn’t nice. “That’s not how I would do it, but I suppose most people aren’t me.”
“No, they aren’t, but whoever this is, is smart, Zale. Those two agents were trained in the same way you were and they’re both most likely dead.” She needed to point that out to him, not wanting him to get too cocky.
He pushed his hand through his hair. “I know, Snowflake. And I’m with you that more than one person on Wallin’s security team has to be involved.”
“So, who did you talk to that might be involved with those three men who attacked you? Because one of the three had something to do with one of the security guards.”
“That’s a good question. I’ll bring it up to Rainier and we’ll go over everyone we both spoke with. In the meantime, are you going to let me go to dinner with you and your mother? I know a nice little restaurant out of the way, nowhere near the Strip.”