James’s mind reeled. Who was the second ticket for?
“We’re a few minutes away at most. If she enters the washrooms, send someone in. Do not let her out of sight,” James said.
James looked to Lachlan. “Any ideas who the second ticket would be for?” he asked, breathless.
He shook his head as they ran. “No, Widow likes to work alone.”
James looked both ways before sprinting across the intersection, not waiting for the pedestrian lights. Lachlan was right beside him.
“Samuel, where is she?” James asked as they neared the terminal.
“She’s stopped to read a newspaper. I think she’s looking for a tail,”he said.
“Or she’s waiting for someone,” James said, breathless.
They slowed as they entered the terminal. “Direct us, Samuel,” James said under his breath.
“She’s heading down the ramp toward the whispering gallery. Matt is following her, I’m connecting him in now,”Samuel said.
“Copy, I can hear you,”Matt said.“James, she’s alone but she has two tickets.”
“She’s meeting someone. It’ll be moments before the train leaves,” James said, looking to Lachlan. “I’ll go ahead; stay close and watch my back,” he said.
“Go,” Lachlan said, nodding.
James quickened his pace. He couldn’t lose her now. If he did, he didn’t know how many years it would take to find her again.
James ran down the stairs, moving as fast as a hurried husband trying to get home but no faster, because until he knew who the second ticket was for, he couldn’t let down his guard.
“She’s sitting at the platform. Alone. She’s wearing headphones but she’s not talking. She’s not looking at her phone. Appears calm,”Matt said.
James almost smiled. Of course Widow was calm—she was the most dangerous person in the terminal.
“Train is approaching, James!”
James sprinted down the ramp toward the tracks. His heart pounded in his chest. His eyes darted around constantly, taking in every face he passed, watching for any movement that seemed suspicious.
“She’s standing, ready to board.”
James darted through the sea of people eager to get home. She’d chosen the busiest time of day to enter the station; that was no accident.
His eyes landed on her, locking in like a lion on his prey.
James saw a woman pass her, and the swiftest passing of an envelope. It was so quick, so perfectly executed he’d almost missed it. Almost.
“Blonde, tall, female. In her early thirties, maybe. Beige trench coat. Widow passed her an envelope.”
“Eyes on target,” Matt said as the train doors opened and Widow disappeared into the sea of commuters.
James surged forward—he needed to get on that train.
The crowds swarmed toward the open doors and James was very quickly reminded why he hated the train—it was a security risk from every possible angle.
People brushed against him and he fought the urge to react. Anyone could stick a knife in his side, but he could hardly wrestle everyone brushing up against him as they boarded the train.
He brought his phone to his ear, pretending he was on a call. He didn’t know if Black Widow had anyone watching the platform, and he couldn’t risk looking suspicious.
“Lachlan, confirm location,” James said under his breath.