The Innocent (Will Robie #1)

by David Baldacci

passport her last trip out of the States was two years ago. She wasn’t a field agent, at least not any longer, according to you. Her youngest child wasn’t even a year old. She probably was pulled from the field because of that. But she was back working on something, probably considered routine. She found something. That’s why she was targeted. I doubt it was directly related to her work.” Blue Man took this in, his head nodding approvingly. “You analyze well, Robie. I’m impressed.” “And I’m full of questions. Do you know what she had stumbled onto?” “No. We don’t. But like you we don’t think

spring rolls. “My diet is not the healthiest in the world,” she said. “Sort of an occupational hazard.” Robie settled farther back in his chair and prepared himself to engage in small talk. He had wanted to have a drink with Lambert. But now that he was here with her, it seemed crazy given all that he was confronting right now. I can’t be normal, no matter how much I want to be. “I can understand that. You do much traveling in your job?” he said, trying to sound

from her bedroom to the kitchen. She was dressed in black tights

and think.” “I can show you how to pick a lock,” he said. She smiled. “That might come in handy, actually. I’m always forgetting my keys.” Another thirty minutes passed and Robie said, “Well, I guess we should call it a night.” He looked at his watch. “And you might as well shower and get ready for work. I guess you don’t need much sleep.” “Look who’s talking.” He walked her back to her apartment. She turned and said, “I really enjoyed this.” “So did I.” “I haven’t met many people since I’ve been here.” “It’ll happen. Just takes time.” “I meant that I’m really glad I met you.” She kissed him on the lips, letting her fingers linger against his chest. “Good night,” she said. After she went inside Robie stood there. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling. Well, maybe he only hadn’t felt it in a really long time. Finally, he turned and walked off, more confused and unsure of himself than ever.

military history of each. The military kept impeccable records. He slipped the papers into his pocket, started up the car, and raced past the guard on his way out of the small government complex. As he retraced his route back to Virginia, he thought about Connors in his little cage back there. Connors had taught Robie pretty much everything he knew. The man was a legend in the field of sanctioned assassinations. When he’d officially retired and Robie had gone full throttle, operating all over the world, he and Connors had lost contact. Yet Robie could still vividly remember the first mission the two had performed together. After the kill was done, Connors had kissed the barrel of his rifle. When Robie asked him why he had done that, Connors had replied simply, “Because it’s the only thing standing between me being here and me not being here.” There were a few men who could not be bought under any circumstances. Shane Connors was one of them. Robie made sure he wasn’t followed and zigzagged the last ten miles of his trip just to be certain. He got back to the farmhouse early in the morning. Vance was awake with gun in hand and a serious expression on her face. Julie was asleep on a couch in the back room of the first floor. Vance had seen the car pull up. “Where’d you get it?” she asked when