The Innocent (Will Robie #1)

by David Baldacci

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