“Has to be preemptively silenced,” Kevin finished. “And who knows exactly what the too-thorough CIA agent might have seen? Better shut him up, too.”

“Can’t take any chances,” Alex whispered. “Not when you’re reaching this high.”

It was silent for thirty seconds.

“Wow,” Val said, so loudly it made Alex jump. “Are you guys going to assassinate the vice president?” She sounded utterly thrilled by the idea.

“He’s not the vice president yet,” Kevin said. “He’s nothing, officially. That means no Secret Service.”

Daniel’s mouth was hanging open.

Higher stakes again, but not by so very much. In the end, no matter what else he represented, Wade Pace was just one beating heart.

Kevin locked eyes with Alex. “So he put a hit out on me, my brother, you, your friend… so he could try to be president. Oh, I’m going to enjoy this one.”

She opened her mouth but then quickly snapped it shut again. It would be a lot easier and safer – for her – to let Kevin do as much of the wet work as possible.

But there was her anonymity – Daniel’s, too, so she might as well lump in Kevin’s matching face – which had to be protected above all else if this plan was going to work. Kevin might be better at killing people than she was, but she was pretty sure that she was better at doing it with minimal ripples. If you want something done right…

“As much as I hate to deprive you of any fun, I think you might want to let me take this one.” She shivered slightly. This was probably a big mistake. Was she turning into the adrenaline junkie she’d accused Daniel of being? She didn’t think so. She felt nothing but dread at the idea of adding another job to her list. “Quiet is the goal, right? It won’t get too much attention if our wannabe president dies of a heart attack or a stroke – not the same coverage as if he were found shot in some kind of home invasion.”

“I can be quiet,” Kevin insisted. His eyebrows were pulling down into a scowl.

“Natural-causes quiet?”

“Close enough.”

“Close enough puts our other targets on high alert.”

“They’re already on high alert.”

“So how do you see this happening?”

“I’ll improvise when I get there.”

“Sound plan.”

“You know how many people die in household accidents every day in this country?”

“No. But I’m positive that more white men in their early sixties die from health-related problems than from any other reason.”

“Okay, great, a heart attack would be the quietest way for Pace to die, agreed. How are you going to get in, shorty? Knock on the door and ask to borrow a cup of sugar? Be sure to wear your frilly apron – really sell it.”

“I can adapt the Carston plan. I’ll just need a few more days of research on Pace —”

Kevin’s hand slapped loudly against the counter. “We don’t have that kind of time. We’ve delayed too long as it is. You know Deavers and Carston aren’t wasting the prep time we’ve already given them.”

“Rushing just leaves openings they can take advantage of. Proper preparation —”

“You are so annoying!”

She hadn’t realized how close together she and Kevin had gotten – pretty much spitting in each other’s face from about six inches away – until Daniel’s hand suddenly shot in between them.

“Can I interrupt to suggest the obvious?” he asked.

Kevin smacked his hand away. “Stay out of it, Danny.”

Alex took a deep, calming breath. “What’s obvious?” she asked Daniel.

“Alex, you have the best plan for how to… um, assassinate the senator.” He shook his head quickly. “I can’t believe this is real.”

“It’s real,” Kevin said harshly. “And I wouldn’t call a plan with no entry point the best plan.”

“Let me finish. Alex has the best… methodology. Kevin, you have the best chance of getting in undetected.”

“Yeah, I do,” Kevin said belligerently.

“Oh,” Alex said, feeling suddenly disgruntled for some reason. Probably just bruised pride and the irritation of having to cooperate with someone so obnoxious. “You’re right,” she admitted to Daniel. “Again.”

He smiled.

“What?” Kevin demanded. “And stop with the goo-goo eyes, you’ll make me vomit.”

“Obviously” – Alex drew the word out into almost five syllables – “we have to do this together. You go in with my premixed solution in hand. Actually…” Her brain started turning over options. “More than one solution, I think. We’ll have to stay in contact so I can guide you to the best application —”

Kevin gave her a withering look. “You’re in command, and I’m just following orders on the ground?”

Alex stared him down. “Tell me your better plan.”

Kevin rolled his eyes, but then refocused. “Fine. It makes sense. Whatever.”

Alex felt better already. She could perform her part without any risk. And though she didn’t love to admit it, she knew Kevin could do his.

Kevin snorted like he could hear her thoughts, then said, “Can I ask one favor?”

“What do you want?”

“When you’re mixing your little beakers of poison, could you make this one hurt? Hurt bad?”