“You sound like you expect something else to happen.”

“It’s my job to expect something to happen.”

“All of this national security is making my head hurt.”

“Think of it as a puzzle,” Levi said. “We want to see if these banks have anything in common and if they have any connection to Sereno.”

“When you say it that way, it sounds so simple.” She nodded toward her computer. “Kind of like comparing business proposals.”

“Something like that.”

“I’m happy to help if I can. Like you said, I can’t learn about national security if I’m never exposed to anything that goes on behind the scenes.”

“I don’t think I said it quite like that, but close enough.” Levi leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Would you mind eating in my office tonight? I thought we could have a working dinner.”

“It sounds like I’m not the only one who has something to learn.”

“What do you mean?”

“One thing my parents always insisted on was to protect dinnertime from all distractions,” Cassie said. “Mom said everyone needs time to step away from the world, if only to regain perspective.”

“In my job, that luxury isn’t always available.”

“I understand that, but is working through dinner going to undo any of those robberies?”

“No.”

“Then maybe you should give my way a try.” Cassie noticed his hesitation. “One hour. Give me that, and afterward, we can work together.”

“Fine. If you insist.”

“I do.”

Levi stood and glanced out the french doors leading to her balcony. “It’s nice out. Do you want to eat on the terrace?”

“I’d like that.”

“Good. I’ll meet you downstairs in an hour.”

Cassie watched him go and debated whether she should look through the new information Levi had brought her or if she should pick up her work where she’d left off. Curiosity pushed her to open the new file.

One report after another detailed the location, basic robbery details, time, and description of suspects. Cassie had to read only three to recognize the glaring similarities. Deciding to organize the information the way she did best, she opened a new spreadsheet on her laptop and entered the details by column.

Little by little, new parallels surfaced. Levi was onto something. The timing of these robberies wasn’t a coincidence.

CHAPTER 13

A basket of rolls in one hand and a carafe of water in the other, Levi approached the table where he and Cassie would dine tonight. When he had informed Patrice of his plans, the simple meal had turned into an affair of royal proportions. White linen now covered the wrought-iron table; the place settings of china and silver replaced the everyday dishes the staff typically used for their meals.

Levi had drawn the line at letting Patrice assign a maid to serve them. He didn’t think he could handle dining with Cassie with Brenna hovering nearby, and he suspected she would have been the one given the duty of waiting on them had he agreed.