Rule 53

by Elaine Nolan

  “No,” she answered, seeing their expectant faces as they waited for more. “For others, it’s a business.”

  “And?” he pressed.

  “I was a commodity, but it was what got me clean, taught me to be disciplined, and it got me through college.” She saw Donal frown but turned back to Tom.

  “Jesus,” he muttered, sitting back and crossing his arms. “And turned you into a hardass.” She just shrugged in reply.

  “Okay, DFHQ just sent the list of key words, and ordered us to do our worst,” Donal said, reading the email on his mobile. “Well, our hardass will have her work cut out for her if GCHQ are monitoring Huntington files. You two just make sure Rainey’s solid on his testimony.”

  With tasks assigned, he brought their meeting to a conclusion, then walked with Leigh. Something about the word she’d used niggled at him, but he put it aside for the moment. Super-spy stuff, as she called it, awaited.

  CHAPTER 69

  Tom waited impatiently. Not that he’d admit to feeling anxious to anyone, but he was the only one without a task. With Donal in the Crow’s Nest there was no room for him, and he’d only be a distraction. So he distracted himself with paperwork, finishing up the reports of their investigations on both Bradford and McGinty, though McGinty absconded, but Tom knew it was only a matter of time before the Americans found him.

  He filed his own report to the secure server, and resigned himself to the more mundane task of screening visa applications, his official reason for being assigned to the Embassy. He had to admit, meeting the person who developed the system the Embassy used had exceeded his expectations. Expecting a nerdy lonely boy, his assessment was based on the computer geek stereotype and the misrepresentation and interpretation of her name. He assumed they’d be dealing with a man. Well he certainly had his ass handed to him on that one. So much for the Garda training on assuming nothing until the facts proved otherwise.

  Given the extra level of interesting shit she was into, his only real disappointment was his inability to tempt her into some bedroom rodeo. In spite of everything, she had a strong moral core. Or maybe it was the proximity to her lover. Tom always abided by the ‘what happens on tour, stays on tour’ principle. A man had certain needs, especially deployed away from home, and time spent in Leigh’s company only intensified those needs. But she made it clear to him, and it was another thing he had to resign himself to; no banging the army tech chick.

  One of his team alerted him to Adam and Rainey’s return, but he wasn’t interested in hearing the outcome twice, first from Adam, and then when Donal insisted on yet another official meeting, so Tom continued with the visas as a distraction. He didn’t have long to wait, although the technical side took longer than they’d had expected, but Leigh looked exhausted and withdrawn.

  “Coffee,” she muttered as she passed them in the hallway, ignoring them as she made her way to the canteen. Nathan caught up and followed her.

  “Well?” Adam asked Donal, trailing her, who shook his head.

  “We didn’t get much more than we already had, but holy shit…”

  “What happened?” Tom asked, joining them.

  “I’ve never seen anyone code so fast. She was three or four moves ahead, saw and anticipated actions I wouldn’t even think of, let alone know how to code,” Donal confessed.

  “She’s that good?” Tom asked, and Donal nodded.

  “I’m glad she’s on our side,” he confessed. “I can’t believe the Brits handed her back to us and didn’t keep her for themselves.”

  “Because she’s too clever for her own good sometimes,” Tom commented. “They wouldn’t have been able to rein her in. Look at the shit-storm she’s uncovered that they’ve tried to hide.”

  “She has the right idea, I’m starving,” Adam said.

  She barely managed a smile as Nathan placed the mugs of coffee on the table, but before she could sit, he pulled her into an embrace, a hug that took her by surprise, and she stiffened, wondering if this was a reaction to Swayne’s questioning at the Hearing.

  “Adam played me the recording after we left the conference room,” he said, without letting her go. “My entire world turned on its ass, and you came to the rescue, just like dad did. You’re… the anchor I’ve been missing most of my life. And now that I’ve found you, I’ve no intentions of letting it go again. And I am sorry for how we started off. I’m sorry for how I treated you, I’m sorry for the bad impression I had of you without knowing anything about you. You remind me of him too, and I want us to be a family.” Given her rigid stance, he expected, anticipated, a sharp answer, but he felt her body soften, come closer, tighter as she returned the hug, but he also felt a shudder. “Are you… crying?” he asked.

  “I’m overtired,” she answered, and he smirked at her staying a badass to the end.

  “Thank you,” he said, pulling away. “I can’t promise I won’t let you down, but I’ll do my best not to.”

  “Wow, I was right from the start, it is terms and conditions to the very end with you,” she answered, and he laughed, spotting the others entering and joining them, and Donal launched an impromptu debriefing session.

  At the end, when the three others left them, she slid the file she’d brought with her across the table to Nathan.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “It’s dad’s file, and our… history, I guess you could call it,” she told him. “It’s how this all started, from the night he met McGregor, to working with him and trying to infiltrate deeper into the conglomerate, to having you, then having to leave you and your mother, to still tracking them down, which led to Lantry, which led to getting himself and my mum killed. It’s in civil service filing order, so start at the back and work your way forward.”

  “Where did you get this?” he asked, skimming through the pages. “Is this his handwriting?”

  “Walters got it to the Irish Embassy in London, and they sent it on, and yes, it’s his handwriting.”

  “Wow.” It came out as a whisper, and he traced his fingers along a line of cursive text, as though trying to connect to Lee.

  “Yeah, hold that thought until you finish it. I don’t think you’ll like what you read about him. I know I don’t. And it doesn’t leave this Embassy,” she told him and left him to read it.

  CHAPTER 70

  A message popped up on her screen, a notification to say she had a visitor at reception. She was surprised to find Nathan waiting for her, looking relaxed, a far cry from his last visit.

  “Now what do you want?” she asked, and he gave her a look of mild reproach.

  “Oh charming. I just thought seeing as I have my freedom back, thanks to you, that I’d take my little sister out to dinner,” he answered, and she smirked.

  “You paying?”

  “Do I have a choice? Besides, I owe you.”

  “You have a place in mind? I’m assuming it’s not a fast food drive thru?” she asked.

  “It’s a restaurant on 19th Street, so we can walk there. It’ll take about 15 minutes. I made a reservation.”

  “Presumptuous of you,” she challenged, but he shrugged.

  “I’m a Harte, and having been around you I now know that’s another amazing family trait we share,” he threw back, and she laughed.

  “I need to change into civvies first,” she said and he nodded. “How dressy?”

  “You won’t need a cocktail dress,” he assured her, and she smirked again.

  “Give me 10 minutes,” she said, and took the stairs two at a time.

  They walked toward Dupont Circle, and she jammed her hands in her pockets, hunched her shoulders against the biting wind that carried a promise of rain, and now regretted their decision to walk. As they reached the Circle, three black SUVs halted at the kerb, and gunmen exited the vehicles. They identified themselves as Homeland Security, guns pointed at the pair, and roared at them to get on their knees.

  “What the…?” Nate blurted. Leigh glanced at him, and a myriad o
f thoughts and reasons ran through her mind, and jumped to the same conclusion; his dinner invitation wasn’t as innocent or benevolent as it seemed, but he was more shocked and disorientated by the bellowed commands than she was. He followed her lead, and placed his hands at the back of his head, copying her, but they weren’t interested in him. He got to his feet and found his voice.

  “What the hell is going on? She works for the Irish Embassy. Doesn’t she have diplomatic immunity?” he demanded.

  “She’s not a diplomat and it doesn’t count with espionage,” the team leader told him.

  “Espionage?” Nate demanded again.

  “Who the hell are you?”

  “I’m her brother.”

  “Your sister’s being deported on allegations of spying on the US, obstructing an investigation and subverting a US agent.”

  “If it’s only allegations, then you’ve no grounds to deport her.”

  “You also her lawyer?”

  “I have some experience,” Nate continued to rail against them.

  “Want to be detained and deported along with her?”

  Leigh shook her head at Nate, her expression told him to back off as they cuffed her, hauled her to her feet and shoved towards the middle SUV.

  “Find Jake,” was all she said to him as they pushed her into the vehicle.

  CHAPTER 71

  The interruption came as a relief from the tedious scanning of records Swayne assigned him, and Jake wished he had Leigh to do her cyber magic on it, but he knew it was a futile wish to hand intel over to a foreign agent. At least this break would distract him, give him a fresh perspective when he returned to it, but his eyes narrowed in annoyance when he saw who the interruption was. Nate’s demeanour gave him pause as he bullied his way towards Jake’s desk.

  “Leigh,” he blurted. “She’s being deported.”

  “By whom?”

  “Homeland Security. They just took her from the street.”

  Jake frowned and picked up his phone, scrolled through his contacts before making a call, forestalling any more jabbering from Nate.

  “Nick. Leigh Harte. Your guys just picked her up?”

  “Yeah. You didn’t know?” Nick answered

  “How could I have known?” Jake asked.

  “Because the order came from your Senator.”

  “What order? On what grounds?”

  “For spying against the US and interfering in the Senator’s investigation.”

  “That’s bullshit. She was helping us.”

  “So, you’re confirming she was engaged in espionage?”

  “I’m confirming nothing of the sort,” Jake snapped, startling Nate who followed where Jake’s glare was directed, and finding the Senator in her office.

  “Oh yeah, the Senator mentioned the subversion of someone on her staff, you wouldn’t know who she was talking about, would you?” Nick challenged.

  “How would I, seeing as I didn’t know she was being picked up,” Jake retorted.

  “Well, she’s being sent back to Ireland my friend, on the next available flight.”

  “Which is?”

  “Next direct flight to Dublin is in just over four hours.”

  “Where is she leaving from?

  “Dulles.”

  He disconnected the call and stared at his desk, trying to think, trying to make sense of it. Swayne had her deported? What the hell?

  “What’s happening?” Nate’s questions snapped him from his reverie.

  “They’re shipping her out in four hours from Dulles.”

  “Why? She’s not a spy.”

  Jake gave him a sour look.

  “She’s not really a spy,” Nate continued to defend her.

  “She’s a known and active Irish operative in the US, even if she’s been helping us,” Jake corrected.

  “Was it you?” Nate demanded, but Jake shook his head and glanced towards the Senator’s office. “Your precious Senator then. She’s the only one with the pull to do this and have her deported on mere allegations.” Jake gave the barest of nods.

  “Homeland confirmed it came from Swayne.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know, Nate, but I intend to find out later. First, we need to get to Dulles, see if we can at least see her, if not stop this.” He grabbed his ID and weapon, clipping it to his belt and led Nate out.

  They took a detour, stopping off at the Embassy and came face-to-face with a grim Garda Tom Lawler.

  “You’ve got bigger balls than I’d have credited you with, coming in here,” he said to Jake, but the American was having none of his bravado and squared up to him.

  “Why? This had nothing to do with me.”

  “Then who else could it be?”

  “The Senator’s responsible.”

  Tom and Donal exchanged concerned glances.

  “This won’t help international relations, especially with the help we gave you lot,” Donal said.

  “I know,” Jake answered. “And I honestly have no idea what the Senator’s playing at.”

  “Can you stop them sending her back?” Nathan asked, and Tom shook his head.

  “Not our jurisdiction. It’s not like saving your arse from extradition, this is their turf we’re playing on, and they take spying and security seriously.”

  “So what can we do?” Nathan pushed, and Tom gave him a smirk at seeing Leigh’s iron will starting to show in him.

  “Nothing you can do, except try to say your goodbyes,” Tom advised.

  “Tell her we’ll sort her stuff out and send it to her,” Donal said. Jake acknowledged him with a nod and pulled Nate away.

  He knew it tied Irish hands. They couldn’t acknowledge they had an active agent on their team, and couldn’t risk exposing any others, although intel Jake had said Donal Brennan was the man behind it all in Washington. But he was good, never leaving evidence of his involvement anywhere.

  His ID got them through security, eventually. An accident on the I-66 brought traffic to a halt and reduced their time window. While stuck on the interstate, Jake phoned ahead and had the gate number. He secured promises of an escort to fast-track them through the airport and terminal, but that turned out to not be the case and he suspected Homeland Security were responsible.

  The Department of Homeland Security agents were easy to spot, and sticking to protocol and procedures, held her back until the end. Jake flashed his ID at the agents, but one just snorted.

  “I want to speak with her,” Jake demanded, staring down the agent.

  “She not allowed to speak to anyone until she’s on board.”

  “Bullshit. She’s part of my investigation, I want to speak with her. Now,” he insisted, and Nate understood what Leigh saw in the man. He was one of the few people capable of standing up to her, or putting up with her, depending on your point of view. The agent stepped aside, but Jake continued to be blocked by Commandant Adam Blake, in full official uniform.

  “Why are you here?” Jake asked.

  “It just so happens my rotation here is finishing and I’m shipping home. So what if I go a few weeks earlier than planned and escort one of our own home, given the circumstances,” Adam answered, glancing at the dark suited agents, and Jake read the subtext. He was there to make sure she arrived alive. Adam stepped away, allowing Jake access to her. Another DHS agent stood the other side of her as she sat on the end of the seating row. He tried to interpret her features, guessing at a mix of anger and fear, but she softened at seeing him. He kissed her.

  “If you’re trying to slip her the key, they’re going to uncuff her before we fly,” Adam interjected, distracting them and Leigh smirked.

  “I’m going to find out what happened,” Jake promised her.

  “You can start with Swayne,” she answered.

  “I know, I just found out. I just don’t understand why.”

  “It’s keeping her precious little golden boy safe from his evil dominatrix.”

  “I don’t think that�
��s why,” he answered, but she was unconvinced, and tried her usual ‘whatever’ gesture, but cuffs hampered her and her jaw clenched in anger. Restrained in play was one thing, but in rigid handcuffs she had no way out, and she struggled with it.

  He stayed with her until the final boarding call, and they led away her, followed by Adam, the last two left to board, and accompanied by Homeland Security, everything to make sure she didn’t pull some clever stunt

  “I’ll see you soon,” Nate called after them and she turned, acknowledged it with a nod. Jake just glared at him, hating him for his deepening relationship with Leigh. He knew it was irrational. He knew it made sense; they were siblings, but there was something else, something that bonded them closer, and he didn’t like it.

  “Not before I do,” he shot back, knowing it was juvenile, and walked away to stare out the departures window before Nate could come back with a smart answer.

  CHAPTER 72

  Leaning forward in her seat, as much as the tightened buckled strap would allow, she looked out the tiny window and scanned the opposite glass wall of the departures lounge, finding Jake and Nate. The agent moved, blocking her view and she glared at him. A quick glance to Adam beside her told her he wasn’t impressed with the agent’s manners either.

  “We’re about to lock the door for take-off,” the steward advised the agent who removed Leigh’s restraints before departing.

  “Don’t like handcuffs? How surprising given your kinky shit.” Adam said, as she rubbed her wrists where the metal had chaffed them.

  “They’re not much fun without a good spanking,” she answered drily. His expression said he didn’t find her comment funny. He unzipped the attaché folder. “Now that that eejit is gone.” He handed her a thick folder.

  “What is it?” she asked, opening it and scanning the pages. “What is this? Europol?”