by MC Lee
It was easy to spot Leo in the middle of the pack. Even though he was only putting out half the effort of the other kids, he was handling the practice sprints with ease.
“Leo looks really good out there,” Freya observed. “He makes it look so easy.”
“Some people are natural athletes,” Jack said absently. He clicked off a couple of photos of Leo, making sure not to capture his face fully in case they became public before the assignment was complete, and then he turned his attention to Anderson. This time he was determined to get a clear shot to send to the Center so Sean could put it through a facial recognition program.
“Are you into sports?” Freya asked. “You look pretty fit.”
“I work out with my brother,” Jack replied.
“Leo said you transferred to Bayfield Heights so you could live with him. Do you mind if I ask about your parents?”
Jack turned his head, and Freya threw up a hand. “Listen, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. I understand these things can be hard to discuss. I wouldn’t want—”
“Hey, it’s totally fine,” Jack said, cutting off her apologetic babbling. “It isn’t anything weird. They work for an international aid agency, and they were posted to Africa for a few months. I’m staying with Evan so I can finish senior year.”
“Oh, that’s so interesting!” Freya exclaimed. “Sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I just presume every kid who isn’t living with both parents has gone through some trauma or other.”
“Based on personal experience?” Jack asked kindly. He’d researched her background, of course, but he thought it would be useful to hear the story from her perspective.
She shrugged and bit her lip.
“Shit, I don’t mean to pry,” Jack said quickly.
Freya waved a dismissive hand. “Ancient history. Divorced parents. My mom remarried and moved to Atlanta. She wasn’t so interested in me tagging along.”
Jack felt a sudden urge to reach out and pull her into a hug. Despite her bravado, it was obvious Freya was hurting. He wondered how she’d cope when her father disappeared and she was forced to return to a mother who seemed more interested in focusing on her new life. It wasn’t the first time he’d felt sorry for the target of an assignment. Somehow he’d expected the more times he did this, the easier it would become, but as he looked into Freya’s sad eyes, he felt pity stirring.
“You must miss your parents,” Freya said, jolting him out of his bleak thoughts.
“Yeah. But I can’t deny it’s a lot of fun living with Evan. Except when he tries to boss me around. I could do without that part.”
Jack was glad to see the smile return to Freya’s face. “I always wanted a big brother. But it’s just me and my dad. I’m not complaining. He’s a great guy.”
“What does your dad do for Informa Tech?” Jack asked. Since the Center told him next to nothing about his assignments, he had to figure it all out for himself.
“Don’t think I’m an idiot, but I don’t actually know! He was working on some kind of top-secret government project before he changed jobs. Can you believe it? He couldn’t tell his own daughter what he did.”
Jack winced, wondering whether it was this project that had put a target on Dominic Moore’s back and sealed his fate.
“When did you speak to your mom last?” he blurted.
Her eyes widened in surprise, and Jack felt like a fool. He wanted to tell her to start mending fences but knew he didn’t dare. If Sean got the faintest hint he was compromising his cover, he’d yank Jack out of the field and return him to the Center so fast his feet would barely touch the ground. Jack shuddered at the thought of what would happen after that.
“Life’s too short, and all that shit,” he said quickly, trying to cover his slipup. “There’s nothing more important than family.”
Her warm smile made him feel so much worse. “You’re a sweet guy,” she said, unknowingly echoing Evan’s words. “And you’re right. She’s left messages and I haven’t returned them. Guess it’s about time to stop sulking and admit things are never going to be the same.”
It didn’t help that Jack knew exactly how much things were going to change for Freya—and definitely not for the better.
Hoping to distract her, and maybe clear his own head of unwelcome ideas, Jack handed the camera to Freya. “Why don’t you take a couple of shots while you’re here?”
“How about I take one of you?” she said, raising the camera.
Jack just managed to get his hand over the lens before she snapped. “I’m not on the team,” he chided.
She grinned impishly. “That one was just going to be for me.”
“Why don’t you grab a couple of Ryan?” Jack suggested, thinking she was more likely to catch the boy unaware. Especially since he intended to give her a fighting chance.
“Come on. Let’s move in for the close-up.”
They started to walk toward the team, and when Freya turned right, Jack quickly wheeled around and went to the left. Anderson turned his face away from Jack, and in doing so revealed it to Freya’s clicking camera. Jack was sure he didn’t imagine the flash of anger that momentarily darkened Anderson’s expression, nor the startled look he turned on Jack.
Jack was silently congratulating himself on his slick move when Anderson suddenly seemed to stumble in the middle of a sprint and slammed into Freya.
She cried out as Anderson tumbled over her, and they crashed to the tarmac in a tangle of flailing limbs. Jack sprang forward, along with half the cross-country team, and when they had extricated Freya from underneath Anderson, Jack saw the camera lying on the ground between them, its casing scratched and its screen smashed.
“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” Anderson said. “I don’t know what happened. My knee just popped.”
“I’m fine,” Freya said, brushing dirt off her skirt. She caught sight of the camera and swore. “God, Mrs. Williams is going to kill me.”
“It was an accident,” Jack said, bending to pick up the broken camera.
“I’ll replace it, of course,” Anderson said smoothly. He looked like nothing more than a flustered student, and Jack grudgingly admired the guy’s cool. If the camera hadn’t been broken within minutes of Anderson’s picture being taken, Jack would have been tempted to consider it a coincidence.
“No. Jack’s right. It was just an accident,” Freya said. “I’ll go fill out a report with the secretary. Are you okay? You should get the nurse to look at your knee.”
“Yeah. I think I’ll walk up to the office with you. I should sign the damage report too.” He flashed a rueful smile and turned away, but not before he’d sent a final searching look Jack’s way that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Freya gave a half wave to Jack and then slipped her arm around Anderson’s waist as he limped alongside her.
“He’s pretty good.”
Leo’s voice sounded close up against Jack’s ear, and he turned his head to see Leo standing just behind him, his eyes glued to Anderson’s departing back.
“You sound a little more convinced he’s your stalker,” Jack said softly.
“It’s beginning to look a lot more likely.” Leo turned his head. “I wish you could have stopped Freya trying to take Anderson’s photo.”
“Stop her?” Jack echoed. “I encouraged her. I wanted to send his photo to Sean. The Center has a facial recognition program.”
Jack didn’t miss the wince Leo tried to hide.
“What?”
“Jesus, Jack. That was a mistake. A pretty fucking big one.”
Jack frowned. “What are you talking about, Leo?”
“You’d better come to my place after school,” Leo murmured. “I think the shit’s about to hit the fan.” Jack’s eyes widened in surprise when Leo added, “Let me try to sort this out. Whatever happens, leave Martin to me. Just follow my lead, and we might be able to salvage this mess.”
“YOU PUSHED it, Jack. You’ve i
nterfered with the timeline I established for this operation and potentially thrown the mission off course. What you did was totally reckless.”
Leo opened his mouth, but Martin threw up a warning hand. Leo’s foster father had been waiting at the apartment when Jack followed Leo inside, and he didn’t look too happy. He launched into a reprimand as soon as the door closed.
“You forced Anderson to take action and expose his position. He covered it well, but if he’s the trained operative we think he is, he’s going to become suspicious at this sudden attention, and he’s going to be looking much more closely at you.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Jack stammered. “I thought—”
“It’s clear you didn’t think,” Martin said sharply. “You should have backed off and let Leo handle it. Those were your instructions.”
“That’s not fair, Martin,” Leo cut in. “Jack was trying to help—”
“I did not ask for your opinion,” Martin said, turning his icy glare on Leo.
Leo squared his shoulders and stood his ground, meeting Martin’s gaze. “Jack is the photographer for the school’s yearbook. It would have looked suspicious if he didn’t try to take Anderson’s photograph. But he wasn’t the one who pursued Anderson and took the photo. Freya Moore did that.”
Martin studied Leo’s face for a long moment, and then he looked back at Jack. “If that’s the case, I apologize,” he said abruptly. “I’m responsible for you while you’re in the field, and it sometimes makes me cranky. If I misjudged your actions, I’m sorry.”
Jack looked at Martin, easily seeing the concern that deepened the lines around his eyes and mouth. It was clear he wasn’t getting on Jack’s case; he was genuinely worried that Jack’s actions had caused problems. Jack sucked in a deep breath. He had fucked up and compromised the assignment. He knew Leo was just trying to protect him, and he was grateful, but he hated the idea that Leo was lying to the man he considered family. Jack had been told over and again that every action had consequences—now was the time to man up and face his.
“No, sir. You were right,” he said, ignoring the pained expression that crossed Leo’s face. “I tried to push the outcome. Freya took the photo, but I manipulated the situation.” He gulped, remembering the look Anderson had thrown his way. It hadn’t just been surprise. It had been recognition. Anderson had known he’d been deliberately outmaneuvered. “I didn’t think it through properly. I’ll report my mistake to Sean tonight.”
Martin turned back to Leo, and the look that passed between them made Jack cringe.
“Sit down, the pair of you,” Martin ordered.
Jack perched on the edge of the couch, with Leo taking the seat next to him. Martin pulled up a chair and sat in front of them. He rubbed his eyes, as though suddenly tired.
“What were you trying to accomplish?”
Jack cleared his throat, which had suddenly dried. “Sean said the Center has a facial recognition program. I thought if I could get Anderson’s picture it would help us figure out who he really is.”
“That was a mistake, Jack,” Martin said. “Leo, tell him why.”
“It was a good thought,” Leo said carefully. “But firstly, there’s a much easier way to get a high school student’s photograph. Martin has already hacked the school’s database and accessed Anderson’s school record. He can avoid having his photo taken socially, but it’s a requirement of registering at Bayfield Heights, so it’s unlikely he could circumvent that.”
Jack winced, wondering why he hadn’t thought of something so damned obvious. He swallowed hard. “What else?”
“Facial recognition software only works if the subject’s image exists in other databases. The Center is running Anderson’s picture right now, but even if there is a photograph somewhere else in the world, it could take days, even weeks, to get a match.”
“And if Anderson is a covert operative, the chances of a recent photograph existing at all are pretty slim,” Martin added. “But now that we’ve tipped our hand, Anderson will likely be more inclined to move up his operation. It’s unlikely we’ll figure out who he is before he makes his move.”
Jack hung his head. “Shit! I screwed up,” he mumbled.
“Yes you did,” Martin said. “But you weren’t the only one. Tell me your mistakes, Leo.”
Jack’s head shot up, his gaze swiveling between Martin and Leo. Leo’s eyes were fixed on Martin when he answered.
“I wasn’t completely honest, sir. I obscured the truth to cover Jack’s mistake.”
“And that’s a problem, son,” Martin said grimly. “And not just because it’s disrespectful.”
“Without all the facts, you can’t make a comprehensive analysis,” Leo said softly.
“And without proper analysis, your lives might be endangered.”
It sounded like something Martin had said many times before, and from the look on Leo’s face, it was something he’d heard more than once.
“Jack might have blown his cover,” Martin continued flatly. “It might seem insignificant, but it’s exactly this kind of thing that can undermine an assignment.” He turned his head and pinned Jack with a look. “If Anderson wonders why you were so intent on taking his picture, it might trigger a whole other thought process about who you are and why you’re here. One we definitely want to avoid.”
“I should have run my plan past you,” Jack said. “I’m sorry, Martin. It’s totally my fault.”
Leo stood up and tried a reassuring smile, although it was less than convincing. He turned toward Martin. “Where do we go from here?”
“Jack, you need to report in to Sean as soon as possible,” Martin said. “Ask him to contact me.”
“Yes, sir,” Jack said, his stomach churning.
Martin stood up, and Jack climbed to his feet, feeling shaky. Martin reached out to grasp his arm and steady him. “We’ll work this out, Jack,” he said, his tone much gentler. “Yours, at least, was a genuine mistake. Go on home now. Talk it through with Evan and Sean. We’ll figure this out together, okay?”
“Yes, sir,” Jack murmured. He turned to leave, ready to follow Leo to the door, but on the spur of the moment, he turned back toward Martin. “Don’t be mad at Leo,” he pleaded. “He was just trying to cover for me.”
“I’m not angry with him for that,” Martin said. “It’s my job to make these assignments as safe as possible for Leo and any operative working under my command.” He looked past Jack and in Leo’s direction. “But Leo has responsibilities too, and he knows bad choices have repercussions.”
The grim tone, and Martin’s resolute look, did nothing to ease the churning in Jack’s gut.
Leo was waiting for him beside the door.
“Are you going to be okay?” Jack murmured. “I’ve never seen Martin this pissed.”
“I fucked up,” Leo said flatly. “I made a bad decision and I’ll answer for it.”
“What will he do?” Jack asked, casting a quick glance in Martin’s direction.
Leo’s mouth twitched. “Don’t worry about me. It’s nothing I can’t handle. You’d better go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jack ignored the clear dismissal and pulled Leo into a fierce hug. “Can you skype me tonight?”
Leo grimaced. “Unlikely. I’ll try to text.” He gently loosened Jack’s hold and stepped back. “Evan will be expecting you.”
Jack nodded reluctantly. When Leo opened the door, he stepped into the hallway, and though he hated the thought of leaving Leo alone, he knew there was nothing else he could do.
Besides, he had to face his own team now, and there was no way that was going to go well.
Chapter Fourteen
EVAN DID a double take when Jack walked into the apartment.
“What happened to you?” he asked. “You look like hell.”
“I need to talk to Sean,” Jack replied. “I don’t think I can wait until our usual report time.”
“Sounds serious,” Evan said.
“I me
ssed up,” Jack said miserably. “You want to sit in when I contact Sean? I don’t really want to tell this twice.”
Evan followed him into his bedroom and pulled up a chair. Jack’s hands shook as he keyed into his Skype account. A moment later Sean’s face appeared onscreen.
“Talk to me, Jack,” he said, sounding suspicious.
“I did something stupid today,” Jack admitted, trying to maintain eye contact, even when Sean’s brows drew together in a frown.
“Spill,” Sean instructed.
“I pushed too hard with Ryan Anderson. Martin thinks I might have compromised my cover story.”
He winced when Sean’s look turned dark. “Explain,” he barked.
“I was trying to get a photograph of Anderson to send through so that you could run a facial recognition program. Yesterday he managed to avoid all my efforts. Today I tricked him into showing his face. But he must have figured out what I was up to because he faked an accident and smashed the camera.”
“Damn it, Jack! You were trained better than that.”
Jack ducked his head. “I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through—”
“That is totally unacceptable,” Sean thundered. “How many times have you been told to let the target come to you?”
“I’m sorry,” Jack repeated miserably. He felt Evan’s hand land gently on his back, a comforting gesture he hadn’t expected. “Martin wants you to call him.”
“I am not happy about this, Jack,” Sean said tightly. “I’m going to contact Martin now. Stay by your phone. I’m going to want to talk to you later.”
He signed out, and Jack dropped his head into his hands. “He’s going to kill me,” he groaned.
“He’s angry. He’ll get over it,” Evan said.
Jack straightened up. “Martin was really mad. I’ve never seen him that furious.”
“That tells me he thinks you did something to compromise your safety. He only gets really angry if Leo or one of his operatives puts themselves in harm’s way.”
