by MC Lee
Evan didn’t immediately respond, a tactic designed to coax more information from a subject. But Jack held his nerve and didn’t embellish the story.
“Sean gave me a day to make things right.” Jack kept his back to Evan as he tossed vegetables into the frying pan and stirred them briskly.
“I know,” Evan said.
“Dominic Moore has the flu. He was off sick the past couple of days.” It was the excuse Dominic was using to explain his absence from Informa Tech. Freya had taken a few minutes to synch up their stories, sure the Center would check.
“We know that too.”
Jack added a can of crushed tomatoes to the pan and then sprinkled on some dry herbs. He could feel Evan’s presence behind him, the tension between them palpable.
“Leave that and get over here.”
Jack turned reluctantly and crossed the floor, coming to stand in front of Evan. He shoved his hands into his pockets and kept his eyes downcast.
“Something’s going on with you,” Evan said. “I know it. Sean knows it. Whatever it is, we can help if you’ll let us.”
Jack shrugged, fixing his attention resolutely on the hardwood floor. A single bead of sweat rolled down between his shoulder blades. He’d always thought of Evan as a friend. But in the end, the man was first and foremost an operative for the Center, something he’d just proven.
“Nothing is going on,” Jack said, forcing himself to raise his head and face Evan’s speculative gaze. “I screwed up with Freya—”
“No. That isn’t it,” Evan cut in. “There’s something else. We know you, Jack. We know when something’s wrong.”
Jack dropped his gaze back to the floor as the contents of his file flashed before him: comments from Sean and Evan on how he responded to every situation, from the introduction of a new training program to lights out moving by an hour; observations from Dr. Clarke on how he coped with change, how he reacted to pressure, how he dealt with stress. All the mechanics, all the techniques, all the training, outlined in meticulous detail in page after page. Everything was there. Everything except the most important element—what he felt deep in his heart. That was something the Center had never been able to manipulate.
“The dinner’s burning.” Jack held his breath, feeling Evan’s eyes assessing him.
“Go on, then,” Evan said. Jack turned, but Evan reached out and snagged his sleeve. “We’ll find out. It’s only a matter of time.”
Jack stared at Evan until he let go, and then he turned back to the stove.
Evan was right, Jack thought bitterly, he had never had anything he could truly call his own. The Center always found out and always called him to account. Jack only hoped he’d find out everything he needed to know before they discovered what he was up to and shut the whole thing down.
LEO LOOKED beat when he arrived at the apartment an hour later. Clearly he’d endured the same intense interrogation and was feeling the effects.
“Have you eaten?” Evan asked.
“Not hungry,” Leo replied.
Evan disappeared into his bedroom, reemerging a moment later with his laptop and a jacket.
“You’re going out tonight?” Jack asked.
“I’m meeting Martin. Stay by your phones. Sean is working an angle. He might want to talk to you.”
“What angle?” Jack asked suspiciously.
“We’re so clearly missing something here,” Evan replied, shaking his head. “Sean is stripping everything back to basics. Martin and I have the same instructions. We’re going to reexamine everything we know and everything that seems off. We’re not going to assume anything.” He pointed at Jack. “I need you boys to do the same. I want you to work up a report. Everything you’ve done, everything you’ve observed. It’s time to shut this thing down once and for all. Do you understand the instructions?”
“Yes, sir,” Jack said. Evan didn’t correct him for using the formality.
“I’ll be back before midnight. I’ll expect your report by then. Clear?”
“Sir,” Leo said tiredly.
They waited until Evan walked out and closed the door behind him, and then Leo collapsed onto the couch, pulling Jack down beside him.
“How was your third degree?” he asked.
“I’m still standing,” Jack said. “You?”
“Martin put me through the wringer. But I survived. So, where do we go from here? Have you thought any more about Dominic Moore’s offer?”
Jack wriggled around until he was facing Leo. “It’s all I’ve thought of.”
“Yeah, me too,” Leo said.
“Any conclusions?”
“Would you think I’m a totally selfish asshole if I admitted I was wondering how this would affect you and me?” Leo asked, a bleakness Jack had never seen before dulling his bright eyes.
“You don’t think that’s my number one concern?” Jack asked.
“If I believe the Center is capable of doing the things we’ve been told, it would mean everything I’ve had with Martin is a lie….” Leo trailed off, swallowing noisily, and Jack could see the struggle track across his face. Leo waved a hand. “But that’s nothing compared to what it would mean to you. You’d have to believe your guardian was capable of harming your parents. That Sean knew what he’d done and chose to stay by his side. I don’t know if you accept that.”
Jack slid off the couch and walked to the window, turning his back on Leo as he looked outside. The night sky was lit up, drawing his eyes upward.
His thoughts turned to the memories churned up by the contents of his file, and specifically his first failed assignment after Sean and Evan had taken over his training. His shaky legs had almost given out under him as he climbed out of the back of a car, his palms slick with nervous sweat, his stomach clenched into a tight knot. Sean had been waiting for him, already apprised of his screwup, seeming to tower over Jack’s thirteen-year-old self.
“Well, that was a mess,” Sean said.
“Yes, sir,” Jack whispered, ducking his head.
“Do you know where you went wrong?”
Jack nodded miserably.
“That’s a good start. We’ll work on it tomorrow, okay?”
Jack tensed, anticipating the pain that had always come when Judith or Guy were involved, but Sean just reached out and squeezed his shoulder. He couldn’t control a flinch at the unexpected contact, and Sean’s hand slid under his chin and raised his head.
“I want you to understand something,” he said, locking eyes with Jack. “I won’t accept laziness or sloppy work. There will be no slacking on my watch, and I won’t tolerate disrespectful behavior.” He stopped and dropped his hand. “But if you work hard and obey the rules, your failures will be treated as teachable moments. I don’t punish lack of success, only lack of effort.”
The buildup of adrenaline suddenly receded, and the next thing Jack knew, he was bent over and retching onto the tarmac. That night at dinner, his guardian’s eyes found Jack’s. It was the first time in ten years at the Center that he had felt his guardian actually saw him.
Jack jumped when he felt strong arms wrap around his waist and Leo’s lean body press against his back.
“I have money,” Leo whispered against his ear. “Enough to take us anywhere we want to go.”
Jack tried to turn around, but Leo held him fast. “Just listen.” Leo’s breath was warm against the back of Jack’s neck, and he shivered. “We could get away tonight. From all of it. Make a new life together.” Jack sighed deeply and allowed himself to relax into Leo’s arms. “We’d make it so they’d never find us. We’ll go to the ends of the fucking earth if we have to.”
For a brief moment, Jack envisioned life beyond the Center’s control. A life free of assignments and missions, a life without orders, directives, or rules.
“What about Martin?” he breathed.
“When things settle down, I’ll contact him. Let him know we’re okay.” It took no skill to detect the hitch in Leo’s voice, no ma
tter how hard he tried to hide it.
“Tell me one thing,” Jack said. “Are you doing this because you think Dominic Moore is telling the truth?”
Leo’s lips brushed against his ear. “I’m doing it so you never have to find out.”
Jack turned, and this time Leo let him. “You’d do that for me? You’d leave your life? Martin?”
Leo’s arms tightened. “I love you.”
Jack’s heart swelled at the simplicity of the statement. The selfless gift Leo offered was shattering, and it triggered a surge of clarity that filled him with gratitude.
“Give me your phone,” he said. “I know what I have to do.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“SEAN IS about to pull the plug on this assignment.”
Anderson hissed out a sharp breath. “You can’t stall him?”
Jack exchanged a look with Leo and shook his head. “Negative. I’ve pushed this as far as I can. It’s only a matter of time before he figures out I’ve been stringing him along.”
Anderson glanced at the students milling around the entrance to the school. Classes started in five minutes, and the stragglers were just arriving.
“We need something to keep him focused,” Leo said casually.
“Like what?” Anderson asked.
“Like a name,” Jack said. “Tell us who Dominic Moore is, who he works for, anything to keep the Center on the hook.”
Anderson’s forehead creased in a frown. He turned his back and pulled out his cell phone. Leo raised an expectant eyebrow, but a few murmured words later, Anderson disconnected the call and turned toward Jack. “Tell them you’ll have something for them tonight.”
Jack’s heart sank, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Leo grimace, but he knew enough not to push. “I’m going to have to get creative this afternoon. Sean has ordered me to stay on school grounds—”
“He’s suspicious,” Anderson cut in. “You’re right. We need to wrap this up.”
As if on cue, Freya appeared. “Dominic wants to know if we’re on today. He can’t keep pretending to be sick. The Center is already poking around his computer and his phone. We can’t stretch this out much longer.”
“It’s going to be difficult to take off without our people knowing,” Jack said.
“Could Moore meet us here?” Leo said suddenly. “Anything he has to say, he can tell us here.”
Freya opened her mouth to reply, but Anderson cut her off. “He can talk to you. If that’s all you want.” He turned and fixed Jack with a look. “But if you want proof about what happened to your parents, you’ll have to come meet him. He needs to show you something. It’s not something you’re going to want to miss. Not if you want to know the truth.”
Jack glanced at Leo, who didn’t look happy.
Anderson threw up his hands. “Look, guys. I don’t give a crap one way or another. Do what the hell you want. Just make up your minds because I’ve had pretty much all I can stand of this fucking school.” He turned and then tossed over his shoulder, “I’ll be in the parking lot. If you’re not there in ten minutes, I’m pulling out without you.”
He left, with Freya trailing behind him. Jack looked at Leo, hoping to read his thoughts but unable to figure out what was going on behind his carefully controlled expression.
“That didn’t work so well. You think they suspect?”
Leo frowned. “Hard to say. We can pull the plug if you’re uncomfortable.”
Jack considered for a moment and then shook his head. “I just want this to be over.”
They followed Anderson and Freya to the parking lot. Jack’s palms were sweating when he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and pressed the preset key to connect to Sean. He just had time to regret his total lack of cool before Sean picked up.
“What’s going on?” he demanded.
“Anderson is on the move,” Jack said, ignoring the smirk on Anderson’s face as he listened in. “His handler turned up at school. He’s in the parking lot now getting into a van. What do you want us to do?”
“Where’s Freya?” Sean asked.
“She’s out taking more photos for the yearbook. I didn’t have your permission to leave school grounds, so I told her I couldn’t go with her—”
“You should have called it in,” Sean barked. Anderson’s eyes widened, and Jack realized he could hear Sean’s raised voice from where he stood.
“She said she was only going to take some shots of the library. It’s literally five minutes from the school’s main entrance. I thought she’d be safe. And you gave specific instructions—”
“Damn it, Jack. You know a change in field conditions supersedes any other orders.”
“She’s alone, Sean,” Jack broke in. “I think Anderson is going to make his move.”
“Is Leo with you?” Sean’s voice was tightly controlled.
“He’s right here,” Jack said. “You told us to check with you before doing anything.”
“Okay. Here’s what I want you to do. Tail Anderson. Stick to him like glue. Is there anybody with Anderson apart from his handler?”
“No, sir,” Jack said. “Just the two of them.”
“Good. Follow them. Report everything they do. Everything. I’m going to mobilize the support team. As soon as you give the word, they’ll deploy. Listen, Jack. This is important. If they pick up Freya, do not engage. Repeat the instruction.”
“We’re not to engage, even if they move against Freya,” Jack repeated solemnly. She was standing about a foot away from him, and she gave an indignant huff when she heard the words. Jack sent her a warning look.
“You call it in. You continue to follow Anderson. Under no circumstances are you to get out of the car—”
“He’s moving, Sean,” Jack said. “Gotta go.”
He cut the connection and shoved the phone into his pocket. “He bought it.”
Freya’s laugh brought both their heads around. “You two are a lot sneakier than I gave you credit for,” she said, admiration clear in her voice. “No wonder the Center thinks you walk on water.”
Leo frowned as he walked toward the van.
“I’ve read your file too,” Freya said breezily. “Martin seems to think the sun shines out of every orifice.” It was one of the few times Jack had seen Leo blush. “Come on,” she continued. “If we want to pull this off before your people call backup, we’d better haul ass.”
They walked toward the van, and Jack started to climb into the passenger side, but Anderson put a hand on his arm. “I need you in back.”
Jack stared at Anderson until he dropped his hold. “Here’s the thing, Ryan,” he said evenly. “I have to report our movements. If I don’t, the Center will initiate the GPS trackers in our phones. This way I can stall Sean as long as possible.”
He held his breath while Anderson considered. “Send him the wrong directions.”
Jack didn’t have to be watching Leo to know he tensed. “And if he turns on the tracker anyway and sees I’m lying to him? He’ll shut us down in seconds and dispatch a backup unit—”
“What’s to stop him doing that anyway?” Anderson asked.
“Trust me,” Jack said. “I know what to say to keep him off our backs.”
Long moments ticked by, until Anderson finally nodded. Jack scrambled upfront while Leo and Freya climbed in back.
“Keep it simple, okay?” Anderson said.
“Right!” Jack pulled his phone out of his pocket and sent a brief text to Sean: West on Prince Street. There was an immediate reply: Keep me informed.
After that Jack sent texts at regular intervals, outlining their route. When they reached the warehouse, tension stiffened Jack’s spine.
He pressed a key to connect to Sean’s line, putting his finger to his lips when Sean picked up after the first ring.
“We’ve followed Anderson to a building on Front Street.”
“So he didn’t go after Freya? What’s he doing?” Sean asked.
“H
e’s out of the car and walking into one of the buildings. His handler is with him.” Jack pulled in a deep breath. “What do you want us to do?” He could feel the blood sing through his veins as he held his breath, waiting for Sean’s reply.
“Hold position until Anderson reappears. Let me know as soon as he comes out.”
“Hold position,” Jack repeated for Anderson’s benefit. “Roger that.”
He disconnected the call and turned his head. “That should buy us the time we need.”
“Okay,” Freya said. “Let’s go. We should be back at school long before they get suspicious.”
DOMINIC MOORE looked up when Jack walked into the boardroom, the smile sliding off his face when he saw Leo close behind.
“I didn’t know we were expecting Mr. McCormack,” he said.
“I didn’t think it would be a problem,” Freya said.
“It’s fine,” Moore said, though the expression on his face said the exact opposite. “Sit down, gentlemen.”
Jack pulled out a chair, and Leo slid in beside him.
“So, Jack. I presume you shared our conversation with Leo? You’ve discussed it together?”
Jack glanced at Leo, remembering the look of sheer incredulity when he recounted Dominic Moore’s offer. He had related the conversation word for word, the surreal exchange burned into his memory—Moore leaning forward, looking him in the eye, and saying, “I’m offering you a chance to get revenge.”
Jack had frowned and asked, “How?”
“By working with me, Jack. I’m asking you to become a double agent.”
Jack’s eyes widened with astonishment. “But I don’t know anything about the Center. I’m not told about my assignments until I’m practically in the field, and I have no way of contacting anybody on the outside without being traced. I would be useless to you.”
“You underestimate yourself,” Moore said. “You know what a sleeper agent is?”
Jack nodded. “An operative deeply embedded in an organization who stays hidden until activated for a specific mission.”
