by L. T. Ryan
“You think someone set a trap?”
Sadie nodded. “They wanted someone to pick up the scent before they destroyed it.”
“Which means—”
“Someone knows what we’re up to,” Sadie finished. “Someone’s watching us.”
11
Sadie didn’t waste any time high-tailing it out of there. She and Bear hopped into her car, and she floored it out of the city. Seamus had been moved to a safe house in the suburbs an hour or two prior, and that was the next stop on their list. The whole situation wasn’t sitting right with either one of them, and he was the only one who had come close to their mysterious Marine.
It took a good forty-five minutes to put London behind them, and then another half hour to find their way to a cozy little residential area that looked like it had never seen an exciting day in its life. The perfect place for a secret government hideout.
As soon as Sadie pulled past the tall hedges and into the driveway, two agents with concealed weapons approached them and opened their doors.
A man with a flattop opened the driver’s side door, gave them both a nod. “Ma’am. Sir.”
Sadie got out of the car and surveyed their surroundings. “Everything been quiet?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Flattop answered. “Nothing to report.”
“Bhandari’s inside?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sadie motioned for Bear to follow her, and the two of them made their way up the front steps and inside the modest house. From the outside, it looked like it was primed for a small family of three or four. There would be enough room for the kids to be kids, but it didn’t seem like it would break the bank, either. Bear absently wondered what the cover story was. Neighbors were nosy, after all.
They were met at the door by a tall, lean, Indian man with gelled hair and a smile that was a little too perfect. His stubble was artfully trimmed, and a pair of dimples told Bear he probably had no trouble in the relationship department. The only imperfection on his face was a small scar that traveled out from the corner of his left eye. Then again, that probably only added to his allure.
“Good to see you,” he said, shaking Sadie’s hand. Then, turning to Bear and doing the same, “Mr. Logan. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I apologize for the excitement the two of you had today. London’s best viewed when it’s not on fire.”
Bear chuckled. He liked this guy’s dark sense of humor, but he sobered quickly. “How’s the kid?”
Bhandari’s face tightened. “Frightened. Took a minute to get him to relax enough to eat. We got him cleaned up and put him in some new clothes. But he hasn’t been saying much. Kept asking for you, though.”
“Mind if we talk with him for a few?” Sadie asked.
“Please,” Bhandari said, gesturing for the pair of them to go before him.
Bear followed Sadie down the hallway and into a small living room. It was furnished, but the plain sofa and chair, the small TV, and the single end table left a lot to be desired. There were no pictures on the walls. All the curtains were drawn. The ceiling light in the middle of the room cast a yellow glow over everything. It didn’t feel like a home at all.
Seamus was curled up on the couch, knees to his chest, staring off into space. When the group entered the room, Bear could see him visibly relax. He sat up and crossed his legs, looking expectantly up at them. Bear couldn’t help but notice how much younger he looked without all the dirt on his face.
“You okay, kid?” Bear asked. “They treating you right?”
“Yeah,” Seamus replied. He sounded forlorn. “Gave me some new clothes. And new shoes.”
Bear looked to where he was pointing. In the corner of the room were a pair of pretty simple sneakers, blue with red stripes. That was bragging rights when you were a homeless kid. Everyone would either want to be his friend or try to take them from him.
“We have some questions for you, kid. Mind if we sit down?”
Seamus shook his head, but he looked nervous again. “Am I in trouble?”
“Not at all,” Sadie said. Her voice was calm and even. She had a gentle smile on her face. “You’re not going to get into trouble for anything, okay? We just need to know what happened so we can help those people who lost their homes today.”
“Okay.” Seamus’s voice sounded so small. “Is everyone okay?”
Bear sat down next to Seamus. “Yeah, buddy. Everyone’s okay. We just want to figure out what happened.”
“I already told you everything I know.”
“Do you mind telling me, too?” Sadie asked. “Maybe I’ll be able to think of something Bear couldn’t.”
Bear shot her an incredulous look and Seamus laughed. It was quick, but it was enough. Sadie had already won him over. He told her exactly what he’d told Bear, from the minute he got to the second floor to when he woke up outside with Bear hovering over him.
“Did the man speak to you at all?” Sadie asked.
Seamus shook his head.
“That tattoo you saw means that man was in the Marines. Do you know who the Marines are?”
Seamus shook his head again.
“It means that he was American, like me and Bear.” She paused and shifted slightly closer to Seamus. “Have you met any Americans before?”
“Just the ones we try to pickpocket. Tourists. But everyone else is like me.”
“English, you mean?”
He nodded. “Or Irish. Or Scottish. My friend Alex moved here from Scotland. Then his mom got locked up and he ran away from his foster home.”
Sadie and Bear exchanged looks. Seamus said it like it was matter-of-fact, not like it was a travesty that kids like this were living out their worst nightmares on the streets every night.
“Seamus, did anyone tell you to target Bear specifically?”
Seamus squirmed in his seat.
“Remember, you’re not going to get into trouble with us, okay? We’re just trying to help. And if you’re scared of anyone, we’ll make sure they can’t hurt you.”
“I’m not worried about me,” Seamus said. His face went red. “I’m worried about Annie. She’s my friend. She might get in trouble, too.”
“Why would Annie get into trouble?” Sadie asked.
“She was supposed to make sure I didn’t mess up. She’s older than me. Smarter and better, too. She was watching to make sure I didn’t get in trouble when I tried to pickpocket Bear.”
“How come she didn’t show up when it didn’t work?” Bear asked.
“I gave her a signal. Told her everything was okay. I figured you’d give me money and maybe I’d be able to split some food with her and everything would be okay.”
“But you’re worried now?”
“I was supposed to take your whole wallet and your phone.” Seamus was visibly shaking now. “Usually we just take the money, but she told me to take everything. I was confused because phones can get us in trouble. They can be tracked down. But I always listen to Annie. She looks out for me.”
Bear looked over at Sadie. “Sounds like someone wanted to know who I was and what I was up to.”
Sadie turned back to Seamus. “Who gave Annie those instructions?”
“I don’t know.” He looked between Sadie, Bear, and Bhandari. “I’m not allowed to talk to him.”
“Why not?” Sadie asked.
“Annie said it’s because he’s busy. But I think she was just being nice. I think it’s because I’m not very good yet. And he only wants to talk to the kids who do a good job.”
Bear reached over and ruffled Seamus’s hair.
Sadie turned to Bhandari. “Can we try to find this Annie? Make sure she’s all right?”
“We sure can.” He stood up and smiled down at Seamus. “We’ll find her, okay? We’ll make sure she doesn’t get into trouble.”
Just as Bhandari left the room to go make some phone calls, Flattop entered the room, a tablet in one hand and a phone in the other.
“Ma’am, the lineup o
f the Marines you requested. And you’ve also got a phone call.”
Sadie exchanged a look with Bear. “From who?”
“Headquarters, ma’am.” He held out the phone. “They say it’s an emergency.”
12
“I got a bad feeling about this,” Bear said.
“I don’t know why,” Sadie replied. “Everything about this situation is completely normal. Look at me. I’m totally at ease.”
Bear appreciated the sarcasm, but he couldn’t grant her more than a wry smile. Something was definitely off here, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. That was the most unsettling part.
Sadie’s call with MI5 headquarters was short. They requested that both she and Bear come in voluntarily, to which she agreed. Flattop insisted on driving them himself, and even though he never said, Bear was sure he had been instructed to take them there. For some reason the government wanted to keep tabs on the two of them, and the easiest way to do that was with some traditional English hospitality.
But Bear saw it for what it was.
The drive back into London was quicker than their trip out. Traffic had eased a bit, and Flattop seemed to specialize in high speed chases. His ability to weave safely in and out of traffic was commendable, even if it did earn them more than a few honked horns.
Now Sadie and Bear were being marched down a long hallway in a government building, accompanied by two armed guards. Flattop had stayed in the car. Bear already missed him. He didn’t say much, but he was a generally affable kind of guy. Seemed like he’d be fun at parties once he loosened up a bit. Maybe Bear would buy him a drink and try to get some stories out of him. He looked like a guy who had a few good ones up his sleeve.
“I’m totally at ease, too,” Bear said. “I could take a nap standing up. Seriously, I’m half catatonic.”
“Well, make sure you stay on your feet because I’m not dragging your sorry ass down this hallway.” She twisted around and looked behind them. “Seriously, how long is this hallway? It’s gotta hold a record or something.”
Bear caught one of the guards smiling. He’d never make it as part of the Queen’s guard.
“Through here,” the other agent said, stopping in front of one of many identical doors. This one was labeled 317C. The door was metal and had a bolt on the outside.
“Uh, mind telling us what this is about?” Bear asked. He didn’t exactly love the idea of going into a room he couldn’t get out of.
“Thank you, gentleman,” said a voice from behind him. “I’ll take it from here.”
Bear turned to see an older woman with graying hair exiting a room opposite them. There was an ominous pile of manila folders in her hand. She wore a white blazer and skirt with a light pink top on underneath. The whole effect made her look soft and warm, but Bear didn’t miss the sharpness of her eyes. Whoever this was, she was important.
Sadie held out her hand. “My name is—”
“I know who both of you are,” the woman replied. She shook Sadie’s hand and then moved on to Bear. “My name is Charlotte Winters. I’m sorry to have to summon you like this. I’m sure it’s starting us off on the wrong foot. But there’s no time to waste.”
“Did we do something wrong?” Bear asked. There was something about this woman that reminded him of his grandmother. He felt like Seamus now, wondering if he was in trouble.
“Not at all.” Charlotte opened the door to 317C and entered first, gesturing for them to join her. “In fact, I heard you did quite a few things right today, Mr. Logan. I’m grateful you were able to save those people from that building.”
Charlotte sat and Bear and Sadie followed suit. The room was stark white, with a single table, four chairs, and a television screen against the far wall. It felt claustrophobic with the three of them in there. This clearly was not a normal meeting room. The small size could be an interrogation tactic. Anything that made your subject feel uncomfortable could ultimately benefit you in the end. The more uneasy they were, the more likely they’d eventually spill their secrets.
Bear and Sadie exchanged looks while Charlotte organized the files in front of her. When she was satisfied, she folded her hands on top of them and surveyed her guests.
Bear resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably in his seat.
“Ma’am,” Sadie said. “If time is limited, don’t you think we should get down to business?”
“I’m deciding how much I can trust you,” Charlotte said. “Sometimes that takes time.”
“We’ve given you no reason to distrust us,” Sadie said. “We’ve been cooperative. Neither one of us has anything to hide.”
“That’s not true.” Charlotte looked over at Bear. “Mr. Logan has quite a lot that’s been scrubbed clean from his records.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m trying to hide it,” Bear said. “It just means I don’t want anyone to know about it.”
Charlotte chuckled. “A fair distinction in our line of work. To be quite honest with you both, the second I made the call to bring you in, I decided you were trustworthy. I must continue to trust my first instincts.”
Bear could tell Sadie was growing impatient, so he jumped in before she could. “What’s this about, Agent Winters?”
“Director Winters,” Charlotte replied. “But I appreciate your formality. This, Mr. Logan, is about the body you found today in the apartment building in Camden. I presume he was your man, Agent Bauer?”
“I believe so, yes.” Sadie kept her voice level, factual. “They were here with your government’s knowledge. We were working with MI5 to track possible terrorist threats in London. What affects our allies, affects us.”
“I am aware.” Charlotte’s voice was not unkind, but it left little doubt in Bear’s mind that she knew just about everything that went on under her nose. “About three weeks ago, your men went radio silent. We were unable to track a single one of them down. Until yesterday.”
Sadie nodded. “I found out they were being used for a different operation without my knowledge. That’s when I sent Bear—Mr. Logan—over here to find them for me.”
Charlotte quirked her eyebrow, but didn’t comment on the nickname. “What kind of operation?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out,” Sadie said. “Perhaps if you shared what you know, we may be able to solve this together.”
Charlotte nodded her head and removed a small remote from her jacket pocket. She clicked a button and the television screen lit up. When she clicked another button, a video began to play.
At first the room was dimly lit, like there was a light on somewhere behind the camera, but it could barely reach the far wall. Ten seconds passed. Then twenty. Finally, someone switched on a lamp. The entire room was illuminated. The walls and floor were made of concrete. They were dirty and wet. A faint rustling sound filled the background along with a soft echo, but Bear couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. There was nothing in the frame that could possibly tell them where this video had been shot.
In the center of the room was a single foldout chair. In it sat a man covered in bruises. Blood dripping steadily from somewhere on his face. Impossible to determine due to the trauma he’d suffered. His hands were tied behind his back, but his captors didn’t bother tying his legs. One was broken. He wasn’t going anywhere.
When the light came on, the man looked up. He squinted against the brightness, blinking over and over again. A tear fell from the corner of his eye, but Bear couldn’t tell if it was from the sharpness of the light or from the fear he felt. Either way, Bear recognized the agent. It was the man from the apartment. He looked rough, like someone had been using him as a punching bag for several days.
There was no warning. No lead up. No words spoken. One minute the man was sitting there, looking into the light, and the next there was a bang. The man’s head jerked back and then his whole body slumped.
The video went black and Winters hit pause.
Bear felt how stiff Sadie’s body was in reaction to w
hat they had just seen. He turned to Director Winters. “That’s it?”
“That’s just the first part,” she said. “But I’d like to hear your take on it.”
“They didn’t announce who they were or what they wanted,” Bear said. “They just shot him.”
“It was a show of strength.” Sadie’s voice was tight. Angry. “A warning shot.”
Bear scoffed. “This wasn’t a warning shot. It was an execution.”
“They wanted us to take them seriously,” Sadie said. She turned to Winters. “I’m assuming they sent another video.”
“They did.”
“Wait a minute,” Bear interrupted. “This isn’t where we found him. That means he was killed and then moved. His body had been staged.”
“How could they have moved him back into the apartment?” Sadie asked. “Someone must’ve seen them.”
Charlotte shrugged. “Late at night when the only people out on the streets are either drunk or homeless? Someone probably did see something, but they either wouldn’t remember or wouldn’t want to share.”
“What about people in the building?” Bear asked.
“They only had to take him to the second floor. And if it was in the middle of the night, most people would be asleep.”
“You’d either have to be very lucky or very good to coordinate that,” Bear said.
“My thoughts exactly.” Charlotte raised the remote again. “We received that video ten days ago. The second video came in this morning.”
She pressed play and the black screen switched back to the same view, but everything was different. Instead of the chair, there was a Middle Eastern man standing in the middle of the room. His face was mostly covered by a scarf, but his skin was deeply tanned and bits of his beard stuck out here and there.
Behind him were the two missing agents. They were kneeling, their hands tied behind their backs. They also looked like someone had made them their punching bags. The one on the left was barely conscious, hardly able to hold himself up. The other stared straight ahead, but his eyes were vacant. It didn’t look like he was scared. It looked like he had given up.
