Friends In Spy Places

by Diane Henders

  “Um… thanks…”

  Too easy. Where was the catch?

  “So, um…” I gave him a questioning look. “Does this mean you don’t want me to talk to Nora until tomorrow?” Suspicion flared. Was he trying to keep me away from Kane? “Or you don’t want me to talk to John?” I prodded.

  “Given that Nora is under suspicion of murder, personal contact with her would be considered an active-duty scenario and therefore off-limits; although you may speak to her via telephone. Your recruitment of Kane is not considered to be dangerous, so I encourage you to proceed with that assignment. The chain of command is eager to expedite his return.”

  His last sentence set off alarm bells in my mind. “You mean they’re eager to hear his decision, right?” I prompted, trepidation rising.

  Stemp eyed me levelly. “Only if his decision is to return.”

  I slumped. “This isn’t going to go away, is it? Even if he says no, they won’t give up.”

  The warm human Stemp vanished, replaced by a chilly reptilian robot. “Your assignment was to convince John Kane to return to active agent status. That assignment remains unchanged.”

  I licked suddenly-dry lips. “And if I fail?”

  “I recommend you don’t.”

  Nausea rolled in my stomach as I stared at his remote expression. Not only was I doomed to failure because of Kane’s devotion to Daniel, but I had also set myself up to be convicted of defying orders when he ultimately refused to come back.

  Dammit, why had I opposed the assignment so vehemently? Now no matter what I said or did, they would accuse me of subverting the mission.

  Fuck-shit-damn, I knew better than to reveal my true feelings to anybody. Ever.

  Idiot.

  “Do you have any other questions regarding your duty status?” Stemp asked.

  “No.” The word came out as hollow as my heart.

  “Very well. You said earlier that you suspected Nora was concealing something. Report.”

  My tired brain slowly shifted gears. “Um. Right. I met her for coffee this morning. I was trying to get a handle on her motivations for coming back into my life.” To my surprise, an analysis popped out of my mouth. “The way I see it, there are only two reasons why she would blow her cover after never saying boo to me for thirty years.” I ticked off the points on my fingers. “One: She always wanted to stay in touch but something prevented that; and that ‘something’ has recently changed. Or two: She was thrilled to be gone and never intended to come back…” I hid the stab of hurt that accompanied that thought. “…so she would only return if she had something to gain.”

  “Logical,” Stemp agreed.

  I went on, “So I was asking questions about why she left and why she didn’t get in touch with me before now; and she had plausible answers… well, plausible coming from her, anyway. I hadn’t realized until now what a manipulator she was. Is.” I didn’t mention that she’d managed to twist my so-called interrogation into an emotional bloodbath. Blowing out a breath, I added, “There’s nothing like thirty years of perspective to figure out your childhood issues.”

  Stemp gave me a twisted smile. “So I discovered.”

  An unexpected smile tugged my lips in return. “Yeah, I guess you did. How’s that going for you?”

  His stiffening was so subtle that I might have thought I had imagined it if I hadn’t known him.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” I added hurriedly.

  His shoulders eased, and I realized that his defensiveness was as much a reflex as my own.

  “There is no need to apologize,” he said. “My reconciliation with my parents is going well and has been extremely gratifying; although we are all struggling to overcome entrenched attitudes and behaviours that are no longer necessary or desirable. Thank you for asking.”

  My heart warmed. “I’m so glad it’s going well.”

  “I am, too.” Stemp sobered. “And how are you handling the emotional component of your assignment with Nora?”

  It was my turn to stiffen. Not going to fall into that trap again.

  I grimaced. “About as well as can be expected. Like I said, it’s been enlightening. She didn’t say anything that I could nail as an outright lie, but she looked…” I searched for the right word. “…shifty… when I asked how much she knew about Sam’s research. She said she knew I could power the VR sims, but it seemed as though she knew more than she was admitting. And if she does know that Sam was skimming classified data and passing it around…”

  “Then she was complicit in the Knights’ espionage and treason even if she didn’t actually participate,” Stemp said flatly.

  “Yeah.” The weight of my exhaustion seemed to double and I sagged in the chair. “And I really don’t see any situation where she wouldn’t have known. I mean, she knew everything about the brainwave-driven network and the sims right from the start. Wouldn’t you think that after being married to Sam for thirty years, she’d ask some questions about why they were getting a stream of unexplained income through Sirius Dynamics?”

  Stemp tipped his hand one way and the other in an equivocating gesture. “Perhaps; but perhaps not. The day-to-day operations of all branches of Sirius Dynamics were and are handled by a management company; and unlike the rest of the Knights, Kraus never did sell secrets for profit. Even though the others were cashing in personally, he simply handed over the sensitive intel where he thought it would do the most good. No dirty revenue flowed through the company.”

  Massaging my aching temples, I let out a sigh. “Damn. Just when I was starting to convince myself that it was an open-and-shut case and she was guilty.”

  But the stupidly hopeful part of my heart perked up. Maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe Nora’s little twitches were a normal reaction to discussing classified information in public. After nearly thirty years with MI5, her reluctance to divulge anything would be deeply ingrained.

  Maybe she was on the up-and-up. Maybe she was really a selfless, dedicated woman like Moonbeam…

  I slapped that thought down and kicked it into a corner. And threw a mental rug over it, just to be sure it wouldn’t jump up and bite me later.

  “I’ll try to manipulate her into answering more questions under the lie detector,” I said. Stemp’s raised eyebrow prompted me to add, “After I get some sleep. By the way, she knows that Sirius Canada has been seized. She’s got a lawyer working on it. Considering her financial situation, she’s probably pretty motivated to get it back.”

  Stemp nodded. “It is her last resort. According to the analysts, Sirius UK is barely solvent; and the U.S. branch was sold to the United States government ten years ago for pennies on the dollar. Apparently Kraus bulldozed all the profits back into the research division, which is a black hole from where dollars never return.”

  “And Nora likes to spend money.”

  “Yes, and Sirius Canada is profitable.” His mouth flattened. “For now. That may change if Nora has her way. Her lawyer contacted us this morning, and we may have to choose between divulging the true nature of Kraus’s activities or relinquishing the company to Nora. And since divulging his activities would result in the release of highly classified intel…” His shoulder rose in a fractional shrug. “We will likely have to return Sirius Canada to Nora’s control.”

  “Shit.”

  “Indeed.”

  I dragged myself to my feet. “Then I’d better find a way to nail her. I’ll file my case updates and talk to Reggie about that heart-attack drug, and then I’ll drop by the hospital and talk to Ian again.”

  “Or you could go home and rest,” Stemp said pointedly.

  “I’ll do that, too. But John’s still at the hospital as far as I know, and I want to at least make a show of support.”

  “To further your recruitment mission.” Stemp’s expression was inscrutable.

  I offered him a businesslike nod and a bald-faced lie. “Right.”

  “Very well, then. I will see you at my home at seventeen hund
red. Dismissed.”

  My exit from Stemp’s office was considerably less energetic than my arrival. As I plodded past Spider’s office, his call stopped me.

  “Hey, Aydan!”

  I reversed direction and leaned against his door jamb. “Hi, Spider. What’s up?”

  His gaze flicked behind me to the empty hallway and he lowered his voice. “Come in for a second.”

  Prying myself away from the welcome support of his doorway, I stepped inside and swung the door shut behind me. “What’s up?” I repeated quietly.

  “Is everything okay with…” He tilted his head in the direction of Stemp’s office. “I had a totally weird conversation with him earlier. He was asking about you sleeping at my place. Does he think we’re…” His thin cheeks flushed crimson. “Um… I mean… did he ask you whether we…”

  I couldn’t help it; I laughed. “No, it’s okay, it was nothing like that. It was just that Dr. Rawling had approved my active-duty status with the condition that I got enough sleep last night. Stemp was checking with you about how many hours of sleep I’d actually gotten so he’d know whether I was lying about it.”

  “Oh!” Spider’s word came out on a released breath and his blush subsided. “That’s a relief! I mean, um…” His colour returned in a flood. “Not that I’d be embarrassed or ashamed if we were, um, you know… because I think you’re great and any guy would be proud to… um… I mean, not me, because I’m, like, totally happily married to Linda and you know I’d never cheat on her, but if I wasn’t… I mean… I wouldn’t…”

  He trailed off helplessly, his blush deepening to a shade of purple that made me fear for his capillaries.

  Despite the belly laugh that threatened to burst out, I managed a straight face and a palm-out ‘stop’ gesture. “It’s okay, I get it. Thank you.”

  I didn’t bother to add that even if the thought of a dalliance with him had ever crossed my mind, it would have been immediately nixed by the knowledge that I was the same age as his mother.

  He hurried on to a more comfortable topic. “So I found out that Rebecca’s parents won’t get to London until about ten o’clock tonight our time, which is about five AM London time. And they’ll be tired and jet-lagged so they probably won’t make any decisions about whether to discontinue her life support until tomorrow morning at least.”

  “I doubt if there’s too much risk of them making a snap decision,” I reassured him. “Stemp said her vital signs are strong, so her parents won’t likely arrive and immediately decide to pull the plug on their otherwise-healthy daughter.”

  “But her body’s condition could deteriorate fast with her consciousness gone,” Spider said worriedly. “What if her organs start to shut down? The hospital could keep her alive with machines for a while, but if the doctors decide there’s no hope of recovery…”

  I hid my own anxiety in a comforting tone. “If you were in Rebecca’s place, do you think your mom and dad would pull the plug on you if there was even the tiniest bit of hope?”

  “Oh.” Spider sat back in his chair, the tension easing from his face. “No. I keep forgetting that Rebecca and her parents are just normal people, not the freaks we usually deal with.”

  “Try not to worry,” I soothed. “I’ll be ready to go back into the network tomorrow and I’ll check on her then. And I’ll put some more reassurances into her mind to keep her calm until we can figure out a way to get her consciousness back into her body.”

  Spider nodded, looking more cheerful; and I didn’t voice my fear that Rebecca might not be sane enough to comprehend anything at all by the time I found her again.

  Chapter 24

  I had just gotten down to the lobby when Reggie and Jack emerged from the secured area, hand in hand. Taking advantage of their absorption in each other, I studied them with pleasant warmth rising in my chest.

  Beside Jack’s angelic blonde beauty Reggie’s scars looked even more horrific, but it was the undamaged side of his face that captured my attention.

  He was smiling.

  A warm, genuine smile; not the sardonic smirk he usually wore. His muscular shoulders were relaxed, and his easy gait belied the prosthetic legs concealed by his khaki slacks. For the first time I realized how rigidly he usually held himself, as though braced for the inevitable reactions of horror and pity and curiosity that confronted him outside the safe haven of his lab and trusted co-workers.

  Realizing I was standing there grinning like an idiot, I got my face under control and hurried across the lobby to intercept them.

  “Hi,” I greeted them. “Where are you going?”

  “Lunch,” Jack replied. “Would you like to join us?”

  “Sorry, I don’t have time.” My stomach underscored my regret with a loud rumble. “Now that you mention it, though, I’m starving!”

  “Well, it is nearly one o’clock,” Jack pointed out. “You need to eat. Come with us; we’re just going to the Melted Spoon.”

  “Thanks, but Arnie’s on his way and we’re going to grab a late lunch when he gets here. Reggie, do you have time to meet this afternoon? I need to pick your brain-”

  “Kelly!” Holt’s demanding voice interrupted from across the lobby. He jerked his chin in an arrogant ‘come here’ gesture that made my middle finger itch to flip him the bird.

  Lowering my voice, I spoke for Reggie’s and Jack’s ears only. “Holt The Magnificent has issued his summons. Guess I’d better go see what he wants.”

  Reggie snorted. “Like you ever obey anybody.”

  I grinned. “This is enlightened self-interest. He has information I need.”

  “So do I,” Reggie countered.

  “Yeah, but I like you better, so I’m going to let you go for lunch.”

  He gave me his usual mocking half-smile. “I’m touched.” He sobered and added, “I’ll be in the lab all afternoon. Drop by whenever you want.”

  “Thanks, Reggie. See you la-”

  A short shrill whistle interrupted me, followed by Holt’s impatient shout. “Hey, Kelly! Get your ass over here!”

  Like calling a none-too-obedient dog.

  My temper flared.

  Reggie took in my expression, his face twisting into an unholy grin. Through the static of rage that jangled in my ears, I barely heard him stage-whisper to Jack. “Wait for it. This is going to be awesome.”

  With an effort, I wrangled my temper under control. Deliberately turning my back on Holt, I said to Reggie, “Sorry, you’re not getting a show today. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t get away with shooting him in front of three witnesses.” I inclined my chin in the direction of the security wicket, where Leo watched with interest from behind the bulletproof glass.

  “No witnesses here,” Reggie drawled. “Leo likes you. He’ll keep his mouth shut. And I can’t see anything.” He gestured toward his prosthetic eye, smirking. “I’m blind. It sucks, but what can you do?” He turned to Jack. “Do you see anything?”

  She shook her head, her prim expression at odds with the wicked glint in her eyes. “At the moment I’m quite distracted by mental calculations for my latest research. My observations would be unreliable at best.”

  Suddenly recalling that she had been the unenthusiastic recipient of Holt’s romantic overtures a few months ago, I grinned. “What do you say, Jack? Should we double-team him?”

  She shook her head. “It’s not fair to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man. Anyway, you know what his temper’s like; and you said you needed information from him.”

  “Oh, he’ll get over it, he’s just a-”

  The widening of her eyes was the only warning I got.

  A hard hand clamped onto my shoulder and jerked me around.

  Shock and rage exploded adrenaline into my veins. I spun in the direction of the yank, multiplying its force as I uncoiled and slammed an elbow strike into my attacker’s jaw.

  Holt absorbed the blow, hitting the floor and rolling instantly back to his feet. For a bare second he rocked p
recariously, legs straddled and eyes glazed.

  My stomach plummeted to my toes. I’d just hit a top martial artist. He was going to beat the living shit out of me.

  Holt shook his head like an infuriated bull, his eyes snapping back into focus as his lethal fists clenched.

  “Is there a problem?” Stemp’s cool voice was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard. Standing at the edge of the lobby, his hard amber gaze measured us. His posture was easy, but his hand rested casually close to his concealed holster.

  “No problem,” I croaked through a paper-dry throat.

  “No problem,” Holt growled, his cold steel gaze eviscerating me.

  “What happened?” Stemp asked. When nobody said anything, he prompted, “Kelly?”

  “I didn’t hear Holt coming up behind me,” I mumbled. “He grabbed my shoulder and startled me, and I spun around and hit him before I realized who it was.”

  I secretly crossed my fingers. Please let Stemp believe that mixture of truth and lie.

  “She knocked him ass over teakettle!” Reggie contributed gleefully. “Rattled his brains but good!”

  I threw him a ‘shut-up’ look and said, “It was just a lucky shot. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

  “Holt?” Stemp inquired, one eyebrow rising.

  “No big deal. She didn’t hurt me,” Holt grated, scowling and fingering the reddening mark on his prominent jaw. “I thought she knew I was there. I shouldn’t have grabbed her.”

  “Shouldn’t have pissed her off, you mean,” Reggie said under his breath, still grinning. Jack gave him a quelling look and squeezed his hand hard enough to make him wince.

  “Do I need to review the security footage?” Stemp asked ominously.

  Holt shrugged, exuding confidence and honesty. “Go ahead if you want, but you won’t see anything but what we told you. Ask him.” He cocked a thumb in Leo’s direction.

  As Stemp approached the security wicket, Leo shot a questioning look at me. I gave him a nod and stepped over to stand beside Holt, hoping Leo would get the message.

  “Well?” Stemp inquired. “What did you see?”