by Zoe Allison
Priyanka signed off.
Lorenzo turned to Priyanka. “I’ll speak to Catarina in European Liaison and get Vale and Vic identities on the forensic team in Berlin. When do you need them by?”
“ASAP,” Priyanka said.
“No problem,” Lorenzo replied.
“Okay,” Priyanka said to Vale and Vic. “Go get your stuff packed. We’re getting you out on the next flight to Berlin.”
Vic gave her a thumbs up and picked up her bag, heading for the door, followed by Lorenzo and Gareth.
Priyanka glanced at Vale. “Aren’t you going to get ready?”
He raised his eyebrows. “I would like a word with you first.” He shut the door.
“Oh?” she said, flicking her black hair over her shoulder.
He took a seat. “Do not act all innocent with me.” He pointed to the seat next to him.
She shrugged and sat down. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do,” he said. “You volunteered Vic to go with me on purpose.”
She frowned. “What’s wrong with that? In any case, if you didn’t like it, you could’ve just said no.”
He shook his head. “Not in front of everyone. They think you’re my boss, not the other way around.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Maybe you should just tell Vic the truth.”
Vale sighed. “Why do you keep trying to convince me to tell her? You have never previously spoken of anyone else knowing.”
Priyanka looked at him, a serious tone to her dark eyes. “That’s because you were never withholding it from so many people that you cared about before.”
He frowned. “You mean Amber and Hayden?”
She held his gaze. “In the past, it was only one or the other of them, not both.” She raised her eyebrows. “And now it’s not just them.”
Vale couldn’t understand what she meant. Amber and Hayden were his family, and he loved them dearly. He had known Hayden since he had been a child and was like a brother to him. Amber he had taken under his wing as a surrogate sister a decade previously, watching out for her as the only human being on their team. He cared deeply for the others in The Organization too—of course he did. He had responsibility for them. But it wasn’t the same thing. “Who else are you referring to?” he asked.
She hesitated. “I think you know.”
The penny dropped. “Victoria?”
“Yes,” she said.
He shook his head. “She and I have worked well together tracking down the last of Glassmarsh’s recruits. We have a good professional relationship, but that is all.”
Priyanka raised her eyebrows, her lips pursed.
“Anyway,” he continued. “The identity of Mr. X has always rested only with the deputy. We have to keep with tradition.”
“But you’ve already broken tradition,” she said. “The role of Mr. X was a desk job until you took over. You’ve remained out in the field, Vale. That was unprecedented, though I have to admit it’s been the perfect cover. No one here would suspect an operative as being in the role.”
He leaned back in his seat to study her. “I had my reasons for doing it this way.”
“Because you wanted to keep working alongside Hayden,” she said. “But you stayed out after he’d gone.”
Vale gazed at the wall. “I needed the distraction.”
“And now?” She stared at him. “Why do you need the distraction now that he’s back?”
He opened his mouth to give her an answer and realized that he didn’t have one. He didn’t know why. He cleared his throat. “In any case,” he said, “relationships between operatives have been deemed inappropriate.”
Priyanka gave him a hard stare. “A rule that you made up. Ergo, a rule that you can break.”
He met her gaze. “A rule that I created to protect myself, so maybe I do not want to break it.”
She gave him a gentle smile. “We’ve been friends as well as colleagues for a long time. I just want to see you happy. You seemed lost for so many years.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I am fine now. I have my brother back, and he and Amber are very happy. That makes me happy.”
She shook her head and sighed. “You and I both know that isn’t the same thing.”
* * * *
Vale went into his wardrobe and pulled out a compact wheel-along suitcase. His basic overnight items were already in there because he liked to have things on standby in the event of a hurried departure. He only needed to add a few clothes into the mix.
Just as he was selecting garments and laying them on the bed, his phone rang. He lifted it from the bedside. Amber’s name was on the screen. He smiled. “Sorella.”
“Hey, Vale.” Her bright smile flashed into view. “How’s it going? The boss not working you too hard?”
“I like hard work,” he said, still smiling.
She rolled her eyes. “All work and no play makes Vale a dull boy.”
He propped the phone up on the bedside table. “So you are saying now that I am dull, are you?” He started folding his clothes into his case.
She’d smiled and opened her mouth to answer, when a dark-haired man nudged her out of the way to interrupt. His blue eyes sparkled. “Nope,” Hayden said. “She’s saying that you’ve always been dull, bro.”
Vale laughed. “I thought you would be sticking up for me. You are supposed to be my best friend.”
“I am,” Hayden said. “She’s the one saying it, not me.”
Amber playfully pushed Hayden back out of shot. “Seriously though, Vale, you need to chill. Even the way you pack that suitcase is unbelievably uptight.”
Vale zipped the case. “My being neat and orderly has kept me in good stead so far in life, sorella.”
“Ugh,” she said, gesturing to Hayden off screen. “You tell him.”
Hayden appeared in the frame next to Amber and the camera turned from her to him. “Bud, we wanted to know if you could take a break? Come out to meet us?”
Vale hesitated, taken off guard by that request. “Meet you? Where?”
“We’re in the North of Scotland. We think you’d love it here.”
Vale briefly considered what it would feel like to uncharacteristically drop everything—to be selfish, to run away and see his family and sights that had eluded him so far in life due to his unwavering commitment to his job.
He shook his head. No, he shouldn’t even contemplate that. There was too much to be done, too much at stake.
Hayden visibly registered the shake of his head. “C’mon, Vale. You need some time away. Priyanka can clear it with Mr. X.”
Vale snapped his eyes up to meet Hayden’s on the screen. “No,” he said. “Priyanka has enough on her plate. And Mr. X needs me to complete the mission.”
“Lorenzo can help her,” Hayden said. “He’s the third-in-command, after all. And he’s in a much better mood nowadays. He must have finally gotten over you being offered the role of deputy over him and Priyanka being given it when you turned it down.”
“I am still needed, though,” Vale said, the weight of his secret playing on his mind. He might have turned down the deputy’s role, but then he had secretly been given the boss’ job. “Though it is much easier as a team now. I think the issues we had with Glassmarsh’s infiltration of The Organization and the subsequent investigation of all remaining agents brought everyone closer together, including Lorenzo.”
Hayden’s expression visibly deflated as he clearly realized Vale wasn’t going for his plan. He let out a sigh. “Where’re you going?”
“Berlin.”
“Alone?”
Vale shook his head again.
Hayden raised his eyebrow. “Is Vic going with you?”
“Yes,” Vale said. “How did you know?”
Hayden smiled. “You work well together.”
Vale rolled his eyes. “You sound like Priyanka.”
Hayden shrugged. “It’s true. You’re a good match.”
&
nbsp; “I assume you mean professionally,” Vale said.
“Yeah,” Hayden told him, grinning. “Of course, that’s what I mean.”
Vale laughed. “Okay. Well, I have a flight to catch, so I will need to call you again later.”
Amber squeezed into the frame next to Hayden. “Phone us when you get back. As soon as this job is finished, you’re coming out here.”
Vale didn’t have the will to argue just now. “We can speak about it once it is over.”
“Good.” Amber said.
Vale didn’t want to volunteer that the mission was becoming more complicated and therefore was nowhere near completion. He would tell them later, once he knew what they were dealing with. “Speak soon.”
They both waved as they signed off.
Vale stood and grabbed the handle of his suitcase, lifting it off the bed and surveying the room for neglected items—not that he had forgotten anything in his life before. There is nothing wrong with being organized.
* * * *
Vale sat at the gate, checking his watch. Vic wasn’t late, but he was so early that he felt as if he’d been waiting an eternity for her. He’d noticed that she always showed up at that last moment, the one that meant she was just in time for things but without being tardy.
His phone rang and he answered it. Catarina, the head of European Liaison, came on screen. She pushed her glasses up her nose and peered at him with her dark eyes. “Vale.”
He smiled. “Afternoon.”
“I have the identities ready for you,” she said. “The driver in Berlin will hand you a manila envelope containing lanyards with photo IDs. Lorenzo will message you documents containing the backgrounds of your personas.”
“Thank you,” Vale said.
“We’ll see you when you get back. Good luck,” she said brusquely, and signed off.
Vale shrugged and placed the phone in his pocket.
The announcement came for business class passengers to board the flight. Right on cue, Victoria came striding toward him across the departure lounge. Her hair was down and flowing behind her like a golden train.
Vale’s heart rate picked up, no doubt because he’d been worried that she’d be late. Isn’t it?
“Hey,” Vic said in her Australian lilt as she drew level with him. “C’mon then. What are you waiting for?” She gestured to the gate, grinning and moving off with hardly a pause.
He smiled and followed her. She would know that he’d been there half an hour early.
They entered the aircraft and settled into their seats at the front. Vic was next to the window and Vale sat on the aisle. It wasn’t a large flight and there were no delays in getting airborne, so before too long, they were on their way.
Vic stretched out her long, skinny-jean-clad legs and crossed her booted feet at the ankles. She flipped through an inflight magazine and leaned in toward Vale to whisper conspiratorially, “Eight o’ clock.”
Vale frowned. “Pardon?”
“Shh,” Vic said, glancing over his head. “She’ll hear you.”
Vale’s pulse rose. Who had Vic seen? Someone of importance to the mission? He turned his head slightly to the side but could only see the stewardess making her way through the cabin. He looked back at Vic, who was reading an article in the magazine with a smirk on her face. “Vic,” he whispered, “Who are you talking about?”
“She’s coming,” Vic said quietly, staring at the glossy page in front of her.
“Can I get anything else for you, sir?”
Vale looked up at where the air stewardess was flashing him a bright white smile.
He smiled back. “No, thank you. We are all good here.”
She touched his arm. “Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.” She moved off down the cabin.
There was a snigger beside him. Vic had the magazine raised to cover her face and her laughter.
“What is amusing you?” he asked.
She lowered the glossy to reveal her grin. “That stewardess totally has the hots for you.”
Vale frowned. “She was only asking if we needed anything.”
Vic rolled her eyes. “She asked if you needed anything, not me. She wouldn’t even notice if I were sitting here on fire because she’s too busy trying to get into your pants.”
Vale laughed. “I am not sure that checking if I need anything counts as wanting to get into my pants.”
Vic raised her eyebrows. “She’s come over to you about five times so far. Everyone else has just had the standard service.”
Vale shook his head. He was sure that the stewardess was just being polite and doing her job.
Vic sighed. “Vale, you notice the minor details of all situations except when someone finds you attractive.” Her cheeks colored slightly, and she buried her head back in the magazine.
Vale leaned back, puzzled. Did she mean that it had happened before and he hadn’t noticed? He didn’t know to whom she was referring. “What do you mean?”
She continued to examine her article, smiling. “Loads of women give you the eye and flirt with you, but you never notice. It’s adorable.”
“Like who?” he asked.
She looked at him. “You mean apart from Miss World over there in the cute blue uniform? Hmmm, let me think—the lady working at the gate, the one you helped with her bag at the start of the flight and the one who was chatting you up in the restroom queue. And that’s just today.”
He laughed. “You are imagining it. They were all just friendly people.”
She winked at him. “Sure, Vale. Sure.”
“Okay…” he said. “Well, next time you can point it out for me.”
“Cool,” she said, smiling. “I’m an excellent wingman.”
He laughed. “Good to know.”
He let his gaze linger on her for a few more seconds. Her eyes were the blue-green of an emerald-flecked summer sky. He remembered reading somewhere that true blue-green eyes were extremely rare. But then people like Vic were rare in themselves. She was witty, tough and dedicated. He cleared his throat, realizing that he had held her gaze for perhaps a little too long and he didn’t want to appear inappropriate. He was merely appreciating her qualities as a friend, nothing more. Luckily, she didn’t seem to notice, going back to what she was reading with a smile on her face.
When it was time to land, Vale helped the older lady in front with her bag again. They filed out of the plane door and the stewardess from earlier gave him an extra dazzling smile and shook his hand. As he passed though the doorway, he realized he was now holding a piece of paper.
Vic drew alongside him. “Oh, that was smooth. She’s got skills.”
He frowned. The stewardess had passed him the paper? He opened it and there was a little note scribbled with her number on it.
Vic laughed and bumped his shoulder. “Why so serious? You should be flattered.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I am more confused than flattered.”
Vic sighed. She put her arm across his shoulders. “As I said. Adorable.”
He shook his head, smiling. “I’m glad you find me endearing…like a pet.”
She grinned. “Yep. Just remember I’m in charge of you, my little precious.”
Vic squeezed his shoulder then let her arm drop. A stab of disappointment pierced his chest.
They moved swiftly through the airport processes and made their way to the pickup area, where the standard black vehicle was waiting. Vale settled into the back seat next to Vic as the driver started off. He checked his phone for the message from Lorenzo, containing the details of their personas. Vic was opening the manila envelope holding the lanyards promised by Catarina. Vale’s read ‘Peter Schneider’ and Vic’s was ‘Johanna Fischer’.
Vic placed her ID around her neck. “You seem like a Peter.” She held out his lanyard.
He took it from her. “Why? What is a Peter like?”
“It means ‘stone’ or ‘rock’. It suits you.”
“You mean I am c
old like a stone?” he asked, smiling.
“No,” she replied. “I mean you’re strong for everyone’s benefit…like a rock.”
He watched her as she scrolled through the information regarding the background of ‘Johanna Fischer’ on her phone. Her face remained neutral and he couldn’t tell if she was joking or being sincere.
“Thanks,” he said.
She glanced over and winked at him. “No worries, Pete.”
They traveled away from Tegel airport toward the city center, bound for the mortuary where the pathological examination of the victims from Berlin’s attack was taking place. The plan was to enter under the cover of forensic pathologists from Dresden. Lorenzo had hacked the system to make it appear as if they had been drafted in to help with the examinations.
The car pulled up outside the building and Vale and Vic exited. The driver moved off. He would take their bags to get them checked into a nearby hotel, ready for an overnight stay, and they would travel back to London in the morning.
They climbed the stone steps and entered, heading for the reception area. Vale flashed his ID badge. “Guten tag,” he greeted the administrator on the desk. He proceeded to introduce himself and ‘Johanna’ in fluent German. The administrator escorted them along a corridor and into an anteroom, where they had access to male and female changing areas to don some scrubs. After that, they were led into the main mortuary. The air temperature was cool, and the room was lined with silver-doored drawers, which contained the bodies of the deceased. Examination tables were laid out at intervals, and each had a body placed on it.
“Danke,” Vic said to the administrator after he pointed them toward the pathologist in charge.
Vale and Vic approached the white-coat-clad Dr. Walter Becker, and greeted him, continuing their conversation in German.
Walter shook their hands. “Yes, we have been expecting you. Thank you for coming, Dr. Schneider and Dr. Fischer.”
Vic smiled. “Peter and Johanna, please.”
“Of course,” he said. “And call me Walter. Can I show you one cadaver in particular? It’s the one who is causing the most intrigue.”
“Absolutely,” said Vale.
