Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
“So he could want revenge on you, and that would mean hurting Kala.” Cooper sounded more hopeful. “She can handle pain. She can handle torture. She can stay alive until we find her.”
There was a knock on the door, and Charlotte took her daughter’s hand.
Kenzie stood there, her eyes narrowed. “No. I’m going to talk to Ben.”
Her father got into her space, taking her shoulders in his big hands. “You chose this. You and your sister chose this fucking life. You could be home right this second getting ready to go to whatever job you chose, but you’re here because you decided to be a damn spy. So you will walk up those stairs and keep the illusion because you don’t get to fucking burn it all down when the inevitable happens. This is where it was always going, little girl. So you will walk upstairs and keep your shit together while I find your sister.”
Tears shone in Kenzie’s eyes, but she took a deep breath and nodded. “She would kill me if I blew this for her. But you can’t leave me here. You have to let me come.”
“If I can manage it safely.” Big Tag backed down. “Now go.”
Kenzie allowed her mother to lead her upstairs two seconds before Ben Parker walked in with Tara. She looked rumpled and anxious.
Parker looked…ready. Hungry. Like he’d been waiting for this for a very long time.
“I think I’ve brought Mr. Parker up to speed.” Tara left Parker standing at the edge of the room, walking right up to Big Tag. “You should also know I called in and they told me I should do whatever you tell me to do. They’ll send whatever support you need. My, Tris, and Zach’s bosses are going to be working with Langley to get us whatever we need.”
“CSIS is ready to help as well,” Parker offered.
“They believe us when we say it’s Huisman?” Cooper asked.
Parker looked him over, his face a polite blank. “Of course not. They want proof, but they also don’t like the idea of US operatives being taken on Canadian soil. Which is why we should get going before they send a team. They’ll want to play this as cautiously as possible. If you want Ms. Magenta back, you’ll listen to me. Do you believe me now?”
The last question was pointed directly at Ian, who nodded shortly. “I do.”
“This is about me and it’s about the bombmaker,” Parker affirmed. “He wants both of us, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get us. He’s taken Ms. Magenta because I’m sure he’s aware I have…feelings about her.”
“We talked about this on our way from the hotel.” Tara wasn’t staying at the safe house due to sleeping arrangements. She was in a hotel a few miles away. When the shit had hit the fan, Big Tag had woken her and asked her to bring Parker in. “We believe Huisman has found out Tristan has something to do with The Jester and possibly the same connection with Zach, since they work closely together. I’m not sure about that part. Zach has always been behind the scenes.”
“What do you mean?” TJ asked. “I would think if they were going to take someone, it would be me. They can’t possibly mistake me for Zach. He’s bigger than me, and we don’t have the same coloring. If what you’re saying is true, we have a leak.”
“Or he’s been watching you far more carefully than you ever imagined,” Parker argued. “If there was a leak, he would know Tristan has no idea who the bombmaker is. Then there would be zero reason to start this war right now. He’s certain someone knows. If he didn’t come after TJ, then he’s eliminated TJ as a possible source of information and decided Tristan knows something.”
“He doesn’t,” Aidan insisted. “He would have told me.”
“He certainly would have told me,” Tara agreed. “We’ve been struggling to find anything on the man. At one point we thought we’d found him, but by the time we got where we thought he was staying, he was gone. I’ve always wondered if someone might have tipped him off. What if we do have a leak? What if the leak told Huisman Tristan knows to throw him off?”
“Or what if Tristan knows something he doesn’t think he knows.” Lou looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Or Zach.” Big Tag was still in a way that let Aidan know something was going through his brain. “Tara, I need all the reports. Every single one you have on every mission Zach worked.”
“Zach?” Cooper asked. “Why would this have anything to do with Zach?”
“What do you know?” Aidan couldn’t see how the big captain was involved.
“I know Zach was placed on this team to discredit us,” Big Tag offered. “But now I’m wondering if he didn’t maneuver himself into the position. I need everything, Tara.”