Page 72 of The Specialist

The video feed ended.

I turned to Damien. “What did she say?”

He grinned. “Clues. The words she said were all clues. Five. Sterling. Paper. Hole.”

“Five men?” I asked. “There’s a hole in the room where she is?”

“Yes.”

“Sterling? Paper?”

“That one, I’m not sure. But we’ll figure it out.”

“Did we get the location?”

Damien shook his head. “The signal was bounced all over the world. I will run some programs to see if I can figure it out.”

“Her phone, purse, and pass all had trackers. All left behind. The one on her isn’t sending a signal.”

“Where is it?” Damien asked.

“In the earrings I gave her. It only works if the back is pressed in. It must have come loose.”

“Ah, you dropped a hint as well. The ear infection.”

“If she can get her hands loose and figures it out, maybe she can reactivate it.”

“We’ll find her. And we’ll find the location of this building and get her out.”

“Why Canada? Why is this evidence here?”

“Probably for security reasons. You know there are safe houses all over the world. How he discovered the evidence is here is a mystery. He’s on the top of the wanted lists in many countries. His last known whereabouts was Europe. But with the surgery he had, he walks around like a free man. No doubt, he simply boarded a plane under his new identity and came here. He’s been planning this for a while. Wipe out all the evidence and start a new reign of terror.”

“I am going to end this.”

Julian stood. “With our help and the backup of HJ.”

“They know?”

“Yes. I spoke with my old boss.”

“But we’re all retired. Once you’re out, you’re out.”

“This is an exception. Ivan’s on their wanted list as well, now that he’s stepped into this country. They usually leave other countries and their criminals to the proper law enforcements, but when one of their operatives is targeted, that changes things. And considering a group of their ex-operatives are joining forces, they’re willing to open the vault. Unofficially, of course. We’ll have everything we need. We’ll get Sofia back safely and end this Ivan and his crew. Those are the expectations.”

We all nodded. That was HJ’s mandate. Exterminate. Rid the world of the evil at its source. No judge, no jury, no trial.

He met my eyes. “You will have to give up your life here. Disappear.”

“Not an issue. I will take Sofia to the island. We can find a new life together.”

“Then let’s get to work.”

* * *

Damien sat down beside me. “I’m in HJ’s system. I think I know what the evidence is.”

“Major incriminating files, I imagine.”