Page 39 of Tiger on the Prowl

“I know that. But Smith captured me once before, and did horrendous things to me. I couldn’t tell you about the bugs in your house. If you’d come back here tonight leading Smith to me—”

Olivia let out a gasp. “You thought I would sell you out?”

“No, I didn’t. But there was a chance that you could inadvertently lead him to me. And if Smith managed to kill me, then at least the bugs weren’t compromised. My friends would still have a chance to record Smith when he shows up in your cottage.”

“Then why would you even show up here to save my family? And why risk waiting here for me when you thought I could lead that murderer to you?”

Jay looked into her eyes. “Because I’m in love with you, Olivia.”

He noticed Olivia’s surprise, her lips parting, but he didn’t give her a chance to say anything. He needed to get all of it off his chest.

“I had no choice when it came to whether to save your family or not. I couldn’t bear the thought of you losing everybody you love. And later, when you offered to help me identify him, I had to stay here to make sure you were all right in case Smith was still at the reception and got suspicious of you when you were taking photos. You don’t know what Smith is capable of, but he’s an evil man. The things he does, the things he’s planning…”

Jay shook his head. He didn’t want to think back to how he’d felt when Smith had put him into the machine to scan his brain. But he had to explain to Olivia why he’d done what he’d done.

“I have to get to Smith, no matter the cost. Even if that means that you hate me and will never let me touch you again. But he has to be stopped, or he’ll do to others what he did to me.”

“You said he’s a murderer. Then why didn’t he kill you, when he captured you?”

“I’m no use to him dead. He needs what’s in here.” He tapped at his temple.

“Secret information?”

Jay shook his head. “He built a machine to capture that part of my brain that’s responsible for my premonitions. He’s already done it to one of the other agents, and possibly to several more. He’s trying to build a quantum computer capable of spitting out one hundred percent accurate predictions of future events, and he needs what’s in my brain and that of the other agents who have the same gift as I.”

“You mean there are other CIA agents who have premonitions like you?”

He nodded. “Yes, we were all in the same program. And Smith is hunting us.”

“And Smith managed to extract whatever he needed from your brain?”

“No. My friends saved me in time. If he’d succeeded, I wouldn’t be here anymore. The process fries the brain, turns it to mush. Nobody can survive it.”

Tears suddenly welled up in Olivia’s eyes. “Oh my God.” She made a step toward him. “Jay, I can’t imagine what you’ve been through.” She shook her head and put a hand on his arm. “And I’m worried about you stealing my manuscript and filming me in my home? You must think I’m silly and self-absorbed, when you have real problems.”

“I’m so sorry, Olivia. Please forgive me.”

“Jay? Did you mean what you said earlier when you said…” She hesitated.

“I meant everything I said.” Though he wasn’t sure what exactly she was referring to.

“You said you’re in love with me. Is that true?” She gazed into his eyes.

Instinctively, he reached for her and slid his arm around her waist. “Yes, it’s true, even though I have no right to ask you to be with me…”

“Why not?”

“I’m on the run, Olivia. And you have a career, a family, far too much to give up. How could I ask that of you?” He smiled at her despite the pain in his heart.

He couldn’t ask her to give up her existing life to live in hiding with him, no matter how much he wanted to. But he also couldn’t ignore his premonition of Smith showing up in Olivia’s cottage. What would happen when Smith showed up in her home? He’d only seen a snippet of the event. He had no idea whether he would hurt her, or if there was a way to prevent Smith from ever showing up in Olivia’s home in the first place. If there was a way to prevent this premonition from coming true, he couldn’t figure it out right now. He needed to clear his head.

Olivia seemed to understand instinctively that he wasn’t ready to have that discussion. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow. I always do my best plotting in the morning.” She pressed herself to him. “How about you take that disguise off?”

“So you really don’t like the hair, huh?”

“The beard itches when you kiss me.”

He laughed softly. “So, we’re gonna kiss?”

“Among other things…”

“Which are?”

“Why don’t you get undressed, so I can show you?”