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“Yep. Same old Jagger Stone. Does your ‘mark’ know your background?”
“Only that I was captured.”
“Hmm…” Jeremy tapped his fingers on the surface of the desk. “You’ve never gotten over it.”
“I told you already, not interested in going down memory lane.”
“I get it. Look, if you want me to help you, you’re going to need to supply some additional information. You can hide out here for as long as you want, but if the bad guys come calling, I need to know why in order to determine how best to help you.”
I studied him intently. “The Russians want her, alive not dead.”
“That much was already established. For what? To extort money out of the VP? Is this about ransom?”
“No.”
He narrowed his eyes, sliding onto the edge of the chair. “I’m going to venture a guess. She’s a scientist. I checked her record. Although most of it has been sealed, I was able to find out what she’s working on from a white paper she wrote almost two years ago. The footprint wasn’t removed from the internet. Nuclear fission. We’re talking warheads, aren’t we?”
I stared into my glass. “Potentially.”
“Shit. This is bad. Did she not understand what she was doing?”
After tossing back the remainder in my glass, I shook my head. “Her discovery is for use in medicine. If her findings are correct, she’ll come close to closing the chapter on several vile diseases.”
“Well, then I guess we need to keep her alive at all costs.”
“Yes, we do. I need to ask you. Is there anyone other than Sofia who knows you’re staying here?”
He eyed me carefully. “If you’re asking if my name is on the lease, no. My identity is safe. Even the phone number you called me on has been blocked.”
“Is she trustworthy?”
“Without question. She’s not our problem. I don’t think anyone will make a connection to our past if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
“I have to look at everything.”
“I get it.”
“Where did you get the guns?”
Jeremy cocked his head. “We’ll leave it that I have my sources just like I’m certain you do. Is this organization you work for trustworthy or are you on a suicide mission?”
His question was valid. “I’m protected.” I’d need to attempt to contact the handler at some point, but right now, I needed time to process everything.
“Ah. The government. I knew you wouldn’t stray far. Let me show you how the security system works.”
The conversation was headed down a rocky road that neither one of us would handle well. I inched closer, allowing him to explain the system.
When he was finished, he swiveled around in his chair. “Do you want me to go on the dark web and sniff around?”
I thought about his offer. “You have the IP address secured?”
“What do I look like, an amateur? Of course I do. I’ll do that later tonight when they’re most active. You’d be surprised what secrets are told in the middle of the night, including the Russians.”
“Since when did you learn the language?”
The shimmer in his eyes was another indication I didn’t know him as well as I thought I did.
“I like to improve my skills, but I can tell you do as well. I’m going to give you a couple pieces of advice. Take it or leave it.”
