AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She leaned closer.“I’ve never liked her, not that I had the displeasure of havin’ to work with the woman.”
It was rare for a fellow agent to be so vilified and still remain in the employ of SIS.From the corner of my eye, I saw Iris put her hand on Pinch’s arm.He looked down at it as if it scalded him, and he took a step back.It was impossible to gauge his annoyance from the look on his face, however.The man wore a perpetual scowl.The only exception I’d seen was when he was in the presence of his wife, Esland.
I lowered my gaze when Iris turned and walked toward me.When she passed, thankfully, and left the room, I sincerely hoped she wouldn’t be returning.
Pinch made eye contact but didn’t approach on his way back to his previous seat.
“Hey, Ares, I haven’t received a reply regarding Seshat’s birth certificate from my contacts in DC.Can you check with yours?”I heard Wren ask.
“Roger that,” he responded.
As I glanced at the time, I noticed it hadn’t been an hour since she made the request.However, I understood her impatience.Her father was missing, and every minute counted.
We were approaching the six-hour mark since Z was picked up by the car service.Statistically, most kidnapping victims were killed within the first three to twenty-four hours.However, this didn’t feel like a simple abduction.If that had been the case, why would they have bothered stopping an hour outside the city?
“I’m having food brought in,” said Wilder.“Any particular requests?”
“Thanks, but I can’t eat.”
“Wren said the same thing, and I’ll remind you what I told her.Sustenance is vital to clear thinking.As much as rest is.Since neither of you would entertain the notion of sleep, I’ll impress upon you the importance of eating.”
I put my hand on my stomach.“I doubt I’ll be able to keep anything down.”
“Understood.I’ll work out the easiest thing for your digestive system.”Wilder put his hand on my shoulder.“We all know how difficult this must be for you, George.”
I turned away when my eyes filled with tears.Did I truly have any business getting so emotional when Z’s daughter sat a few paces from me?It felt wrong.
“I doubt you’re aware he spoke with her about you.He cited wanting to pursue a relationship with you as one reason he resigned.”
I didn’t know what to say.It had been awkward enough discussing it with Wren when she told me Z asked her to purchase clothes for me.
“Wren was all for it, by the way.It’s been a long time since Z has been happy in love.Long enough that my wife hardly remembers the relationship between her parents.At least before her mum became ill.”
“We aren’t in a relationship.Not yet.I believe that was the intention.However, he went missing before we had the chance for it to start.”
“We’re going to find him, George.We have the full force of SIS looking for him, plus the cowboy cavalry is on the way.”
“The cowboy cavalry?”
“In a word, or a name, Decker Ashford.You’re aware Z adopted him when he was a teenager, yes?”
“I am.”
“Not only that, but it was Z who arranged for Burns Butler to mentor him.”
I was astonished.“That, I hadn’t known.”
“Few do.In the same way you, Wren, and Quint are torn up that he’s missing, Decker will be equally so.”
“Of course.”I leaned closer.“Do you know what’s going on with Iris, by chance?”
Wilder nodded.“Apparently, she said she has information about the person who kidnapped Z.”
My eyes opened wide.“That’s fantastic.”
“It isn’t.She has stipulations.”
“Stipulations?”I gasped.
