AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Loose ends in the AMPS investigation. You have a fresh perspective, which has been apparent in the questions you’ve asked and the suggestions you’ve made. By the way, what I’m saying is you’re doing a great job.”
“Thank you.”
“Ready?”
I nodded and walked past him to the door, where my suitcase waited.
“Rogue will get that,” Magnet said, motioning me outside.
“I thought you said he wasn’t deploying.”
“He’s our transport to Gatwick.” Magnet held the front passenger door open for me and sat in the back alone. I didn’t know what to make of his behavior. He was acting like nothing happened between us an hour ago. He wasn’t any more or less distant; he just was.
I supposed I should take a page from his nonchalant playbook, but I wasn’t as smooth of an operator as he was. I folded my arms and looked out the window at the last bit of light from the setting sun. My mind raced with questions. Would he be undercover and disguised, or since he was undercover on Gozo, was it even necessary for him to be so in St. Moritz? Was Magnet assuming I’d stay at my chalet or at the place he’d rented? What would his role be for this op? Would we ever talk about what happened between us earlier today, or would we both pretend it had never happened?
By the timewe arrived at the airfield in Gatwick, there was a red spot on the back of my right hand between my thumb and index finger. Whenever I was worried, it was the place I’d rub with the fingers of my opposite hand.
The plane waiting for us outside the hangar was smaller than the one we’d taken to Malta, but once inside, I saw that, even though it was a simpler design, it was no less luxurious. There were five seats on each side of the aircraft. The first two faced the cockpit. After that, they faced each other.
“Schön, meet Angel. She’s our pilot tonight.”
I shook her hand.
“Who’s with you?” he asked.
“Hawk Wright. Have you met him?”
“Doesn’t sound familiar,” Magnet responded.
“Hawk? Come on out. This is Magnet and…”
“Agent Baur,” I said, shaking his outstretched hand.
While Magnet spoke with the two pilots, I dropped my bag in the first row.
“Let’s go back one more,” he said once Angel and Hawk had returned to the cockpit.
I didn’t want to face the rear, but I figured he wouldn’t either, so I put my bag in the second row. Maybe after takeoff, I could move.
“Go ahead,” he said, motioning to the opposite forward-facing seat.
“It’s okay,” I muttered.
“I insist.”
When a woman came out of a door in the rear of the aircraft, I nearly screamed.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Baur. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s okay.” I sat down, fastened my seat belt, and closed my eyes.
“May I get you something to drink?”
I opened one eye. “Water, please.”
“Mr. Magnussen?”
“Water for me too, Jane. I’ll also have coffee after takeoff.”
