Kim Baldwin - The Gemini Deception

“So, it was a warning? To show us what they’re capable of?”

“I think it was a perfectly choreographed theatrical attack.”

“Interesting.” He crossed his arms and looked down as if considering the possibility. After several seconds, he touched her shoulder. “The only thing your theory lacks is motive.” He squeezed her shoulder as if encouraging a child. “Keep at it, though. I find our little talks amusing.” He laughed and let go of her. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Shield grabbed him by the elbow before she could stop herself. “I don’t know why or exactly how you’re involved, but I do know that Thomas—like Bush and so many others—has been reduced to a puppet president.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“How close were you to her husband Jeffrey?” she asked.

“Quite.”

“So he must have seen the way you look at his wife.”

“You’re out of line, Kennedy.”

“I know,” she said, close to his face. “And I frankly don’t give a shit.”

“I can have you fired.”

“You know you can’t touch me.”

“I can talk to your employer.”

“Why don’t you?” It was her turn to smile. Shield opened the door to the Oval Office. “I’m sure he’d love that.”

“You’d be wise to stick to what you were hired for.” He walked past her. “I’ll let you know if the president needs to…use the bathroom.” Moore grinned and shut the door.

*

Outside Houston, Texas

Later that night

Jack kept her eyes closed because of the blinding light. There wasn’t anything to see, anyway. She’d studied every inch of the room as best as she was able and had discovered no opportunity for escape or reprieve from her confinement. Every now and then, she would move her hands and feet to try to keep the circulation going. So far, she’d managed to avoid soiling herself, but her bladder ached for release.

“How nice to be able to put a face to the voice.”

Jack recognized TQ’s voice over the intercom. She wasn’t sure how much time had elapsed, but it wasn’t more than a few hours, which was less than she expected. Staring up at the mounted camera, she replied, “Likewise.” She looked down at herself. “I intended to come dressed for the occasion, but something tells me you prefer your women stripped and bound.”

“I do so appreciate vulnerability.”

“And anonymity.”

“What’s in a face, after all?” TQ asked.

“You seemed pretty anxious to see mine.”

“But you’re so much more than a face, Jack.”

“That’s right. I’m your brother’s executioner.” Jack smirked.

“That you are.”

“Nothing you do to me will bring that disease back.”

“Nor do I want him back,” the cold, disembodied voice replied. “My affairs are significantly less intricate without him to worry about. Life is much less complicated without attachments. Take Ms. Monroe, for example. You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your sense of obligation toward another.”

The mere thought of anyone touching her blond angel, especially after all she’d already been through, sent a wave of despondency through Jack. “You promised to leave Cass alone.”

“And I have. I always keep my promises.”

“What do you want?”

“I’ve debated that question since…well, since you executed Dario in my ear,” TQ said.

“He was so fond of being a spectator,” Jack said, recalling the man’s propensity for orchestrating hookups between call girls and their escorts from behind a two-way mirror. “I thought it was time to make him the star.”

“Very creative of you.”

“I’m flattered you think so.” Jack shrugged.

“Hmm. Kill you or hire you? That’s the question.”

“The only line that matters is the bottom one, so get to it.”

“For someone in a very…compromised position, you seem to think you can call the shots.”

“This is your show to run,” Jack said. “I just want to know what the hell you want from me. If you wanted to kill me, you could have done that without the boring prelude.”

“Maybe I want to take my time. Ever considered that?”

“Been there, done that, and kept the scars.”

“I’ve noticed. Tell me how it happened.”

“Why would I?”

“Because I can keep a certain loved one alive.”

“Is this how it’s going to be? You’re going to threaten me with Cass every time you want something?”

“You leave me no choice, since you hold little value for your own life. I’m going to ask you one last time, Jack. What happened to you?”

“I was tortured in Israel by this guy Amzi, who was supplying guns and explosives to some Palestinian radicals. I managed to escape before he killed me.”

“What were you doing in Israel?”

“I had taken a job for a rival weapons dealer,” Jack lied. She was protecting the EOO and wasn’t sure why. Maybe because Cass worked for them. “And in the process fell for a woman. Turns out she was a spy. She pretended it was mutual to get information and then handed me over to Amzi.”

“You seem to have this nasty habit of getting involved with the wrong women and sacrificing everything for them.”

“If you’re implying Cass is one of them, then you’re wrong.”

“What do you think she’ll do when she finds out you’re missing?”

“Look for me.”

“With what resources, Jack? She’s a violinist.”

“I didn’t say she’d find me.”

“True.”

“Do you want her to look for you?”

“No.”

“Oh?” TQ sounded surprised.

“I want her to stay the hell away from you.”

“Do you really think she could get anywhere near me, or even suspect that I’m behind this?”

“No.” Jack lied again.

“Why not?”

“I haven’t been honest with her. She doesn’t know what I’ve done or who I’ve worked for.”

“Not even after you teamed up with special forces to save her from Rózsa?”

The bitch had done her homework. “I told her someone owed me a favor and let me tag along.”

“The FBI owed you?”

“An old school buddy works for the bureau.”

“How convenient.”

“Exploit whoever, whenever, right?”

“My kinda gal. How did they torture you in Israel?”

Jack had spent years trying to forget what had happened to her, and this psychotic bitch wanted to take her back. “They hurt me.”

“How?”

“They used me as a punching bag. Whipped and starved me.” Jack left out the rape, the thing that had hurt and degraded her the most.

“How did you escape?”

“After a long while, when they thought I was too weak to stand up, I managed to strangle one of the guards with the chains they bound me with and ran.”

“Brave, resilient woman.”

“I guess.”

After a long pause TQ continued. “I don’t want to hurt or torture you, Jack.”

“Then tell me what the hell you want.”

“I want you to work for me.”

“Doing what?”

“Whatever I ask.”

“Like?”

“What you are infamous for,” TQ replied.

“Poker?”

“I want you to take care of some of my business.”

“Be more specific.”

“Sometimes I need to make certain individuals see things my way.”

“You want me to hurt people.”

“Hurt, execute, whatever is necessary.”

“I don’t do that anymore,” Jack said.

“Because your girlfriend asked you not to?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

“Once a paid assassin, always a paid assassin, Jack. You can’t refute your nature.”

“What if I decline?”

“What if I have Ms. Monroe shot during the concert?”