Kim Baldwin - The Gemini Deception

“Sorry, but it’s just that his record is very vague. It doesn’t say who adopted him or what happened to him.”

This sounded like her man.

“Aren’t you people supposed to have everyone’s records?”

“Unless someone higher up deleted or classified them,” he replied, “in which case access is denied.”

“When are records deleted or marked classified?”

“If someone is an Agency NOC.”

“A what?”

“A non-official cover for the Agen…CIA, or…”

“Or what?”

“Or if someone is considered very significant because of their covert work for the benefit and safety of the United Nations,” he said, “and when they are essential links between the USA and other countries. Their identity is then considered high-level security.”

“Who has access to that level?” TQ checked her watch. Time was running out.

“Interpol. And before you ask, even if I could access their records, information like this is not kept on an electronic database for security reasons. Cooperation with people like him is unofficial, and treated as such.”

“Which means what?”

“They work to make companies like the FBI, CIA, KGB, MI6, and you name it look good. They go above and beyond any law and answer to no one. Nobody cares how they get the job done, as long as the said companies can claim the glory and reap the media benefits.”

“Who pays them?”

“Whoever hired them.”

“In other words, these people are contractors,” TQ said.

“Very similar.”

Maybe Kennedy had talked, after all. “Do you have the address of a company called the EOO?”

She heard him type again.

“Most money-grubbing private companies like Xe advertise everywhere and are easy to find. Others…” The line went quiet again.

“What?”

“Like the EOO are not. Says here the address is classified.”

“Not even a state?” she asked.

“Not even a country.”

“I need more.”

“I’m sorry,” he said nervously. “But I simply don’t have access.”

“Try harder.”

After a long silence and a deep sigh, he replied, “I’ll do my best. Just give me some time. I can’t promise you any—”

“I’m going to be in a meeting shortly. Fax me whatever you find.”

TQ hung up. “What are you up to, Pierce? And what did I take from you?” She was screwed if she couldn’t deliver what this man wanted, and even then she wasn’t sure he’d keep his word, or let her live, for that matter. “But I decide when I die, and today is not the day.”

Chapter Thirty-six

Washington, D.C.

Jack tried not to throw up as she crawled to the concrete wall of the basement and propped herself against it. Her leg was bleeding profusely again and she left a wide swath of blood on the floor. TQ’s two assholes had made a sport of kicking her where she’d been shot, and then one sat back as the other began to punch her relentlessly in the stomach.

She coughed up blood, the steely taste making her even more nauseated. Since they hadn’t hit her in the face, she was probably bleeding internally.

“Take a break,” the guy sitting said to his friend. “Where’s the fun if she passes out?”

“I guess,” the other replied. “It’s time for lunch, anyway.”

Relieved she could catch her breath, Jack rested her head against the wall as soon as they left. She badly needed something to wipe the terrible taste out of her mouth, and her T-shirt was too filthy and drenched in blood. She stuck her hand in her pocket in search of a tissue or anything at all and pulled out the folded note Dratshev had given her.

With effort, she focused on the words. Your cat is safe. Come home. 19 8 1 4 5. In disbelief, she read the note again, then once more. It was Pierce’s handwriting and code; he was telling her Cass was safe. But how? And how did this note end up with Yuri? Did Pierce know about TQ?

Jack didn’t care how he had gotten the note to her. Cass was safe, and that was all that mattered. “Fuck.” She let her head fall back again with a thump. If she’d read the note earlier, she’d be halfway back to Cass’s arms by now, planning how to get rid of TQ once and for always.

She stuck the note in her mouth when she heard approaching steps and chewed.

“We’re baaa-ack,” the Hulk sang. “Ready for round three?”

Jack no longer had to worry about the door opening any moment and Cass being pushed through it. Her only fear when they’d started to punch and kick her had been that TQ would bring Cass in as punishment, to make Jack watch as they…

She couldn’t even bring herself to think about it. At least now she knew Cass was safe. She didn’t have to worry that her own death would eventually lead to Cass’s as well.

TQ was going to make her suffer for everything she’d done to her and her brother. And then she’d sit back with a cold glass of wine and an even colder smile as she reveled in Jack’s slow death. But Jack had been down that road before. She knew the drill, and she’d sworn she’d never let herself go through that kind of pain and humiliation again.

Cass was a strong woman, stronger than Jack ever was and ever would be. She’d suffer the consequences of Jack’s death, but she’d be alive and free to live a better life, without the constant threat of Jack’s past catching up to them.

The decision was made. She had to give up. Not because she had nothing to live for, but because she had everything to lose if she didn’t. “I’m sorry, baby, but you’re better off without me,” she mumbled.

The two men stared at her. “What?” the smaller one asked.

She swallowed the note and smiled. “Hey, assholes, miss me?”

*

Burke, Virginia

Once in the cab, Shield dialed Pierce’s cell.

“Who’s this?” he asked sternly, not recognizing the number.

“29041971.” Shield used only her code, not her name, which told Pierce she was on an unsecured GPS line. “Where are you?”

“Minutes before landing,” he replied.

“I’m headed your way.”

“I have a van waiting outside. Meet me there.”

“Roger that.” Shield hung up. “Take us to Andrews Air Force Base,” she told the driver.

“Are they coming to get us?” Ryden asked, excitement in her voice.

“No. We’re going to meet someone.”

“And then?”

“Back to Washington.”

“Are you serious?” Ryden looked shocked. “What are we going to do there?”

“I have to take care of something. You’re going somewhere safe.”

“Without you?”

“I have to help my employer get one of our own back. TQ is keeping her captive.”

“You mean the woman who helped us?” Ryden asked.

“Yes.”

“That’s crazy. TQ…Rothschild… whoever is going to kill you.”

“Trust me, I’ll be fine,” Shield said. “The four of us stand a fair chance.”

“Chance? You said yourself she owns an army.”

“And we own the know-how.”

Ryden nodded vigorously. “I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not. We’re professionals and—”

“I can help.”

“How?” Shield smiled.

“I really don’t want you to do this.”

“It’s my job. They’re my people and I have to help them.”

“How about me? I mean—”

Shield grabbed her hand. “I’ll come get you from the Washington safe house when it’s over, but you have to promise to stay put until I get back or someone from the EOO contacts you.”

“Another safe house?”

“This one’s in use and secure.”

“I thought your people were supposed to come get us,” Ryden said. “Take us back safely. When was that plan abandoned?”