Chapter Twelve #3
“Shepherd is confident his position is right. That he’s assessed every possibility and contingency.
That kind of hubris can be exploited.” She put her hands on his chest. “You’ll have eyes on me,” she said with a slight nod.
“With the binoculars and the drones. And I’m wearing the necklace with the tracker and listening device. ” They’d prepared for this. “Right?”
Finally, he nodded. Reluctantly.
They went back over to Tristan.
“I’m going with you,” Olivia said. “Alone.”
“I was told to pat you down for weapons.” Tristan raised his hands. “Do I have your consent to touch you?”
“I’m surprised you asked,” Eli said.
“Nothing will happen unless Ms. Lane agrees first.”
“Yes.” She held out her arms, and the kid did a quick pat down. Although she wasn’t carrying a gun, in the spirit of peace during the parley, she wore her spare belt that had a hidden knife in the buckle.
“I need you to remove your earpiece.” Tristan pointed to the comms device. “You can hang on to your cell phone, but you’ll have to put it in this pouch.”
A Faraday pouch. A small bag lined with a metallic material that blocked electromagnetic signals.
She took out the earpiece, handed it to Eli, slipped her phone in the pouch, and put on the yellow poncho.
“Mr. Easton, there is someone watching you. If you enter the forest beyond this point, it will be considered a violation of the terms,” Tristan said. “Do you understand?”
“Yes.” Eli looked around. “But let’s say I do go in, then what happens?”
“Shepherd will initiate countermeasures.”
Countermeasures. This kid was carefully briefed. Getting their hands on Shepherd today might not be possible.
Eli narrowed his eyes and snatched the kid by his sweatshirt. “You said she wouldn’t get hurt.”
Tristan raised his palms. “Nothing will happen to Ms. Lane without her consent.”
“E, let the kid go.” She held his gaze, and he released Tristan. “Just stay out of the forest. I mean it. You don’t have to trust Shepherd. Trust me. Wait here. All right?”
Clenching his jaw, he nodded.
Olivia walked alongside Tristan into the forest. “How do you know Shepherd?”
“I’m sorry, I was told not to answer any of your questions once we crossed the tree line.”
“Why is that?”
“Shepherd told me that…” His voice trailed off as he appeared to think. “Hey, you almost got me there, Ms. Lane.” He grinned at her, looking so young, so innocent.
“The guy you’re helping is a terrorist,” she said.
Tristan looked straight ahead as they continued to walk.
“A killer,” she added. “He’s wanted for several crimes. This makes you an accomplice.”
“I don’t know about any of that. He’s paying me to provide a service. Nothing I’ve done or will do is illegal. I am only a facilitator of communication.”
This was a job for the kid, probably a lucrative one.
The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth as they walked, the only sounds the rustling of leaves underfoot and the distant chirping of birds. A bead of sweat trickled down her back, a combination of nerves and their quick pace.
After about a brisk eight-minute trek—she estimated they’d gone roughly a half mile—they stopped.
“I hope Eli can see me from here.”
“The binoculars have a 10x magnification.” Tristan bent down and grabbed a green backpack, resting on a tree that had been marked with a yellow X. “It should be fine.” He unzipped the bag and pulled out a wand.
“Is a radio frequency detector really necessary?” It was designed to scan for hidden listening and tracking devices.
Tristan shrugged. “I’m only following instructions, Ms. Lane. I need to check you again with this before you can speak with Shepherd. Do I have your consent?”
She squashed a sigh, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her frustration. “Yes,” she said, hoping the thing glitched.
Tristan turned on the handheld device. The RF detector hummed faintly as he waved it around her. Each pass near the necklace triggered a chorus of beeps, the wand lighting up like a Christmas tree. “Please remove the necklace and hand it to me.” He held out his palm.
“Eli, hold your position. I’m fine.” She yanked off the necklace and gave it to the kid.
Tristan dropped it on the ground and smashed the pendant under the heel of his boot. He gathered the shattered remnants and tossed them several feet away. Then he took out a cell phone from the backpack.
“Where’s Shepherd?” she asked, her gaze fixed on the phone. “I thought our conversation was going to be in person.”
“That’s what he’d prefer, but it’s entirely up to you.
” Tristan pressed a single digit, dialing a programmed number, and hit the video camera icon.
“Everything that happens in this park is your choice.” The phone rang and someone picked up on the other end, but she couldn’t see the screen.
“Shepherd, I have Ms. Lane for you.” Tristan offered her the phone.
She took it and stared at the man on the screen. He was exactly as Audrey described. A form-fitting Henley highlighted an athletic build. Full head of thick black hair. Beard. Glasses.
But his eyes.
Her breath hitched in her throat, her blood turning to ice. The hair was a different color. Darker. The glasses and beard looked strange, out of place.
Those eyes. She recognized those sharp green eyes.
But it couldn’t be.
“Hello, Olivia.” The familiar velvety voice she remembered so well.
It was her old partner. Sean Gannon.