Chapter Fourteen #2
“It explains why they took you alive,” Gunnar said, his voice tight. “They wanted to study you.”
“Russo said they just needed my brain. Whether I cooperated or not was up to me.” Bryn suppressed a shudder. “He also mentioned they were moving ‘outside US jurisdiction’ for the next phase. Had a flight scheduled for about three hours after I escaped.”
“Interesting,” Warden said. “Perhaps his government paymasters, whoever they are, don’t have the grip they probably think they do. Emmett, instruct the tech team to track all private flights that departed the Philadelphia area in that timeframe.”
“On it.”
“I’d put money on South America,” Gunnar said.
“Surprisingly, I agree,” Giles said. “I’d guess Colombia. Much looser regulations on genetic research there.”
“Emmett…”
“I’ll ask Agent Bell if the FBI has any intel. On Russo’s connections with Colombia.”
“Good. What about funding?” Warden continued. “Did Russo indicate who’s backing his operation?”
“He implied government support, but was evasive about specifics. Said ‘governments come and go’ and that politicians ‘think they know everything.’ Very James Bond villain, if you ask me.”
“It sounds more and more like a rogue faction within one of our agencies,” mused Giles. “It wouldn’t be the first time an administration hasn’t known what was going on right under its nose.”
“Sir,” Bryn said, addressing Warden, “there has to be a leak. You said it yourself that the operation was compromised from the start. Russo knew we’d be in Philly. He knew we’d be meeting Frost, and where.”
Warden nodded. “I’ve come to the same conclusion. Which is why, effective immediately, we’re implementing need-to-know protocols across all operations related to Helix, Russo, or Thanacrine.”
“What about the FBI?” Gunnar asked. “We’re supposed to be working together on this.”
“I’ve already expressed my concerns to Boston’s director,” Warden replied. “He agrees that tighter controls are necessary, though I detect reluctance on his part to acknowledge the possibility of a breach at his end.”
“So he thinks it’s our leak, not his,” Gunnar said.
“Essentially. Though he’s diplomatic enough not to say so directly.”
“If Russo’s headed to Colombia, we need to move quickly,” Bryn said.
“Leave that with me.”
“So what now?” Bryn pressed.
“You and Detective Ericson will be placed on medical leave for a minimum of seventy-two hours,” Warden said. “Our analysts will continue processing any evidence from the Philadelphia facility and tracking Russo’s movements.”
“We can’t just sit around while…” Gunnar began.
“You can, and you will,” Warden interrupted. “You were shot in the hip and suffered a head injury from that baton strike. Your healing is impressive, but not instantaneous. Bryn was drugged, abducted and has undergone significant physical and psychological trauma. Neither of you is fit for duty.”
“With all due respect, sir,” Bryn started, “I’m the one who spent quality time with Russo. I know how he thinks and what he looks like, which is a bit different from the ancient picture in his file.”
“Which is precisely why we need you recovered,” Warden cut in. “Your insights will be invaluable, but not if you collapse.”
Bryn wanted to protest but found he lacked the energy. Bone-deep exhaustion permeated his body.
“Seventy-two hours,” Warden said. “Both of you.” He looked pointedly at Bryn and Gunnar. “Consider it an order.” He stood, signaling the end of the meeting. “Emmett will work in my office in the meantime so you won’t be disturbed.”
“I will?” Emmett was wide-eyed.
“Yes, you will.”
“And I will resist the urge to seek out your scintillating company,” Giles said.
“One benefit of house arrest,” Bryn said. He found himself struggling to stand. He swayed on his feet. Gunnar reached out, steadying him despite his own injuries.
“I’ve got you.”
“Some big bad wolf you are,” Bryn said. “Can barely stand yourself.” They made their way into the corridor.
“Still strong enough to keep you upright. Besides, we make a matching set. Both of us too stubborn to admit when we’re done in.”
Bryn eyed the stairs. “It’s at times like this I wish we had an elevator.”
Gunnar pulled Bryn into a careful embrace. “Take your time.”
Bryn buried his face in Gunnar’s neck, inhaling the familiar scent of him, absorbing the solid reality of his body.
“I thought I’d lost you,” Gunnar murmured against Bryn’s hair. “When those bastards took you… I haven’t felt that kind of fear since you handed yourself over to a murderer.”
Bryn snorted with laughter. “When I saw you go down in that alley my heart stopped. I kept seeing it…over and over…but I decided you couldn’t be dead. I would have felt it.”
Gunnar’s arms tightened around him. “I’m right here. We both are.”
Taking it one slow step at a time, they made their way to their apartment.
Once inside, with the door locked behind them, they both seemed to deflate.
“Shower or bed?” Gunnar asked.
“Shower, then bed,” Bryn decided. “I smell like a post-hibernation bear.”
“That’s very specific. Shower it is.”
“I need to apologize to Ed Solomon. He had to spend six hours in a car with me.”
“Ed’s a big boy, he can handle it.”
They helped each other undress. There was nothing sexual in the cautious touches, just intimacy and care as they cataloged the physical evidence of what they’d endured.
Bryn’s fingers traced the bandage covering Gunnar’s hip, while Gunnar’s eyes lingered on the marks left by the restraints on Bryn’s wrists.
Under the hot spray of the shower, Bryn let the tears come. Silent, cathartic tears that mingled with the water cascading down his face. Gunnar held him through it, saying nothing.
Clean and wrapped in soft towels, they made their way to the bedroom. Gunnar lowered himself onto the bed, grimacing as his injured hip protested the movement. Bryn slid in beside him, careful not to jostle him.
“We should talk about what happened,” Gunnar said, eyelids drooping.
“Tomorrow,” Bryn replied, curling into Gunnar’s side, his head resting on his chest. “Right now, I only need to know you’re here.”
“I’m here,” Gunnar murmured, his arm coming around Bryn’s shoulders. “Not going anywhere.”
“Promise?”
“Wolf’s honor,” Gunnar said, pressing a kiss to the top of Bryn’s head. “Sleep now.”
Bryn surrendered to exhaustion, the steady beat of Gunnar’s heart the most reassuring sound in the world.