38. Chapter 38
Chapter 38
H enson sat in his chair, fingers steepled on the desk: a gesture appropriate for a politician, one that gave the appearance of a thoughtful and respectable man. Unfortunately, his partner, who silently paced the room, did not appear to be impressed.
The news of Mrs. Marshall’s rejection had reached Henson but a few hours before Sawyer’s scheduled appearance. That was fortunate, as it meant they could proceed to solving the problem straight away. Henson wasn’t too pleased with Robbins letting the woman off the hook, but for the sake of his pride and maintaining some authority in this partnership, he had to paint the matter much less dire than it was.
“We’ll find someone else. They won’t be as perfect of a scapegoat as a wife of a Watcher, but surely, we can find someone who will extrude much the same effect. A Confederate sympathizer, perhaps—”
“In two weeks”—Sawyer’s voice took on its usual sinister calmness—“you intend to find another asset, take the watch from Mrs. Marshall and give it to them, and train them? In two weeks? ”
“We’ll find someone talented and committed to the cause. Honestly, this might go even better with someone willing—”
“No.”
“No?”
“Even if you were to succeed, this isn’t the agreement we had,” Sawyer said. “I need her .”
“Well, she’s a stubborn bitch. And we don’t have a better lure than the supposed death of her family.”
“How did she find out?”
“News from a relative.” Henson rubbed his chin. “Say, you couldn’t go back and change that? Make her not find out? You did first supply her with the article about the accident—”
“And while I’m at it, is there something else you’d like me to adjust? Did yesterday’s soup need more salt? Did you step into a puddle last week and you’d prefer me to dry it?”
Henson needed a few moments before he dared to respond. “It’s what we do—”
“You have no idea what you’re doing.” Sawyer’s vivid blue eyes narrowed into slits as he grabbed the edge of the desk and leaned forward, closing on Henson. “You’re a bunch of idiots wandering in the dark. You gave yourself rules that hinder your own progress. If it weren’t for me, you’d be stuck with those few glimpses you had of the future, quivering that each new trip might bring you closer to exposure.”
Henson pursed his lips. By now, he’d come to expect an occasional slandering from his partner, who definitely had a superiority complex. Part of it was justified: he had abilities and knew things Henson thought were impossible. He feared what would happen if a man like this were to take charge. Luckily, Sawyer had no leadership ambitions. In fact, in return for giving Henson specific details about the future, he had only one demand.
“You have your plans, and they don’t concern me as long as they fall nicely into my plans,” Sawyer continued. “We had an agreement. I gave you everything you needed. Told you she has the watch. Told you how to persuade her. Told you everything about Lincoln’s assassination. All you had to do was recruit her!”
“Yes, but—”
“I need Fabienne Marshall. She has to be the one. Do you understand?”
Henson had no idea why Sawyer was so insistent on this part of the plan. When he’d approached Henson more than a year ago, he knew about his split loyalty and desire for a change within the Watchers. Instead of turning him in for such treacherous thoughts, Sawyer offered to help. Henson attributed the recommendation of Fabienne Marshall to the fact that she was a clever choice that would prove most treasonous to the Watchers—great for Henson, since he’d more easily execute his vision for the group if he could show how rotten its core had become.
Now, it appeared Sawyer’s motives went far beyond that.
“Fine,” he conceded. “Given we’ve already wasted so much effort on her, we might as well try to get her to change her mind. I’ll think of something to coax her back…”
“Never mind. I’ll take care of her.” Sawyer stalked to a wall cabinet, where he played with a framed photograph of Henson’s mother. “Make sure you have all other aspects of the plan in check. You can do that, can’t you?”
Henson gave a sharp nod. He’d let Sawyer win the point. In the end, they’d each get their victory.
“I’ll inform you of my next visit. And when that happens, please don’t have any more unwelcome news for me.” The polished surface of the watch with two concentric rings shone in the brief second before Sawyer disappeared.
After half a minute, Henson released his breath in a relieved exhale.