CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN #3
A wave of fear and paranoia overtook me.
The security camera in the room was off, so I assumed the FBI weren’t seeing my interview, but could they be listening in?
Deveraux was recording the conversation, but who would he share it with?
Had Agent D tricked me? Was that his role—to befriend me for information?
If I revealed that Nate was given stolen Chinese tech would Nate be arrested for industrial espionage?
I remained silent, absently picking at the label on the now half-full bottle of Gatorade I clutched.
Agent Deveraux watched me, waiting for an answer.
“Look I know this isn’t the time or place, but I’d, uh, love to pick your brains about your job, Agent D.
We had a couple of consultants with us on the movie, ex-CIA, and ex-MI6.
They helped us to get into character. Maybe you know them?
” I hedged, as if all secret service agents knew each other!
It was ridiculous, but it might just annoy and distract him a little.
“The British guy was Ade Murray, nice bloke, built like a tank, I’ve got his number…
we should do drinks next time you’re in London,” I waffled.
Agent Deveraux gave me an unimpressed pout.
He knew I was stalling. We were locked in a game of silence.
He let time stretch as we eyed one another and the itch beneath my skin became too uncomfortable. Damn, he was good at this!
“Are Nate and I in trouble?” I asked in frustration.
I had a lot of respect for the work the security services did in protecting my country.
The games, lies, and deceit were fine on-screen—vital to thriller storylines, but this is my real life and I was sick and unsteady not knowing my place. Were Nate and I aiding the bad guys?
“That depends. Have you done anything wrong?”
“Well, no,” I said while thinking: Let’s just forget that we stole a couple of kayaks and disposed of two guns, and there’s a million quid worth of smuggled Chinese tech in our hotel room safe, eh!
“If you’ve done nothing wrong then you’re not in trouble.
I can’t speak for the Americans, but you’re a British citizen Jack—a celebrity considered a high-value target for kidnap and ransom.
MI6 wants to ensure that you’re not mixed up in anything that could cause an international incident,” he drawled.
“Geopolitics being the clusterfuck it is…MI6 is in a state of constant vigilance. We just need to cover our arses! If you’ll be candid, I can ensure your protection.
You can complete your business in Berlin and return home to London without further issues.
Now, please Jack, tell me what Jorgen plant on Nate Linden. ”
“What about Nate?”
“He’s a US citizen, so that’s for Special Agent Porter to decide. But, if there’s something you know that could help him, it would be best to tell me. We can see about protecting Nate too.”
The response wasn’t completely reassuring, but if we weren’t in trouble, personal protection for both Nate and I from MI6 in return for information was better than facing whoever was after the chips on our own.
Something in the back of my mind told me I only knew half the story and I was unsure if Nate would agree with my decision, but I had to get us both out of here.
I’d trust the British secret service over the Americans any day!
“You’ll let me go back to the hotel if I tell you, right?” I sighed resignedly. Agent D nodded.
“Okay. Chips…he planted these really tiny computer chips,” I grumbled holding my hand up, my thumb and forefinger showing the size of the chips.
“They were hidden inside a fake credit card that Jorgen slipped into Nate’s pocket.
” I really hoped I wasn’t betraying my friend’s trust and getting him in trouble.
Deveraux smiled, nodded and began typing on his tablet again, sending the information on to god knew who. “Do you know anything about the chips?”
“Nate did a web search when we got back to the hotel. He found a tech thread on Reddit that had a photo of the same chip. They’re in development by the Chinese government. They’re called Téng hú”
“Which translates to mean Barnacle,” Deveraux interrupted, a little smug. I was surprised he knew what the word meant.
“Yeah, they attach to AI GPU chips like a barnacle on the hull of a boat. Apparently, they’re crazy powerful, made from some kind of rare earth mental called Kazakium that enables a super-fast processing ability,” I parroted.
“And honestly,” I held my hands up, “I have no fucking idea what any of that means, I’m just relaying what Nate found out online,” I admitted.
Agent Deveraux tapped out another message then he eased his chair back, rose and said, “Thank you for being so candid, Jack, you’ve been very helpful.” Then he left the room.
In the sudden silence I was a little stunned. Did I just betray Nate? Was he now in trouble for smuggling or receiving stolen goods or something? I slumped to lay my head on the cool table. When Roz found out what I’d done, she was going to fucking kill me!
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