Chapter 6 #3
“We have your burner. Our people have already broken into its OS. My name’s in there, along with Owens’, Calhoun’s, and Sanchez’s.
And I’m willing to bet, once we look deeper, we’ll also be able to connect you to the shooting of Alice Garrison.
” Lena took a breath and waited. “That’s the name of the woman you shot during that reckless drive-by the other day.
By the way, did you know . . .” Lena forced another fake laugh.
“What am I saying? Of course, you don’t. Hardly anyone does.”
“What are you rambling about now?”
“Alice Garrison’s maiden name.” Her tone grew serious. “It’s Owens, by the way.”
Aaaand there it is.
The tell so slight, it was nearly non-existent. A hint of a twitch at the corner of one of the man’s eyes.
Gotcha.
“Oh, you really didn’t know, did you?” Lena sent him a feigned look of sympathy with a click of her tongue.
“See, that’s the thing about Kozlova. He likes to play games.
Even with those on his payroll. He’s like one of those puppeteers.
You know what that is, right? The guy behind the curtain, always pulling everyone’s strings. ”
With her free hand, she waggled her fingers between them as if controlling a marionette.
“I’m no one’s puppet.”
Oh, you poor, misguided soul.
She let her hand come to a rest at her thigh. “That’s exactly what you are, but you can put a stop to it right now. But you need to choose carefully.” Very carefully. “Cooperate with us. Admit Kozlova was the one who hired you and let us protect you.”
“Or?”
Lena sat up a bit taller. She filled her lungs with a long inhale before letting her breath escape back out into the dense air.
“Or I can let Alice’s father—who, by the way, is standing on the other side of that mirror—come in here and question you himself.
And he’s very, very good at what he does.
” She held his stare. “I’m sure you’re familiar with the skills MI6 operatives learn during their extensive training.
I can personally attest to their effectiveness when it comes to extracting information.
” She sent him a grin. “Even with men like you.”
“Men like me?”
“Guys who think they can handle even the most excruciating pain imaginable. Men who’ve convinced themselves they were tougher than the ones before them.
But you tell me.” She searched his gaze.
“You ever have anyone who actually held out all the way to the end without at least giving up something you needed?”
He looked away but said nothing. There was no dramatic confession or plea for mercy. But when he finally spoke again, the facade of innocence had vanished.
“I talk; I’m dead.”
Now we’re getting somewhere.
“And what exactly do you think is going to happen if you choose to remain silent?”
His throat worked a swallow as he brought his emotionless eyes back to hers. “Thought you said you weren’t going to kill me.”
“Oh, not me.” Lena turned her head toward the large mirror behind her. “But do you honestly expect a man like Rafe Owens to let you walk out of here free and clear after what you did to his daughter?”
“It’d be better than anything Kozlova would do to me.”
Lena’s heart kicked the inside of her ribs. Did he really just say—
A flash of surprise lit the killer’s gaze.
He didn’t mean to say that aloud.
But he had. Intended or not, this man had just confessed to knowing Alexei Kozlova.
“So you are familiar with our resident terrorist.”
“I never said that.”
“Actually, you pretty much did.” Lena grinned. “So, come on. Give us everything you know about Kozlova, and I’ll guarantee a brand-new, untraceable identity.”
“He’d still find me.” His words were almost a whisper.
“Not if we’re able to find him first.”
He looked away again, his gaze skittering side-to-side with what appeared to be a head full of racing thoughts.
Thinking is good. It means he’s considering my offer.
Consideration was a major step in the right direction.
If this jerk provided them with verifiable intel on Kozlova, the agency would have no choice but to act.
Come on, my guy. Just say it, already. Make the right call and help us take out a killer far more terrifying than you.
Lena watched and waited, her chest barely moving for her slowly controlled, shallow breaths. This was it. The tipping point. Any second now, he’d give her the goods.
“I have nothing to say.”
Her heart fell but she kept her cool. Sitting up straight, she crossed her arms across her chest. “You know, I think I’ve changed my mind.”
Confusion filled the browns of his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t think I’m going to let Rafe kill you, after all. Instead, I’m going to convince him to let you go.”
“Yeah, okay.” A sarcastic snort came from her captive. It was obvious he wasn’t buying her sudden change of heart.
“No, really.” Lena shrugged. “I think the best thing to do is drive you back into the city and drop you off at the nearest hotel. I’ll even cover the first night, free and clear. Including room service.”
She could almost feel Rafe’s eyes burning into her back from the other side of the mirror.
Stick with me, Brit. I know what I’m doing.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Her prisoner glared.
“I’m talking about letting Kozlova do our jobs for us. Like you said, you cooperate with us, you die.”
“I haven’t given you anything.”
“Ah, but Kozlova won’t know that, will he?
” Her lips curved into a sideways smirk.
“You know Alexei’s keeping tabs on you. Guys like him are paranoid as hell.
It’s only a matter of time before he learns you not only failed to kill us, but that we let you walk free.
Circumstances play out like that, he’ll have no other choice but to think we let you go because you talked. ”
Alarm left his cold eyes widening. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“Wanna bet?”
“You’re a federal agent. You can’t just put a guy back on the streets, knowing he’ll be tortured to death.”
It was Lena’s time to snort as she sent him an incredulous stare.
“You don’t think a seasoned CIA agent and former British Intelligence officer can cover our bases?
” She leaned in closer. “By the time they find your body . . . if they ever do . . . our story will be so air-tight, it’ll be impenetrable.
Oh, we may lose you as an asset, but like I said before .
. . we have your phone. So really, you’re not even needed.
” A small shrug. “Sorry to have wasted your time. I will have to re-cuff you to the chair until it’s time to go, but I’ll let Rafe know of the change of plans. ”
What happened next transpired in a matter of less than a minute. For Lena, however, it felt as if time had screeched to a terrifying halt. One minute, she was starting to stand, and the next, the sharp sound of metal scraping against concrete reached her ears.
It was the only warning she had.
Her intended killer unexpectedly shot to his feet. With his ankles still bound to the chair, his hands flew to her neck. His tight grip stole Lena’s ability to breathe in an instant.
On reflex, she began scratching and clawing at his fingers as she attempted to get free.
Your gun!
Her right hand dropped down to her hip. The soles of her shoes slid against the smooth floor as her legs kicked wildly against the attack. But just as Lena’s fingertips brushed against the weapon’s cool metal butt, she was lifted right off her feet.
No!
The killer-for-hire slammed her upper body down onto the table. The back of her head struck the surface in a painful blow. Momentarily stunned, the pressure in her throbbing skull made her fear her head would quite literally explode.
Can’t breathe.
She tried for her gun once more, but her attacker’s new position effectively blocked her path. Any second now, she expected him to reach for it himself. A poetic way to finish the job—killing her with her own government-issued gun.
Instead, he leaned so close she could feel his hot breath on her cheeks. The resolve in his eyes was more terrifying than the thought of being in Kozlova’s sights. This man was going to kill her, and he had every intention of using his bare hands to do it.
Can’t . . . breathe.
The pressure in her head was unbearable, the pain in her straining throat razor sharp. Lack of oxygen made her starving lungs feel as though they were engulfed in flames. A sea of dancing black dots filled her watery vision.
Rafe!
His handsome face filled her mind’s eye as Lena felt herself slipping away. She fought against it, but without some much-needed air, she simply didn’t have the strength.
The world around her grew black as an unforgiving darkness threatened to swallow her whole. And as her lids fell shut, and her limp hands fell at her sides, Lena could’ve sworn she heard Rafe calling her name.