Chapter 6 Lex
LEX
The shrill ring of my mobile pierced the early morning silence, jolting me from a restless night. I fumbled for it on the bedside table, blinking at the time. Zero five fifteen.
“Viper.” I recognized the secure line identifier before answering.
“Tell me I didn’t wake you, the woman who never sleeps beyond zero four hundred.” Bellamy Hall’s voice held unmistakable amusement. “Not to mention, you’re still in Scotland, I assume, and I haven’t received an update on your investigation.”
I sat up, suddenly alert. “Apologies, I—”
“Please, Lex. I’m joking. Tell me, how is Lord Blackmoor?”
“We’ve made significant progress—”
“On what precisely?”
I rested my head on the pillow. “Stop it.”
“Forgive me for thinking you’d succumb to Infidel’s charms.”
I had, as she probably well knew or at least sensed, not that I’d admit it.
“Have you also made progress on the Project Labyrinth investigation?”
“What do you know about Viktor Orlov?” I asked instead of engaging in her suggestive comments.
“Rumor is he survived the explosion that was supposed to have cost him his life. However, I’ve not seen proof yet. What makes you ask?”
“I heard it as well.” I moved to the window, watching dawn break over the Highland landscape.
“I’d like to consult with Dr. McLaren,” I blurted before I could talk myself out of it.
Con certainly hadn’t consulted with me about Angus Drummond’s involvement or David Ashcroft’s, Sullivan River’s, or Niall MacTaggert’s.
Why should I feel compelled to check with him before working with people I had for years?
“You’re right.,” said Viper. “If Orlov is alive, Evelyn may very well have contacts who can confirm it one way or another.”
“No doubt Dr. McLaren could provide insight on the list we’re building of Fallon Wallace’s contacts in Syria.”
“You don’t need my permission, Lex. This is your investigation, and McLaren is your contact as much as she is mine.”
“Understood. It’s just that…”
“Go on.”
“Infidel was opposed to us adding anyone to the investigation who wasn’t thoroughly vetted.”
“Thoroughly vetted? Did you inform him—”
“I did, and while he backtracked slightly via an apology, he didn’t go beyond that to say he was comfortable with my consulting with her.”
“Tell him to sod off,” Viper replied sharply. “You don’t answer to him or to anyone from Unit 23 in the same way they don’t answer to me. Request approved. Anything else pertinent?”
“The Blackmoor Estate is allegedly connected to Ashcroft and Glenshadow via underground tunnels.”
“The same tunnels where Fallon Wallace was killed?” she asked.
“Yes, but they appear quite complex, based on the drawings I’ve seen thus far.”
“Intriguing. Anyway, I had another reason to call.”
“Go on.”
“I’ve someone else I’m recommending join the team. No doubt Infidel will be opposed to him as well.”
“Who?”
“Malcolm Bennett.”
The man’s reputation preceded him—thirty years in SIS, specialized in Russian operations, rigid adherence to hierarchical structures. Frankly, the recommendation puzzled me.
“I need to run. Do check in occasionally, Lex,” she said before I could question what she thought Bennett would add.
“Yes, ma’am,” I responded, not that she’d heard me before ending the call.
While not directly calling me out on it, Viper’s questions about the investigation hit home anyway.
I’d allowed myself to be drawn into Con’s world, seduced not just by the man himself but by the mystery surrounding his ancestral home.
My primary mission—which should be investigating Viktor Orlov’s possible survival and his connection to the AI-weapons system—had taken a back seat.
Why did Carnegie affect me this way? I’d worked with brilliant men before without losing focus. I prided myself on my professional detachment, yet something about his intensity, his intellect, and his vulnerability regarding Fallon’s betrayal…moved me. God, what was wrong with me?
In all the years I’d known her, Dr. McLaren never slept beyond zero five hundred. In fact, I’d developed the same habit while working with her. In the same way I’d forced myself to mention her to Viper without taking the time to talk myself out of it, I called her.
“Margot,” she answered on the second ring. “How lovely to hear from you.”
“I hope I’m not calling too early.”
She chuckled. “You know better. However, I suppose once I get used to this retirement thing, I may allow myself to sleep in.”
“Fat chance,” I teased.
“Right you are, dear. Now, tell me why you’re calling.”
“I’m in the midst of an investigation and was wondering if I could talk you into a consult.”
“Of course, and it’s never something you have to talk me into. However, I’m on holiday in Scotland presently. Can it wait until I return to London?”
“Yes, it can wait, but it just so happens I’m in Scotland too.”
“How lovely. Whereabouts?” she asked.
“Near Tarbert, at Blackmoor Castle.”
She gasped. “You’re joking. I’m over at Ashcroft.”
“You are?” I gasped like she had. “What ever are you doing there?”
“I’ve known the family for decades, dear. I met Alexandria, who married the Duke of Ashcroft, at university, as well as the duke’s brother, Ambrose. That’s who I’m visiting.”
I thought about Ambrose wandering into the library while Con, Gus, and I were video-conferencing with Ash and Sullivan. He hadn’t mentioned having a guest, but why would he have done?
“Perhaps we could get together tomorrow?” I asked.
“Of course. Let me check with Brose to see if he has anything planned, and I’ll get back to you.”
After thanking her, I rang off, feeling far better than before our call. Con would just have to accept the fact that I’d made arrangements to meet with Dr. McLaren and didn’t need his permission to do so.
I showered and dressed quickly, determined to regain my equilibrium. By zero six hundred, I’d made my way to the dining room, surprised to find it empty save for a breakfast spread and the always present tea.
“Mrs. Thorne anticipated you might rise early.” Bastion appeared at my shoulder, startling me. “Lord Blackmoor asked to be notified when you came down. He’s in his study.”
“Thank you, but there’s no need to disturb him. I can manage breakfast on my own.”
Bastion gave a slight bow and withdrew, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I was halfway through my first cup of tea when Con appeared in the doorway, bringing with him that peculiar energy that seemed to alter the air in any room he entered.
“You’re up early,” he said, pouring himself coffee.
“Viper called,” I responded flatly.
“Ah.” He studied me over his cup. “Is she anxious for your return to London?”
“More that I make progress on the Labyrinth investigation.” I met his gaze, searching for his reaction. Something flickered in his eyes before he steeled his expression.
I was about to tell him about my meeting with Dr. McLaren when his mobile buzzed.
Glancing at the screen, his eyebrows lifted. “Interesting timing. Tag’s invited us to Glenshadow for an early brunch. Ten hundred hours.” He set the phone on the table. “It would be the perfect opportunity to examine the monastery records we discussed last night.”
“It would be,” I muttered more than said. Here I was, falling right back under Con’s spell.
“Would that I could read your mind,” Con said with a half smile.
“I assure you that you do not.”
He chuckled. “Shall I accept or decline?”
I thought it over. “It is a holiday, after all.”
“My thoughts exactly.” He smirked. “Though I admit I’m curious about the segue.”
“As I said, Viper rang. Also—”
“We’ll be back on the job full throttle, so to speak, tomorrow. For today, we have some time to kill. Shall we retreat to the operations hub and work ourselves silly or go for a morning walk?”
“A walk. Definitely.” Since we wouldn’t be back at work per se until tomorrow, I decided to wait to tell him about the meeting.
When we arrived at Glenshadow a couple of hours later, Tag met us at the entrance. The old monastery loomed behind him, its stone walls and arched windows unchanged since medieval times.
“Con.” Tag clapped him on the shoulder, then extended his hand to me. “Dr. Sterling. Best wishes for the new year.”
“Same to you, and please, it’s Lex,” I corrected.
“Lex, then.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Everyone’s already here. And when I say everyone, I mean we have a surprise guest. Two, in fact.”
For a fraction of a second, I feared he was about to say Viper was here. It would be just like her.
“Who?” Con asked.
I held my breath and let it out when, instead of my boss, Tag said, “Ambrose.”
“What in the bloody hell?” Con gasped at the same time I did, albeit for an entirely different reason.
“I know. Given the number of invitations we extend to him—simply out of courtesy, not with the expectation he’ll accept—he chooses today to force me to add additional places at the table.”
“You said two guests.”
Tag looked at me. “Right. Yes, he has a friend visiting. I believe you know her. Dr. McLaren?”
“You knew?” My eyes met Con’s, and I bristled at the recrimination I saw in them.
“I only recently learned she was in the area, but I certainly wasn’t aware she’d be here.”
“Would you excuse us?” he said to Tag before leading me into an alcove. “You recently learned she was here? When was this?”
“I neither care for your tone nor do I owe you an explanation.”
“We previously discussed—”
“No, Con, you shared your opinion, and I disagreed. It was not a discussion.”
“Do you intend to talk to her about Labyrinth?”
“Of course I do.”
“Against my wishes?”
I shook my head. “As I said, I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“Wait. There’s something else,” he said, grabbing my hand when I turned to walk away.
“What?” I snapped.
“Tag is worried about something.”