11. Savior

11

SAVIOR

I held Sullivan’s hand as we made our way up the same narrow staircase we’d come down, but instead of going up to the second floor, I stopped at the first.

Con, Tag, and Gus were waiting for us in the library. Based on their expressions, the breach wasn’t as innocuous as I’d hoped.

“What do we know?” I asked, deciding straightaway not to hide anything from Sullivan unless it was absolutely necessary I do so.

Con’s eyes met mine, and I nodded once.

“There were three armed intruders, and accessing the property was not accidental,” he said.

Sullivan was standing beside me, and her hand brushed mine. I took it like I had when we walked up the stairs, then led her to a chair.

“Was it Weber?” she asked.

“We haven’t yet been able to make that determination. However, it’s a logical theory.”

“Are they in custody?” I asked.

“Negative,” Tag responded.

“What did you learn about the tracking device?” I asked Con.

“I’ve confirmed it was one of mine.”

There were several things I needed to discuss with Con, but none that I would with an audience. Deciding it was best to delay until the following day, I suggested we reconvene in the morning unless there were additional pressing issues to be addressed.

“What about relocating?” I asked.

“Not until we’ve had the chance to reevaluate the systems at Ashcroft,” said Gus.

My eyes met Sullivan’s. “You should all be aware that I’ve briefed Ms. Rivers on my true identity as it relates to my estate. I’ve also filled her in on our shared past.”

None of my three friends appeared surprised.

“Good,” said Con.

I glanced over at Sullivan, who hadn’t spoken. No doubt she was in shock, more from the breach and visit to the safe room than the truths I’d revealed. Still, she and I needed time alone.

“Is there anything else we need to discuss presently?” I asked.

None of the three men in the room spoke up.

“In that case, Sullivan and I will excuse ourselves.”

She looked up at me and stood when I held my hand out to her.

“Shall I arrange for dinner to be brought up?” Tag asked.

“That would be lovely. Many thanks,” I said.

Our walk upstairs was done in silence.

“You’re very quiet,” I said once we reached the first of the two suites.

“Processing. Would you like to come in?”

“Very much so, unless you’d prefer to be alone.”

She wrapped her arms around her waist. “That’s the last thing I want to be.”

I walked over to the fireplace. “Cold?”

“A bit.”

As I lit the logs Tag or someone else had laid, I thought about how, while we were in the safe room, I’d felt like I had so much to say, so much I wanted to tell Sullivan, and now, I struggled for words.

As I watched the kindling catch, I also thought about the heat of the kiss we’d shared. If only it could’ve lasted longer. If only we could do it again.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked from behind me.

“Kissing you.” I glanced over my shoulder and winked.

“Truly?”

I stood and joined her on the two-seater sofa. “What about you?”

When I put my arm across the back of the cushions, Sullivan rested her head on my shoulder. “I remember you.”

“Yeah?”

“I think you might have been my first crush.”

I’d not say it, but even now, when I thought back on it, it felt so much bigger, so much more important than that.

“Things my mum said make more sense to me now.”

“What things?” I asked.

“Apparently, even at eight years old, you were a catch.”

I chuckled. “I have photos that would prove otherwise.”

“She must’ve known your parents, err, owned a castle.”

“We were living in Ballater because my father had work at Balmoral.”

“Makes sense. I don’t remember much about him, but I do recall your mother was beautiful.”

I rested my cheek against her head. “She was.”

“It’s sad she passed so young.”

“She and my father. Earlier today, Gus reminded me that my grandfather on my dad’s side is the only one of the four who lived much beyond fifty.”

“What about your mother’s parents?” she asked.

“Sadly, there was an estrangement I never knew much about.”

“Are they still living?”

“I’m not entirely certain,” I admitted. “What about your parents?”

“My mum and dad are still with us. I don’t see them often. She can be quite, err, overbearing.” She shifted so I could see her face. “You used to pull my hair.”

I smiled. “My apologies for doing so.”

“This is awkward, right?”

I tightened my arm around her shoulders and squeezed. At first, I thought I’d make light of it. How could it not be? It hadn’t been twenty-four hours since I’d whisked her out of a parking lot where, if I’d followed the orders relayed to me by my handler, she would’ve breathed her last breath. What if it hadn’t been me who was called to assist MI6? What if it had been Tag? Or another of Unit 23’s assassins? I shuddered, thinking about what may have happened.

“I knew it was you last night,” I confessed. “What I mean is, even if I hadn’t been told your name, I still would’ve known.”

“I suppose I should be very grateful you did.” Her eyes scrunched. “That didn’t come out the way I meant it. I am grateful. I must be honest; I’m also terrified.”

The conversation we’d had earlier today about Eric Weber in itself was troubling, at best. There was still the question of why a man with the kind of power he appeared to have would want a reporter at Sullivan’s level dead. Unless she either had far more on him than she was willing to admit or she hadn’t yet figured out the significance of the things she’d unearthed in the course of her investigation.

It reminded me of the conversation I’d soon have to have with Con. And then I recalled he was meeting with Fallon Wallace this evening about the Crown Herald’s data breach.

“I hesitate to change the tone of our conversation.”

“Don’t.”

I studied her.

“I’m serious, David. I already feel as though I’ve lost five years of my life during the last twenty-four hours alone. Just for tonight, can we focus on happier times? Those when we didn’t have a care in the world?”

“We can do.”

“Did Tag say something about dinner? I’m suddenly starving.”

“What do you say we take matters into our own hands?”

“Do you know where the kitchen is? I mean, castles have kitchens, right? I’ve not been in one where anyone actually resides in it any longer.”

“Never tell Mrs. Drummond I said so, but not only is Tag’s kitchen nicer than Ashcroft’s, but his cook’s food is better too.”

“You never should’ve told me that, David.” It occurred to me I’d never heard anyone address him that way.

“Why shouldn’t I have told you about Tag’s cook?”

“Blackmail, obviously, in an effort to get you to divulge more of your secrets.”

I put my hand on Sullivan’s cheek. “All you ever have to do is ask.”

She chuckled. “If that’s the case…”

“Yeah? Have you started a list?”

“Not yet, but I do have one question. How do people address you?”

“People?”

“Con, Tag, and Gus, mainly.”

“Ash. Our bunch prefers single syllables, or so it seems. What about you? Do your mates call you Sully?”

She shook her head. “I don’t really have many. Well, any mates to speak of. The people I work with refer to me as Bully.”

“Bully? Why ever would they call you that?”

“I’m sure they meant it to be disparaging, but I took being likened to a bulldog as a compliment.”

“Word is you’re an exceptional investigator. That, I could’ve gathered based on your inquisitions alone.”

Sullivan wiggled her finger in my direction. “Except we’re not talking about work or anything related to it.”

“As you wish, Sully.”

After a delicious dinner of cullen skink—the traditional Scottish soup made from smoked haddock, onions, and potatoes—and crusty bread fresh from the ovens, Sullivan and I returned to our suites. As much as I wanted to stay and talk to her until the wee hours of the morning, I’d gotten very little sleep the night before. I’d noticed her yawn several times throughout our meal, so she was likely equally exhausted.

Rather than following her inside, I remained in the hallway. “Will you be able to sleep okay?” I asked. “Or shall I take you for a ride around the estate?” That got a smile out of her.

“Do you want to…?” She motioned behind her with her head.

“I think it best I don’t tonight.”

“Sure. Right. Of course.”

“I would like to kiss you once more if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Not at all. We’ve twenty years to make up for, right?”

When I leaned forward, our lips met. The kiss was over far too soon, but if I didn’t go to my rooms now, I might never.

“Good night, Sully.”

“Good night, Ash. Or should I call you Davy?”

I smiled, shook my head, and walked the rest of the way down the hallway, happy to have a bed to sleep in tonight, but not quite as pleased that the opposite side would be empty.

After a quick shower, I got under the covers, but rather than sleep, I stared at the ceiling. We’d managed to remain cocooned in happy thoughts for the last couple of hours. Tomorrow morning, we’d have no such luxury. Me, especially.

When I woke with the sunrise, it was because my mobile pinged with an alert from Gus.

Periscope is ready to talk. She said only to you.

“Bloody hell,” I muttered out loud. Doing so meant returning to Edinburgh, something I definitely didn’t want to do, especially today.

I’d tossed and turned a good share of the night, making mental lists of action items for today, including a full briefing from Sullivan on her investigation, if she was willing. If so, I’d wait until after it was over to speak with Con privately. If she wasn’t willing, I’d get it over with first.

Since I knew he was awake, I rang Gus rather than reply. “Can’t Periscope speak with anyone else?” I said even before good morning, since it wasn’t.

“It’s you or no one, or so I’ve been told.”

The woman was my handler; we weren’t mates, for God’s sake. I’d never been her confidant. In fact, we’d hardly spoken. “Why?”

Gus sighed. “While I can’t be certain, I think it’s because she knows Sullivan is with you. Or she strongly suspects it.”

“And?”

“Someone got her to relay a fake kill order, Ash. Whoever it was still wants Ms. Rivers dead. To be honest with you, I found the notion of letting Periscope believe no one was on to her ridiculous.”

“I agree. I was skeptical it would work.”

“If the ultimate goal was to get her to confess her involvement with Weber and Tower-Meridian, you meeting with her is the quickest way to it.”

“Right. On the subject of someone wanting Ms. Rivers dead, have you gotten anywhere with yesterday’s intruders?”

“Making progress. They’re definitely professionals. However, so are we.”

“Where was the access point?” I asked, getting out of bed and pacing the room.

“We’re still trying to piece that together.”

I thought about some of the satellite images Sullivan had showed me yesterday. I knew where she’d gotten them, just not how. And after she’d specifically stated she wouldn’t tell me, I wasn’t sure how to broach it today.

“I’d like to have a team meeting this morning, which means if I have to give in to Periscope’s demands, I won’t be able to meet with her until this afternoon.”

“Roger that. Let me see what I can do.”

“Before you ring off. How’s the security update going at Ashcroft?”

“Nearly done. In fact, Con’s been here most of the night.”

At any other time in my life, that would’ve filled me with confidence. Right now, what I felt bordered more on dread.

“What’s going on, Ash?”

“I’ll fill you in later. What time can the two of you be here?”

“Zero nine hundred.”

“See you then. Oh, and did Con say whether he met with Ms. Wallace?”

“He did.”

“And?”

“He said he’ll fill us in later.”

I thought about checking on Sullivan, but it seemed like a bit of an invasion of privacy. Plus, if I peeked into the room and saw her still in bed, the lure of joining her would be hard to resist.

Instead, when I came downstairs, I found her in the dining room, speaking with Tag.

“Good morning,” I said, catching them both off guard. What precisely had they been discussing that resulted in my startling them in such a way?

“Ash,” said Tag, getting up from his seat.

“Good morning,” said Sullivan, looking over at me.

All I could think to ask was what was going on here, so I remained quiet, looking instead for tea. When I saw it and a modest breakfast set out on the sideboard behind me, I turned my back to both.

“Gus informed me Periscope is ready to talk but only to me.”

“What will you do?” Tag asked.

“I’ve not much choice, do I?”

Without facing him, I knew he’d bristled. Maybe not visibly to Sullivan.

“Have you heard from Con this morning?” I asked before remembering Gus had said he was at Ashcroft.

“I anticipate he’ll be here within the hour. I was just telling Sullivan I was anxious to hear about his meeting with Fallon Wallace.”

When I turned around, my gaze met Sullivan’s. Had she realized I’d kept the meeting from her?

“Prior to that briefing, I’ll be meeting with him privately.”

Tag nodded and retook his seat. Unlike what I would’ve expected from the usually inquisitive Sullivan, she didn’t ask why.

When I sat at the table and noticed she had her laptop with her, I wished I would’ve thought to bring mine. Not that it would distract me enough to pull me out of my dark mood.

There was a reason I was a loner. I preferred silence over a conversation more often than not. Yes, kissing Sullivan had been a dream come true, but that was all it had been. A silly kid’s fantasy come to life. After not seeing each other for over twenty years, we weren’t friends. I wasn’t certain if we had been even then.

“Are you all right?” Sullivan leaned in and whispered.

“Perfectly fine,” I said right before taking a bite of the croissant I’d taken from the sideboard’s breakfast offerings.

Before I finished eating, Gus and Con arrived. I was about to propose the private meeting I’d wanted with the latter, but thought better of it. As I reminded myself, my plan was for Sullivan to brief the crew, as Typhon called us, and study his reaction.

After suggesting we remain in the dining room, I excused myself to get my computer. I took the stairs two at a time, and when I came out of the suite after retrieving it, Sullivan was waiting for me.

“You seem angry.”

“Professional. Not angry.”

She folded her arms, and her head snapped back as if I’d struck her. Or threatened to. She spun on her heel and went downstairs.

“Sullivan—” When she didn’t stop or respond, I returned to the suite and sat on the bed. A few minutes later, I heard a rap at the door.

My first reaction was to tell whoever it was to go away. On the off chance it was her returning, I got up and went to the door.

“Gus,” I said, turning around.

“Ash. We’re waiting on you.”

“One would think you’d be able to conduct a meeting without my input.”

“The meeting you called?”

“I didn’t…I suppose I did.”

He stepped inside and shut the door behind him. “Is this about Periscope?”

“In part. The other thing is I’m in unfamiliar territory with Sullivan. I handled things poorly yesterday. As a result, she’s expecting her boyfriend to show up rather than a Unit-23 assassin who, at the end of the day, shouldn’t be involved in her investigation. More, Typhon never should’ve assigned me detail work.”

“Easy enough solution, then.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ll contact Typhon and let him know I’ll be taking over. Once you’ve met with Periscope, you can return directly to London.”

He was bluffing. Or was it me who was? “I can’t do that, and you know it.”

Gus shook his head. “You can, but you won’t.”

I stood by the window, looking out at the view of the coos roaming Tag’s land. “I don’t know how to do this,” I said when he stepped behind me and rested his hand on my shoulder.

“Just be, Ash. Let it happen on its own.”

“There’s more on my mind.”

“Con?”

“Am I the only one who believes things aren’t adding up?”

“Let’s get this meeting over with and see.”

“Wait,” I said when he walked to the door. “I appreciate this, Angus. Seeing that photo on my grandfather’s bookshelf reminded me what a good friend you’ve been all my life.”

“Likewise, Ashcroft.”