7. Savior

7

SAVIOR

“ A sh, great to see you,” said Tag when Gus and I walked into the room where he and Con were waiting. I embraced both men, then invited them to take a seat.

“Interesting spot you’ve put yourself in,” said Con.

I hung my head and shook it. “Not my doing, but my lot now, I suppose.”

“Yes, but it’s Sullivan Rivers .” He tossed a dossier on the desk.

I chuckled and pointed at the document. “Please tell me that doesn’t include the mad crush I had on her when we were children.”

He smirked. “It didn’t, but I added it.”

“What have you got for me?” I asked.

“Before we talk about Eric Weber or Tower-Meridian, you should know the Crown Herald has had a massive data breach,” said Con.

My eyes opened wide when the first thing I thought was what this might mean for Sullivan. “Are they aware?”

“They are now. I informed the newly named editor in chief, Fallon Wallace, as soon as I learned of it.”

“I’m not going to ask what you charged them to fix it.”

“Fallon and I are having dinner.”

Both Tag and I laughed. “Is she buying? Somehow, I doubt the tab will cover it.”

“I have bigger plans.”

“As in they become a client?” I asked.

“There couldn’t be a more fitting way to show her their vulnerabilities.” He wove his fingers together and put his hands behind his head. “Sullivan’s data was scoured.”

“Gone?”

Con smirked again. “Only temporarily. By the way, from what little I saw, SIS would do well in convincing her to join the dark side.”

I grimaced. “I consider the media the dark side, my friend.”

“I concur,” said Tag.

Con shrugged. “Either way, she’s really good, Ash.”

“Define good.”

“According to Fallon, one of the best she’s seen. Sullivan reports to Clive Edwards, the Edinburgh bureau chief and executive editor of investigations but also her uncle. I wouldn’t be surprised if she were offered his position after his retirement. Maybe even before.”

“If she’s that good, Weber knows it. Which means the risk is even greater,” I muttered.

“I can tell you that Weber’s people are already looking for her,” Con added.

“Why, though? I mean, what’s she got on them?”

“Not enough, yet. However, that they are in pursuit tells me she’s closer than even she realizes.”

Tag stood and walked to the window.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked him.

“If I were you, I’d bring her under the SIS umbrella as soon as possible,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at me. “Of course, then, her bylines will go away.”

I wasn’t certain Sullivan would care. Somehow, I instinctively knew it was the investigation and its outcome that mattered more to her than the glory of being the one given credit for it. “What about Periscope?” I asked.

“Good point.”

“I don’t believe it will take long for her to hang herself,” Con commented. “Then, talk to Typhon about Sullivan working under him.”

“Unit 23 doesn’t conduct investigations.”

All three men raised their heads, but only Con spoke. “Since when?”

“Not official ones,” I responded.

“Who suggested this would be official?” Tag said more than asked.

“Let’s circle back to this later. Tell me about Eric Weber,” I said to Con.

“I’ve not much yet. The man is shrouded in layers upon layers of mystery. As is Tower-Meridian. At least anything of substance. On the surface, they engage in global shipping and logistics. Given the resources the Crown Herald must’ve put behind Sullivan’s investigation in terms of man hours alone, they must’ve discovered something.”

“The most obvious would be human or weapons trafficking,” said Tag.

“What could she possibly have on them that would be worth the risk of killing her?” My question was rhetorical, not that any of us would have an answer anyway.

“To be honest, I can’t decide whether I’m glad I turned him down as a client five years ago or if it was the worst decision I ever made.”

The unsavory part of Con’s work was a sore spot for Tag, me, and Gus, who was being unusually quiet. We’d collectively agreed to a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy before Tag and I joined Unit 23.

Had he signed Tower-Meridian, the moral dilemmas he faced would’ve been great indeed. It was a fine line he walked. One I wasn’t cut out for.

Con shook his head. “I can tell you this much; whoever he did end up hiring has done a damn good job of keeping him well hidden.”

“Are you actually admitting someone is as good as you are?” said Tag.

“I didn’t say as good; I just said good.”

Given Con was better than anyone else at SIS, he had every right to brag. I was once again reminded that I’d have been outed years ago as the Duke of Ashcroft if it wasn’t for him working his magic.

“What are you thinking, Gus?” I asked, drawing him into the conversation.

“If she’s as good as her boss is saying and Con is concurring, then it might serve you better to come clean now rather than wait.”

I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. My gut was telling me it was too soon to reveal that Ashcroft was entailed to me. As much as I respected Gus’ opinion, I had to follow my own instincts.

“Does Fallon know Sullivan is under SIS protection?” Tag asked.

“Negative. I plan to tell her tonight.”

I raised a brow. “Tonight?”

“She’s coming to Blackmoor.” Con leaned forward like I was. “This is your call, Ash, but I think you should let Sullivan work while she’s here.”

“It isn’t my call. I’m the glorified bodyguard.”

All three men laughed, Gus harder than the other two.

“Admit to yourself this is personal,” said Tag.

“Whether it is or not, I’m not in a position of deciding how much access to the outside world Sullivan has. As you’re all well aware, it’s for her protection.”

“And you know bloody well that Con will be monitoring it as well as blocking anyone from finding her,” Tag added.

“What are you suggesting? A delay in anything outgoing? If so, who will manage it?”

Gus raised his hand.

I looked between my three friends. “It’s decided, then?”

“Not until it’s unanimous,” said Tag.

“I could see opening up online access but not mobile.”

“Agreed,” said Con. “Plus, from what I’ve seen, Miss Rivers might very well find a workaround that none of us pick up on. At least this way, we control it from the start.”

“I need to think it over.”

“Thistle Gate,” said Gus, looking at his mobile.

“Pardon?”

“According to my mum, that’s what your grandfather called the cottage.”

I cocked my head. “I’ve never heard it referred to as such.”

“The one you’re in now was Primrose Croft.”

“On that subject,” said Con, pulling out a roll of plans. “Can we take a moment to review where that project stands?” He rested the stack on the desk and put paperweights on all four corners.

While I would’ve preferred we get straight to the discussion about Tower-Meridian, I nodded.

“The cottage’s original exterior was stone on top of granite. My guess is when the castle was constructed, Thistle Gate was the next dwelling built.” He looked over at me. “From a security standpoint, it works in our favor, Ash. Once we add bulletproof windows and doors, it will be nearly impenetrable. On the off chance someone figures out a way to get in, I’ve a suggestion.” He rolled the top sheet to the left.

“Is that a panic room?” I asked.

He nodded. “Much smaller than what’s beneath us.”

“That’s a dungeon, not a panic room,” muttered Gus.

“Same difference,” said Con. “Except for how to get in and out.” He rolled the next sheet like he had the first.

I gasped. “What is that ?”

“You’ll never believe it. In fact, it makes me wonder about inbreeding between our two families.”

“How so?” Not that it was the question I really wanted the answer to.

“Your ancestors were bloody brilliant, Ashcroft. Which means I must descend from them somehow.”

I shook my head and chuckled. “Tell me what I’m looking at.”

“There’s a tunnel system between the island and the mainland,” Con explained.

“It cannot be viable,” I said.

He raised a brow and glanced over at Gus. “Tell him.”

“It is.”

“Tell him how you know.”

Gus raised his middle finger. “Sod off, arsehole.”

“Perhaps you can enlighten Ash another time,” Con teased.

“You can’t be serious. Were you in it?” I asked.

Gus shook his head. “Not me.”

“Who, then?”

“Let’s table this discussion for now,” he muttered.

“Perhaps we should table it entirely,” I added, sensing Gus’ discomfort.

His expression turned serious. “I concur.”

“Can we go back to the second drawing?”

Con unfurled it.

“Is this the last of the work to be completed on the cottage?” I asked.

He looked at Gus.

“Adding the necessary security to any refurbishment always takes place once the rest of the construction is finished and those crews are gone.”

“Then, we’re looking at seventy-two hours max,” Con answered.

“That is equally remarkable and disappointing.”

“How so?” he asked.

“His accommodations in the smaller cottage aren’t exactly comfortable, given the sofas’ length is half Ash’s height,” Gus responded.

Con chuckled. “Just sleep with her instead of on the sofa, Ash. You know it’s going to happen eventually.”

Like Gus had, I raised my finger and indicated the bastard should sod off.

“I told him he should simply banish Brose.”

Con nodded. “I do have one other suggestion, though. It will make things far easier on everyone.”

“Go on,” I said.

“Relocate to Glenshadow until the security installation is complete.”

“What’s this?” Tag raised his head, given Glenshadow was the fifteenth-century monastery that had been converted into his family’s home on the estate.

“That way, Ash can sleep in a bed and Sullivan won’t be underfoot. The less she’s about, the faster the crews can get the larger cottage ready to move into.”

I glanced over at Gus. “There aren’t tunnels between Primrose Croft and the castle, are there?”

“God forbid,” he said under his breath.

There was a story there that Angus definitely didn’t want to tell. Somehow, I suspected that if I pressed hard enough and got him to, I’d regret it. Lingering in the back of my mind was that whatever it was had something to do with his mother’s request the cottage be refurbished.

“Throw your back out, confront your uncle, or relocate to the abbey. Those are your choices as I see them,” Gus muttered.

Like we both had with Con, I raised my middle finger in his direction.

“See what fun we have in your absence?” Tag nudged me. “You should spend more time here.”

“I don’t think there’s ever been a stronger case for staying away for longer periods of time.”

“Is it settled, then? Temporary relocation to Glenshadow?” Con asked.

“As long as Tag is okay with it,” I said at the same time my mobile vibrated. “What now?” I muttered, looking at the alert.

“Share with the class, Ash,” Con teased.

“Mrs. Drummond relayed a message that Sullivan is requesting I return to the cottage”—I reread the message to be sure—“in the next fifteen minutes.”

“What’s this about?” Gus asked.

“It doesn’t say.” I looked over at Tag. “What are your thoughts on relocating her?”

“Of course. Whatever’s necessary.”

“Very well. See you later, gents.” I stood and walked out.

No doubt all three men found my abrupt departure curious. Unless I was assigned an op, I was hardly known to jump when issued a demand. In fact, I’d be more likely to ignore it. Something told me Sullivan wouldn’t play this card, though, if whatever it was, wasn’t urgent.