Deadly Games - Cate Noble [12]
“Jesus!” Guilt over ignoring Adele’s phone call swamped Rocco. Was this what Tran’s crony meant by “what we do next”? “Where is Adele?”
“I had her and your nephew relocated to a safe house, but she’s making crazy demands. I hoped you could talk some sense into her.”
“I’ll call her.”
“I’d prefer you talked to her in person,” Travis said. “These men will take you.”
The suggestion irritated Rocco. “Sounds like someone’s worried I’ll slip away.” Or get in the way of an existing op. Travis was hiding something. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Travis scowled. “We’ve heard the Thai government has a lead on Harry Gambrel’s location, possibly in Burma. The Thai secret police want to retrieve him and offer a trade for Dr. Rufin. It’s vital that we get to Harry first.”
Harry Gambrel had disappeared two years ago, along with two other operatives: Dante Johnson and Max Duncan. The three men had been reported dead, but both Dante and Max had recently turned up alive. Making it highly plausible that Harry was alive, too. To Travis and others at the Agency, Harry was a brother in arms. Their unspoken code of honor meant allegiance.
The fact that Rocco didn’t much like Harry had no bearing on the situation. Maddy, however, did.
“So you’re saying that recovering Harry is more important than saving Maddy.” Rocco met Travis’s gaze. “Got it.”
“You haven’t got shit.” Travis rocked onto the balls of his feet. “You can’t even see how you’re being manipulated. Tran’s going after anyone he thinks you care about and you’re playing right into his hands. You’re too damn close to the situation. That’s why I’m doing this.” Travis turned to his watchers. “Get him out of here. Take him to this address.” He withdrew a slip of paper from his pocket.
“You can’t be serious!” Rocco wasn’t about to be locked down. “You’ve got to trust me!”
Travis exhaled, clearly exasperated. “I do trust you. Like a brother. The problem is, I know you. And I’d do the same thing you’re contemplating.”
“Then at least let me work it stateside.”
“You can work it from lockdown.”
“But what if Tran goes after someone else now that he can’t reach Adele?”
“To get to you?” Travis sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “If there’s someone new you’re seeing, I’ll order her picked up as well.”
“Not new, but someone I still care about. You’ve got to let me contact Gena.”
“I don’t believe this!” The scowl on Travis’s face deepened. “Since when have you been in contact with her?”
“I haven’t been.” Dreams didn’t count. “Not in years.”
“Then she’s just as likely off Tran’s radar—which is where I want to keep her.”
“What if Tran gets wind that the Thai government is looking for Harry and does some checking on his background?”
“Fine. I’ll get someone to check on Gena.” Travis turned to the other two men. “Now what are you waiting for? Get him out of here!”
Chapter Four
Harlan County, Kentucky
October 4, 1:25 A.M.
Mission incomplete.
Find Rufin.
Find Hades.
No! Find Max. “Remember our plan!”
Searing heat erupted beneath Taz’s skull. Wrong thinking always triggered a penalty. The painful pressure took out his sense of equilibrium. Then it cut off his vision with a suddenness akin to the earth collapsing beneath his feet. The sensation of free-falling in unending darkness nauseated him as his suffering expanded.
You will do what we say.
We control you.
He crashed on the roadway, tumbling head over heels. The asphalt stung him as it scraped his skin, but it was the jaw-busting blow to his chin that he welcomed. For with physical pain came clarity.
He felt his arms and legs twitch and realized he was having a seizure. In the middle of a bloody highway, for God’s sake! Roll. Roll.
Using the last of his dwindling concentration, he forced his body to move. First he flipped onto his back, then up onto his side and over. Blind and off balance, Taz prayed his movement was linear versus circular.
The pain in his skull