The Judas Strain - James Rollins [47]
He lifted the large silver crucifix.
Seichan’s eyes widened with recognition. She jerked closer, oblivious of any pain. “It cannot be. You found it.”
“Found what?”
“Friar Agreer’s cross.” Her voice lowered, both angry and mortified. “I had it all along.”
“Who is Friar Agreer?”
“Friar Antonio Agreer. The priestly confessor to Marco Polo.”
Marco Polo?
Tired of the riddles and half statements, Gray snapped harshly. “Seichan, what the hell is going on?”
She waved to a side chair, where her ripped leather bomber jacket had been tossed. “We have to get out of here.”
He refused to move, blocking her as she stepped toward the chair.
She lowered her chin, her eyes going hard. “Gray, make up your damned mind. I don’t have the time.” She made to push past him.
He grabbed her upper arm. “And what’s to stop me from just turning your ass over to Sigma.”
She twisted free. All the freshly transfused blood was now in her face, livid and furious.
“Because you know goddamn better, Gray! If the Guild catches me, I’m dead. If your government captures me, I’ll be locked far away forever, beyond any ability to stop what’s about to happen. That’s why I came to you. But fine. I’ll sweeten the deal. Make you a trade. How’s that? Help me, convince Vigor of the same, and afterward I’ll give you the name of the mole at Sigma. If saving lives isn’t good enough…the wolves are already at Sigma’s door. You may not know it, but the powers that be are seeking to castrate you all, to put you all out to pasture, and now that another mole—a second mole—is hidden in your midst, they’ll burn you down and salt the ground. End of Sigma. Forever.”
Gray found himself swaying. He had indeed heard of such rumors, engendered by the internal audit by NSA and DARPA. But he also remembered a different Seichan, bent over him, gun in his face. She had attempted to kill him when they’d first met. How much could he trust her?
Before the standoff could be resolved, a shout came from the reception area. “Commander Pierce! Come see this!”
Gray swore under his breath at the man’s loud bark. What about covert didn’t Kowalski understand?
Gray met Seichan’s gaze. She was still burning with raw anger, but it failed to lay waste to what he’d first heard in her voice, bleeding across his parents’ driveway. Terror.
He stalked to the side chair, picked up her jacket, and handed it to her. “We’ll do it your way for now. But that’s all I’ll promise.”
She nodded.
“Commander!”
With a shake of his head, Gray headed out of the suite. He heard the television turned up louder. He hurried forward. Still clutching the silver crucifix in his palm, he pocketed it before stepping into the reception area.
He found everyone staring up at the television. Gray noted the familiar logo for CNN Headline News. On the screen, three homes burned at the edge of a forest fire.
“…possibly arson,” the report continued. “To repeat, the police are looking for this man. Grayson Pierce. A local Washingtonian.”
A picture of Gray flashed in the corner of the screen, in uniform, his black hair shaved to a stubble, eyes angry, mouth grim. It was his mug shot from when he was incarcerated in Leavenworth. Not a flattering picture. He looked like a feral criminal.
His father grumbled at his side. “Looks like your past just bit you in the ass.”
Gray concentrated on the news report.
“For the moment, the police are calling this former Army Ranger a person of interest. That is all. He is wanted only for questioning. The police request anyone with the knowledge of his whereabouts to contact authorities immediately.”
Kowalski lifted the remote and muted the sound.
Dr. Corrin stepped back from them all. “In the light of all this, I can’t keep silent any—”
Kowalski pointed the remote toward the doctor. “In for a penny, in for a buck, doc. Aiding and abetting. Keep quiet or you can kiss your medical degree good-bye.”
Dr. Corrin blanched, backing another step.
Gray’s mother reached and touched the doctor’s arm reassuringly. “Nonsense.” She scowled at Kowalski. “Quit scaring him.”
Kowalski shrugged.