Page 60 of Need to Know

“Yes. He said a Chinese agent brushed past him this morning and shanked him with something that left a tracker, the area looks badly infected,” Nate informed

“My colleague can cut the tracker signal using a foil blanket before removing it. I’ll make sure your father’s okay, antibiotics, pain relief, the works.”

Nate still looked worried. “Don’t tell the FBI or the CIA where he is,” he pleaded. “Jack told you about the chips, right?” Deveraux nodded. “I don’t know how involved Special Agent Porter is or what she knows, but she allowed a CIA operative, Kirk Rivera into the room when I was being interviewed.”

“And why is that significant?”

“Before he collapsed my dad told me Rivera is the one who betrayed him. Rivera was his new CIA handler. My dad was supposed to pass the chips to him for research. But Rivera arranged a side deal to pass the chips onto Oliver Roux.” Deveraux’s eyes widened at hearing this.

“Oh, this shines a new light on everything!” he admitted.

“That’s why my dad ran…he was double-crossed, refused to hand the tech over to that fucking monster! Dad’s got a US passport in the name of Christopher Hurst. Can Britain help him? Maybe give him political asylum?” Nate begged.

“The US won’t be informed that we have your father until he’s safely on UK soil. I’m sure we all want to understand what’s going on here. If this was a sanctioned CIA operation against the Chinese government, they won’t stand for it. If their tech isn’t returned, we could see a new tit-for-tat tech war with huge geopolitical ramifications. When your father’s well enough we’ll fly him to London to debrief and once he’s on UK soil he can apply for asylum.”

“What about the chips?” I asked.

“The official UK government line is that we have no knowledge of their existence!” he said pinning us both with a glare. So, this was still the play, deny that the chips exist to prevent an international incident.

“The tracker they put in your father lost power here. The security in the penthouse is far better than the rooms on lower floors, but the Chinese Ministry of State Security have agents in the city and they’re canny bastards!” Agent D warned.

A tall wiry paramedic came to the French doors. “I got the tracker out. The patient’s sedated and on the trolley. Ready to go, guv?” he said. Deveraux nodded. We all moved to the lounge, where Nate rushed to his still unconscious father, placed a kiss on his brow, and said,

“I’m sorry, I love you, dad. Don’t worry, we’ll work this out.” I wasn’t sure what Nate had to be sorry for. We’d probably saved his father’s life. I scooped the passport wallet from the coffee table and Nate’s blue-eyed gaze met mine. He nodded, giving me permission. “Here, he’ll need this,” I said as I gave the wallet to Agent Deveraux. He opened the passport, glanced at the identity and nodded.

“We’ll take him down t’ basement using the service elevator and then out back,” a Northern English paramedic said having gathered all of the medical gear into his bag and taken a hold of the rear handle of the trolley. I hurried down the hall and opened the suite double doors and then stood aside as the paramedics pushed the trolley out. When they passed through, I closed the first of the two doors.

“Mr. Boyd. Special Agent Porter wants an update,” Lopez said, his hand gripping the closed part of the door, preventing me from shutting the other door on him. I glared, unimpressed by his ballsy move.

“The paramedic thinks the waiter had a heart attack. They’re taking him to the nearest hospital,” Alexander Deveraux said before I could reply. “Now, I’d better get back to it,” he added, all business.

I took a breath and schooled my features. “Thanks for the update, Agent D,” I said as he stepped through the doorway and sauntered gracefully down the hall toward the elevator.

“I need to come in and do a security sweep,” Lopez insisted, barging into the suite. I remained by the door as he went from room to room looking for what, I didn’t know. When he was satisfied there were no Chinese agents lurking in the closets he returned to the front door.

“Is that everything? Our dinner’s getting cold and we’re exhausted.”

“I had to check…you know…appease the boss.” Lopez admitted. “Everything is fine, have a good evening sir,”

“You’re doing a great job guarding the door! Good night Agent Lopez,” I said with faux cheerfulness.

Nate and I were alone at last!

****

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Nate

Watching my unconscious father being removed the hotel suite on a trolley was the last straw on what had been a hellish day. I zoned out, lost in numbness and incredulity. How had this happened to me? How had I lived for twelve years never doubting the story the US government told me about how my father supposedly died?

Jack strode in from the hall; still in his work-out gear, sweaty, and mussed up. He walked up to me and encased me in a tight hug. Honestly, I was shocked. I’d always had to ask Erik for a hug. In the last few years, he’d made me feel like my basic emotional needs were a burden, but Jack was the opposite. He was open and affectionate, seemingly able to read in my eyes what I needed even before I knew myself. His care and attention soothed me, and his support was literally keeping me on my feet. My face was buried at his nape and I inhaled his natural musk and bay leaf scent. He felt like home.

“Tell me this goddamn day’s over. I’ve got nothing left,” I grumbled into his skin.

“It’s over babe! We survived. Nothing left to do but eat and go to bed. I’m famished.”

“You’re always famished!”