Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(47)

“I’ll let you know everything,” Humphrey promised before getting in and driving away.

“What an arrogant ass,” Dalton muttered as they all got back into their car.

“I can’t tell with him. Is he on our side or not?” Lizzy asked as Alex drove out of the airport.

“He’s on his own side.” Dalton sighed, exhaustion rolling over him, knowing he still had a full day before he could get some shut-eye.

“This is the second time he’s asked for information on Bertie Geofferies. I think it may be time for me to find out why,” Lizzy said with the decision made. “Alex, can you get that information Sebastian wants?”

“Some, but Rock Star can get more.”

“Rock Star?” Dalton asked with a quirk of his lips. The way Alex said the name showed an admiration and respect, but it was the way little hearts practically leapt from his eyes that told Dalton that Rock Star was more than just a hacker buddy.

Alex cleared his throat. “Yeah, she’s the hacker from London.”

“I remember,” Lizzy said, not bothering to hide her smile. “Our little boy is growing up.” She held back the laughter.

Alex turned apple-red. “Not cool, dude. Not cool.”

“But Rock Star is,” Lizzy said, and she surrendered to the laughter.

“Okay, okay, we embarrassed him enough.” Dalton was laughing as well. “Can you get what we need?”

“Duh. I’ll get working on it immediately. I’m assuming I’ll give it to you and not Sebastian.”

“You’ve got it,” Lizzy said, finally leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes. “And make sure Rock Star meets us before you take her on a date. We have to make sure she’s good enough for you.”



* * *



Dalton walked hesitantly into the building Jason was using as a black site. It was an abandoned building made to look like office space. He knew Jason had seen him on the cameras, and sure enough, Jason appeared at the office door.

Dalton stood in the aisle surrounded by empty cubicles and looked at his friend and mentor. Jason was empty. His eyes were blank, his lips were in a thin line, and his body that had plumped after retirement was now sagging. It was evident that Jason wasn’t dieting; he wasn’t eating, period.

Jason leaned a shoulder against a steel doorjamb and crossed his arms. “You come to check on the prisoners?”

“Are they still alive?”

“For now.”

“Jason, you need help,” Dalton told his friend, knowing it was the last thing Jason wanted to hear.

“I’m getting my help here.”

“Is revenge the only thing keeping you alive?” Dalton asked, fearing he already knew the answer.

Instead of answering, Jason turned and walked down the dark stairwell, leaving Dalton to follow. The stairs led into a secret network of rooms behind a false wall in the basement of the building. Down there, no one would hear a gunshot, a scream for help, or any other noise that might occur during interrogation.

Interrogation rooms lined the hallway as they walked to the cells in the back. Each cell was a small cement block room lined with thick metal walls and exposed steel beam ceilings. Behind each steel door with the small square Plexiglas window was a cot and a toilet. The first cell contained Gene, huddled on the cot as his body shook.

“Here,” Dalton said, stopping Jason. “What’s wrong with him?”

Jason pulled out a set of keys. “Drug withdrawal. This one wouldn’t shut up. He told me everything he knew the second I set him in the chair. Unfortunately, it’s not much. Mostly, he was a patsy. I kind of feel sorry for him. Michelle would have taken him under her wing.” At the mention of his wife, he looked away from Dalton and opened the door.

Dalton walked in and knelt before the old butler who was still in his White House tuxedo. Next to him was plenty of food and water, something Dalton was betting the others didn’t have.

Gene opened his eyes. “Are you going to kill me?”

“No. I’m here to tell you that your daughters are safe. There were two operatives following your girls. They’ve been eliminated. Your daughters will be getting on a plane tonight and coming home only to discover they’ve won an all-expenses paid trip out of the country for the rest of the summer. They’re going to call you, and you’re going to tell them you are stuck at work and are so happy for them. You’re going to tell them to leave immediately and enjoy themselves. And you’re going to tell them how much you love them.”

Tears began to stream down Gene’s face. “The president did that?”

“Yes.”

Gene began to cry harder. “I didn’t want to do it.”

“I believe you,” Dalton said sadly. Gene was another life ruined by Mollia Domini. How many more people would be dead or ruined before this was over?

Dalton stood, and Gene reached out and grabbed his leg. Dalton didn’t jump back. There was nothing Gene could do to him. Not with Jason aiming a gun at his head. “Thank you. Thank you for saving my girls. They’re all I have left after my wife passed.”

Jason faltered. His gun momentarily dipped at the mention of the loss of Gene’s wife. “You’re welcome. Gene, are you willing to testify about what happened?”