By the time they made it to the Councilor’s car, Alex had already revised the spur-of-the-moment plan. Merritt would make his suspicions about Jackson known to Three as soon as he could, casting doubt on Alex himself, since he had lobbied for Jackson to be his second. Without Three’s trust in his leadership, their route might be changed, the security plan might be tweaked. Any number of small but significant changes could be made which might jeopardize the entire operation. They’d have to move the op up. They’d have to make it happen now.
“Don’t put her on my furniture!” The Councilor’s baritone command set his teeth on edge. “She might lose control of her bowels and soil it.” Three made outraged shooing motions at Danny, urging him to pick up his incapacitated sister. “Put her over there, on the floor, away from the carpets. The floor can be scrubbed.”
Alex snapped his fingers at Danny when the man hesitated. He pointed down to the spot on the floor as he assessed the twilit room.
The Councilor suffered from migraines and kept his own quarters darkened. Heavy drapes on the forward and side windows blocked out the light and prying eyes. It was about as good as he could hope for.
Alex leaned on the arm of the couch as Danny lifted Lena and hauled his sister to the corner to ease her body down. Danny held onto her head for a moment, kissing her forehead before gently settling her back against the floor.
Alex wasn’t surprised. Guilt was a powerful emotion. He should know. He had enough of it coursing through him right now to power all of Azcon.
Three seated himself and ran his hands through his grey hair, his fingers pausing on the patch of black at his hairline. He smoothed it, the motion almost a caress. After a moment, he dropped his hands, and his fingers drummed the cushioned armrest as he looked at Lena, a small, pleased smile quirking his lips. The smile didn’t move the seamed lines of his face, and it didn’t reach his mean eyes.
Beneath the meanness, relief thrummed through the man. Which Councilor was Three so happy not to have to face after losing Lena? It was an academic question. They would find out shortly. Three would tell them everything.
Danny stood in front of Three, his head bowed. “Councilor?” He waited.
Three’s attention turned slowly to his junior aide. The Councilor’s face didn’t lose the smile.
“I know you’ve had doubts, but I have been loyal, sir.” Danny flopped his hand in his sister’s direction, indicating his evidence. “May I ask that you please not kill her?”
“Oh, I have no intention of killing her, Daniel.” The Councilor’s voice was resonant and generous. “We’re simply going to question her, find out where she has been. Who has been hiding her? And then she will pass to the custody of the Council.”
“But….” Danny looked at his sister.
“They won’t kill her, either, Daniel,” Three reassured him.
No, they’ll throw her in prison to experiment on her. What’s a little torture to a Spark, after all?
A quick two-note knock at the metal door sounded. The Councilor called out, “Enter.”
Jackson stepped up into the car. He’d regained his equilibrium. His gaze moved over Lena on the floor with no reaction.
Before the young Agent could speak, the Councilor dismissed Danny. “You should return to your transport, Daniel. We’ll send someone for you if we need your assistance again. And to discuss again what you knew about your sister. And when.”
The young aide had effectively been confined to his bunk.
Danny managed a miserable nod. He stepped over his sister’s leg and around Jackson to leave the car.
After the door slid closed behind Danny, Jackson nodded respectfully at the Councilor and then lifted the papers to show Alex. “Her falsified papers, sir.”
“I’ll take those.” Merritt leaned over and snatched them from Jackson’s hand. He looked them over, fingering the heavy paper and holding it up to a nearby candle to check its translucence. “These are quality forgeries. I can barely tell them apart from authentic ID papers.”
That’s because they are authentic. Alex sneered internally at the man’s posturing.
“She had help. Experienced help.” Merritt met the Councilor’s questioning look and then turned a considering gaze to Alex.
“Thank you for stating the obvious,” Alex murmured, his voice dry. He tapped his lip as if he was thinking. “Agent Lee, I’d like you to go immediately to the nearest scout position. Inform them they are to make contact with our forward agents and pull back to reinforce us here.”
Jackson’s single nod confirmed he understood what Alex really wanted.
“Do you think that’s necessary?”
“You’re going to send him?”