“I just wanted to know what happened.”
“I know. And I wish I could’ve told you. Maybe I should have, I don’t know. Can’t really do anything about that now.”
Abbott sat there, somewhat stunned, staring at the clear blue water of the pool. He could hardly believe any of this. In his wildest dreams—or nightmares—none of this is what he could have expected to find when he started poking around into his brother’s death.
“So his death didn’t have anything to do with the CIA? They were saying something about him finding a mole in the agency.”
“No,” Dalton said. “That was just a cover story that we made up.”
“You made it up?”
“Gary knew that the agency was using him. They didn’t care about him. They were using him for information and when they were done with him, or he outlived his usefulness to them, they’d just throw him away. In order for us to help cover our tracks and prevent anyone, the CIA, MI6, anyone, we came up with a plan. We decided to invent a story about a mole within the CIA’s ranks. We planted a similar story within MI6. We even created documents to help support that.”
“It was all fake?”
“Yes. It was all done to prevent anyone from looking into our activities within Ukraine and here. They’d be more worried about finding a possible mole within their ranks.”
“It’s unbelievable.”
“Seems to have worked too, because a year later, from what I understand, they’re still looking at mole targets.”
“I just can’t believe it.”
Dalton put her hand on Abbott’s knee. “Chris, all you have to do is accompany me to this bank. You’ll put down your signature, we take out the money, we split it with the others, and you can go back home. Then you can at least have the knowledge of what really happened with your brother.”
“But what about them? If they know I know they killed Gary then…”
“Don’t worry about them. I can take care of them. And if it ever comes down to them versus you, well, you’re Gary’s brother. I owe it to him to protect you. Don’t worry. You can trust me.”
17
Bridge was still at the hotel, on the phone with a few contacts, hoping he could get some kind of lead on their targets. Nicole was already at the substation, working on a computer as she waited for him. As she typed away, Steve took a seat next to her and also started working. Work wasn’t really what he had on his mind, though. It wasn’t every day there was someone as pretty as Nicole sitting next to him.
“So… uh… what’s up with you and Luke?”
Nicole stopped typing, thinking the question was strange. She turned her head toward him. “What?”
“You and Luke. Are you guys… you know, together or anything?”
“Now why would you ask that?”
“Well, you came in together, at the same hotel and all. I was just wondering if you and him were…”
“He’s taken. Sorry.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean… I mean, that’s all good and all. I don’t have any problem with people who go that way, but…”
Nicole smiled. “I know what you meant.”
“Oh. So, uh, if he’s taken, then maybe you and I could go somewhere later? Maybe somewhere quiet without a lot of lighting?”
“Why without lighting? Embarrassed about something?”
“Oh, no, no, not at all. Nothing to be ashamed about here. I just thought that… you know, you’re very attractive, and you’re probably not going to be here very long, so, maybe we could take advantage of the moment.”
“Listen, Steve, you seem like a nice guy, and I’m sure a lot of women around these parts find you attractive, but when I said Luke’s taken, I meant he’s taken by me. And that means vice versa, too.”
Steve put his hands up. “Hey, no worries, not trying to cut in on anyone’s turf or anything. Just figured I’d take a shot.”
Nicole smiled. “Find anything interesting yet today?”
“No, I just got here a little while ago myself, but we’re pretty much still in a holding pattern. Something will break. It always does.”
“Question is, will it break in time for us to do something about it? And before Chris Abbott ends up on the side of the road somewhere?”
Bridge came into the building a few seconds later, looking like he was out of breath.
“You all right?” Nicole asked.
“Got here as quick as I could.”
“Why? Someone chasing you?”
“No. Was just on the phone with Pinnacle One. Said to get over here right away. Said they got a lead for us and wanted to wait until we were all here to share it.”
Steve immediately dialed their New York number to get a video conference going. There was a huge sixty-five-inch monitor on one of the walls that they all turned to. A minute later, Joe appeared on the screen.
“Everyone ready?” Joe asked.
“We’re all here, Chief,” Steve replied.
“Good. A few hours ago, we finally got a hit on our mysterious fourth man.” A picture of Kanelos appeared on the screen. “His name is Argus Kanelos. He’s a Greek national. He comes from a wealthy family, though he himself has done very little to expand on that fortune. All he’s really done with it is spend it.”
“How do we know that’s him?” Bridge asked.
“We got him on a surveillance camera in Italy. He was behind the wheel of the same car we saw at the Paris airport.”
“So they did drive all the way here,” Nicole said.
“Most likely they
