Black eased into a position where he had a clear shot. Confident that there was no way the general could work the situation to his advantage, Black walked out into the open with his weapon trained on Fortner.
“Keep your hands where I can see them,” Black said.
Fortner chuckled and continued clutching his fishing rod. “I hope you can see what I’m holding onto here. It’s certainly not a weapon, but I’ve actually got my first bite of the day.”
“Drop it,” Black said.
Fortner remained defiant. “If you want to shoot me, go ahead. I couldn’t stop you if I wanted to, but I wouldn’t advise that.”
“Of course you wouldn’t, General. We all know you do whatever it takes to save your own hide or fatten your pocket, whatever the case may be.”
Fortner looked over his shoulder and sneered. “You don’t know anything.”
“I’m going to shoot it out of your hand if you don’t put the rod down on the dock now.”
Fortner sighed and finally obliged. The pole didn’t move.
“Must’ve been one helluva fish,” Black said. “It couldn’t even drag your rod into the water.”
“I didn’t say it was a keeper,” Fortner said, raising his hands and turning around slowly to face Black. “So, what took you so long? I figured you would’ve found me weeks ago.”
“Sorry to damage your ego like that, but we have bigger fish to fry,” Black said.
“What do you want from me? Because if you wanted me dead, I imagine I would already be floating in that pond right now.”
“I want you to come with me,” Black said. “You need to answer for what you did, for your treasonous acts, for your unwillingness to stop a hostile force attempting to infiltrate our government. That enough for you?”
Fortner shrugged. “Maybe, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Black steadied his hand on his gun. “General, that’s not a wise decision. I’ve been authorized to take you out if necessary.”
“So, I’m already seen as expendable?” Fortner asked before taking a deep breath and then exhaling slowly. “That’s not a way to encourage me to work with you.”
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to persuade you with physical force.”
Fortner paced along the dock, his hands still raised in the air. “It’d be a shame for you to resort to such action, at least it’d be a shame for your sister.”
Black narrowed his eyes. “My sister?”
Fortner held up one hand while he eased the other toward his pocket. “Don’t get jumpy. I’m just reaching for my phone. There’s something you need to see.”
Fortner produced his cell and held it out gingerly to Black.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Have a look for yourself,” Fortner said. “I’m sure you’re smart enough to figure it out.”
Black grabbed the phone before backing away. He glanced between the screen and Fortner, trying to discern the nature of the image on the screen. The picture was so still that Black was convinced it was just a photo. That is until the woman lying on the bed moved. She rolled over, and Black immediately recognized his sister’s face.
He glared at Fortner. “You took Laura? You sonofabitch, I ought to shoot you right now. You know she’s got nothing to do with any of this.”
“Of course I do,” Fortner said. “But this is how you play the game if you want to stay in it. I could tell you why I’m doing what I’m doing, but you won’t believe me, so I have to resort to other methods to maintain the upper hand. Unfortunately, your sister is just collateral.”
“Her name is Laura,” Black said with a growl. “Laura. Say it with me.”
“I’m well aware of her name.”
“Then say it!”
Fortner ignored the demand. “You’ve said it enough for the both of us. I’m not interested in playing your mind games where you try to humanize everyone. I’ve been through the same training you have, probably more. And it’s not going to make any difference if I say Laura out loud or not.”
“What do you want?” Black asked.
“I want you to lower your weapon. Let’s talk about your future.”
“I want to talk about you letting Laura go.”
Fortner nodded. “Perhaps we will, but in the meantime we have more pertinent matters to discuss, like you joining forces with Obsidian.”
Black chuckled and shook his head. “I thought you knew what kind of man I am, General. If you did, you’d certainly know I’m not the kind to betray my country.”
"I'm not asking you to betray your country. I'm simply extending an invitation for you to be on the ground floor of a world takeover that will leave you on the outside if you don't get in now. Laura is simply my way of ensuring you choose wisely. So how do you want this to play out?"
“Doesn’t sound like I have much of a choice,” Black said.
“You don’t,” Fortner said. “But I’ll give you twenty-four hours to consider it. I’ll ring you tomorrow morning at the village hotel, which is where I assume you’re staying. You can let me know your decision then. And it should go without saying, but don’t tell a soul.”
Black flung the phone back at Fortner, hitting him in the chest. He pocketed the device and picked up his fishing rod off the dock.
Black walked backward, clutching his lowered weapon. While mustering all the restraint he could, he refrained from filling Fortner with lead.
* * *
WHEN BLACK RETURNED to the hotel, he received a call from Blunt inquiring if the operation had gone smoothly.
“Do you have Fortner?” Blunt asked.
“It was a dead end,” Black said. “Must’ve been some bad intel.”
“Damn it,” Blunt said. “Fortner needs to answer for what he’s done. We’re still groping in the dark when it comes to Obsidian. We need him.”
“I know. You have no idea how disappointed I
