CHAPTER 62
CHRISTOPHER’S JAW DROPPED. “You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. All those people you shoved aside? Yeah, they’re all awesome and finally getting to serve their people and country in the ways they’ve been longing to.”
“Son, really, you didn’t realize?” White sounded surprised and a little amused.
“How long have you known, Mister White?”
“Oh, not as long as you, I’m sure, but it dawned on me that we had a tremendous number of troubadours who were not only available at the drop of a hat, but were well versed in everything every standard Field agent knew without ever going through training. I took the logical leap. I’d assume Charles has taken that leap as well, and probably your mother. Whether they’ve shared the fact that they know with Serene, however, is anybody’s guess.”
“I figured it out the moment I realized that Serene wasn’t a ditz,” Camilla said. “Pretty much when Raj came on board and was accepted as an important member of your team, I figured it wouldn’t be long before he and Serene were running this. Jeff doesn’t know?”
“No, he’s been a little busy. So has Christopher.” Hey, might as well throw him that bone. “Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Colette, we know you’re in the A-C CIA. So, what sign did Francine leave?”
Colette shook her head. “Serene and Raj never told me that you knew.”
“Secrets are best kept silently,” White said.
“True dat. But whatever. Again, your sister, clues, what have we got?”
“Hang on. I didn’t look. And before anyone yells at me for that, I’m your press secretary because I’m not that great at fieldwork.”
“Christopher won’t be yelling at anyone, and you know the rest of us aren’t going to bawl you out.”
She managed a laugh. “Fine. Be right back.” She zipped off.
“If there is no sign from Francine, does that mean that we have to discard Camilla’s more positive option?” White asked.
“Probably. I mean, they have to have ways of letting each other know that they’re doing a mission or kidnapped or whatever. Right?” I asked Camilla.
“It would make sense, and I’m sure Raj would think of it even if Serene didn’t. And yes, I know he’s her number two. And he’s now Jeff’s number two. Be happy he’s loyal.”
“Always am.”
Camilla cocked her head at me. “You didn’t ask me for confirmation of his loyalty. Why?”
“Aside from the fact that you’d just said it? Because Raj has had plenty of opportunities to screw us over and has never taken them. It’s why I’m not worried that Wruck’s gone to the dark side for real. Or Siler. Too many opportunities not taken.”
Colette returned. “I think I found it. There was a blank piece of paper under the lamp in our room.”
We all stared at her. “And?” Camilla asked finally.
“Sorry.” Colette handed the notepad-sized piece of paper to me. The seal of the President of the United States was on it, but that was it.
“Not following you. Does this indicate that Francine is on a mission for His Majesty’s Secret Service?”
“Well, yes. I mean, why are you asking if you already know?”
“Wow, I’m good. Okay, are we sure there’s no invisible writing on it?”
Camilla took the paper from me and sniffed it. “No smell of lemon, so doubtful unless they’re all equipped with vials of invisible ink.”
“We’re not,” Colette said. “If you find a piece of Embassy or White House letterhead sitting on the desk or nightstand, it means the operative is on their assigned mission. If you find it somewhere it shouldn’t be, it means the operative is on an impromptu and likely unsanctioned mission. We have other items if paper would be suspicious, but they all work like this.”
“Okay, then, thank God, it’s Camilla’s scenario that’s the most likely.”
“That makes the snake and bomb make more sense, too,” Christopher said.
“How so?” White asked.
“If they have a hostage, then I’m with Kitty—where’s the ransom note? They came equipped with these things—I mean, no sane adult is wandering around with a realistic looking rubber cobra just in case they want to leave it somewhere. I’m sure they had a ransom note with them, too. They sneak in, no one’s here, so they leave these as a calling card, something to scare the hell out of Kitty when she was most likely alone. But I doubt they’d have left them if they’d actually taken her because they’d want us to know she’d been taken. I mean, maybe, but the snake and fake bomb are here for Kitty, not someone else. And, therefore, I think there’s no note because Kitty, or Francine, take your pick, wasn’t here.”
“Sounds right to me. Says they’re watching us and can sneak in and all that jazz. But there could still be a note. One for if I’m here, one for if I’m not. Have you searched the novelty items there for anything?”
“Not yet. I want to be sure there isn’t something bad inside of either one.”
“Wise,” Camilla said. “We’re talking about a crazy genius, after all.”
“Take them to Dulce,” White suggested, as he handed Cliff’s “presents” back to Christopher. “Using a gate, please, son. We and Jeffrey both need you at full optimum.”
“You want me back here once we know what’s going on with these things?” he asked while Colette called for yet another floater gate.
“Stay near a gate, but beyond that, no. I don’t want you here, doing nothing, when Jeff might need you.”
“I’d like to go with you on whatever insanity you’re going to be doing,” Christopher said, without glaring. “I know you’ll need me.”
Felt his forehead. “Huh. No fever.”
“What? I’m fine. Look, seriously, I think I’m going to be a lot more necessary to the team that’s going to try to take down Cliff—and I know that’s what you’re planning, so don’t try to say otherwise—than I am to the galactic party that’s currently being thrown.”
“Good point,” I said as the gate shimmered into existence. “Look, go to Dulce. Have this safely examined and be sure they get every possible bit of information out of it. Even something small and seemingly insignificant could give us a lot to work with. Then call me or your dad. We’ll determine at that time what to do. Okay?”
“Yeah, makes sense. Just . . . seriously, Kitty. I have a really bad feeling about this. I don’t think Chuck and Jeff realize what you’re really here for, but they both know you’re up to something. If the Themnir hadn’t arrived, I’m sure they’d be onto you, too. But it’s more than that. This,” he held up the snake and bomb, “stuff is crazier than normal. He’s taunting us. That means he’s ready for us. He wants you to find him. Never forget that. It’s what he wants.”
“Why?” White asked him.
Christopher sighed. “Because this isn’t about us and never has been, Dad, that’s why. We’re just the means to the end. All of it, everything that’s been done by Cliff—either what he could when he was an assistant or Apprentice and everything since he took over as Mastermind—is focused on one goal.”
“Beating Chuckie and making him suffer.”
Christopher nodded. “And now? Now Cliff wants to kill Kitty—as slowly and painfully as possible—and make Chuck watch. That’s how he wins. Even if he dies right after, that’s how he wins.”