The Whole Truth (A. Shaw 1)

“Grab some sleep and then I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning,”

“A doctor’s appointment?” she said skeptically.

“Let’s get something straight. I’m not going to tell you everything.”

“Fine. Just so long as you know that cuts both ways.”

“The ground rules are set then.” He picked up his pace and she had to hurry along to keep up.

CHAPTER 72

THEY’D CHECKED INTO THE HOTEL as a married couple and thus had only gotten one room. Shaw had told Katie that he didn’t want her to be left alone at any time. “They almost got you once, they’ll definitely try again.”

They ordered some food, although Katie’s still touchy stomach could only manage some tea and bread. Then they sat at a little table facing each other to discuss matters.

“What I still don’t understand,” Shaw said, “is why they targeted The Phoenix Group in the first place.”

“It was Chinese-owned,” Katie answered as she cradled her tea cup and watched the drenching rain out the window.

“There’re lots of Chinese-owned places in London. And why pick London?”

“But a Chinese-owned think tank?”

“Okay, so why a think tank?”

“According to you they planted those docs about the Red Menace. A bunch of super-smart people working at a secret think tank being behind the global smear campaign seems plausible. It probably wouldn’t have seemed nearly as credible if they’d hit a local fast-food place, slaughtered a bunch of teenagers, and planted the incriminating docs there.”

“So they happened to stumble across The Phoenix Group, just happened to learn its Chinese connection, and sent in a strike team?”

Katie said, “There has to be a catalyst. Maybe someone they met with. Some project they were working on. They obviously had the place under surveillance. When I was there, I saw lots of people coming and going so we might have to check…”

She stopped talking as the horrible, absolutely awful possibility swept over her. She glanced at Shaw. By his look she could tell he’d reached the same conclusion.

“They would’ve seen you there,” Shaw said, a discernible edge to his voice.

“Yes, they would have,” Katie answered in a hushed tone. “And since they were already using me they might’ve focused on The Phoenix Group because of my connection to Anna. And then discovered the Chinese element.”

“But that’s only one possible reason,” he said, though the disbelief in his own words was evident.

“Yes,” Katie said weakly. “I suppose that’s true.”

She put down her cup and glanced at the bed. “Um, I’m really tired, Shaw. You can have the bed. I’ll take the floor.”

“No, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“Shaw!”

“Just take the bed, Katie. It’s been a long day and we’re both exhausted.”

Katie changed in the bathroom, came out, and crawled under the covers. Shaw was already on the floor, a blanket over him. Katie turned out the light.

A few minutes later, as the rain continued to pour down, she said quietly, her voice quivering, “I’m sorry, Shaw.”

She didn’t get an answer.

CHAPTER 73

AS THE DAWN BEGAN TO BREAK OUTSIDE, Shaw sat up, leaned against the bed, and looked at a wide-eyed Katie. It was obvious from her puffy red eyes that she hadn’t slept at all.