The Whole Truth (A. Shaw 1)

THEY SNAGGED A RIDE TO AMERICA on a private wing that Frank managed to get hold of. The plane had enough range to make it to D.C. without refueling so they settled in for the seven-hour-plus flight from London.

Ed Royce from MI5 was with them. Shaw and Katie strapped into their seats in the back while Frank and Royce went over some details up front.

Katie pulled a blanket snugly around her. She sipped on some club soda and stared over at Shaw as they rode a smooth flight path across the Atlantic.

“This beats the hell out of the trip across the Irish Sea on that roller coaster, doesn’t it?” she said.

Shaw nodded, but kept staring at the seat in front of him.

“Do you really think we’re going to find out who’s behind it?” she asked.

He glanced at her. “If we’re lucky, maybe. But finding out and then doing something about it are two different things.”

“Evidence that’ll stand up in court, you mean?”

Shaw didn’t say what he meant. He turned away from her again.

“You okay?” she asked, touching his shoulder. It was his bad arm, so she did it very gently.

“Yeah, I’m good,” he said unconvincingly.

“When we get this all figured out and the bad guys are put away, I think I’m going to go see my parents.”

“Where are they?”

“In Vermont, at least they were the last time I checked. They like to move around. I think that’s where I got the wanderlust.”

“What do they do?’

“My father’s a professor of English. He teaches creative writing. That’s why my middle name is Wharton. Edith is one of his favorite writers. I was actually named after Katherine Chopin, but people have always just called me Katie. My dad grew up in D.C. but went to college at Stanford. That’s where he met my mom. He got his Ph.D. and started teaching at Harvard. Mom taught there too until the kids started coming.”

“How many?”

“Including me, four. I’m the youngest. I was born in Harvard Square. Literally. After three kids I guess Mom figured she could wait to the very last second before heading to the hospital. She and Dad were running to the car when her water broke. I ended up being born in a spare classroom. How about you?”

“How about me what?”

“I just divulged some details of my earth-shattering past. Now it’s your turn.”

“No, thanks.”

“Oh, come on, Shaw, it’s not like I’m going to run out and write a story about it. Just tell me something about your family.”

“Okay. I have no memory of my mother other than imagined because she got rid of me when I was about two, at least that’s what I was told later. I never knew my father. I lived in an orphanage until I got kicked out at age six. The next dozen years I spent with people I have no reason to remember. I have no brothers or sisters, at least that I’m aware of. So now you know all about me.”

He turned back away from her.

Katie just sat there stunned. “I’m sorry.”

“No reason to be sorry.”

“But that must’ve really been hard on you.”

“Probably the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“How can you say that?’

“Because it taught me right from the start to rely only on myself,” he said firmly.