The Lost Key (A Brit in the FBI 2)

“Good morning to you, too, Manfred. If I’m not mistaken, you’re calling from your plane. Am I to assume you’ll be arriving shortly?

“Don’t try my patience, Edward.”

Weston’s lips moved into what might be called a smile. “Fine. Grossman went wheels up at eleven-twenty p.m. New York time. He called from the plane; Ms. Pearce is safe and unharmed. He’ll be on the ground in an hour, with Ms. Pearce in hand. Incidentally, he also managed to capture the data Nicholas Drummond copied from Pearce’s computer this morning. We have everything we need. I cannot give you specifics since there was no wireless on Alex’s plane.

“Now all that’s left to acquire is Adam Pearce. He is the only one with the coordinates. Without him, we’re where we were nearly a hundred years ago. Then there’s getting into the submarine. I trust you have a plan?”

The look on Havelock’s face was transcendent and eerie, frightening. Weston felt his blood run cold. Not for the first time, he wondered if he would make it out of this treachery alive. Aligning with Havelock was his only choice, he knew that, but the man wasn’t entirely sane, and it was never more clear than when he wanted his own way.

“I do. My ship is in northern Scotland and is in position to move at a moment’s notice. Get me Adam Pearce, Edward, and I’ll have the key in my hand by evening.”

“What about the FBI?”

“The Americans? By the time they figure out what’s happening, along with all the other law enforcement entities across the globe, it will not matter. We will have the upper hand.”

“We need to watch our backs. This Nicholas Drummond character, he’s smart, and I don’t like having him in the mix. And you know who his father is.”

“Then eliminate him, my dear Weston. I would set März to the task, but he has more important things to handle today.”

“Killing an American FBI agent might not be the wisest course of action.”

Havelock screamed into the screen, “He is of no consequence to me! Kill him!”

Havelock was breathing hard, too hard, he was out of control, and that wouldn’t do. He smiled, outwardly calm again. “The only person who matters now is Pearce’s son. I took the liberty of having him messaged—the poor boy believes he’s smarter than I am, and broke into my business systems overnight. He did not succeed, though he believes he did. I sent him a message he won’t soon forget. Now, find him, Weston. And take the girl to your estate in Oxford. She’ll be secure there.”

“Why take her there? Shouldn’t we keep her close?”

“Edward, do as I say. I want her guarded. It’s called leverage, Edward. Do you understand?”

He nodded curtly.

“Excellent. Adam Pearce will be in London soon, mark my words. And when he arrives to help the Order retrieve the key, we will be there to alter his path. I have all the insurance we need, ready to go at a moment’s notice. If the authorities try to intervene, I will deploy the MNW.”

Weston tried not to show any fear, any concern. But this? The miniature nuclear weapons were the last resort. “Have we come to that, then?”

“Perhaps not yet, but we must be prepared. I will not be stopped, Edward. Today is the day the Order goes down and a new one arises in its place.”

46

Over the Atlantic

The sun hit Sophie’s face. But that couldn’t be right. Then she heard an odd, low background purr and was suddenly jostled a bit.

A plane. She was on a plane. She had an ache in her neck, and felt the slightest bit hungover. Grossman had stuck a needle in her.

She whipped around to see Alex Grossman sleeping on the seats opposite her, a small table in between them.

All she wanted to do was kill him, but he must have cat senses, because as she threw off her seat belt to attack him, his eyes flew open and he caught her arms midair.

He couldn’t push her back into her seat because the table was in the way. He held her locked motionless for a moment, looking at her, just looking. “Don’t be afraid, Sophie, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m trying to protect you.”

“Yeah, right. Protect me? By kidnapping me?” She jerked her arms free and punched him in the face, but he caught her wrists this time, wouldn’t let her move. They were still leaning toward each other, close, the table between them.

“Good shot.”

“Give me a gun and I’ll show you a good shot.”

“Sit down now and we’ll talk. I’ll tell you everything, okay?”