Chapter 22
Gabe’s stomach knotted in aggressive nervousness. Could the traitor have known that they were searching for the documents? Was Mary in danger? What of his and Mary’s cover identities? Or could someone else have reached the documents before they could return to get them? And if so, who had them, how could Gabe get his hands on them, and what the devil was he to say to Hydra?
He started at the light tug to his sleeve, or more accurately, the fission of disconcerting awareness that burned its way up his arm. He turned his troubled gaze to Mary.
“What?” he mouthed.
Mary tapped the lobe of her ear then pointed to the wall of books.
Ah yes, he thought.The voices. He crept over to the bookshelves and pressed his ear to the leather spines.
“…arranged this meeting. Very clever with the house party, it was an easy enough way to gather us all together without suspicion. But enough nonsense,” one man said. Damn, but it sounded like Hale. “We have all seen the documents, but what of the transfer?”
“Yes, yes! The transfer. Bit tricky, eh wot?”
Gabe’s startled gaze sought Mary’s. Mr. Piper!
“We’ve discussed it at length,” another voice said; this one smooth, cultured, and entirely arrogant. Lord Reddington.
Gabe barely suppressed the urge to look smug.
“And we’ve decided on London on Thursday next,” he continued. “Our contacts are already making the journey across the channel.”
“Enough time to conclude with this agreeable house party, eh wot?”
There was a hushed murmur and Gabe pressed his ear harder against the bookshelves.
“Indeed. What should we make of the new additions?” Hale said.
Mary tapped Gabe’s shoulder, then crooked her finger at him. Intrigued, Gabe sidled closer to where she knelt. She pointed toward the bookshelf and then Gabe saw what she had intended him to see. A crack! Just wide enough to peer through. He pressed his eye to the narrow opening, squinting the other. The light from the small room beyond affording him an excellent, albeit limited, view of the traitors.
Yes, Lord Reddington and Mr. Piper were indeed co-conspirators. But who were the rest? Was that Hale’s leg he saw from beneath the table?
“Miss White’s character is infallible.”
“She’s a whore, Reddington.” Hale said.
Gabe sensed Mary stiffening beside him.Interesting.
“I beg your pardon?” Reddington said, outraged. “That angel is—”
“I grant you, Reddington,” Hale continued, “she is as handsome as they come and talented in things far beyond my imagination, but she is a whore.”
“I say, Hale! She is—”
“You may argue over the virtue—or lack thereof—of Miss White another time. Tonight, we discuss business, eh wot? While I agree that Miss White is as simple as she is seductive, what of her paramour, Mr. Spencer?”
Gabe must admit that Mary played the part of thesimpleactress very well. But he knew Mary was anything but simple.
Again, another speaker mumbled inaudibly. Damn, but Gabe wished he could see the others at the table. Who were the other traitors? And what were they saying about him?
“I am not so certain on that score. He seems harmless enough,” Hale said.
More mumbling. Gabe tamped down on his irritation; it was imperative that he remained alert and did not allow his emotions to distract him.
“I concur,” Piper said. “Something about him screams ‘liar,’ wot, wot?”
Reddington grinned malevolently. “I would gladly remove him from our path.”
