Chapter Fourteen
Caroline
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“DO YOU THINK HE’D FALLfor something like the Swiss government suddenly suggesting they send Adam home by boat?”
I glanced around, anxious possibility simmering at the ICC’s idea.However much I hated the thought of Harper being employed as bait, the notion of Jackson being detained by the French was irrefutably exciting.I didn’t think it was possible to despise anyone as much as I hated that bloated little prick.Aside from living happily ever after with my commander general, nothing but the thought of seeing him rot away in prison made me happier.
“The mode of transport can be fabricated.”Akari met my eyes.“The Swiss can claim the French have blocked the use of the air space.It is, after all, not unusual for French air traffic to be on strike.”She peered over at Laurent for clarification.
“It is not so unusual,” Laurent confirmed.“And we could send Mr.Harper with a full flotilla of pageantry.”He smiled.“The British think they do such things better than anyone else, but it’s clear to anyone who has ever visited the Palace of Versailles that we have also mastered this.”
Harper sniffed, and I sensed he was biting back on a typically British response to the Frenchman.“Ian would like the idea of an armada in his honor.This could work, but it would need maximum publicity.He’d need to think the entire planet was watching the moment I came home with my tail between my legs.”
Sucking my lower lip past my teeth, it wasn’t difficult to imagine the scene they were all painting.I’d only had the indignity of meeting Jackson once, but that had been enough to assure me how much he liked the sound of his own voice.I could only imagine how big his ego would inflate if he thought he’d been able to bring all sea traffic in the English Channel to a complete standstill in order to claim Harper back as his own.
“We might be able to play up the ocean travel.”The hand Harper had used to cover mine rose to rest at his chin.“That was how I got away, after all.There’s a twisted kind of irony that I’d be forced to return the same way.”
Murmurs of acquiescence rumbled around those assembled.
“Back into his arms, so to speak.”Harper nodded as though the plan made sense.
“But how would all this be managed?”I asked.“How do we ensure Adam’s safety?”
“You can arm me for a start.”He laughed, but the sound of his amusement was hollow.“But Caroline raises a good point.The British wouldn’t even entertain the idea unless there were security guarantees, which effectively snooker my opportunity to get away if something goes wrong.”
“Like, the boatnotaccidentally entering French waters.”My tone was imploring.“I mean, how can that kind of thing be managed in open water?There isn’t exactly a boundary where Britain meets France.”
“That could play to our advantage.”Laurent’s tone was contemplative.“Not having a land border means there is no definitive answer, and French ships can be waiting on standby.”
“We would have to monitor everything carefully,” Akari agreed.“It is not our intention to trigger an international conflict.We know the British military is comparatively depleted, but Jackson still has the codes for its nuclear weapons.”
“You don’t think he would use them, though?”Stunned, I glanced around at the people the ICC had sent to meet Harper.“I mean, he’s a self-absorbed wanker, but nuclear weapons?”
“He’s imprisoned and killed more British citizens than any conflict or leader since the 1940s.”Harper’s tone was somber.“I think every possibility should be considered seriously.”
“My God.”I shook my head at his answer.
Are we really having this conversation?
Jackson was vile, but I couldn’t believe he’d actually fire weapons—nuclear or otherwise—and potentially start a war.As far as I knew, his only agenda had been the subjugation of his own people.
