“Does that mean we aren’t going forward with the emergency motion to access his memories?” Katie wanted to know.
“We’re holding him under Title 18 on an emergency basis at the moment. Jansen will tell us what we want to know, with or without an order from the court.”
That decision was a legal gray area Kyle didn’t dwell on for very long. He doubted the United Kingdom would throw a fit at their treatment of Jansen, and the Netherlands liked to pretend Jansen wasn’t one of theirs. A token resistance to their methods might crop up, but Jansen’s background didn’t make him a sympathetic character.
Kyle shifted on his feet where he and the rest of Alpha Team stood in the observation room. Beyond the foot-thick plas-glass window was a Faraday containment cell built specifically to contain metahumans with psionic powers.
Jansen still wore a physical Faraday cage on his head, the neural node connection points embedded in his skin. Nanite-based bioware burrowed into his brain to connect to the central nervous system and disrupt his empathic power. The Faraday cage could disrupt all known powers, though Sean’s type of phase power was the only one on record that could break through the disruption.
Kyle stepped closer to the window, peering into the containment room where Jansen sat on a metal bunk, hands cuffed behind his back. The Dutchman looked far less put together than he had in their past interactions.
Gracie had seen to his head wound, using her power to accelerate another person’s ability to heal to ensure Jansen was clearheaded to answer questions. Jansen’s outfit was wrinkled and torn, a far cry from the on-trend outfits he’d worn in the clubs he owned. The tense expression on his face was one tinged with defiance, but Jansen didn’t strike Kyle as the kind of guy to stand on his morals, because he had none. Jansen sold his loyalty to the highest bidder, and with Stanislav having discarded him, he would most likely try to turn the situation to his advantage.
The fact that Jansen was an empath was the reason all interactions would be overseen by MDF telepaths. Katie and Mercedes were the MDF’s safety net, and both women would be tasked with keeping their people safe from psionic interference in the longshot event the Faraday cages failed. With Stanislav and his precognitive power in the mix, the MDF wasn’t taking any chances.
“I know you’re out there,” Jansen said loudly, shifting on the metal bunk. His accent—more English than Dutch after years growing up in boarding schools and living in London—put odd stresses on his words, but Kyle thought he sounded annoyed. “You can’t keep me locked up like this. I have rights!”
“It’s cute that he thinks so,” Annabelle drawled.
A couple of the team members chuckled, but Kyle noticed Jamie didn’t share the humor. Jamie’s attention was focused squarely on Jansen.
Jamie crossed his arms over his chest, the material of his suit jacket pulling tightly over his broad shoulders. None of them were in uniform at the moment, having reverted to civilian clothes after returning from the mission last night.
“I’d like to talk to him, sir,” Jamie said.
“His interrogation isn’t your job, Callahan,” Nazari replied.
“We need to find out what he knows about the Pavluhkins and any upcoming attacks.”
“And we will, but that isn’t your concern. I understand you want answers to help clear the cloud of guilt hovering over your family, but Jansen and what he may or may not know isn’t your magical answer to that problem.”
Jamie turned to stare at the director, expression devoid of all emotion, as was his voice. “We can’t afford to wait, sir.”
“I’m aware of what is at stake, but we will handle Jansen’s interrogation and you will be kept apprised of the situation. Ovechkina will remain on base until we get what we need from Jansen and prep him for transport to USP Florence.”
The United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility was a supermax prison located in Colorado. It existed beneath a small biodome, the only habitable place in a hundred-mile range due to climate change. Called the Alcatraz of the Rockies, USP Florence was overseen by the Florence Federal Correctional Complex. In the past, it had been designated a male-only supermax prison, but when it was chosen as the prison to house criminal metahumans decades ago, it became mixed-gendered and had undergone a massive rebuild.
An extra wing had been built into the existing complex, extending deep underground. The new structure had been designed with metahuman powers in mind, and all technological efforts to keep them in check had been poured into its foundation. The reinforced solitary cells and twenty-four hour observation there were mind-breaking.
Kyle hoped the fucker never saw the light of day again.
“You’re dismissed,” Nazari said. “We’re still in a holding pattern, but hopefully that will break soon.”
If it did, it would be because Jansen’s mind broke first.
Everyone but Katie exited the observation room. With nothing to do but hurry up and wait, Kyle caught Jamie’s eye and arched an eyebrow in a silent question. While Nazari had ordered them all off base, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for Jamie to stick around.
“I need to go home and deal with some campaign issues,” Jamie said.
Kyle nodded. “All right.”
There was no question that Kyle would follow him home. The apartment Kyle used to share with his brother had stood empty for months. Jamie’s condo was home now, and always would be. So when everyone left the main building for their cars, Kyle climbed into Jamie’s Bentley and the two of them drove home.
The silence in the car wasn’t exactly comfortable, but Kyle knew the frustrated anger Jamie felt wasn’t directed at him. Jamie needed to work through whatever was in his head, but Kyle had lived with the man for almost two years. He knew the signs of Jamie’s rising temper—almost always leashed with considerable control—and knew his lover wouldn’t be able to fully focus until he released some of his tension.
Kyle was exceptionally adept at helping out that way these days.
Jamie parked his car in the reserved spot when they arrived home, locking it behind them as they headed for the elevator. Jamie had a look on his face that said he was mentally reviewing the situation at hand and sorting through the to-do list that seemed never-ending when it came to his family’s needs.
