Something inside me was almost sad to see it go.
“Say it for me one more time,” Roman said, slipping his prize into one of the trench coat’s inner pockets. “My people will need to hear it.”
Colson’s jaw tightened, but only for a moment.
“We burn Donovan,” he said grimly. “Clean and controlled. No collateral damage.”
Roman’s eyes shifted carefully back to me.
“And you’re aligned with that?”
“Of course.”
His gaze lingered on me for an extra moment or two, before moving to Theo.
“We’ll need the drive when you’re done,” said Roman. “And make no copies. If you do, we’ll know.”
“No you won’t,” Theo said, smooth as silk.
Roman frowned. Theo returned a grin.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get your precious secrets back,” Ripley interjected. “And you can shove the drive up your ass for all we care, once we’re done with Donovan.”
The death-stare these men gave each other could strippaint. It was broken strategically by Colson.
“Go home, Roman,” he ordered. “Tell your people. Let them know that once this is done, it’s over. We have no further interests beyond getting our lives back.”
Roman re-clasped his hands in front of him and nodded. “Just one more thing. Your battleground.”
“What of it?”
“Have you chosen it, yet?”
All eyes fell on Colson. He nodded, with a hard expression.
“New York.”
The answer seemed to neither please nor displease Roman. He merely absorbed it before turning away, sweeping his long coat behind him.
As he retreated down the hallway, a long minute of silence passed. It ended with the ‘thunk’ of the electronic lock, off in the distance.
“Why did you tell him the truth just now?” Theo pressed. “About New York?”
“Because we need that message carried to the people he works for,” replied Colson. “We have a common interest now. They could possibly help us.”
Ripley shifted protectively closer to me, as he took my hand.
“And if they go against us, instead?” he asked.
Colson and Theo stared at each other, for what seemed like a long time.
“Then we burn everyone,” Theo said, simply. “Every army, every fleet. Right down to the waterline.”
