Chapter Fourteen
Will was pacing the situation room, his impatience earning more than a few irritated glances from Finn. “Do you have it yet?”
“No,” Finn said, dragging out the word. “And you asking every two minutes isn’t helping. Just sayin’.”
Will huffed and increased his pacing, rubbing the back of his neck where the familiar knot of tension was growing. “How long will it take? You said it shouldn’t take long for you to decrypt the flash drive.”
Finn glanced up from his keyboard. “Seriously, brah, not helping.”
Will raised his hands. “Sorry.”
At that moment, Jack and Maddie entered the room, somehow looking at ease and awkward at the same time. There was a heaviness hanging around Jack, a sorrow that had added a few creases to his brow. But that dark cloud seemed to lift just a little when he glanced Maddie’s way, his gaze lingering on her for a few seconds.
And Maddie . . . she seemed self-conscious and kept shifting positions in her chair after she took a seat at the table near Jack.
“Glad to have you two back,” Will said, taking the seat across from them. “Finn’s working on the flash drive right now, so we should be in soon. Right, Finn?”
Finn gave him a chastising look. “Dude. . .”
“How was Claire when you left her?” Will asked, taking the hint and changing the topic.
“Pissed but resigned,” Maddie said, her voice edged with sadness. “For what it’s worth, I really liked her.”
Will nodded, not sure how to respond. “And she understood why I . . . whywehave to relocate her?”
“Yes,” Jack answered. “But, as you can imagine, she wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of being uprooted. I left out the part about the interrogation to find out what else she knows. I figured telling her that she was about to be detained for an indeterminate length of time until she gave up everything she knew might be a bit of a sticking point.”
Will didn’t miss the note of disapproval in Jack’s voice. “I wish it could’ve been different,” Will muttered, rubbing his neck again. “But it’s for her own good. We can’t protect her unless we know what’s at risk.”
“We saw with Luke and Sarah what can happen when an innocent has information our enemies want,” Jack said. “You don’t have to explain to us why we need to detain her. But an explanation to Claire was probably in order.”
Will pulled his hands through his hair, holding the back of his head for a moment. He’d done what he’d had to do. It was better for everyone if he stayed out of it. “I could’ve sent Adam,” he defended. “I’m doing her a favor by sending in the examiner instead. He’s got a much . . .gentlerapproach.”
“Who’s the examiner?” Maddie asked, glancing between them. “He’s the guy you brought in?”
Will merely nodded, his thoughts on the woman he’d ordered away, too much of a fucking coward to face her again.
“The examiner these days is an experienced psychologist and interrogator,” Jack explained. “Back in the day, he was just . . . Well, let’s just say that the former examiners’ methods weren’t as dignified. Claire’s in good hands.”
“Well, fuck me,” Finn exclaimed, bringing Will to his feet like he had a spring in his ass.
“Are you in?” he demanded.
Finn shook his head. “Past the first one, but there’s at least one other layer of encryption. Why don’t you guys go grab some dinner or something? This is going to take a while.”
Will caught the glance that passed between Jack and Maddie and frowned at them, his attention momentarily diverted from his thoughts of Claire’s situation and the intel on the flash drive. “You two have other plans?”
Jack shook his head. “Nothing that can’t wait.” His response earned a disappointed look from Maddie, but Jack didn’t seem to notice as he added gently, “When did you eat last, Will?”
Good question.
Will actually had to stop and think about that one. “Yesterday, I guess.”
Finn held out a bag of some kind of granola bullshit that seemed to have magically materialized from the computer bag that appeared to offer an endless supply of sticks and twigs to satisfy Finn’s appetite when he was working. “Help yourself, brah.”
Will would rather eat cardboard than the shit Finn was always munching, but he politely waved off Finn’s offer. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
Jack rose to his feet with that superior, big-brother air he had where Will was concerned and gestured toward the door. “Then you’ll be taking dinner with Maddie and me. Shall we?”
