Confessions (14 page)

areas at the agency. Had they kidnapped Luke before he

made it home?

“You’ve spent an inordinate amount of time with your

new boyfriend. With everything else going on, it’s

imperative we find out how much you’ve told him. Both for

his safety and yours, of course.”

“Of course.” Priest leaned over the table to get in

Midnight’s face. “You harm him and Jeffries won’t be the

only thing on my to-do list.”

“Actual y, the Director saved Luke. Jeffries has been

camped out in Cattle Val ey for days. It was only a matter of

time before he caught up with Luke,” Midnight explained,

not the least bit intimidated by Priest’s size.

“Where’s Luke?”

“In Sheridan. He real y couldn’t ask for a better

protector than the Director.”

Priest couldn’t understand why the Director would

take such a hands-on approach with Luke. “Why’s the

Director involved at al ? The agency has plenty of people

they could’ve sent to do the job.”

Midnight sighed. “Must you know every detail? Tel me

about the phone cal with Jeffries.”

“He said he had Luke.” Priest had learned long ago

not to show his hand until the end of the game.

“What else?”

“He wants me to meet him in Nebraska.” It wasn’t a

lie. Priest had never flat-out lied to a superior before.

“Why?” Midnight continued to question.

“Because he knows I can incriminate him. He

admitted that he’s been accepting jobs the agency has

turned down.” Now was his chance to know about the

woman he’d kil ed in Virginia. “Who was Alhena Qasim?”

“A woman who was blackmailing the Secretary of

State. The married Secretary of State. Benjamin Grover

wanted her and her family to go away and offered us a very

large amount of money to make it happen. As you know,

the agency is not in the business of handling personal

vendettas so we turned him away. Evidently Grover heard

through an unknown source that Jeffries was the man to

take his problem and money to.”

“And that’s where I came in.” Priest’s chest tightened.

He knew finding out the truth would either help or increase

his feelings of guilt. “What have I done?” he whispered,

more to himself than Midnight.

“You fol owed orders,” Midnight said, surprising

Priest. “Don’t feel too bad. Alhena Qasim wasn’t a good

person.”

“There are a lot of those in the world,” Priest returned,

“but that doesn’t mean they al deserve to die.”

Grover owns a large percentage of stock in Emery-

Langdon Pharmaceuticals. The same company Alhena

worked for. Unbeknownst to the federal government,

Emery-Langdon was conducting field trials on refugees

instead of administering the immunisations they were hired

to do. I don’t have exact numbers, but I’m sure there are

quite a few deaths on Ms Qasim’s shoulders. That’s what

quite a few deaths on Ms Qasim’s shoulders. That’s what

she was blackmailing Grover with. Of course at the time,

Grover only mentioned that he was being blackmailed by a

mistress.”

“So what’l happen to Grover?” Priest asked. Not that

he real y cared. The man was scum as far as he was

concerned.

“It’s already being taken care of. I simply told you as a

means to reaffirm the trust the agency has in you.”

“Fair enough. I guess I should be honest with you then.

After I deal with Jeffries, I’d like to start the process of

leaving the agency. I’m tired of living life on the road.”

“Does this have anything to do with Luke?”

“It has everything to do with him. He’s a good man. I

have no il usions that I’l ever be worthy of his love, but I want

to try. Which includes putting an end to my career.” Priest

handed Midnight his phone. “Al of Jeffries’ messages are

stil on there. I’l need the phone to contact him once I get to

Nebraska, but you can record whatever you need off of it

before I go.”

“Thanks. This’l go a long way in building a case

against him.”

“You know I can’t let him live that long, right?”

Midnight shrugged before motioning Sul y back over

to the table. “Technicality. As long as we can cover our ass

on paper, I don’t real y give a shit what happens to him.”

“What’s up?” Sul y asked.

Midnight handed him Priest’s phone. “Make a copy of

Jeffries’ voice messages asap.”

Sul y turned and headed towards the front door.

“How long’s that gonna take?” Priest asked.

“Five minutes.”

“Good, that’l give us time to talk about Luke,” Priest

began. “I’l make you a deal. Whether things work out for

Luke and me or not, if you promise to leave us both alone,

I’l give you the files Jeffries is after.”

“Your time at the agency isn’t over, Priest.”

“Dammit, I told you, I’m not living that life anymore.”

Midnight sat back and crossed his arms over his

chest. “We need someone we can trust to take Jeffries’

job.”

“Unless I can do it from Cattle Val ey, I’m not

interested.” Priest held out his hand for his phone as Sul y

came rushing back to the table.

“I don’t see where that would be a problem, but I’l

have to talk it over with the Director. You do whatever you’re

going to do with Jeffries and get us those files and we’l see

what we can do about shifting more of the operation to

Wyoming.”

“One more thing.” Priest slid out of his chair and

stood. “I’m going to need a ride to Nebraska.”

* * * *

Jeffries. “I’m in Omaha. Where’re you?”

“Change in plans. As I’m sure you’re now aware, my

little dove flew the coop, and I’m not stupid enough to go

against you without some kind of leverage.”

“What about those files you claim to have?” Priest

asked.

“Oh, I stil have them, but I need to take a step back

and regroup before I plan my next move. I’l be in touch. In

the meantime, I’d suggest you safeguard your own files with

your life.”

The cal ended just as the jet came to a complete

stop. “Tel the pilot to file a new flight plan to Sheridan,

Wyoming.” He turned to Sul y who was seated across the

aisle. “He’s gone. For now. But I’l catch up with him

someday soon when he least expects it. Now tel me where

Luke is!”

Sul y’s expression was one of guilt as he hung up his

own phone. “He’d lost a lot of blood when the Director

rescued him.”

Priest struggled to breathe at the news. “Tel me he’s

alive.”

“He’s stil in critical condition, but the doctors are

optimistic.”

Priest wanted to know exactly what Jeffries had done

to Luke, but couldn’t bring himself to ask for details.

Unbuckling his seat belt, Priest stood and began to pace

the smal interior of the plane. “I’m a fucking idiot!” he

roared. “How could I have dragged him into this? I knew

better. Men like us don’t get happy endings,” he shouted,

continuing to berate himself.

“So you know”—Sul y said, getting Priest’s attention

—“from the sound of it, Luke held on longer than most men

would’ve before giving up any information. The Director

was even impressed, and from what I know, that doesn’t

happen much.”

Priest fel to his knees in front of Sul y’s chair. “What

did Jeffries do to him?”

Sul y shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Carved him up

pretty good, I guess.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know

Jeffries had it in him.”

The need for revenge threatened to overwhelm Priest.

He knew no matter how long it took, he would find his old

handler and make him regret the day he dared lay a finger

on Luke. Unfortunately, the world was a big place, and no

doubt Jeffries had as many secret identities as Priest. It

would take a while to track down the snake who had

betrayed him. In the meantime, he had a man to nurse back

to health.

* * * *

when Kenny was on him. The first punch to the jaw

surprised Priest, but wasn’t enough to provoke him into

fighting back. He knew exactly how Kenny felt. If it were

possible to beat himself up, he’d have already done it.

“You did this!” Kenny yel ed, throwing another punch.

Priest’s head snapped back at the blow to his nose.

He heard as wel as felt a crunch as the delicate bones

gave way to the force of Kenny’s fist. “You’re right,” is al

Priest could say. With his arms at his sides, Priest stared

at Kenny. “Go ahead, hit me some more. Lord knows I

deserve it.”

Kenny reared back to give Priest exactly what he’d

asked for when a handsome older gentleman grabbed him

around the waist and pul ed him out of reach. “Settle down.

This isn’t the time or the place for this.”

With his hands stil fisted at his side, Kenny took a

deep breath. “You’re right.”

The man Priest had yet to meet stepped forward,

offering a box of tissues. “You okay?”

Priest nodded, holding a wad of tissues to his

bleeding nose. “How is he?”

“Sedated.” Kenny’s partner reached out his hand. “I’m

Eli, by the way.”

Priest shook the offered hand. He automatical y

started to introduce himself as Priest, but stopped, an

earlier conversation with Luke came to mind. “James or

Priest, whichever you prefer.”

“Nice to final y meet you, James.” Eli glanced at

Kenny over his shoulder. “Luke’s like a brother to Kenny.”

Priest held up his hand. “I understand completely.” He

met Kenny’s gaze. “I’d hate me too if I were you.” Priest

returned his attention to Eli. “Have you been in to see

Luke?”

Eli shook his head. “He’s in ICU. They said if he

stabilises, they might let us see him tomorrow.”

Priest shoved his hands in his pockets. “Isn’t there

someone we can talk to about this?” Normal y, Priest would

throw on his clerical clothing and slip into Luke’s room

under the guise of being a priest, but for some reason he

knew Luke wouldn’t approve. It was part of Priest’s old life

as an agent, and if he had hopes of making a relationship

with Luke work, he’d need to change his ways.

“Is there a chapel here?” Priest asked.

“First floor, just fol ow the signs.” It was the first time

Kenny spoke to Priest in a normal tone of voice.

“Thanks. That’s where I’l be if anything changes.”

Instead of waiting for the elevator, Priest took the stairs.

He was grateful to find the chapel empty. Good. What

he needed to say didn’t require an audience of anyone

except God. It had been decades since Priest had stepped

foot inside a church of any kind. He sat uneasily in the front

pew and stared up at the crucifix hanging on the wal .

Nerves started to get the best of him, but Priest

concentrated on his breathing. He wiped his sweaty hands

on his jeans and closed his eyes. Confession wasn’t

something he believed in, at least not for him. Nothing could

wipe away the sins he’d committed throughout his life. His

fate was pretty much set in stone, but there was a man

upstairs who didn’t deserve to pay for the bad things Priest

had done in his life.

“I’l gladly stand before you on judgement day and

accept ful responsibility for my actions if you’l give me the

chance to be the man Luke sees when he looks at me. I

don’t understand why I’ve been given such a gift, but I’m

begging you for another chance.”

Before he could say more, the chapel door opened

and an elderly man came inside. Priest turned back to the

statue of Jesus, and realised for the first time in his life why

mil ions of people around the world drew strength from their

faith. Although he was far from a saved man, Priest thought

he might actual y enjoy attending service with Luke at his

side.

Priest was stil deep in thought when the elderly man

sat in the pew behind him. He was about to leave when the

man placed a hand on Priest’s shoulder.

“Praying for a loved one?” the man asked.

Priest realised it was true and nodded his head.

“Me, too. My wife, Margaret.” The elderly man’s eyes

fil ed with tears. “We’ve been married for sixty-two years,

but I’m not done with her yet. I came in to see if God would

grant us more time.”

Priest could only imagine the pain the man must be

going through. “You seem like a nice man. I’m sure God’l