Page 116 of Sweet Little Spies

Huisman was saying something, and then the guard disappearedbehind the door, that terrible scream threatening to shake the walls again. Thedoor closed and Huisman started toward the stairs. “Welcome, Mr. Dean-Miles. Orshould I call you The Jester?”

Good. They wouldn’t have to explain. “Call me pissed off. Isthat Carys Taggart screaming?”

He needed control. He made every word cold as ice becauseshowing how panicked he was at the thought of Carys in pain would give Huismanwhat he wanted.

“Not at all.” Huisman jogged down the steps. He was dressedin slacks and a black button-down, expensive loafers on his feet. He lookedlike an upscale doctor, not the fucking psychopath he obviously was. “I’mactually quite sorry she got caught up in this negotiation of ours. I know youwill find this hard to believe, but I don’t have anything against her besidesher last name. You plan on changing her name? Or did you actually move on? Irather thought I saw you at their wedding, though you weren’t dressed as aguest. I can’t be sure. The imbeciles I was forced to work with couldn’t cutinto the security cameras, so I had to rely on the drone.” A grin hit his lips.“That was a spectacular crash, by the way. I’ve watched it at least fiftytimes.”

“So it was you who hired the mercenaries?” Tris tried tokeep the question somewhat casual. If Huisman was going to be civil, he wouldkeep it that way as long as possible. “I’m afraid I didn’t understand the logicbehind that particular move.”

Had they found the trackers both he and Zach had in theirarms? He hadn’t woken up with a gaping hole in his bicep, so he thought not. Ifhe hadn’t, then all they needed was time because the team would come for them.

Who the hell was screaming? Had been screaming? It seemed tohave stopped. That might scare him even more.

Kala. Had they taken her or Tasha? Had they gotten Aidan? Hehad no fucking idea, and it threatened to make him scream and try to fight hisway up those stairs.

“Logic, like many things we think are a collectiveexperience, is actually subjective.” Huisman walked into the dining room, hisarms coming out. “Welcome to my childhood home. Sorry it’s not ready forcompany, but I had to move quickly. I thought it might take longer. So becauseI am a fair man, I’ll explain it all to you and then you can make your decisionas to how we’re going to play out this scene we find ourselves in. I broke upthe wedding because from what I could tell, Dr. O’Donnell hadn’t bothered toannounce he was coming to Canada. I truly expected there to be a great outcry.”

Aidan hadn’t mentioned it because he’d been angry withTristan. Liam hadn’t mentioned it to Big Tag because the man was preoccupied.The wall between the Agency team and McKay-Taggart had fucked them over thistime.

“So you invited Aidan to get the team up here in Canada,”Zach posited.

Huisman’s hands went to the pockets of his slacks while hislips curled up in a secretive smile. “Yes, Captain Reed. I did. It was acalculated risk. I knew Mr. Taggart would either see the opportunities thechance offered or he would be frightened away and I would have to find anotheropportunity to get what I want.”

He would give it to the asshole. He was cool under pressure.“So we took the bait.”

“Don’t feel bad,” Huisman said with a sigh. “It wasexcellent bait, and I suppose Benjamin is involved now, too.”

Tris shrugged. It was too early to let the man in oneverything. Maybe Zach could help him out, remind Huisman he was here, too.“Who’s Benjamin?”

Zach leaned in, playing his role to perfection. “I thinkhe’s talking about the asshole CSIS sent.”

The smile on the doctor’s face faded. “You know well who I’mtalking about. Benjamin Parker. You’ve met him many times. I’ve got the womanhe’s obsessed with upstairs, and I’ll deal with her later. She was a gift sinceI can use the bitch for several different purposes. I’m going to give you someadvice, both of you. Don’t lie to me. I know everything, and I won’t hesitateto hurt the women I have in custody. Carys Taggart lives and isn’t in pain foras long as everyone complies.”

“I want to see her,” Tristan said. “I’m not talking until Isee her and Ms. Magenta. She’s the other woman you have, right? She was in thebar with Carys. She’s CIA, you know. They will come after her.”

Huisman’s eyes rolled, his head falling back as he groaned.“That’s one lie, Mr. Dean-Miles. I’ll give you one because I’m sure you’ve beentrained to hide her identity, but the next lie will cost Dr. Taggart a finger.Personally, I don’t think what she does is really surgery, so I don’t think sheneeds all her fingers. She might have a different perspective. Bring her downnow, please.”

“Wait,” Tristan began.

“No. I think it’s time she joined us,” Huisman insisted.“The other Ms. Taggart was also a bonus, though I figured one of the twinswould be there. Tell me—and think before you lie—which one do I have?”

Tris felt his gut take a deep dive. He knew about the twins.He likely knew exactly who was screaming upstairs, and this was a test. It wasa betrayal to say their names, but the door had come open and the guard washauling Carys out.

“Kala. You have Kala,” he said, his eyes on Carys.

“Excellent. Now we understand each other.” Huisman pulledout a seat from the elegant table. It was long, with seating for at leastsixteen people. “Bring her here, please.”

“You don’t need to do this.” Zach stood beside him, a handon Tristan’s arm as he spoke to Huisman. “Tristan is ready to talk, and I’lltell you anything you want to know.”

Huisman’s head pivoted, his eyes catching on Zach. “Yes,Captain. Yes, you will. One way or another. Jean-Marc, when you have herproperly restrained, please join me.”

The big guard manhandled Carys in a way that made Tristanvow to kill the fucker. She looked terrified, but her eyes met his.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” he said. “I’m going to get you out ofthis. I promise.”

She nodded as the guard forced her into one of the ornatechairs. This particular one had arms they bound her wrists to. “Kala’supstairs. Tris, they’re hurting her.”

“I know.” He would do whatever he had to do. They’d used zipties on her wrists, and he could see the way they bit into her skin. Bile rosein his throat as the guard placed a straight cutter on the table in front ofher. It was the type cigar aficionados used. He was certain her fingers wouldfit nicely. “You hold on.”

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