Page 40 of Belgian Betrayal

“Off the train,” Catya reported. “I don’t see anyone lurking, waiting to grab or shoot.”

Moments later, Atkins reported. “Off the train.”

Tense and ready to turn and run back to Catya, Fearghas moved forward slowly.

“Man on the right,” Jasmine whispered. “Leaning against a tree on the corner.”

Fearghas glanced in that direction from the corner of his eye, spotted the guy and then swept the shadows to his left on the opposite side of the street.

A dark figure moved, drawing his attention.

“Another on the left. Lurking between two buildings.”

“Roger,” Catya said.

“Roger,” Atkins echoed.

Fearghas wanted to take out the two men before Catya reached them.

“Keep moving, Fearghas,” Ace urged as if reading Fearghas’s mind. “They can’t know you and Jasmine are backups.”

Jasmine’s hand squeezed his arm. “They’ll be okay,” she said. “And we’re not that far ahead.”

Fearghas kept moving despite the overwhelming desire to turn back.

Moments later, Catya said, “Passed the tree and alley, guys. They didn’t move.”

A little of Fearghas’s tension eased. Either her disguise had worked, or they were looking for Atkins, not her.

“Coming up on them now,” Atkins said.

Several seconds dragged by. Fearghas tensed, again ready to head back.

“Passed the tree and alley,” Atkins reported. “I’ve got a tail.”

“Need assistance?” Fearghas asked.

“Not yet,” Atkins said. “They’re keeping their distance.”

“An escort,” Jasmine said softly.

Fearghas had studied the printout of the map enough to know how to get to the market square. He’d searched the internet for nightclubs in Bruges and had found one not far off the square. He and Jasmine would turn to the left and head toward that nightclub.

Catya would walk further across the square, closer to the end with the Belfry, before she turned down a side street on the left and moved out of sight of the square and anyone who might be watching. Once she was out of sight, she’d wait for her cue to step into the square.

Fearghas looked at Jasmine several times, smiling down at her.

She would glance up at him and pretend to be saying something to make him laugh.

He laughed on cue while his gaze scanned over her shoulder into shadows cast by the buildings around them.

He didn’t see anyone else following or standing around, waiting to jump them.

“In position,” Catya said. “You okay, Atkins?”

“So far,” he responded in soft, brief syllables.

“Still have your tail?” Catya asked.

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