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“In retrospect, it’s good that Reaper dodged the DuBois bullet,” Thorn said.

“Amen. So, in this possible scenario, while DuBois’s “I’m the best of the best” PR campaign is going on, the sounds and symptoms start showing up in our diplomats. DARPA already has his name. Montrim now has it from George Matthews, as well.

“They didn’t think that a nod from Matthews was disqualifying? He was being watched for sharing weapons secrets with the enemy.”

“Matthews’s surveillance wasn’t known to DARPA, Montrim hired Iniquus to protect their Pentagon contract. DARPA might never have made that connection.Probablynever made that connection. They just wanted the best of the best when it came to this issue. They needed to understand what happened if they were to develop systems to protect our people.”

“Roger.”

“In this scenario, then, DuBois is aligned with and possibly being paid by Matthews and his buddies,” Lynx said. “I can speculate that they needed him for a variety of reasons − possibly to enter false data, possibly to give poor remediation, possibly to report back on the health findings.”

“When Arya flew to France, they realize that she’s endangering the entire scheme. If she starts looking into her citizenship, she will find that her papers are falsified. When she tried to talk to her grandmother, all the false memories that DuBois planted would be exposed. They needed to capture her. DuBois realized this too. Once he knew that the two Russians had grabbed Arya, he didn’t stop to talk to his mom. He headed straight out of town. DuBois couldn’t let the French pick him up for questioning since he’s listed as her father on her green card.”

“Agreed,” Lynx said. “He had to get out of the EU stat.”

“If we’re working the hypothesis that DuBois called in the Russian scientists, how do the Rex Deus and Omega goons get involved?”

Brigitte rounded into the room. “Okay, lover boy, stop whispering sweet nothings into Juliette’s ear. We’ve got incoming.”

Chapter Forty-One

Thorn

Paris, France

Monday, Zero Three Forty-one Hours

“Thorn,” Lynx said quietly in his ear. “Deep is doing logistics while Nutsbe’s at the meeting. He’s indicating that there’s a series of cars driving in tandem up the highway, moving in fast. If you go now, you can get out of their way.”

“What are you seeing?” Thorn asked as Gage and Honey spun into the room, grabbing up the computer, his duffle, and the supplies that where easily at hand.

“Seven cars racing our way at this rather shitty time of night,” Brigitte said. “I think we need to head to the border.”

“Why not the American Embassy in Paris?” Honey asked. “It’s closer and puts us on American soil.”

“Because,that’s why,” Brigitte said.

Thorn had roused Arya. “We need to move you again.”

Her eyes were held wide as her gaze swept the room full of people. “Those guys are Honey and Gage. They’re on my team. That’s Brigitte.” Thorn didn’t know what team she was on. He’d been trying to get a good look at her left wrist but so far, he hadn’t been able to see if she wore the Rex Deus tattoo.

Arya held still as Thorn unfastening her IV line, then reached out shaking hands to pull on the clothes Thorn held out to her. If they were headed to the border, Arya’s being in a hospital gown would make things delicate. The air force base in Belgium would have everything they needed. It was the better place to be. But the closest harbor might be the best thing. They could argue about it once they were under way.

“Ready?” Thorn bent to pull her arm around his neck. With one arm supporting her back and another hand scooped under her knees, he rolled her in until she rested against his chest. He stood and everyone in the little clinic room peeled out into the hall and jogged up the corridor.

“Five minutes.” Nutsbe was back in his ear. That was good. Deep was a pro at his job, but Nutsbe was his teammate. It was just a more comfortable dynamic.

Bursting through the doors, the Panther Force found that a row of cars were lined up, drivers behind each wheel, doors opened and ready. Lights extinguished.

The Panthers came to a screeching halt.

“What’s going on here,” Honey said. “That’s our car there in the middle. I drive.”

“We don’t have time,” Brigitte said. “My team is trained to work together to lose a tail − even if they have eyes in the sky. Get the fuck in the car.”

Honey nodded toward Thorn and Thorn bent to get Arya in the car, moving her over and climbing in beside her.

Before Honey could climb in the front, Brigitte, gun in hand, moved to the front seat and pulled on her safety belt. “Buckle up,” she told Thorn. She turned toward Honey and Gage who looked unsure how to proceed.

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