Page 113 of Jep

“Ah, so you weren’t as out of it as you appeared.”

“With my head doing flip-flops, it was easier not to move. And I find you discover a lot of secrets if people think you’re unconscious. Once he finds Jade safe and secure, we’ll have plenty of time to unscramble the mess you’ve made.”

“So you don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Uncuff me and swear to me you’ll let me go, and I’ll tell you.”

Jep shifted forward, his head swimming. He blinked until he could see only one of her. “Tell me.”

“Looks to me,” she said with a smile, “like you’re in no position to argue.”

“I’m not letting you go. You’re responsible for a lot of murdered agents, and you’re going to pay for it. You’re also going to tell us who else is involved and where we can find them.”

“If I did that, they’d find me, and they’d give me a bullet instead of a paycheck. I can’t have that. But what I can do is help you save Emery’s life. If that’s what you want.” She leaned back against the desk as if she had all the time in the world. “But it will cost you.”

He was impressed with her control. For someone who worked as a paper pusher all day long, she steeled herself well. But even if Emery’s life was in some kind of danger, he couldn’t let Gardener see how much it affected him.

He moved onto his knees and used a nearby chair to drag himself up to his feet. “Tell me what you know. Did you put a bomb in the building?”

She held up her cuffed hand. “Let’s trade.”

Jep didn’t have time to interrogate her, but he couldn’t let her go, either. He’d have to bluff. “Fine.” He pulled a chair over so he could sit close. Standing was costing him too much.

After unlocking her cuffs, he said, “Tell me.”

“I’ll text you once I’m out of the building.”

He shoved her back against the desk. “No, you’ll tell me why I should be worried about Em, or I’ll break your fingers.”

“Promise me you’ll let me go?”

“Tell me!” he shouted and shoved her again. He must have looked wild because her eyes widened in fright. If only she knew how weak he was.

“Okay, okay. Back off.”

He gladly sat back in the seat and took small breaths to keep the nausea down.

“Pearce isn’t who he says he is.” She had dropped her voice low, even though no one else was listening.

The sudden increase in his heart rate almost had him on the floor. It took him several seconds to regain his equilibrium. “Pearce is working with you?”

“Yes.”

He punched the desk next to her head, and she jumped, but he didn’t give her time to react further as he grabbed her arm and re-cuffed her.

“Hey!” she shouted. “You have to let me go!”

“No I don’t.” He stood, knocking the chair over as he stumbled out of the room.

“You promised!”

He ran into a rolling chair and tripped across it, catching himself on a nearby desk. After righting himself, he weaved through the room, propping himself up on desks and chairs as he went. He battled the vertigo that threatened to take him back to the black hole, which could mean Em’s death.

His hand skimmed along the wall when he entered the hall, and he fell against the elevator, slamming the heel of his hand against the call button. “Come on. Come on!”

The door slid open, and he fell inside. It took him a couple of breaths before he could crawl to the number pad and jam his finger on the floor number.

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