Page 125 of A Touch of Treachery
“It was mutually assured destruction,” my father replied in a defensive tone.“Henrika had information that could derail my career at Section, but I could keep sending cleaners to kill her.So we called it a draw and went our separate ways.”
“And you let Hyde Engineering grow and grow and sat by and watched while Henrika became even more dangerous and powerful.”
The General waved his hand, dismissing my accusations yet again.“Henrika might be rich and powerful, but in the end, she’s just another weapons maker.She didn’t even create anything truly remarkable or revolutionary, except for Redburn.”His eyes glittered with a cold light.“And that formula should have been mine all along.”
I’m not leaving anything behind for Jethro Percy to get his hands on.That arrogant bastard has already stolen enough of my work.Once again, I heard Henrika’s voice in my mind, and a sick, sinking sensation filled my stomach.
“Redburn is based on Henrika’s original research,” I said in a low, strained voice.“The cancer research she was working on when you first approached her.The formula you were hoping to use to save Mom.”
The bright flare of bombs exploded in my eyes, and red-hot fire blasted over my body.My shoulders tensed, and my hands clenched into fists at my sides.
“Desmond?Are you okay?”
The General’s voice broke through my memories.My vision cleared, although that phantom fire kept scorching my skin, and my own screams kept ringing in my ears, along with Graham’s hoarse cries.
“Did you know Henrika was working with Adrian Anatoly?”I asked.“Before you sent me to kill Anatoly on the Blacksea mission?”
My father shook his head, and his face twisted with anger and a surprising amount of regret.“No, son.I had no idea Henrika was working with Anatoly, but she must have found out you’d been assigned to eliminate him.”
“Trevor Donnelly told her,” I muttered.“Graham mentioned the Blacksea mission to Trevor a few days before we left for Australia.”
My father nodded.“That’s what my sources have concluded too.”
“So I went on the Blacksea mission, and Henrika finally saw a chance to get revenge on you.”
Yet again, my father’s pale aura pulsed with anger and disgust.“The bitch can certainly hold a grudge, I’ll give her that.”
“And Redburn?”I asked, my voice even lower and more strained than before.“Did you know Henrika was going to use Graham and me as her guinea pigs to test the explosive?”
Genuine surprise flickered across my father’s face.“No!Of course not!Ineverwould have sent you on the Blacksea mission if I had known what Henrika had planned.I know we haven’t had the closest or easiest relationship, especially since your mother died, but I love you, Desmond.”
My chest squeezed tight.I couldn’t speak through the hard knot of emotion in my throat, so I nodded instead.
A relieved look flashed across my father’s face, although it quickly vanished.He sank deeper into his chair and steepled his fingers together, once again morphing into the General I knew all too well.“Don’t worry about what happened in the conference room.Despite Charlotte’s accusations, this scandal will blow over soon.”
“And Henrika?”
“I already have my best people searching for her.As soon as they find Henrika, they will eliminate her once and for all.I promise you that, son.”
I got to my feet and buttoned my suit jacket.“You’re not going to get Henrika.I am.”
My father also got to his feet, and he grinned at me.“That’s my boy.”
I gave him a thin smile in return, then spun around on my heel, went over to the door, and opened it.“I think I got everything we need.Come on in.”
I moved to the side, and Charlotte strode into the office.Evelyn was behind her with Gia.Joan and Diego were standing outside with several members of the strike team, who had already handcuffed the General’s two bodyguards.
My father glanced back and forth between me and Charlotte.“What is this?”
“You’re under arrest, Jethro,” Evelyn said in a cold voice.“For working with Section enemies.”
The General scoffed.“You have no real proof of that.All you have is an old photo and a few documents.Are you really going to believe a lowly analyst over me?A Locke?Someone with a tarnished family legacy inside Section?”
“Actually, they have all the proof they need,” I cut in.“Thanks to your confession.”
My father’s startled gaze zipped over to me, and his eyes narrowed.“What did you do, Desmond?”
I went over to his desk and picked up the photo of my mother.I stared at her smiling face a moment, then opened the back of the silver frame, plucked out the tiny analog tape recorder hidden inside, and showed it to him.
