Page 65 of Found

"Sin," a man's voice said. "It's Phin."

Sin was silent for a moment. The lines around his eyes hardened. "Go on."

"I wanted to talk alone before we both got to the Tower." He sounded nervous. "I wanted to explain—"

Sin cut him off. "We're not alone. I have my wife in the car," he said harshly.

"I know. Gabriel explained." There was something in the tone of his voice that triggered Charlie's mind.

"Go on."

"When you went after the girl, I was ambushed in the close behind the pub by one of Sokolov's men. He got me pretty good. I was able to escape but I was afraid they had tailed me, so I lay low for a while," he said it all rapidly in one long sentence. Charlie knew she had heard his voice before.

"Who tipped off Sokolov?" Sin asked, not hiding his anger.

"I-I don't know," Phin stuttered.

"Why didn't you sweep the building beforehand?" He looked over at Charlie, the expression on his face as hard as stone.

"I did. I swear I did." She knew she had heard it before. It must have been from that night, in amongst all the shouting.

"You didn't. At least not the bathrooms. You almost got her killed," he shouted.

"I-I didn't see her if she was in there," Phin said.

"There is no room for error in this job. You know that." The anger increased in Sin's voice. "I'll see you at the Tower." He hung up and glanced at Charlie. "Are you all right? You've gone as white as a ghost."

"I'm fine," she said quickly. Perhaps it was just stirring up memories. It was better if she didn't say anything yet.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that,"

"Honestly, I'm fine." She looked back out the window, watching as clouds formed in the sky, threatening rain. Try as she might, she could not get it out of her head.

Gabriel was waiting for them when they pulled through the gates to the Tower. He opened her door, helping her out.

"It's good to see you, Charlie," he said, kissing her cheek "How was the trip?"

"It was fine." She gave him a small smile. He had a way about him that made her continue to trust him.

"Did anyone follow you?" He clasped Sin by the shoulder in an embrace. William leapt from the car and bounded off toward the river.

"No," Sin answered, still uptight.

"Forbes is anxious to look at your stomach," Gabriel said to her. "To make sure there's no infection."

"It's not infected." She wasn't ready to be probed and prodded. In fact, she tried not to think of her stomach at all, which was becoming easier now with the pain subsiding.

"It will only—"

"Leave her be," Sin said. "She's been through enough. It's fine. I've been monitoring it."

Gabriel cleared his throat. "Sin, you know Alex will want it checked out and he'll expect to talk to the both of you in his office. The sooner, the better. We still have to come up with a plan for tomorrow and the exchange."

"Let us at least get settled first," Sin said shortly. Charlie could tell he was wound tight and was restraining himself. Being back at the Tower only enhanced it.

"Why don't I take Charlie to the infirmary while you unpack? You can meet us there," Gabriel suggested, acting not only as Alex's right hand, but mediator too.

"I said—"

---