Zero Day, стр. 13
“He’s going to jail and you’re taking his side?” Yona got off the barstool. “I’m not hungry. Good night.”
Kelvin watched Yona go. “She didn’t eat her sandwich, and it’s my fault.”
“Bad dinner table conversation?” Leland found a piece of plastic wrap for Kelvin to wrap up the grilled cheese.
It would probably be soggy the next day, but Kelvin had made it for Yona.
“It’s my fault,” he kept saying.
“Normally, I would tell you to stop it already.” Leland watched Kelvin put Yona’s sandwich in the fridge. “But I have to agree with you. Many of these things are your fault.”
“What didn’t Dario shackle me or something? I shouldn’t be allowed to roam free.”
“Are you though? Try leaving this house and see what Dario will do to you.” Leland didn’t laugh.
“I thought you’re my…uh… Am I still employed at Binary Systems?” Kelvin wasn’t sure why he even asked.
“Technically, you’re AWOL.”
“Absent without official leave. Great.”
“And you’re going to help us find the new people behind MedusaNet and make sure that network never resurrects itself.”
Kelvin put his now-cold sandwich into the microwave. “In exchange for a lighter sentence, I hope.”
“That’s for a judge to decide, but I’m hoping so.” Leland finished the bottled water and asked where the recycling bin was. When there was none, she had no choice but to throw the empty bottle into the trash can. “Meanwhile, we have work to do.”
“Where, though?”
“That’s a good question. Tonight we stay here, and then we’ll have to move again.”
“You know Aspasia will try to find us.”
Leland nodded. “Dario’s working on it. He’s calling in favors.”
“Favor from God is what I need right now.”
“Don’t we all, Kel? Don’t we all?”
Chapter 10
Yona had no idea how she went from sleeping in a single bed in the safe house in Český Krumlov to lying down sideways on some cold floor with her ankles and wrists tied up.
Her sprained ankle was throbbing something fierce. There was nothing she could do to alleviate the pain except pray for relief.
She had no idea where she was, but she heard airplane propellers whirring and aviation mechanics talking whenever a door opened. They were chatting in Czech, which Yona could identify but not speak.
She knew it was concrete beneath her because it felt cool under her arm and legs.
Otherwise she was in utter darkness.
Was she alone?
Her gagged mouth prevented her from asking for help.
She tried to recall what happened, but her mind was blank. She remembered getting upset with Kelvin in the kitchen. She went upstairs to brush her teeth and wash her face.
She texted Reuel on a secure line.
He didn’t reply.
Then she fell asleep fully clothed on top of the comforter, her Sig Sauer in her backpack leaning against the side of the bed.
Next thing she knew, she woke up here.
How?
A large door screeched open. Light filled the giant room, casting shadows. There was a small crowd of people walking toward her.
Yona was right. This was a hangar, but it was the back end of the hangar, where the mechanics kept spare engines and parts. No wonder she had heard mechanics talking nearby.
She heard a groan.
It was Kelvin. He was also tied up and gagged. He rolled to his side. Groaned again.
Where were the others? Leland? Dario? Were they held elsewhere?
The crowd parted, and Leland gasped.
Reuel?
“Isn’t it always the case that your enemy is the one you least expected?” Reuel hobbled to an armchair that someone brought for him to sit in.
Kelvin made a face, and Yona wished he hadn’t. It showed that Kelvin was affected by Reuel’s words.
The elderly man motioned for someone to remove the bandanna around Yona’s mouth.
“Nothing to say?” Reuel asked.
“I’ve never considered you my enemy.” Yona chose her words carefully.
“Why would you say that? You think I’m too old?” Reuel chuckled. “I never pegged you to be the discriminating sort, Yona.”
Something was wrong. In spite of Reuel’s confession, Yona didn’t believe he was the apex predator.
She wanted to think that someone like Ulysses might be pulling Reuel’s strings. Ulysses was dead, wasn’t he? Everyone thought so—except Aspasia. That poor thing believed the love of her life was still alive.
“What do you want from us?” Kelvin asked.
Totally the wrong question. Yet Yona understood that he was trying to help their situation.
“You’ll see.” Reuel turned to Yona. “You looked perplexed.”
“You knew all along where Kelvin was hiding,” Yona said. “Why didn’t you go get him yourself?”
Reuel shrugged. “We figured it was easier to let you deal with Aspasia.”
We.
There it was.
Yona knew she was right. Reuel wasn’t in charge. Whose mouthpiece was he?
“What do you want from us?” Yona glanced at Kelvin.
Reuel didn’t respond. Instead, he motioned for his people to take Kelvin away.
“Where are you taking him?” Yona asked, half-expecting him to ignore her second question.
Reuel waited until Kelvin was out of sight. “You and I need to talk.”
Yona felt as though she was about to explode in words she’d regret later. There was nothing for them talk about if Reuel had taken them here by force. Drugged and all tied up? Those were no signs of friendship.
“How did we get here?” Yona asked as calmly as possible.
“I know you’re angry.”
Don’t show emotions. “How did we get here?”
Intertwined in that question was Yona’s other question: Were Leland and Dario doing fine?
“Let’s just say we fumigated the entire building, put everyone to sleep, and carried you and Kelvin out of your bedrooms.” Reuel seemed pleased that he had made it sound easy.
Truth be told, a CIA safe house wasn’t that easily penetrable. Details, details. Yona was sure Reuel knew someone on the inside. Who?
“Just Kelvin and me? You killed the rest of the people in the house?”
“No need. We only want you and Kelvin.”
“I appreciate your economy.”
Reuel bowed his head slightly. “I aim to please.”
“Why though? I’ve always been a friend to you. Both Issachar and I trusted you.” Suddenly aware of what could