Page 29 of Tracking Payton
“You can always trust me,” Colin said earnestly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Why do you two look like you’re conspiring?” Payton’s voice was mild, but Alex could see the hard edges around her mouth. She thought they were making plans without her.
Alex stared straight at her. He refused to feel guilty. They weren’t planning really, just thinking out loud.
“Colin said he knows someone on base who might be able to help with the password on the flash drive.”
She adjusted her duffel bag on her shoulder and looked at Colin. “You trust him?”
Colin threw his arms up in the air. “Seriously, you too? Yes, I trust him. What is with you people? You both act like I never ran covert operations before. I was in Special Forces, if any of you care to remember. I lost my arm, not my brain.” Colin stuck his bottom lip out like a pouting child.
Payton didn’t even blink at Colin’s outburst. “Do they work in the same department as my dad or Major Diesel?”
“He’s in the same building, but no, he doesn’t work with your dad or the weasel.”
“Come again what did you call Major Diesel?” She was sure she hadn’t heard him right.
“It’s what I call Major Diesel.” Colin looked between Payton and Alex. “Come on, you have to admit he is like a weasel. Duke, the guy who can help us, has never liked the Major. Always said he walked around like he had a stick up his ass, thinking he was better than everyone.” Colin cleared his throat. “Nickname aside, Duke is trustworthy and won’t tell anyone about what we are working on.”
Payton glanced over at Alex, seeking his opinion. “It’s up to you. If Colin said he can trust him, then I say go for it.” He was done making decisions for all of them.
Payton’s hand strayed to her neck and clutched a small gold heart shaped pendant. He didn’t remember her wearing it before. Her mom had one like it. She used to do the same thing when she was contemplating something major. Payton must have picked up the habit. “Colin can take it. While he looks into the drive, I’d like to follow up on the list we have. The addresses, the numbers, the drive, it’s all connected. We just need to find the link. Alex, you and I will compare notes. If it’s connected to these cyber base terrorists, maybe we’ll find the connection.”
“I’ll keep an eye on General Wessex too while you two go into hiding.” Colin added.
“You’re not coming with us?” Did Colin hear the alarm in Alex’s voice? What happened to the plan that the three of them stick together? Work together.
Colin shook his head, uncaring of Alex’s growing panic. “I want to be on base in case Wessex makes a move. You need eyes on the ground. I don’t mind doing the recon. If I get something on the drive, I’ll call you.”
“Why don’t we stay on base then and make things easier?” Payton asked.
“Too risky.” Colin immediately shut down her plan. “Smith and Jones will be on the lookout for you.”
“But they wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack me on base.”
Alex wasn’t so sure. They was pretty determined to get that flash drive. Their boss and his goons weren’t giving up. The sooner he got Payton off radar, the better.
“It’s not worth the risk, Payton. Go to your hideout, lay low, do your digging from afar. I’ll call you with an update.”
Alex could see the war in Payton’s eyes. She didn’t like this plan at all but didn’t see another alternative. He didn’t have one either.
“It’s only temporary,” he reminded her. Alex would keep her safe and keep his distance.
“Fine, let’s go.”
“Hold up,” Colin blocked her path then held up his car keys, “Take my car.”
“I have a rental.”
“It’s easy to track, mine isn’t.” Payton reluctantly took the keys. “Do you need cash?”
“No, I have some.”
“Okay, I’ll be in touch.”
“Don’t you want to know where we’ll be?”
Colin shook his head. “The less I know, the better. Stay low. Stay safe.”
