Page 159 of Power
Empathy filled his eyes. “I’m sorry. That must’ve been rough for you.”
“It was awful. I’m better now, so that’s good.”
“Do you miss the group?”
“I miss the closeness we had. It was like the team you built under your leadership.”
“That’s nice of you to say.” After taking a swig of soda, he said, “I worked for ALPHA.”
Elated that he’d shared that, she smiled. “I’m disappointed our paths didn’t cross there as well. Why did you leave?”
“I was Philip Skye’s first hire. Did you know he goes by Z now?”
“No,” she lied, “I lost touch after I left.”
“I worked there for a year. Philip hired me to manage the newly-formed Ops team. I got along fine with Luther, but Philip and I, we didn’t mix. He let me go and I returned to the Bureau. They’ve grown a lot since I left. You wouldn’t believe it’s the same organization.”
“If it’s still top-secret, how do you know?”
He blinked in slow motion, as if closing his eyes to shut her out. Then, he paused to drink.
He’s buying time to come up with an answer.
He pinched his nostrils together, then wiped his nose. “I keep in touch with a few.”
You’re lying.
“Anyone I’d know?”
“I don’t think so.” Peter forced a laugh. “But I couldn’t tell you who they are anyway.”
“No, I guess not.”
The server returned with their lunches, topped off their beverages, and left.
“Do you hold a grudge against Philip like you do against Luciano Santini?” Simone asked before digging into her Niçoise salad.
“I did. It worked out in the end for me, but I would have liked to make a career there. It’s very cutting-edge.”
He’s talking about it in the present. How does he know what’s going on with ALPHA?
“Like what?”
“I can’t say,” he replied. “In fact, we shouldn’t even be talking about them now, but I appreciate that you told me the truth.”
She forced a smile. “Same, Peter.”
“I’m going to throw something out there,” he said. “Don’t dismiss it. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
“Sure.”
“Come back to work for me.”
“I’ll consider it,” she replied.
As they ate, she asked about his wife, Lucy, and the conversation moved on. She couldn’t help wonder who, at ALPHA, would be leaking information to him… and was any of this related to The Bomb Maker?
After lunch, she and Peter said goodbye in the hotel lobby. He asked her to consider his work offer, then headed toward the exit. Rather than leave, she retreated into the lounge. She wanted to jot notes from the meeting on her phone. While sitting in an oversized orange chair, she glanced into the hotel lobby, and her brain stuttered. Instead of leaving, Peter strode over to the elevator bank and waited. An elevator door opened, and he vanished inside.
