Page 10 of The Last Kingdom

Which drew the attention of Congress.

What had Mark Twain said?Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.

Yep.

He was subpoenaed to appear before the House Intelligence Committee, which was then investigating the use of so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques.” Field intelligence officers were not usually part of that inquiry, but what he’d officially, in writing, told his superiors about why he’d destroyed the tape had become important.

He wasn’t going to allow his people to get nailed for something they were ordered to do.

So who ordered him?

And that had been the wrinkle, since the White House itself had authorized both the torture and the video’s destruction.

But he’d never given anyone up.

He was a lot of things, but no snitch.

Three years the Justice Department investigated him, finally concluding that no charges would be filed.

But the stain became indelible.

Which, probably, more than anything else, accounted for why he was closing in on sixty years of age and still remained in the field. And not as a division chief, overseeing a huge array of assets. No. He handled only “special operations,” which these days came few and far between. The CIA had a deputy director for anything and everything. Analysis, operations, science and technology, support, digital innovation, talent, study. You name it. And there wasn’t a place for him? Apparently not. The presidential administration he’d protected was long gone, and never once showed its gratitude. And now here he was, in Bavaria, right in the middle of another mess.

He watched through the goggles as Malone brought the ferry into play, intercepting the boat that was firing on Luke, then leaping down into it. Godhe loved talented, motivated people. They required so little prompting.

He, too, was motivated.

His mind ticked off the possibilities the situation presented and he settled on one. Should he do it?

Hell, yeah.

He reached for the walkie-talkie and pressed Send.

* * *

LUKE WATCHED AS THE FERRY ANGLED BETWEEN THEM AND THEIRpursuer, stopping the boat’s advance, keeping the gunfire on the far side, out of harm’s way.

He stood from his crouched position.

Christophe kept the boat aimed straight for shore, which was drawing ever closer.

“Who was shooting at us?” Lexi said.

A really good question.

That was totally unexpected.

Christophe pulled back on the throttle and the boat slowed, sinking low in the water. The motor went into reverse and the bow gently kissed the shore. Lexi hopped out with the book and Luke followed, still holding the camera. He debated taking both of these morons out now, retrieving the book, and getting out of here. But this party was just getting started. And he was never one to come late or leave early from a good time.

Christophe switched off the motor and jumped out onto dry land.

Still—

Luke stepped up and planted his right fist into Christophe’s jaw, sending the idiot to the ground. Lexi reacted and rushed toward him, but his reared-back right arm stopped her advance. “I have no problem pounding you too.”

Christophe sprang to his knees and did exactly what he thought would happen, reaching for his gun.

He kicked the weapon from the man’s hand. “Let’s call all this even. You two rode my case back there. Which I don’t like. I just rode yours.”

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