Page 133 of The Unlikely Pair
“Did Toby Webley seem completely surprised by the actions of your kidnappers?”
It takes a few seconds for my brain to process the implication
“Toby? You think there’s a possibility Toby was in collusion with the terrorists?”
“We need to examine every possible scenario.”
“Well, I can tell you that particular scenario is complete rubbish.” My voice shakes with anger. “Toby Webley is one of the most patriotic men in the United Kingdom. The idea he would ever do anything to undermine our country is preposterous.”
“Mr. Matheson, I’m sure we don’t need to tell you that national security was obviously breached in this case, the factyou got onto a plane with a pilot intent on hijacking you. Our job is to investigate every single avenue of inquiry, even if you find it offensive. Rest assured, I’m sure MI6 officers are asking Mr. Webley the same questions about you. Do you think he will be so ardent in his defense of you?” He raises an eyebrow.
Would Toby insist on my innocence the same way I’m insisting on his?
For a second, I imagine Toby in the room next door. I’m fairly sure he’d meet such a ridiculous suggestion with his trademark sarcasm.
Oh, so that’s why Harry was running around with an AR-17 and having secret rendezvous with men in balaclavas. Thanks for clueing me in.
Toby’s voice in my head causes a tight feeling inside my chest. But I manage to keep my voice steady as I answer. “I think you’ll find we are both completely innocent. We were simply trying to get to a climate change conference in Oslo.”
“And so talk me through the events of earlier today. How did you come to be in possession of the satellite phone to call your wife?”
I talk through yesterday’s events from the moment I realized something was wrong until I called Prunella.
Harpreet raises an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me that you and Mr. Webley, with no combat experience or weapons, decided to take on three armed terrorists?”
“Well, yes. We really had no other option.”
The two MI6 officers exchange a glance, and I see a glimpse of grudging respect on their faces.
If Toby was here, he’d be joking, telling them they shouldn’t underestimate their politicians.
And again, I can hear his voice in my head, scripting exactly what he’d say in this situation. Is that normal?
“The men we captured have been taken to a secure holding facility. But they are not answering our questions. We still have no idea about the motives behind the attempted kidnapping.”
“Do you have any idea why they might have targeted you specifically?” Harpreet asks, leaning forward in her chair. “Were there any recent threats or unusual interactions leading up to the incident?”
I shake my head. “None that I can recall.”
My voice is weary from talking. And I desperately want to see Toby.
I want to talk to him about the debrief. I want to see his reaction. I want to hear about his. I want to know every thought that’s gone through his head, what he’s said.
I didn’t even kiss him one last time.
The thought swirls in my head.
It’s still there as I finish and the MI6 agents thank me for my cooperation and tell me they will be in touch if they need anything else.
My yearning for Toby becomes more urgent by the moment. I’ve only been apart from Toby for a few hours, but it’s the most time I’ve spent away from him in forty-two days.
I need to see him.
But it is not Toby waiting for me outside the room.
Instead, Prunella is there with my parents.
My mother is teary and gushy, which is so unlike her that I don’t know how to handle it.
