Page 111 of Tell Me Why
“That is none of your concern,” Keon said.
“I want you to hit Silix first,” Tell said. “The facility in Texas. Absolutely as quickly as you can and before the others.”
Keon lifted his chin.
“She told me that this was your interest. Why would you ask this of me?” he asked. “If I do one before the rest, they may deduce what has happened and manage to escape me. This is a significant tactical exposure you’re asking for.”
“Precisely because if you hit another facility early by mistake, Silix may attempt to scavenge what he can and flee. He took my protégé and is processing her there. I would go in and recover her. I need you to start with him, no more than an hour isnecessary, but I don’t care when you start the other attacks so much as I care that you hit that onesoon.”
“How much time has passed?” Keon asked.
“Nineteen days,” Tell said, and Keon nodded slowly.
With another man, Tell would have played more carefully, but Isabella knew nearly everything of the situation and would absolutely tell Keon if Tell left anything out. Even without Isabella, you didn’t go against Keon on a basis of deception.
Well.
Telldidn’t.
“You may not like what you get back,” Keon said. “You are aware of this?”
“I made a promise,” Tell said simply.
“Very well,” Keon said. “You will owe me a debt, as before. I will call upon it as I see fit.”
Tell sighed.
“I understand,” he said. “I need you to tell your men there to let me pass as I please.”
“As you wish,” Keon said.
“You’ll send them quickly?” Tell asked, and Keon nodded.
“Look for them tomorrow night,” he said. “Isabella’s presence will be missed. It will not keep longer than that.”
“Then I will take my leave of you, with your blessing,” he said. “Please know that I have sworn a vendetta against Leonard if she dies.”
The corners of Keon’s mouth twitched as he looked over at Isabella. Humor.
“We will engage that when the time comes,” he said.
“Thank you, sir,” Tell said, glancing at Isabella. She gave him a curt nod. There was no more business between them and he was free to go.
“I will arrange a car to take you back to the city, and a plane from there,” Keon said.
It was for Keon’s benefit, not Tell’s, because Tell couldn’t move as quietly as Keon could, but it would go on Tell’s tab all the same.
“Thank you, sir,” Tell said, turning to go.
No fight at all.
Getting into debt was always this easy.
Even if he decided to abort the entire rest of the mission, or send Isabella back to Daryll because he wanted new or different information, Keon would live up to his end of the agreement to hit Silix.
Because he would be able to use Tell in the most delicate and difficult of situations again for the next two hundred years.
If Tina died, death would betoo goodfor Leonard.
