Betrayal by Adam Croft & Steven Moore

Author:Adam Croft & Steven Moore [Croft, Adam & Moore, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912599431
Google: 1nx2zQEACAAJ
Amazon: B085S1T7GF
Goodreads: 53543937
Publisher: Circlehouse
Published: 2020-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

22

Sam had only managed a few hours’ sleep after Dee had dropped him off, and although he felt bad about what he’d said, he tried hard to put it out of his mind and focus on the task at hand. He needed to find something that linked Omar Keïta with Professor McTavish, McTavish to EcoHope and the British Government to all of them.

But Sam found it difficult. He already felt like a failure, and his worries about Benji attending the summit and being among the protestors outside made it tough to concentrate.

He brewed a pot of coffee, opened his laptop and got to work. The summit was just a day away, and if he didn’t find something soon his failure might have potentially disastrous consequences. Soon his stress about Benji overwhelmed him, and he called his son.

‘Hi, Dad.’

‘Hello, Benji. Listen, I’ll just come out with it. I don’t want you to go to the summit event. I think it might be dangerous.’

‘Dangerous? How will it be dangerous? It’s going to be a fun celebration, Dad.’

‘You heard what Ian said. He was worried there’d be violence and that some of the protestors might get out of hand.’

‘I heard it, but I don’t agree. I’m not a kid, Dad.’

‘I know you’re not a kid, Benji, but I just think…’ Sam struggled to find the right words. His employers believed there was something more serious imminent than just simple protests, but he obviously couldn’t tell Benji that. His son didn’t know who he worked for and there was no way Sam could ever tell him. That would put him at even more risk. Sam exhaled and fought to compose himself. ‘What if I begged? I just think it’s too risky.’

‘Risky? How? I don’t get it, Dad? What’s wrong with you?’

‘Benji, I’m begging you, please don’t go to the event. Please.’

Benji sensed the emotion in his dad’s voice, something he’d never heard before, and it made him pause. ‘Okay. If you can give me one good reason, one solid reason why I shouldn’t go, I’ll at least consider it.’

‘There’s a very high likelihood of violent protests. You saw the thing in Paris last September. There was fighting on the streets. Cars were burned and police were attacked. It was out of hand, Benji, and I can’t protect you if it’s like that.’

‘Protect me? Is that supposed to be a joke?’

‘Of course I want to protect you. You’re my son.’

‘Dad, I’ve been looking after myself my whole life. I don’t need you.’

The words came at Sam like a sucker punch. And they stung because they were true. Benji knew it.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I know you care. But I’m going to the summit. I promise to be careful, but I’m still going.’

Sam screwed his eyes tight shut. If he could just tell Benji what he did and who he worked for, maybe Benji would change his mind. But he couldn’t do that. Sam knew that if he told him, that would more likely put him in danger than any kind of protest ever could.

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