Rival's Break by Carla Neggers

Author:Carla Neggers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA Books
Published: 2019-06-07T12:53:33+00:00

* * *

Colin entered a small waiting room on Jeremy’s floor. A handful of chairs were lined up against the wall, but Henrietta stood at the windows, looking out at the same view her MI5 superior had of the hospital’s main entrance. She’d wanted to talk to Colin alone.

He eased next to her. “Just be sure whatever you tell me is the truth, Henrietta. No bullshit. No lies.”

“Of course. I doubt I know anything you don’t know or can’t surmise. We’re on your patch. Chances are you know more than I do, but I thought we should talk. Jeremy followed Georgina to Boston as William Hornsby and got himself invited on the cruise. She doesn’t know his real identity, or mine. She met Oliver as himself.” The faintest of smiles. “Although sometimes I wonder if anyone knows Oliver’s real identity. He says I’m the only one who’d have him. The reverse is no doubt true, too.”

Colin had worked under his share of false identities. “Does Robin Masterson know Jeremy’s with UK intelligence?”

“Yes. William Hornsby is a cover story for public consumption.”

“How long have they known each other?”

“I don’t have specific dates. As an expert in neurotoxins, Robin helped in the dismantling of the Soviet Union’s chemical weapon stockpiles starting in the nineties. I believe he and Jeremy met then, but I’m not positive. Before my time.” Henrietta glanced sideways at Colin. “I don’t know if Robin asked Jeremy to deliver the Aoife O’Byrne painting to Georgina, or if he took it upon himself to do so.”

“Does he suspect someone deliberately fed Robin the poisonous mushrooms?” Colin asked.

“You mean tried to kill him, and likely will succeed in doing so? Everything points to suicide, but I don’t know what Jeremy suspects.” A hint of irritation in her voice. “I doubt at this point he has a clear grasp on what’s going on, either—if anything is going on that concerns us in our official capacities. Poisonous mushrooms, a missing painting, a wealthy couple with God knows who for friends—not to mention church rummage sales and you lot.”

“Don’t forget bean-hole suppers.”

There was a spark of humor in her eyes. “How could I ever?” She sighed. “Jeremy went his own way here, Colin. Your instincts are on target about that. Oliver and I are doing what we can to find out what he’s up to, but we can only go so far.”

“So Jeremy’s AWOL,” Colin said.

“I wouldn’t go that far. All I know is I went to Dublin and when I returned, Robin Masterson was deathly ill. Next thing, Jeremy’s here in Maine, vomiting off a yacht deck.”

“Not quite so dramatic as that. He puked on his cabin floor.”

“Well, then.”

Colin expected there were multiple steps between “I went to Dublin” and “next thing,” but he wanted to let Henrietta talk.

“I only got involved when I tried to reach Oliver on Saturday. I got that feeling one gets when I know Jeremy’s asked him to do something. I called Jeremy, but he blew me off.” Henrietta shrugged.

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