Solace for the Forgotten: A fast paced crime thriller by J. Warren Weaver

Author:J. Warren Weaver [Weaver, J. Warren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-04-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 40

Erik had the fleeting thought of looking over his shoulder, but the sudden flush of a toilet told him the room wasn’t as empty as he’d believed. He closed the door behind him, locking it against that nagging worry of someone attacking him from behind. He prepped the fork in his pocket and waited.

Erik’s breath caught in his chest, sending oxygen to all of his extremities. He took one more deep breath against the fear climbing up him like a curious kitten.

“I’m here, as requested,” Erik said.

“Finally,” came an all-too-familiar voice.

“Smith?”

As if he’d just been waiting to be announced, Smith threw open the stall door and stepped out, stopping just short of a bow.

“The one and only,” he said with his smug smile.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?”

“Lots of things. Why? What’ve you heard?”

Smith’s wide grin was like a lozenge for Erik’s overworked mind. He couldn’t help the smile he gave the arrogant spy.

“What are you doing here? How’d you find me? Did Kelsey reach you?” Erik had more questions, but something told him to take a breath and calm his racing nerves.

“Kelsey? Yeah. I talked to her. She’s not at all happy with some of your recent decisions. You might have some smoothing over to do there. Sorry,” Smith said, his smile telling Erik that he wasn’t, actually. “But honestly, I was in the area. Just wanted to check in on my newest recruit. A little birdie told me you’re up to no good. Didn’t I tell you to take it easy?”

“I blame you for all this.”

“Moi?” Smith said with faux-hurt.

“Yeah, your friend Simon’s at the center of all of this.”

“My friend. That’s a good one.”

“You put us in contact . . .”

“Sure, but if I remember correctly, I said he might know where you could start with your hunt for dear old Victor’s missing friend. I didn’t say tell him you’re a fucking CIA agent looking for sex traffickers in his jurisdiction. I also don’t remember telling you to work a fucking case on foreign fucking soil. You understand how pissed the station chief in these parts is?”

“I didn’t say or do any of that! That’s what I’m trying to tell you. He figured because you sent me, I had some other angle I was working, so he had me followed. Th—”

“And you couldn’t resist ditching them. I’m aware. Typically, if you don’t want people to think you’re a spook, you don’t do spooky things.”

“I didn’t know what was going on! Plus, turns out the original guy I spotted tailing me was a human trafficker . . . and then he was murdered after they lost sight of me. So . . .”

“So you told them you’re CIA and you’re gonna work a case with ’em.”

“More like they wouldn’t take the truth as an answer and threatened to lock me up on espionage charges if I didn’t help. Then—and yes, it gets better—the gang they want my help to uncover abducted me. They threatened to kill me and my whole family if I don’t help them figure out who killed their friend, and why.

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