Chapter twenty one

The Death of Sam Grant

Herrison James was worried.

He paced in front of his desk, very aware that he was giving the man sitting on a chair in the corner great satisfaction. But he couldn't help it. He was scared. Scared because his superiors had found out how he had misinterpreted their orders and they were not pleased.

Keeves, the man on the chair, with the dull brown hair and moustache and wearing a smart black suit, was not his superior, at least not directly. But he'd been the bearer of bad news and was sticking around for the show.

"Are you done pacing James?" he sneered.

Herrison stopped at once and wheeled to face him. "Why the hell do you look so pleased? It's not like I'm going to get fired and you'll get my position. I haven't endangered the mission in any way."

"You decided to take a trip..."

"My presence there was of least importance," Herrison said hotly. "And I did follow orders. I didn't tell them who the agent was, and I told that William was Katherine Dickens' brother. That should've messed Kyle up enough for your liking."

"Come now, James, you know how important it is for these kids to learn how to work under... stressful conditions."

"Stressful conditions? Isn't Snitch Gravel enough stress? Being kept in the dark."

"And trust me," Keeves continued as if Herrison had said nothing. "I know you won't get fired. Your sanction is much more... stimulating." And with a smug grin, he stood. "Follow me."

Herrison followed the man out of his office, and they both headed towards the interrogation rooms. Keeves stopped in front of one of them, and as Herrison looked through the one-way glass into the room, the blood froze in his veins.

"What's the meaning of this?"

Keeves only grinned like the sick bastard he was. "Yes, James, it's your son. Surprised to see him here? Did you already forget that he's been recruited?"

"We made a deal!" Herrison yelled, looking at his son desperately.

Harry paced like a lion in a cage, throwing murderous looks towards them even if he couldn't see them.

"Yes, we did. But our superiors considered that after what happened, you need to be reminded what's at stake. It's either Snitch Gravel's head, or your son's."

All the blood seemed to have seeped from Herrison's body, leaving him empty and cold. "I know that, and Sam is going to..." Herrison started.

"Sam is an eighteen-year-old kid who couldn't bring Snitch Gravel down if the latter was sleeping." Keeves raised his voice to cover Herrison's, and then immediately calmed down. "I'm afraid you might just lose this deal."

"You're forgetting that Sam and his group managed to get their hands on that ruby. Which none of our other more competent agents could," Herrison spat out disgusted. You included.

"Don't get overly attached, It might cost you your head," Keeves said in mock pity. "You're starting to look a bit rebellious. Don't forget what happens to people who turn their back on the agency."

"How about Snitch Gravel? He's still alive," Herrison said blankly.

"Snitch Gravel?" Keeves said rubbing his hands satisfied. "He's our greatest creation; the perfect training method. Because of him, we're going to create six agents better than him."

"What if he kills them? He has enough reasons to do it," Herrison pointed out.

"If he kills them, they were too weak, and we'll bring the next batch in. Which includes your son."

Herrison winced. "What if they rebel like Snitch Gravel and you lose them, too?"

"You must be joking!" Keeves waved him away with annoying superiority. "They hate Snitch Gravel too much to join him. That's what makes Snitch Gravel even more useful. They would rather die than turn out like him."

Herrison looked at Keeves angrily. He knew he was helping him and he didn't like it, but there was nothing he could do, because he had to protect Harry.

And only now did he realize in how much danger he had put his own son by going out to meet Sam and his brothers. He shouldn't have gone! He felt like punching himself, but as Keeves was there, he settled for punching the wall. Why did he have to choose between his son and his son's best friend, who was also his best friend's son?

Because if he didn't look after Sam, he was going to die and then Harry would have to take over. But if he did help Sam...the agency wasn't pleased.

He wished there was something he could do, someone he could let in on the plan, but there was no one who could make a difference. Except for Freider. He could tell Freider what Keeves was planning. But would that help? Would Freider even listen?

The only hope was for Sam to figure it out. But how could he when he had no clue? When he didn't know why he was in the agency in the first place. That he was there only because someone in the family's past had screwed up.

Just like William had and they'd gotten Kay. Just like he had and they'd gone for Harry.

He prayed that Sam would never die.

☠️

Ron stopped outside Christine's house twirling the tape recorder between his fingers. He'd snatched Snitch Gravel's file on the girls and taken the address from there. It was a bit scary how much information Snitch Gravel had. He was doing this revenge thing properly.

And, in his stupidity, Ron had helped. Because of him, when the guys made it home, they'd be received by furious girlfriends, convinced that they'd been out cheating. And he was the only one who could fix it.

But as he stared at the dark wooden door, he wondered how. He couldn't just walk over there, ring the doorbell and introduce himself as Sam's long lost uncle who had something for her. Had Snitch Gravel even used the material?

A black car pulled in front of the house. Ron frowned as he watched a man with brown hair and moustache, wearing a suit, climb down from it. According to Snitch Gravel's file, this man was too young to be her father.

Ron stepped out from behind the tree which had been keeping him shelter, and scurried to the corner of the house just as Christine opened the door. His mouth fell open. That was Christine? She fitted the description in Snitch Gravel's file, but he would've never imagined she was that beautiful. Though she missed Angie's spark.

"I'm unfortunately here to give you some bad news," the man was saying.

"Oh, no, you don't! I know Sam's not on a mission. I've called him. So don't try covering up for him!" Christine snapped, venom in his voice.

Damn. So Snitch Gravel had already done his damage. The man gawked at her in shock. Then, he seemed to pull himself together and... surprisingly roll with it.

"It took us a while to get hold of him, but we found him and sent him on the mission," the scumbag said.

Ron clenched his fists. Who the hell was that guy and why was he indirectly helping Snitch Gravel out? Mission... was he from the agency? But then why would he lie?

"So there actually was a mission?" Christine said reluctantly, and Ron was pleased to see she now looked worried.

"Yes. Unfortunately, it didn't go well," the man said gravely, clasping his hands in front of him. "We've recently received intelligence that Snitch Gravel has managed to kill the group."

Ron's brain jammed. How? How could they be dead? He'd left them hours ago. Facing each other. But he'd left the labs in chaos. And he couldn't imagine Snitch Gravel just taking his gun out and shooting them. He wouldn't do something like that. Would he?

"No," Christine said, stupefied. "They can't be dead."

"I'm afraid they are. Which brings me to my next point. We need you girls to take over this mission and finish..."

Ron had heard enough. He charged from around the house and punched the asshole in the face before he could make a move. Christine yelped and jumped back inside the house. Ron kicked the guy in the face, leaving him sprawled on the welcome mat.

"Don't believe this asshole," he said to Christine, but the girl had darted inside the house and locked the door behind her. "Damn it, Christine, come out of there!" he called, hitting his fist against the door. She didn't open. "Oh, I have no time for this."

He shoved the sound recorder in his pocket and kicking the door until it broke open. He rushed in and scanned the hall, then darted up the stairs. He was too worried about his nephews to do this right. He only had to play the tape for her, then he'd to fly back to the labs and see what had happened for himself.

He opened every door on the landing and stopped in the threshold of a pink and purple room. It was empty, the window open, and the dresser half empty. Christine had moved like lightening.

"Damn it!" He couldn't do this now, chase her, find her, force her to listen. He had other things to do.

So he turned on his heels and ran back down the stairs and out of the house, unaware of the teenage girl who had crawled out from under the bed, holding a half-packed rucksack with shaky hands.

☠️

Herrison knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help but take savage joy in Keeve's swollen face.

"He was one of Snitch Gravel's men," Keeves was saying viciously. "And I wish you would give out the orders for his capture instead of gloating like an idiot."

"I'm not gloating," Herrison said offended, though he was doing just that. "I just find it strange that he overpowered you so easily."

"The coward attacked me from behind," Keeves yelled. "Anyway, I've searched the house after I came around and the girl is gone. There are also two broken doors, which means she didn't elope with him..."

"Wait, where were you when this happened?" Herrison asked.

"Christine Palmer's house. I think that scumbag kidnapped her. For what purpose, I'm not sure."

"Snitch Gravel's man kidnapping Christine..." Herrison said thoughtfully. "This must mean Sam is still alive and Snitch Gravel is pretty desperate."

"As far as I know, Snitch Gravel has left the valley a couple of hours ago. And I'm not sure he left anything still breathing behind," Keeves said superiorly,

Herrison gawked. "How can you possibly know that?"

"I have my own informants in the area. We don't trust you anymore, James, you're too emotionally attached to your team. That is of least importance however..."

"Of least importance? Those were our finest agents and you consider their death to be of least importance?" Herrison couldn't control himself anymore. This couldn't be happening. They couldn't send Harry away. Sam couldn't be dead.

"It is as long as we still have your son to send out there," Keeves gloated.

"You're not sending him anywhere, not until we're sure what really happened. Let's concentrate on finding Christine."

"Sure. I've already given the description to our man. That guy is dead when we find him." Keeves said rubbing his hands satisfied.

Herrison ignored him and turned away. Whatever followed wouldn't be good. If Sam was dead, which he didn't really buy, it was an obvious tragedy. But if he wasn't and came back to find Christine missing... Herrison felt it was his duty to protect her while Sam was away and he'd messed up. It seemed to be all he'd been doing lately.

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Got you with the title, huh?

Well, things are escalating at home. Snitch Gravel did his damage, Ron didn't fix it and Herrison... He's in a tight spot, isn't he?

Thanks for reading and don't forget to vote and comment.

I think there are about three or four chapters left and it's all over.