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“This is classified information that Clive shouldn’t know about.” I explained. “Even if he had the information, it should have been on printed papersheavilyredacted.”
“Redacted?”
“Um—”
I kept forgetting English wasn’t his first language.
I switched to Thai.
“You know I was a part of the special forces.” I began, opened the book I was reading and turned it to show him the list of places the team had been deployed—while I was with them and after. “The Golden Frogs was my team.”
“Whoa, what?”
I nodded. “This here—coordinates that correspond to places we were deployed. Deployment that if these countries find out—Australia would have some explaining to do.”
Storm read then flipped the page.
“This?” I opened the book I was reading. “All these, dates and other teams—this right here, only three sets of people knew about this. The team, the handler and our commanding officer.”
“Where would Clive get his hands on this?”
I shook my head.
“I don’t know.” I replied. “But it worries me that out of all the information Clive had on at least four different team—The Golden Frogs are the only ones highlighted, the only ones he seemed to have been digging into.”
Flipping to the back of my book, I turned it and handed it over.
“West, Jo. Golden Frog. Thirty-five-year-old female. Call sign Taz—not sure where she got the name. It doesn’t fit.” Storm paused to read. “Speciality, explosions, tactics and hostile entry…why does he have so much information on you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Blood type, O—Taz are you in danger?”
“Again.” I looked down to where Darby was now sitting, bracing backward on his palms. “I don’t know.”
In that moment, I wondered if I could trust Darby. There were notes in that book about me that no one else could know.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there watching Darby before Storm’s large palm landed softly at my lower back.
Without thinking, I turned and leaned my face into his chest.
He caressed my hair down the back of my head until I stood back to stare into his eyes.
“I don’t know if I can trust Darby.” I admitted, knowing that secret would remain with him forever. “Some of the information in that dossier—no one would know if they weren’t in my life, personally.”
“Maybe it was another friend.”
“I know you think the world of me, Storm. But aside from the people you know, I had no other friends.”
Storm sighed. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Hang on.” I told him.
I hurried down to get Beam, ensuring he had the USB drive with him and led him back to the bedroom. After ensuring Darby was still outside, now standing by the back fence picking at a tree, we sat and explained everything to Beam.
“We keep this to ourselves.” I told him.
“What if he asks what’s in the books, P?” Beam asked. “It’s not like we can hide the fact we have them. He saw them when we arrived. Didn’t he?”