Page 72 of A Touch of Treachery (Section 47 #3)
HENRIKA
“S he really did it,” I murmured. “Good for you, Charlotte. Good for you.”
I had no animus toward Desmond, and I hadn’t blamed the son for the many, many sins of his father. But Desmond was one of the few things Jethro truly cared about, which made the cleaner a useful tool in getting my revenge.
However, the son was rapidly turning into just as much of a problem as his father.
I still didn’t understand how Desmond had survived both my original Redburn explosive and my new modified poison.
None of the tests I’d done in my lab had yielded any unusual results, and I was no further along in perfecting my formula than before I’d captured Desmond. Pity.
But for the moment, I was going to bask in my victory, even if it was by proxy.
Jethro Percy had been suspended from Section 47, pending a full investigation.
In all likelihood, the other members of the board of directors, along with the station chiefs, would force him to quietly retire.
It wasn’t the brutal loss he deserved, but it was enough—for now.
Still clutching my mug of cider, I rolled my desk chair to the side and stared out through the window.
Delicate flakes of snow fluttered down from the sky, adding a layer of fresh clean powder to the rugged Colorado landscape.
In the distance, a few guards patrolled back and forth, looking like black ants trudging through the snow, but I wasn’t worried.
Section 47 would never find my mountain safe house, and I’d earned a few much-needed vacation days, which I planned to spend right here in my warm, comfortable library, curled up with a book by the fireplace.
A bit of disappointment flickered through me that Bryce wasn’t here to appreciate the cozy scene.
Bryce Finkley had been an amusing diversion, although I’d known as soon as I hired the former cleaner that he was no match for Desmond Percy.
If Bryce had just followed my orders to leave Desmond behind in the lab instead of trying to kill the other cleaner, Bryce would have still been alive. Ah, well. These things happened.
I lifted my mug again, toasting Bryce this time, then rolled my chair back toward the desk. I took a sip of cider, enjoying the warm apple, cinnamon, and orange notes dancing on my tongue. Then I set the mug aside and grabbed another report to study.
Now that Jethro Percy was no longer an immediate threat, I could turn my attention to my other enemies.
A smile curved my lips. Charlotte had helped me take down one of my greatest rivals in Jethro Percy, and I saw no reason not to rely on her brilliance and tenacity again.
Charlotte Locke was going to help me destroy the Syndicate—whether she liked it or not.
T hank you for reading A Touch of Treachery . Charlotte and Desmond will return in another Section 47 adventure.