Page 130 of Enemy of My Enemy

“But what if something else is going on?” Irwin sat on the edge of the coffee table. “We don’t really know where Mrs. Spiers has been for all these years. We have no way to corroborate her story. No way to figure out if what she’s saying is true. But the president insists that he wants her close to him—”

Irwin seemed to ignore Ethan’s clenched fists, his trembling arms.

“—and we’re looking down the barrel of a massive security risk. We’re doing what we can, but it’s still a waking nightmare. And he can’t see it, not right now.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Ethan shook his head, still staring at the carpet.

“Because I know you pretty well, Ethan. We’ve worked closely together now for months, and before that, we were both in the White House for years, even before Jack was president. I’ve seen you in action. I know how you think, how you operate. And I believe I can help you right now.”

The only thing that would help him was Jack. Jack, asking him to come home. Jack, kissing him again. Jack, telling him he was sorry, that it was him, he chose him—

Ethan shook his head again. “How?”

“We need to get someone on the ground and retrace Mrs. Spiers’s steps. Confirm her story. Dig into Madigan and his operation and see if she really was held captive, or if something else is going on.”

“Something else? You think she chose to stay with Madigan?”

“I think she’s one of several ghosts we’ve discovered around Madigan. These ghosts have been operational, smuggling people and weapons into Russia. We think they, specifically Noah Williams, smuggled the terrorists responsible for setting off bombs in Russia. For shooting up the basketball game. Those terrorists came from the prison breaks Madigan engineered. Does any of that sound like the behavior of a hostage to you?”

“What about since she’s been back? In the White House? I assume you have eyes on?”

“Hidden cameras were installed before they set up her med suite. And there are agents posted at her door around the clock. She spends her days in silence until the president arrives. She doesn’t seem to be trying to do anything. Her blood work is clear, aside from the sedative we found in her system in Sochi. Physically, she’s been neglected, recently beaten, and there’s some evidence of torture.” Irwin shrugged. “Right now, she sleeps a lot.”

“Maybe she is just recovering.” Ethan sighed. “Maybe she’s different from the others. Maybe she really did fight back, and she really is a hero.” He leaned back, throwing himself against the cushions. “She’s Jack’s wife. She’s got to be a good person. He doesn’t… put up with bad people.”

“Maybe. And I do hope that’s the case. I really do. But we’ve been wrong before. Gottschalk blindsided all of us.”

Ethan looked away.

“I don’t like constantly planning for worst-case scenarios, but I do it because we always have to be prepared. We have to be sure. We have to be totally certain. Jack’s life may depend on it.”

“What are you asking me to do?”

“We’re already investigating Madigan. Already chasing him. But he shook us off after Fitz’s murder, and now this? And Russia? We’ve got to pick up the pieces on the search. Get going again. The world is focused on Russia and how they’re tearing themselves apart. Madigan’s in there right now, but he’s left a trail somewhere, too. If Mrs. Spiers was held captive, there’s got to be a holding facility somewhere. A base. A bunker. Maybe something mobile. Somewhere where she was held. We have to find that. Find his base.”

“Cooper’s team flushed Somalia. Madigan burned his way to the sea. And he was only there for a few months—” His voice choked off. “The tanker.”

Irwin nodded. “A mobile base. Completely off the grid. Before that, maybe it was something else.” His gaze pierced Ethan. “Wehaveto find that tanker.”

“Any luck on your end?” Irwin’s end was the complicated series of intel agencies, satellites, and sources he had access to.

Irwin shook his head. “Everything’s going toward Russia right now. We’re on the brink with air strikes against the military facilities we can reach, and the Russians are looking like they’re getting ready to strike back. Everyone is holding their breath.”

Ethan frowned. “And you think now is the time to go figuring out if her story is legit?”

“We track down her story, we track down Madigan’s trail. We get his trail, we might find intel on what’s coming next. What his plans are. And.” Irwin tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You need something to do. Something that will give you meaning. What has ever been more meaningful to you than making sure Jack is one hundred percent safe?”

Fuck. Ethan glared at Irwin. Even if it wasn’t him at Jack’s side, Goddamn it, he did have to make sure Jack was all right. The need burned through him, singeing his heart. Why hadn’t he thought of this before? If Jack wasn’t safe, he had to do something. It was a primal need, something built into his soul. Protect the ones he loved.

Even if they didn’t love him back.

“I guess you do know me pretty fucking well.”

“Here.” Irwin pulled out a manila envelope from his suit jacket and passed it to Ethan.

Ethan unrolled it; a US passport, with Ethan’s picture and a fake name, a thick stack of hundred dollar bills, and a sat phone fell into his palm.

“Burner passport to get you out of the country, disposable phone, and cash to get you going. I’ve also got a jet fueled up at Andrews. Ready to take you wherever.”