Page 32 of Pervade Montego Bay

I felt his stare on me until I was out the door.

The old-boys club had closed ranks and I hated the way they’d disregarded a man’s career in the process. A man’s life, even. Xavier deserved better.

Ibloody well deserved better.

Pausing before his secretary’s desk, I gave Katherine Adair a nod of respect. This time next year she’d be promoted to field work. As a civil servant who worked under Farmer’s purview, she’d be fast-tracked into more interesting pursuits for Queen and Country.

It was also a hard fact these operatives were getting younger, and my bruised ribs and aching body reminded me why.

Adair rose out of her chair to acknowledge my rank. “It’s good to see you, sir.”

“James.” I gestured for her to sit. “Please.”

“I’m glad you’re back, James.” She sounded sincere.

I gave her a brilliant smile. “The old man appears extra grumpy.”

“Can’t imagine why.”

Her Nepalese heritage gave her the versatility she would need as an agent. Though in my book she was too pretty for field work. She was damn well safer behind a desk.

Christ.I could be a chauvinist at times.

She smirked. “The boss has been in a bad mood for a while.”

“Hope you’re not blaming me.” I arched a devious brow. “Sure it’s not his gout?”

She narrowed her eyes in playful chastisement.

“Where did they take him?” I asked.

“Who?”

“You know who.”

Seriously, Xavier would have had all the ovaries exploding in this place.

I studied her reaction. “He was here for a while. Then moved to GCHQ?”

“For his tech skills,” she agreed. “Do you remember him from here?”

“Before my time.”

She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I have a friend at GCHQ who saw Xavier’s personal records. She told me his IQ was unrecordable.”

It amused me that she’d dug into his background. “He failed to sit still for the test?”

“He was amazing with languages. I mean, I know you’re a linguist, James, but he could speak at least ten. And he had this whole Alan Turing thing going on. He could hack into any computer.”

“Did he hack into any of the ones here?”

She looked aghast. “He wouldn’t do it here.”

“Right.” I feigned agreement.

Xavier had told me otherwise.

Katherine smiled. “His memory was impressive.”