Page 37 of Pervade Montego Bay

“That will be too late.”

“For what?”

“To get my report in.” I waved it off. “Rothschild isn’t on record as being here, but of course I know that he is. I respect the fact that puts you under a lot of pressure. You’re under a great deal of stress keeping this covert. Especially from his family, who will no doubt be distraught that he’s MIA. If you ever want to talk with me, I’m up at Milbank.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Who’s representing him?”

“In what regard, sir?”

“His barrister?” Then I realized the truth. “He doesn’t have one?”

The captain looked vexed. “We’ve been advised that no visitors will be allowed.”

“I’ve driven all the way from London,” I said.

“Sorry to hear that.”

“No, that’s quite all right. My concern is that our officer shuts down and those vital secrets become irretrievable. Countless lives could be lost because I didn’t have access. I’ll just put that in my report.” I glanced at his nametag. “National Security can be a prickly business.”

“I’ll have to make a call.”

“I’ll explain your concerns to Field Marshal Pembridge.” I checked my watch. “I’ll just miss the traffic on the A12, so I’ll meet him back in the office to debrief him on how things went with you, Captain.”

And there it was—a look of fear on the man’s face that went bone deep.

We were soon walking across the barracks heading into the prison’s medical facility. Nothing like a threat from the highest-ranking officer in the Army to make another officer compliant.

The hallway was long. Depression drenched the atmosphere. It smelled like hope had abandoned this place. Guilt hit me like a punch to the chest that I’d let Xavier slip through my fingers back on the sub. I’d promised him safe passage to the U.K. The delivery into the hands of a military barrister hadn’t happened. Which meant they were keeping him from talking. The question was, why?

“He’s in here.” Edward finally stopped in front of a steel door.

“I’ll take it from here,” I reassured him.

The clank of keys he used to unlock the door echoed back the isolation.

I stepped inside…

JesusChrist.

What the hell had they done to him? There was nothing humane about what I was looking at. Xavier lay on his side on a stained mattress—the only furniture in this dank cell was that excuse for a bed. A lavatory took up one corner. The wall tiles were cracked and the ceiling paint was peeling.

My blood boiled when I saw that his face was bruised and swollen. They’d interrogated him…using any force necessary, apparently.

I snapped my gaze to Edward. “Who did this?”

“He arrived in this state, sir.”

“Leave us.” I slammed the door in his face.

A few short strides brought me over to Xavier. I knelt beside his bunk and whispered, “Hey.”

Xavier pried one eye open and flinched.

I raised my hand to reassure him. “I’m here to help.”

He winced as he tried and failed to push himself up. “You’re the last person I expected to see.” His frown deepened when he noticed my uniform.