Bait and Switch Read online

  Jack would have liked to find out more, but he knew pushing Sean was a waste of time and would only piss his handler off. Still, it wasn’t every day Sean chose to reveal such useful information. Jack hoped it signaled a new phase in his life at the Center.

  Chapter Seven

  THOUGH JACK found it hard to endure the delay, he knew he wasn’t going anywhere until Sean was satisfied he’d learned everything he needed to know. Evan wouldn’t excuse him from his training sessions, and Sean insisted he couldn’t skip meals, but aside from that, Jack dedicated every waking moment of the next two days to the assignment.

  At the end of a long day of prep and instruction, he was going back through all the notes Instructor Colson had given him when he heard a soft knock at the bedroom door. A moment later Evan pushed the door open.

  “Jack, you know it’s two o’clock in the morning,” he chided. “You need to get some sleep.”

  Jack shook his head. “Sean’s going to test me on this tomorrow. I can’t screw it up.”

  Evan walked over to the desk and closed the cover on Jack’s tablet. “You aren’t doing yourself any favors by staying up half the night. Sleep!” he said firmly. “Do I have to make it an order?”

  “No, sir,” Jack said grudgingly.

  Evan arched an eyebrow. “That’s a slipup we can’t afford, Jack.”

  Jack frowned briefly and then cursed silently as understanding dawned. “I’m sorry, Evan.”

  “I’m sure you’ll do fine tomorrow. Sean just needs to know you’ve absorbed the basics of your new identity. We won’t be able to formulate a real plan until we deploy and figure out the lay of the land.”

  “You think they’re okay?” Jack asked. He hadn’t heard anything from Leo or Martin in the past couple of days, and it was making him tense. He’d asked permission to contact Leo, but Sean had refused, claiming it was too much of a risk, even though Jack knew the Center had plenty of ways to enforce security. Jack suspected the real reason Sean had refused was to keep Jack sharp and focused.

  “They’re just fine,” Evan said emphatically. “We’d have heard if anything more had developed. Now, do what your big brother tells you and hit the sack. I expect you in the gym at six.”

  Jack groaned out loud, but he nodded his assent, and Evan said good night before leaving the room and closing the door quietly behind him. Jack changed and washed up and then slid between the sheets. His mind was still racing over all the details of the upcoming assignment. He felt confident he knew his backstory thoroughly and that he was as ready as he could be for whatever lay ahead.

  Although sleep had seemed impossible, Jack woke the next morning feeling unexpectedly rested. He glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table and almost freaked. According to the clock, it was already nine thirty, which meant he’d missed his training session and breakfast and was over an hour late for his prep meet.

  He leapt out of bed and pulled open his bedroom door, stopping dead in his tracks when he found Evan and Sean sitting at the breakfast bar together. They both turned their heads as he stumbled forward.

  “I’m sorry,” Jack stammered. “I must have overslept.”

  Sean waved a dismissive hand. “You needed the rest. Evan says you’ve been burning the candle at both ends.”

  “I want to be ready for this assignment—”

  “You’re more than ready,” Sean interrupted.

  Jack sagged in relief. The last thing he wanted was to jeopardize the assignment with poor choices. “When can I deploy?” he asked.

  “I’m not discussing that until you finish breakfast.”

  “But I don’t need—”

  “Sit!”

  Jack walked across the room reluctantly, took a seat at the breakfast bar, and loaded his plate with food. He hadn’t thought he was hungry, but when he shoveled the first forkful of eggs into his mouth, he realized he was actually starving.

  “You have another two training sessions. You’ll be deploying this afternoon.”

  Jack stopped, his fork suspended halfway to his mouth. “Is Leo still okay?”

  “Leo is perfectly safe,” Sean replied, and Jack’s heart, which had suddenly started thumping against his rib cage, slowed to a normal rate as relief flooded him.

  “Evan has all the details, and your apartment is being set up now. Everything should be ready later today.”

  “Do I start school tomorrow?”

  “If Martin and Leo think it’s the right move,” Sean said. “Contact them when you arrive. See what’s developed in the past few days.” He nodded toward Jack’s plate. “Finish your breakfast and meet me in room 47 in thirty. Your things will be packed this morning. If everything pans out, you’ll be on the road by lunchtime.”

  Jack nodded and turned back to his breakfast as Sean stood and walked out.

  “Do you have any questions?” Evan asked.

  “None you’d answer.”

  “Try me.”

  Jack didn’t think he had much to lose, so he gave it a shot. “Martin said he was picking up Dominic Moore to send him to the facility in Vermont. What facility?”

  Evan shook his head. “Above your clearance level.”

  Jack tried again. “What happens to the people the Center picks up?”

  Evan raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t answer.

  “Do they ever see their families again?” Jack asked.

  “I guess you were right,” Evan said dryly. “I can’t answer any of your questions.” He jerked his chin. “Eat up. Sean expects you downstairs.”

  Jack sighed, but it wasn’t much of a surprise. He half expected Evan to tell him he’d get more information when he turned eighteen—it was the same thing he’d heard ever since he’d started asking questions his handlers didn’t want to answer—but Evan didn’t even bother with that.

  Instructor Colson was already seated in room 47 when Jack walked in, followed a minute later by Sean.

  “Take a seat, gentlemen,” she said.

  Jack sat down and looked at her expectantly.

  “I’m sure you’ve learned all the details of your backstory,” she continued. “And I’m not worried about your relationship with Evan.”

  “But you are worried about something?” Jack said, detecting a note of hesitation in her voice.

  Sean shifted on his chair, but he didn’t say anything.

  “You’ve shown you can adapt to situations quickly. That’s going to be a very necessary skill in this assignment. But we’re flying blind here. We have no idea why Leo is being followed or who is behind it. We can’t assess the level of danger to the team—”

  “You can’t go off script on this assignment,” Sean cut in, impatience clear in his tone. “We have enough variables without adding your unpredictability to the list.”

  Jack sucked in a sharp breath, stung by the harsh criticism.

  Instructor Colson’s eyes flashed in annoyance. “What Sean is trying to say is that we’re dealing with a complex situation—”

  “What I’m trying to say is that I want you to do exactly what you’re told this time. There’s no room for pursuing your own agenda.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Jack demanded, turning his head to stare at Sean.

  “It means you’re being deployed to work the assignment, not to chase down personal information. I’m sure you’ve figured out that your illicit research on external computers was being tracked. That won’t fly on this case.”

  “I wouldn’t have to sneak around looking for information if you hadn’t kept so much from me,” Jack snapped.

  Sean’s face flushed. “You are skirting dangerously close to insubordination.”

  “What’s insubordinate about asking for information I have the right to know?”

  “You have no rights unless I say so—”

  “Gentlemen!”

  Instructor Colson’s voice rose sharply, cutting off further argument. She gave them both a withering look, and Jack dropped his gaze, wo
ndering if Sean felt as much like a naughty schoolboy as he did.

  “This is not useful,” Instructor Colson said impatiently. “Jack!”

  “Yes, ma’am?” Jack mumbled, glancing up and wincing at her disapproving look.

  “Sean is right. You need to stay absolutely focused on the assignment and its outcome. Leo’s safety depends on it. You understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Jack repeated.

  “Good. Now pay attention. I’m going to recap the mission’s protocols.”

  Jack tried to give her his whole attention, knowing she was conveying important information. But it was hard to focus when Sean stood up suddenly and crossed the room, turning his back as he gazed out of the window, seemingly engrossed by the view.

  It was easy to create a mental picture of what Sean was seeing. This room faced the eastern edge of the compound, looking out over the tall fence that circled the area toward the heavily wooded border of the property. It was the same view Jack would have had from his suite—if there had been any windows in his quarters. It was hard to believe the view had captured Sean’s attention so fully, and Jack found himself shooting glances at his handler as he tried to figure out what was going through his mind.

  But Sean gave nothing away, and it was only when silence fell that Jack realized Instructor Colson had finished her lecture—and that he’d missed most of what she’d said.

  “Do you understand all that?” she said, eyeing him closely.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Jack said quickly, praying she wouldn’t test him.

  She looked dubious, but she didn’t press the matter. Instead she stood up, and Jack rose respectfully as she gathered her papers.

  “I’ll see you at sign-off,” she said. “Let me know then if you have any questions.”

  Jack nodded, watching as she walked out of the door and closed it behind her. Sean hadn’t moved, and Jack wasn’t quite sure what to do next, so he resumed his seat and waited silently.

  The stillness in the room was unnerving and stretched on so long that Jack jumped when Sean eventually spoke.

  “Do you know why we limit the flow of information?”

  Jack shrugged. “So none of your operatives can betray the Center.”

  “You really believe that’s the only reason?” Sean turned and looked at him, though he made no move to leave his place by the window.

  Jack sighed and shook his head. “Because you want to test us in the field first. You don’t want to share too much information until you’re sure your operatives will work out.”

  “Or that they want to stay with us when they reach their majority,” Sean added. “There’s no point revealing our secrets to somebody who’s going to walk away.”

  “I understand that,” Jack said. “But what was kept from me wasn’t Center information. It was personal. Do you really believe I don’t have a right to know who I am?”

  Sean folded his arms. “The thing about what we do is that there is always somebody higher in the food chain. Somebody whose orders have to be followed. What I believe isn’t relevant.”

  “It’s relevant to me,” Jack said softly.

  Sean’s gaze flickered briefly to the camera on the wall before landing back on Jack’s face. “What I want is what’s best for you. And that isn’t necessarily what you think you need.”

  “But you assume you know what I need?”

  Sean crossed the room and stood over Jack, forcing him to lean back in order to maintain eye contact. “I know what will keep you safe, what will prepare you for life outside these walls. Right now, that’s my only concern. So you’re going to follow my instructions and learn what you need to know, and you’re going to put everything else on the back burner. Because if you let anything interfere with this assignment, anything at all, I’ll pull you out of the field. You’re no use to Leo or yourself if you’re distracted. Do you understand?”

  Jack’s whole body had slowly tensed as Sean spoke. He tried to hide his disappointment when he replied, “Yes, sir. You’ve made your position perfectly clear.”

  “Good,” Sean said. “Your guardian needs to sign off on the assignment. Let’s go.”

  Jack rose and silently followed Sean out of the room. He knew he shouldn’t be surprised; Sean was first and foremost a Center operative whose loyalties had never been in question. He didn’t think much of it when Sean led him to the service stairwell instead of the main staircase, and he almost barreled into the back of his handler when Sean stopped suddenly and turned.

  “I’m here for you, Jack. I want you to remember that.”

  “Yes, sir,” Jack mumbled diffidently.

  Sean inclined his head. “Whether the Center approves or not,” he added quietly.

  Jack’s head jerked up, and his eyes locked with Sean’s. It suddenly occurred to him that Sean had chosen this route because there were no cameras here and he could say what he really wanted, not what the Center expected to hear.

  “So you won’t stand in my way when I try to find out about my parents?” Jack asked.

  “I won’t let you do anything dangerous or stupid,” Sean said firmly. He paused for a moment, and Jack held his breath. “But I’ll support you if that’s what you need.” Jack was about to offer his thanks when Sean threw up a hand. “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” he cautioned. “You need to focus. I’ll do what I can after the assignment is over, but you have to promise me you won’t compromise your safety or the integrity of the mission by getting distracted. Everything else can wait. Backing up Leo can’t.”

  “I’d never do anything to hurt Leo,” Jack said fervently.

  Sean reached out and patted his shoulder. “Then everything will be fine. Let’s get through the assignment, and then we can concentrate on finding out what you want to know.”

  Jack nodded.

  “Okay. Let’s not keep your guardian waiting.”

  He turned and hurried up the steps, Jack trailing close behind. Warm relief flooded Jack’s system. There was something deeply gratifying in knowing Sean was on his side, that the bond between them was strong and resilient—even in the face of the Center’s screwed-up agenda and his guardian’s implacable disapproval. For the first time in his life, Jack felt a sharp sense of belonging. Now there were two people he trusted with his future, two people he knew he could depend on.

  It barely even hurt that his only known relative was not one of them.

  Chapter Eight

  “JACK HAS made an extraordinary effort. He helped me put together his cover story very quickly. He’s operation ready, and I’m prepared to sign off.”

  Jack hoped Instructor Colson could read his gratitude. She had pushed him relentlessly over the past few days, but her work had paid off, and together they had created a convincing backstory. They kept things simple, hammering away until Jack felt confident they had constructed a credible scenario for every aspect of Jack Corrigan’s life.

  “Sean?”

  Jack’s guardian turned his head as he solicited Sean’s opinion.

  “He’s ready,” Sean said simply.

  “Evan, do you feel Jack has done sufficient work to succeed on this assignment?”

  “Affirmative,” Evan said. “We ran through the story last night. He’s ready.”

  Jack was thankful Evan left out all the times he had stumbled over the more obscure details. When Evan had wavered, his frown telling Jack how close he was to requesting a longer prep period, Jack practically begged him to reconsider.

  “I’ll do extra work in the car on the way. And I’ll have at least another night to prepare before I start school. Please, Evan? Leo needs backup.”

  Evan’s expression had darkened for a moment, and then he shrugged. “Okay. It’s against my better judgment, but I’ll sign off. You’d better promise to put in the additional work before you assume your new identity. It only takes a single misstep to compromise an assignment.”

  “I swear,” Jack had said solemnly.

  Jack ventured a glance a
t Evan’s face as he gave the go-ahead. Like everybody at the Center, he had been trained in a dozen techniques for hiding his thoughts, and Jack didn’t see anything in his open expression to show he had any doubts.

  When he returned his gaze to his guardian, Jack was not surprised to find an intense look on the man’s face. He sat perfectly still, trying not to show any emotion, but he couldn’t deny his relief when his guardian nodded curtly.

  “It’s a go, then. Martin is calling the shots on this mission, so you’ll do whatever he needs. You’ll report in to Sean every night unless Evan excuses you. Are we clear?”

  “Yes, sir,” Jack said.

  “You are to obey all of Evan’s orders. No exceptions. That includes all directives regarding Leo McCormack.”

  “Sir,” Jack murmured. He wasn’t sure what that entailed, but since he was being sent in to back up Leo, he didn’t think it would be anything too drastic. His guardian’s next words were more disconcerting.

  “Unless there are any further questions, I’d like a few minutes with Jack before he deploys.”

  Evan stood up. “I’ll be in the garage when you’re ready, Jack.”

  Jack nodded, too nervous to speak. He started to rise when Instructor Colson stood, but she waved him back down into his seat.

  “Good luck with the assignment,” she said.

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Jack said, finding his voice.

  She followed Evan out, leaving the door open as she left. Jack glanced at Sean, unsure whether he too would leave and feeling his heart sink when Sean also stood.

  “I’ll wait for you outside, Jack.” He crossed the room and walked out, then closed the door behind him.

  Jack forced himself to meet his guardian’s gaze.

  “I’d advise you not to disclose what you know about your personal history to anybody at this time.”

  Jack straightened in his seat. “Why is that, sir?”

  He had never questioned his guardian before; obedience had always been immediate and unconditional. He had to consciously stop himself flinching when the stern gaze turned even colder.