Stalking away from him, I went into the kitchen to pull out a strongbox I’d concealed behind a panel in one of the cupboards. Inside, I found spare magazines of 9 mm ammunition—also a Ka-bar knife. Out of necessity I didn’t want to have to replace my weapons every time I jumped on an airplane, so I had fake documents that showed I was licensed to carry concealed weapons. My docs would pass the scrutiny of Homeland Security if it ever came to that. There was a wad of cash and a number of credit cards. Killing men is cheap, but never an inexpensive vocation.

Secreting my kit around my body I went back into the living room and found Bryce leaning against a wall cradling his head between his hands.

“I never believed you were responsible, Hunter. I was worried about contacting you for another reason; I was afraid that I’d lead the bastards to you, but it looks like you were already under surveillance.”

“Looks that way, doesn’t it?” The man on the phone had already implied as much. He’d found Imogen so he could use her as leverage against me. But someone must have pointed him my way first.

Since leaving the Special Forces I’ve been working under the radar. Only select people—namely my close circle of friends—know where to find me: Rink, Harvey Lucas, Imogen Ballard and Walter Hayes Conrad.

That took me to only one person. Rink and Harvey would die before they gave me up; Imogen was out of the equation. So that left Walter.

Walter and Bryce had connections too.

When I was with the unit, I worked under a team of commanders based at Arrowsake in the UK, but I had a specific handler in each respective country. My stateside handler was Walter Hayes Conrad IV. Walter was also Bryce Lang’s CIA boss. Ultimately, it was Walter who’d organized the hit on Abadia.

“Walter gave you the tip-off,” I said.

Bryce nodded.

Walter was first and foremost a CIA Sub-Division Controller, a director of black ops, but he was also my friend and mentor. Why the hell hadn’t he warned me?

I took out my phone again.

“You’re wasting your time,” Bryce said. “I’ve been unable to contact him.”

And he was right. I couldn’t raise Walter by any of the normal routes.