Page 7 of Blake

Jack chuckled but there was no humour in it, just a hint of exhaustion. “We have a mission coming up. It’s dangerous and there are a lot of moving parts that could go wrong. It’s one I need to handle personally but I need someone here to have Alex’s back while I’m gone,” Jack said thoughtfully.

“Why me?”

“Because you’re the only one I trust right now that can do the job apart from Alex.”

Shit Blake knew it was bad, but he didn’t think it was this bad. “What is going on, Jack?” Blake was annoyed with everyone giving him partial answers today—first Pax and now Jack.

“We have reason to believe there’s a traitor inside Eidolon.”

“Bullshit. Not one of these guys would sell out.” Blake stood, angry now and moved around the room needing to pace.

“I thought that too, but there have been a number of mission failures and leaks that can only have come from inside. I’ve narrowed it down, but I don’t want to say anything until I know for sure who it is and their reason for betraying us.”

“Fuck. This is shitty fucking bollocks.” Blake felt the ache in his knee from pushing himself too hard this morning as he paced.

“Yes, it is, but I need you to keep a lid on it. We can’t have the men distrusting each other and pulling this team into the grave. It’s bad enough Alex and I feel that way.”

“Alex knows?”

“Yes. Him and Gunner. Gunner overheard a phone conversation I had with Alex when they were in Monaco. Alex noticed it first on the case with Evelyn. There’s no way Michaela Kirk should have known where to find him in Paris. That’s classified information. Only members of the team know we did that job.”

“I did wonder at the time but honestly, I forgot about it. So you going to tell me what you want me to do?”

“Just keep vigilant. Act normal and keep an eye on these three men.”

Jack handed Blake a sheet of paper containing three of his teammate’s names. He looked up suddenly with shock on his face. “No fucking way.”

“I know. It’s an absolute clusterfuck to even think it let alone say it, but we’ve narrowed it down to those three. Everyone else checks out, and believe me, we checked thoroughly. I know what laundry tablets you use, what porn you like, how much you spend on clothes… fucking everything. If there’s one thing my brother does well it’s cyber snooping.”

He was right. Will was not only a hacker but a gifted inventor of all things technical. He was the silent partner in Eidolon and therefore wasn’t around much, but he was a good guy and always the go-to for this sort of thing. Lopez was their NSA analyst and he was good on computers and with data, but Will was the dog’s bollocks.

“Has Decker given you a profile?” Blake asked not seeing his name on the list.

Jack shook his head. “No, as I said it is only me, Alex, Gunner, and now you at the moment. I want to try and keep this on the down low. It isn’t exactly good for business or moral.”

“Yeah, understandable. So, I go about my business as usual and look into things discreetly?” He would need to flex his investigator’s muscles as police work was a slightly different skill to busting asses on missions or guarding targets for the government or Royalty.

“Yes. Just stay off one more week on the,” he paused to do the air quote sign then, “sick, and cover Alex while I’m away. Use Pax’s case for cover if you need it,” Jack said making it clear that he knew about that. Blake didn’t bother asking how, Will more than likely.

“I’m not going undercover at the Palace.” That was the one thing Blake wasn’t willing to give an inch on.

“I don’t care what you do, just keep me updated on this.”

“I can work the US angle, but I’ll need to go out of the country for a few days. When do you leave?”

“Five days, six at most and I’ll be gone for four or five days.”

“Is anyone going with you?” Concern for Jack and his friends filled him, and he wasn’t able to stop the bitter taste of betrayal that one of the three men on the sheet were responsible.

“Yes. Mitch, Waggs, Liam, and Reid.” Jack held Blake’s eyes at the declaration.

Blake watched him, not sure of his response because he didn’t know what to think. “Is it wise taking men you know may have betrayed us?”

“Maybe not, but like I said, we can’t let doubt bring this team down and even while we investigate, we have to believe in innocent until proven guilty. It’s the only way.”

Blake and Jack were similar that way. Both believed in the black and white of innocent or guilty, friend or foe, which was why he left the Met. He hadn’t known whose side he was on in the end.

“Okay. I’ll look into it and let you know. If I decide to help Pax, I’ll let you know too.” Blake stood, knowing the meeting was over.