Robert Ludlum's the Bourne Evolution - Brian Freeman Page 0,107
the guard in the black suit.
The guard removed his arms from around Abbey, and she stumbled across the trail to Jason, her heels tripping on the stones.
“Stay behind me,” he told her. “We’re heading for the gate.”
“You’ll never get there,” Miss Shirley told them. “At least ten more guards are on their way. You’re trapped.”
“If I don’t make it, neither do you,” Bourne replied.
“I’ll tell you what, Jason. Let’s do a deal. Leave me the girl to play with, and you can go.”
Abbey had to swallow down an urge to tell Jason simply to pull the trigger, so they could watch this woman die. She sensed from the tautness of his muscles that Jason was struggling with the same desire. As Abbey held on to his belt, Jason wrapped an arm tightly around Miss Shirley’s throat and dragged the woman backward, using her body as a shield. He pointed the gun into her temple as more guards closed in on them from three sides. Abbey acted as his eyes, pulling him backward step by step until they reached the wrought-iron gates of the estate.
There were other guests there, staring wide-eyed at what was happening.
“Open the door on the nearest car, Abbey,” Jason instructed her. “Get inside and make sure the driver’s ready to go. Tell him I’ll shoot him if he hesitates for even a second.”
She was sure that Bourne would do just that.
Abbey opened the first limo door and scrambled inside, and she left the door open. Jason dragged Miss Shirley all the way up to the car.
“I should kill you right now,” he said.
“You could, but then my men will fire. Everybody loses.”
“Jason, let’s go,” Abbey shouted. “Hurry.”
She watched him put one hand on Miss Shirley’s back. He shoved hard, pushing her toward the Medusa men. In the same instant, Jason threw himself inside the limo and covered her as he dragged the door shut behind him. The guns were already firing. Bullets shattered the glass all around them and hammered the steel on the doors, and the limo sped away.
THIRTY-SIX
“THEY’RE calling it a failed assassination attempt,” Abbey said, scrolling through the news feed on her phone. “‘The man believed to be responsible for the shooting of Congresswoman Sofia Ortiz was thwarted by armed security last night in the attempted murder of Gabriel Fox, CEO of Prescix Corporation.’”
“Who do they think I’m working for?” Bourne asked.
“The feds blame ‘rogue elements inside Big Tech.’”
Jason shook his head. “Medusa is using this to advance their plan. Do they mention you?”
“I’m an anonymous kidnap victim you used in making your escape,” Abbey replied. “I’m not identified by name.”
“They’re sending you a message by keeping you out of it. You’re safe now, but next time, they’ll claim you’re part of the conspiracy. That’s the choice you have to make.”
Abbey said nothing. He knew she was wrestling with what to do.
The sky had begun to lighten over the hills with the pink glow of dawn. They sat in the Land Rover in a Henderson parking lot, where they had a vantage on the access road leading in and out of the Sensara community. For hours, a steady stream of vehicles had come and gone. Limousines. Police. FBI. There was no sign yet of Gabriel Fox, but sooner or later, Bourne knew that the man would emerge from seclusion. Along with Miss Shirley.
“Thank you, by the way,” Abbey said.
“For what?”
“You saved my life again. It’s becoming a habit with you.”
“I’m the one who nearly got you killed,” Jason said.
“Yes, but I didn’t want you to think I don’t care. If you hadn’t been there, I’d be dead now. That woman—Miss Shirley—do you really think she would have done the things she said? I mean, not just kill me, but …”
“Yes, I do. She’s a sadist and a psychopath.”
“My God. Who are these people? What’s their plan?”
“I don’t know yet, but I’m hoping Gabriel Fox and Miss Shirley will lead us to the answers.”
“Us,” Abbey murmured.
He heard the change in her voice, and he turned and stared at her. “I mean me. This is my fight, not yours.”
She took a long time to say anything more. “I know I insisted on being part of this, Jason, but now I—I think I need to go.”
“Of course you do. I want you to go. I want you to be safe.”
“It’s not for the reason you think,” Abbey went on. “I’m scared, but I’m not running away. I realized something last night. I’m putting you in danger by