"But Hanrahan was killed."
"Sort of."
How could someone be "sort of" killed? She rubbed a hand across her eyes, wondering if her inability to understand had something to do with the ache still in her head. "Did you know Jack's wife is the one impersonating Lyssa? She's obviously a multi-shifter."
"That surprises me. I didn't think Kazdan was one to share."
"I don't think he is. I think he was ordered to."
"No wonder he wants to take the throne and kill Sethanon."
"He's not the only one Jack plans to kill."
He frowned at her. "What do you mean?"
"Mary was coming here — "
"Mary's dead," he interrupted, voice sharp.
Her gaze flicked across his face, and she sensed the pain under the calm exterior. "You killed her."
"She gave me no choice."
Had she given him another option, would he have taken it? She suspected not — not when Mary had almost killed his brother. "When did you shoot her?"
The edge in her voice obviously caught his intension, because his gaze intensified. "Maybe fifteen, twenty minutes ago. Why?"
"Because she was apparently confirming details of the PM's itinerary. Sethanon's planning a hit sometime today."
"A hit or a replacement?"
She shrugged. Either was possible, given what they'd seen on Jack's disks, though she couldn't see what simply assassinating him would achieve. Better to replace him and have background control.
He climbed to his feet and offered her his other hand. "Can you move?"
There was only one way to find out. She placed her free hand in his and climbed slowly to her feet. The small room spun several times, and for an instant, it felt as if her stomach were crawling up her throat. She swallowed heavily and asked, "Do you know the PM's schedule?"
He shook his head. "But my brother will. SIU works with the Fed and State boys when it comes to official government visits. Are you going to fall if I let you go?"
She shook her head. He released her hands, but he watched her warily for a minute or two before he moved across to the door and tested the handle "Locked tight."
She pulled the pin the hirsute stranger had given her out of her hair, but its shape caught her by surprise. It was an abstract man and woman, standing back to back, one dark, one light. The image was similar in theme to the tapestry in Jack's office, but this particular image was one she'd seen before. She just couldn't quite place where.
"Here, try to open it with this."
He accepted the pin, a sudden, rueful smile catching the corners of his lips. "This will test my skills."
According to her hirsute friend, it wouldn't. She wondered who the man was and how he knew so much — about her, about Gabriel, and about what was going on. Was he one of Jack's men? Or perhaps one of Sethanon's?
But why would Sethanon — or even one of his or Jack's men — want to help her?
Gabriel squatted in front of the door, his gaze intent as he shoved the pin into the lock and began to carefully turn it. After a few minutes, there was a faint click.
They were free of the cell. Now all they had to do was get out of this complex.
Chapter Sixteen
"When I was led down here," he said softly, as he rose, "there was a guard stationed to the left of the door. I couldn't see anyone else, but that doesn't mean there won't be."