Parkerson was in his office when the Killswitch phone rang. He checked that his door was closed and then answered. “Are we good?”
A pause. Then a long breath. “No.”
“Jesus Christ.” Parkerson felt every muscle in his body get tight. “What the hell happened?”
“The target escaped,” the asset said. “He injured me with a knife. Then escaped before I could kill him.”
“Shit.” Parkerson ran his hand over his face. “Shit. Are you wounded? Were you seen?”
“I’m not wounded. Not seriously.”
“But were you seen?”
The asset paused. “One person. I eliminated him.”
“God damn it.” One witness dead. And Lind still alive. Parkerson wondered if this was what a heart attack felt like.
“There was a woman with him also, sir. With the target.”
“Impossible,” said Parkerson. “The target doesn’t know any women. You had the wrong unit.”
“Negative. I entered unit 1604, as instructed. The target was waiting inside the apartment with the woman. I neutralized them and found the gun under the sink. Before I could eliminate either of them, however, the target attacked me. Then they both escaped.”
“Jesus Christ.” Parkerson sat back in his chair. “Where are you now?”
“I’ve returned to the hotel and am awaiting further instructions.”
“Keep waiting,” Parkerson told him. “I’ll call you back shortly.” He hung up the phone. Then he exhaled, long and slow. Jesus Christ, he thought. How the hell am I going to fix this?