RIVER HOUSE
MI6 HEADQUARTERS
LONDON
Tacoma entered Derek Chalmers’s third-floor office. He was still dressed in a leather coat and white T-shirt from Moscow.
“That was quick,” said Chalmers.
Tacoma said nothing.
“Where’s Katie?”
“Paraguay,” said Tacoma.
“You were alone? That was worth two million dollars a week?”
“You get what you get and you don’t complain,” said Tacoma. “Are you interested in what I found or should I come back another time?”
“Touché.”
“I found Billy Thompson. Definitely GRU. He admitted to killing Charles Hartford.”
“Admitted to it?”
“Yes.”
“Freely?”
“I exerted a little pressure,” said Tacoma. “I asked him why. He said it was a warning to Jenna.”
Chalmers’s brow furrowed as he realized the implication.
“Jenna?”
“Yes,” said Tacoma. “When I asked him why, he said, ‘Even I don’t know that.’”
Chalmers stood up and walked to the bar in his office. He poured himself a scotch.
“Rob? Do you want something?”
“No, I need to go,” said Tacoma, standing up.
Chalmers took a sip.
“How far does this go?” said Chalmers.
“You pay for confidentiality,” said Tacoma, “unless it’s something that the United States needs to know. If she’s working at Langley—”
“I’ll call Hector,” said Chalmers.
Tacoma walked to the door.
“Derek, don’t jump to conclusions,” said Tacoma. “Assuming Jenna’s bad is the same thing as everyone who assumed Billy Thompson was good. You recruited her. Someone might be setting her up.”
“What did you do with Billy Thompson?”
Tacoma smiled.
“Broke his neck. See you later, Derek.”