“Almost midnight.”
“Does that light have to be so bright?”
Liam lowered the flashlight. He’d covered the bulb with a red transparent film to make it less noticeable.
“Thank you,” Luther said. “You have any food? I’ve only had a can of bean sprouts in two days.”
Liam handed him a small package of cornbread wrapped in a square of aluminum foil. “Molly wants the foil back. Can’t waste anything these days.”
He waited with restrained impatience while Luther consumed the cornbread, stuffing it into his mouth and shamelessly licking the crumbs from his fingers.
They stood in the semi-darkness of the abandoned house where Liam had stashed Luther several days ago. It was a two-story colonial with a vaulted ceiling and dusty pictures of kids on the walls.
Someone had ransacked the house long ago—cupboard doors hanging open, the fridge emptied, cushions shredded, mattresses dumped off beds and clothes strewn from tossed dressers.
It stank almost as bad as Luther did. Liam fought the urge to gag.
Earlier that night, he had dropped in on Evelyn and Travis. He’d held L.J., carrying him around on his hip while L.J. laughed and laughed. He had Jessa’s honey-brown skin and Lincoln’s arresting gray-blue eyes. The same as Liam’s own.
The last vestiges of his sickness and lethargy had disappeared. With Molly’s home remedies, Evelyn’s medical expertise, and Hannah’s generous donation of breast milk, L.J. had transformed into a healthy, cheerful baby.
Liam longed to be with them, not in this stinking hovel.
Luther inhaled another bite and spoke around it. “I want to do something to make up for…for before. Tell me what to do.”
Liam eyed him suspiciously. He didn’t trust this man. He loathed him. And yet, he required him.
Liam had experience running case agents, or confidential informants. The most reliable CIs did it for God or country. Less reliable were paid operatives. Because their allegiance was to money, they were easier to turn if discovered.
What was Luther’s motivation? To look himself in the eye in the mirror? That wouldn’t last long. His motivation was his father. And saving his own skin.
Liam said, “I want you to join General Sinclair.”
Luther choked and almost spit out the cornbread. He swallowed and wiped his dirty face with the back of his hand. “What did you say?”
“I need a spy.”
Luther gaped at him.
“You’re it.”
He didn’t know enough about the General or his tactics. That needed to change. Immediately. Liam needed actionable intelligence.
If Luther did his job, he could become a major asset. If he turned on them, the damage he could inflict would be moderate. It was worth the risk.
“I—I can’t. I’m not—” Luther sputtered.
“You were Sutter’s right-hand man, correct?”
“After Desoto’s death, yeah. You could say that.”
“Sutter is your way in. I need eyes on the inside. I need intel. If you present yourself to General Sinclair and offer information, he’ll take you in. He needs updated intelligence, too. Boots on the ground. Even if Sutter gave him information before he died, the General won’t know whether that intel is still valid. You can give him that vital information.”
“Umm—”
“Hopefully, Sutter mentioned you before he died. In that case, you’ll be a shoo-in. If not, you’ll just have to make sure you sell your story.”
“What story?”
“That you escaped our custody. You want revenge for the murder of your compatriots, just like Sutter did.”
Luther looked like he was having a tough time breathing properly. “What exactly do you want me to do as a…a spy?”
Liam grimaced in irritation. “Did you not just hear me? “I have a list of intel I want, plus what disinformation I need you to disseminate.” He held out a handheld radio. “If you’re out of range or lose access, I’ll have my scouts check Trailer World off M-139. There’s a bright blue mailbox shaped like a dolphin. You can’t miss it. Pass any messages that way, but don’t use names. Use a code. We’ll figure that out now.”
“I don’t know—”
“I thought you were here to redeem yourself.”
“I am.”
“Then this is how you do it.”
Luther wiped and folded the square of aluminum with great care and handed it to Liam. At least he was neat. “And if the General catches me?”