Brimstone Blues

Chapter Four

He nervously drummed his fingers on the table, procrastinating. Caroline was a poor choice, but there had been no other viable alternatives at the time. Rafael Collins was an unfortunate casualty. Caroline wasn’t supposed to kill him or anyone else, only Anastazia Proctor, and even then only as a last resort. They’d preferred her alive, or at least intact. A Tribunal member’s murder, especially a close blood relation of Matthias Hawthorne, brought the united weight of the Clans down without mercy.

He couldn’t protect Caroline. Fortunately, he’d only supplied information about her to his handlers and not had direct contact with her on these matters. She wasn’t strong enough to breach his mental barriers the few times they’d interacted in the normal course of business. She was disposable, and while he’d had his concerns, he had thought her smart enough to complete the operation with a modicum of discretion and skill.

After taking a deep breath, he placed the dreaded call. “It’s Timon.” He used his code name. Nothing he did could ever tie him to the events in Yellowstone, or he would be sitting in a cell next to Caroline. Unless Hawthorne got hold of him first.

Then he’d be dead.

“About time you called me back,” Gerard said. “I’ve heard nothing for two weeks. What’s going on? Have you acquired the target?” The man sounded like a stereotypical American country bumpkin, but Timon knew from his dealings with Gerard that it was a carefully cultivated and deceptive image.

“There have been…complications.”

A long silence from the other end, followed by a deep, evil growl. Gerard’s friendly country accent was replaced by a chilling, threatening tone. “What do you mean, complications?”

“The person referred to you for this mission failed, and is now incarcerated and under the Tribunal’s control. She will most likely be executed.”

“Shit.” There was another long pause. “I paid you a lot of fucking money to get this done. I could ruin you. That is, before I kill you.”

Fear curled and tightened around his heart. This was the only man he feared as much as, if not more than, Matthias Hawthorne. “I will have an opportunity shortly to personally see to it,” he quickly said. “Anastazia Proctor will come to London for the Tribunal hearing. I will send my local contact instructions and coordinate with them. Once I have her in my possession, I will turn her over to your associates.”

“See that you do. I don’t like it when I pay for promises people don’t keep.” Gerard’s growling tone sent shivers up Timon’s spine. He’d never met with Gerard face-to-face, but imagined he was an unholy terror to behold if the rumors were true. “I guarantee you do not want to fuck with me, Timon. I can make you one of the most powerful men on the planet, but I will destroy you if you fail me again.”

The line went dead. Timon replaced the receiver with shaky hands. He had no doubt Gerard meant every word he said.

Timon planned.