To Adam Black, Hashashin of the Sixteenth Ordinal

By the laws governing our Order, you are hereby notified of the formal investigation into your actions this past June in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.

You are formally charged with a breach in protocol causing irreparable harm to a civilian.

Ordinance Code: 8796-LM-94321 clearly states that all romantic involvement (especially with civilians) be approved through proper channels. Furthermore, Ordinance Code: 9214-OTC-84 also defines our position on civilians present during hostile maneuvers.

The fact you were defending this said civilian in addition to yourself is irrelevant at this juncture. Current recruitment status of said civilian was an emergency containment measure, instigated by Stratigos Martin Darius and Protostratigos Reme Ister after receiving the proper approvals required.

At the summation of the investigation, you will be summoned to Istanbul to stand accountable for your actions in a formal hearing.

Compliance is mandatory.

Sincerely,

The Supreme Commander

The Order of the Guardians for God

Adam glared at the document currently laid out on Isaac’s desk. It was printed on heavy parchment; the letters were stamped with the Supreme Commander’s official seal, raising the words in bas-relief.

A formal hearing.

That was better than a trial.

Sort of.

Okay, not by much.

Adam’s gaze drifted to the letter next to his.

Isaac’s trial summons…

Adam shook his head and peeked at Isaac from the corner of his eye.

Isaac stared at the top of his desk, his complexion bordered on green.

Adam glanced at his brother’s document again. The fact Isaac had shared his own summons concerned Adam. Isaac was never that forthcoming; at least, not since they were kids. Adam read the charges on Isaac’s letter again, noting how grievous his missteps seemed on paper as compared to Adam’s “heat of the moment” infraction from a few months ago.

“In addition to this... this… this mess... I find myself in,” Isaac waved to the documents on his desk, bringing Adam’s attention back to him. “I have to deal with selling the London headquarters’, that safehouse in Scotland, help my new Lokhagos rebuild our Hashashin team, and I just read a report about Dr. Fiona Greer.”—Adam’s attention sharpened. What had Isaac learned about the dead geneticist?—“And if that wasn’t enough, I have you in here—again—pestering me about a trainee that is no longer your concern!”

“You might wish differently,” Adam said, aiming for calm, though Isaac’s snappish tone set his nerves on end, “but she is my concern. Her name is on my formal summons! You know I have a vested interest in her welfare.” Adam sighed in frustration and took a deep breath. It wouldn’t do to get into another shouting match with Isaac over Rachel, especially for an argument which was beyond old for them both. “She isn’t a threat to you, me or the Order,” Adam said after taking another deep breath. “Please, let her out.”

“No.”

Adam clenched his hands into tight fists. He had one more argument to try, “Isaac? Do you really think, that even if she were a secret weapon, she’d be a match for me, or, for that matter, anyone past their first year of training?”

Isaac ran a hand through his hair and sighed, shoulders slumping. “In most instances, no.”

Adam’s teeth ground together. What other instances were there? “Then, let her out.”

“No.” Isaac’s tone was firm, but a moment later, it softened when he added, “But I give you leave to see her. Mr. Alexander as well, should he desire to.”

Adam nodded. It wasn’t enough, but he’d take it, nonetheless. “Thank you.”

Isaac waved a hand dismissively, shoulders straightening. “No thanks needed,” he said. “She’s a nobody, a weakling, with nothing to offer besides the honey pot between her thighs. I have no additional reasons—aside from the fact you’re letting a quim rule your decisions—to keep you from bedding her regardless of her proposed weaponized status. You have my permission to resume your swivving, but keep your guard up even as sate your lust.” Adam gritted his teeth. Rachel meant so much more to Adam than the casual dalliance as Isaac insinuated, but before Adam could retort, Isaac continued, “I need you to return to your original mission if you haven’t already. Finding Mark is imperative. He knows too much and is too great a threat. He has to be eliminated.”

“Officially?”

Isaac grimaced. “Yes. Officially. Please obtain your new orders from Ms. Mori. I’ll need you to investigate non-traditional medical facilities in the southeast quadrant. While you were in Spain, Nicholas confirmed that Mr. Prescott is not in any of the city morgues, and Daniel continues to watch the hospitals. After this long, our quarry has either been disposed of in a more criminal fashion or he’s gone to ground. We need to find him.”

“Understood,” Adam turned to leave.

“Before you go, there’s one more thing.”

“What?”

“Dr. Greer.”

Anger curled in Adam’s belly like soured milk. “Yes?”

“She’s alive.”

Adam’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “A-alive?” he stammered. He’d been sure—everyone had—of her death. To find out she was alive?

“Yes,” Isaac replied, ignoring Adam’s uncharacteristic response. “The Organization issued a ransom.”—Ransom?!—“A first-year novice in Australia has been contacted. He alerted his Lokhagos who in turn alerted Istanbul to the demand. The Org wants a hundred thousand pounds against her safe return.”

Adam frowned. Ransom?

Isaac, appearing to understand Adam’s thoughts on the matter, for he added, “I know. Unprecedented. And yet, here we are.”

“Will the Supreme Commander comply?”

Isaac curled up his lips in distaste. “Istanbul agreed to deal with the bastards. She’s a full member, therefore we will pay the ransom to get her back.”

“It’s curious,” Adam said, “that they are ransoming her, but it is good she will be safely returned. I’m sure her family will be relieved.”

“Yes.” Isaac agreed.

Adam couldn’t remember a time—not without consulting the archives, at least—when the Org had held an Order’s agent for ransom. Capture led to death, whether by the agent’s own hand or by the Org’s. “Someone at the Org is up to something. Do we know what?”

“No,” Isaac frowned. “Whoever is behind it has covered their tracks well. The demand was sent via encrypted email and the trail was spoofed. Additionally, the person who sent the email is using a middleman to conduct the transaction. There is no way to know if he is the only point of contact, either.” Isaac sat at his desk and clasped his hands in front of him. “We haven’t found Greer’s location, or Istanbul would authorize her rescue by force. I consulted our spy in Councilor Ridley’s home. She knows nothing new.”

“Are there official orders from Istanbul to investigate?” Adam would love to get his hands on that mission. But if Istanbul had already agreed to the demands…

“No.”

“Understood,” Adam replied.

“Do you?”

Adam shrugged. He bucked the rules whenever he could, but sometimes it was prudent to obey. Crossing the Supreme Commander after he personally became involved, wasn’t in Adam’s best interest. For now, he was content to let Istanbul handle the issue.

Leaning forward, Adam snagged Isaac’s summons from the desk and reread it. The list of wrongdoings was long but incomplete. Adam didn’t want to bring it up, but he needed to ask. “They don’t know yet, do they?”

Isaac made a soft-detersive snort. “About?”

Adam glanced at Isaac, making sure to catch his eye. “You know what about.”

Isaac’s gaze shifted away from his.

“When are you going to tell them about your slip of the tongue? The Supreme Commander needs to know his name is known, especially since we don’t know what else Mark may have learned while interrogating Greer, Hurston, and Rachel.”

“I don’t know.” Isaac ran a hand through his hair. “It never seems like the right time.”

Adam sighed. He didn’t want his brother in more trouble, but at the same time, Isaac’s silence was damming him further. “You have to, Isaac. I know the Fortress is nearly impenetrable, but they will have to put additional safeguards in place to protect the Polemarchos from Organization retaliation. You know he still leaves the compound when the situation requires it; if his name has been compromised he needs to be told.”

Isaac collapsed in his chair, defeated.

“You want me to do it?” Adam asked in sympathy. Isaac was in a difficult position and Adam wished there was something he could do to help.

Isaac chuckled ruefully, “No, then I’ll look even more incompetent than I already do.”

“Tell him, Isaac. Tell him today.”

Isaac glared but nodded in agreement before picking up the phone.

Adam sighed and let himself out of Isaac’s office.

Standing there, back pressed against the door, he debated his options. He should go see Ella about his new orders or warn Cass he and Isaac were soon to be on their way, but he knew that wasn’t where he would go. Adam pushed away from the wall, determined. His steps took him down the hall to the stairs.

Ella could wait.

Cass could wait.

Rachel could not.

Besides, he needed to see her.