Double Impact: Never Say Die & No Way Back by Tess Gerritsen, Debra Webb Page B

legend—”
    â€œNot just a legend,” insisted Gerard. “He was a real man, a traitor. Intelligence does not offer two-million-dollar bounties for mere legends.”
    Willy’s gaze shot back to Guy. She wondered how he had the nerve—the gall—to meet her eyes. You knew, she thought. You bastard. All the time, you knew. Rage had tightened her throat almost beyond speech.
    She barely managed to force out her next question, which she directed at Alain Gerard. “You think this—this renegade pilot is my father?”
    â€œIntelligence thought so.”
    â€œBased on what evidence? That he could fly planes? The fact that he’s not here to defend himself?”
    â€œBased on the timing, the circumstances. In July 1970,William Maitland vanished from the face of the earth. In August of the same year, we heard the first reports of a foreign pilot flying for the enemy. Running weapons and gold.”
    â€œBut there were hundreds of foreign pilots in Laos! Friar Tuck could have been a Frenchman, a Russian, a—”
    â€œThis much we did know—he was American.”
    She raised her chin. “You’re saying my father was a traitor.”
    â€œI am telling you this only because it’s something you should know. If he’s alive, this is the reason he may not want to be found. You think you are on some sort of rescue mission, Miss Maitland, but you may be sadly mistaken. Your father could go home to a jail cell.”
    In the silence that followed, she turned her gaze to Guy. He still hadn’t said a word; that alone proved his guilt. Who do you work for? she wondered. The CIA? The Ariel Group? Or your lying, miserable self?
    She couldn’t stand the sight of him. Even being in the same room with him made her recoil in disgust.
    She rose. “Thank you, Mr. Gerard. You’ve told me things I needed to hear. Things I didn’t expect.”
    â€œThen you agree it’s best you drop the matter?”
    â€œI don’t agree. You think my father’s a traitor. Obviously you’re not the only one who thinks so. But you’re all wrong.”
    â€œAnd how will you prove it?” Gerard snorted. “Tell me, Miss Maitland, how will you perform this grand miracle after twenty years?”
    She didn’t have an answer. The truth was, she didn’t know what her next move would be. All she knew was that she would have to do it alone.
    Her spine was ramrod straight as she followed Gerard back down the hall. The whole time, she was intenselyaware of Guy moving right behind her. I knew I couldn’t trust him, she thought. From the very beginning I knew it.
    No one said a word until they reached the front door. There Gerard paused. Quietly he said, “Mr. Barnard? You will relay a message to Toby Wolff?”
    Guy nodded. “Certainly. What’s the message?”
    â€œTell him he has just called in his last chip.” Gerard opened the front door. Outside, the sunshine was blinding. “There will be no more from me.”
    Â 
    S HE MADE IT SCARCELY FIVE steps before her rage burst through.
    â€œYou lied to me. You scum, you were using me!”
    The look on his face was the only answer Willy needed. It was written there clearly; the acknowledgment, the guilt.
    â€œYou knew about Friar Tuck. About the bounty. You weren’t after just any ‘live one,’ were you? You were after a particular man—my father!”
    Guy gave a shrug as though, now that the truth was out, it hardly mattered.
    â€œHow was this ‘deal’ with me supposed to work?” she pressed on. “Tell me, I’m curious. Were you going to turn him in the instant we found him—and my part of the deal be damned? Or were you going to humor me awhile, give me a chance to get my father home, let him step off the plane and onto American soil before you had him arrested? What was the plan, Guy? What was it?”
    â€œThere was