Irished (The Invincibles Book 7) by Heather Slade (the top 100 crime novels of all time txt) 📕

My brother Naughton will pick you up. I’ll text you the directions to the helipad. It’s right outside Cambria.”

“Helipad?”

“Like I said, just say ‘you’re welcome.’”

43

Flynn

“Believe me, plane travel for normal people is nothing like this,” said Stella when we boarded the small plane.

“Thank you for coming with me.”

“Look at this,” she said, waving her arm. “Who wouldn’t have offered to accompany you.”

“You have to be away from Buck, though.”

“I’m only staying until you’re safely delivered, and then I’m turning right around and coming back.”

I looked in the direction of the rear of the plane, where Ink sat. There was no question of whether I’d be safe. Terrified out of my wits about flying was a whole different story.

44

Irish

Doc offered to give me a lift to the helipad, saying there was something he wanted to discuss with me.

“You’d think the ranch was hours away. Honestly, I could’ve driven you there in less time than it will take the helicopter to land, you to get on board, and for it to take off again. And before you say anything, the wrath I’d face from my mother if I did that is what prevented me from suggesting it.”

I looked out the window at the view of the Pacific Ocean. I hadn’t spent much time on the West Coast, but I certainly understood why Doc, Gunner, and Razor kept homes there.

He pulled off the main road and drove down what looked more like a dirt path. He stopped by an open field and cut the engine.

“Irish, I’m going to make you an offer you don’t have to accept. All I ask is that you hear me out before you make a decision one way or another.”

I couldn’t help but think he was about to offer me a job. I was certainly willing to hear him out. Making a decision about anything to do with my future wasn’t something I was prepared to do.

He turned his head to face me. “You’ve given up a quarter of your life to this mission. As someone who did the same for most of my life, not to one mission but to many, I want to share with you what it took me far too long to learn.”

“Okay.”

“Two things. First, you don’t have to do it all. You have a team around you—two, in fact—who are willing to step up. Second, there is a life outside of work waiting for you. It is worth running as fast as you can in that direction. Seize whatever happiness is offered to you. No excuses. No delays. No putting anything else first. Take it by the reins and hold on tight. It’s a helluva ride. Sometimes rough but always worth it.”

“You mentioned you wanted me to wait until you were finished to make a decision.”

“Right.” Doc rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “Irish, I want you to walk away and let us finish this.” Before I could even open my mouth to respond, he put his hand on my arm. “You’re too close. Worse, you feel as though every death of every agent sits heavily on your shoulders. None of them do, Irish. Not a single one. This isn’t about the glory of finally ending the reign of terror of Argead and everyone associated with it. This is about it already being over. Let the cleaners come in and do their job. After that, let the judges ensure justice is served.”

“You want me to walk away?”

He shook his head. “The battle is won. I feel it in my bones the same as you do. Whatever we learn from Harris or even Fisk, won’t be much different than we already know it to be. There are three or four loose ends, but those are easily tied up. In fact, I’m pretty sure two already are. Lemme look.” He pulled out his phone and swiped the screen before handing it to me.

The intelligence brief that appeared on the screen confirmed that Kim Ha-joon, secretary-general of Interpol, had been killed when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed upon takeoff.

“Maybe now wasn’t the best time for me to show you that,” he said, pointing to where one was about to land not far from where we were parked.

“You said there were two you believed were tied up.”

“The second one is harder for me to confirm. However, I can tell you that Boris Antonov has a lot of explaining to do after the head of United Russia received compromising photos of his wife cavorting with his heir apparent.”

I thought back to when Ali made reference to a brief she’d received predicting that Antonov would take over when his boss announced his retirement. I shook my head and wondered if the photos were even real. Either way, it didn’t matter.

“That leaves Fisk and Harris. If I can talk Money into giving me ten minutes alone in a room with Fisk, I guarantee he’ll tell us everything we want to know.”

“Maybe Cope’s father could help facilitate that.”

“Maybe, or at least look the other way.”

“I don’t know him well, but something tells me Money wouldn’t have the balls to take it up the chain of command, let alone deliver him to you without permission.”

“I thought you knew,” said Doc, swiping his phone’s screen a second time. This time, he read what appeared to me. “In a press conference yesterday afternoon, on behalf of the president, Senator Henry Clay Copeland, chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, announced the appointment of Kellen McTiernan as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency.”

“I have to admit I’m stunned.”

“He’s a good man, Irish. Not like his recent predecessors.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I always am, just like Decker.” Doc laughed. “I want you to think about what I said.”

I watched as the blades of the helicopter slowed. “I’m not sure I can just let it go.”

“You wouldn’t be. You’d be letting your team wrap up the end of the mission on your behalf.”

I looked out at