'You might need to sit down for this boss', Black Diamond said, calling Joe from his apartment near the Kremlin. He'd just run a wand over every inch of the space and for now at least he was satisfied that there were no bugs or other electronic listening devices. 'Go on', Joe urged, sensing that the revelation wasn't going to be as much of a surprise as the other man thought.
'Ok so I've checked out everything you gave me and I've made some enquiries. Turns out that he's in the same business as us' he said, pausing, allowing his words to sink in. 'Is he on our team or theirs or a third party?' Joe asked, casting a quick glance at the door behind him, making sure nobody had entered without him hearing them. He turned the lock on the front door just to be sure. Jill saw his actions from across the room, saw the expression on his face, gestured for him to come forward and sit.
'Ours', he said as Joe exhaled deeply, Jill's hand securely on his back as he sat. 'Turns out he's been a busy boy though. He had no formal connections with us, just casual in the beginning, then he came into play. Something musta happened in the past few months to push him in this direction'. Unseen Joe nodded, knowing that the threats to his family, the revelation about the war crimes, the mass graves had pushed Shawn into action.
Who brought him in? Whose handling him? Joe was dying to know, knew he couldn't say such words over the line, instead they resorted to the language of spies.
'Was he handled by our mutual friend?' Joe asked. 'Yes', came the definitive answer. 'Can you confirm that person is now in the care of the other team?' Joe asked again. 'Yes, confirmed', so the Russians had Amethyst, he was the guy with the timer around his neck. At least they finally knew for sure.
Joe spoke again, 'I know how to get to him', he said to the relief of the other man. 'And I know where Peter's gift is, well the country at least and I'm fairly sure of where within that country' Joe said. 'Fuck, that's quick work boss', the agent complimented him. Joe smiled at the words used. People rarely swore in front of him these days, it was another indication of just how comfortable the two were together. 'I have another person working with me on that score', he said, not wanting to use Jill's name over the line, reaching for her hand and squeezing gently. 'Boss', the agent began before pausing. 'Go on', Joe urged. 'I was just gonna say that whoever you use, are you sure you can trust them?' Black Diamond asked. Joe sincerely appreciated the man looking out for him. He turned and looked at Jill. His whole world condensed to the vision of her face. Their life together, their achievements, the highs and lows, the kids and grandkids, their partnership all swirled through his mind in one whooshing rush of emotion making him pause before he replied. 'Thank you. Yes. I can absolutely trust them', he said simply, raising his hand to gently cup her face.
When he finished the call he stood and made his way to the freezer, grabbed bowls and spoons. A candle. Matches. A notebook and pens. Returned to the sofa. Arranged everything. Scooped generous helpings of ice cream into the bowls. Opened the notebook and laid it in front of Jill along with the pens. 'Ready to get to work?' he asked. 'Ready Mr. President', she answered.
'You ok, sure you know what you need to do?' Joe asked Jill two hours later. The ice cream was long gone. Empty coke and wine glasses and a half eaten box of chocolates have since been added to the collection on the table. She nodded, ran through the list of tasks and questions, the answers she expected, the queries she needed to follow up on. When she was done Joe smiled, the edges of his eyes crinkling, 'you're amazing you know that?' he asked. 'Actually I do know', she exclaimed, the laughter clear in her voice. 'I know because my husband tells me all the time', she quipped. 'Lucky guy', Joe responded, 'intelligent too, obviously, but the luckiest guy in the world', he said, leaning close to her and catching her lips in a deep kiss. She scooted nearer to him, slipping into his lap, pressing her breasts close against his chest as she laced her fingers together at the back of his neck. They had done all they could do for a few hours. Now it was time to take solace in each other. To relax and enjoy being together until their guests arrived for a light supper later.
