Read Online The Foundation: Jack Emery 1 by Steve P. Vincent - Free Book Online Page B

keys. He’d left Shanghai without incident following the attacks, and after a stopover in Osaka, he’d arrived home in Taipei. The indirect route had been a precaution, but now he wanted to kiss his wife, hug his children and reacquaint himself with his pillow. He was sure he’d sleep for days.
    When he opened the door of his apartment he was surprised by the darkness and silence that welcomed him. The house should have been abuzz with the sounds of his children playing and the smells of his wife’s cooking. He flicked on the light switch.
    “Hello?”
    There was no response. He stepped further inside and looked around. There was no hint of anyone, but also no sign of a struggle or disturbance. It took him a few minutes to check the other rooms—bedroom, bathroom, living room. His family had either gone out for the night or disappeared into thin air.
    Their abscene wasn’t right. His wife was a homebody. She liked spending time in the house with their two children. The situation was so unusual that Chen nearly considered calling his mother-in-law. He climbed the stairs to the living room and sank into the sofa with a deep sigh.
    It was then that he saw an envelope on the coffee table. He reached over and picked it up. He considered it, checked it front and back, but there was nothing to indicate who it was from. He hesitated for just a second, then shrugged and opened it. Inside was a slip of paper with two words written on it.
    Call M.D.
    He stared at it, and struggled to link the disappearance of his family with the message. He needed to get to the bottom of it, so he pulled out his burner cell phone and dialed the emergency number he’d memorized. The phone rang for a long time, and Chen thought it would ring out. Finally, she answered.
    “About fucking time.” Michelle Dominique’s voice was terse.
    Chen was taken aback by her tone. “My plane was delayed in Osaka.”
    She seemed unrepentant. “Whatever. You’re lucky you’re not dead or stranded.”
    “Stranded where?”
    “Taiwan. China. East fucking Asia. Who cares?”
    “Why?”
    “You've been compromised.” He could hear the doubt in her voice. “There’s probably a team on their way to you.”
    The phrase struck at Chen’s confidence like a hammer. He’d been sure that he’d carried out his operation flawlessly. “How? I was assured that wouldn’t happen.”
    “Doesn't matter. We've already extracted your family.”
    Chen was shocked. “They went willingly?”
    “Not exactly. Your wife has a nice bruise, I hear. Couldn't be avoided.”
    His anger flashed. “If you’ve hurt them—”
    “Relax. I sent a team to get you and your family out safely. You weren’t there. I could have abandoned them, and you, and you'd all be dead. I got them out. Remember that.”
    “I want to see them.”
    “Look, you’re not getting it. Anton sold you out. He sold me out too. I’m risking my life for yours. Now get with the fucking program and go to the airport.”
    Chen took a deep breath. “I understand, and thank you. I will repay your service to my family, and I’ll express my displeasure with Mr Clark in person.”
    “Worry about that later. Now go.”
    He ended the call, opened the back of the phone and removed the SIM card. He put the phone in his pocket and snapped the SIM card in half. Standard procedure, as automatic to him as breathing. He thought about the ramifications of the call. He’d been compromised by Anton. His family was gone, but probably safe.
    He exhaled. Things were okay, but he had to move. Chen knew it was only a matter of time before they were knocking on his door. He needed to get to the airport.
    He rushed to the bedroom and went to the bedside table. He opened the bottom drawer, lifted it from its runner and pulled it out completely. He looked into the gap where he’d hidden his kit. There were enough false identity papers, money and contacts contained within that small hiding space to last a great many years. He