Brian blinked at Matt who was drinking from his beer not meeting his eyes.

“So, run that by us again, Shads. You want us to go with you to Portico? Tonight.”

Matt nodded slowly. He set the bottle down and crossed his legs as he looked at his friend. Jimmy was seated on the floor staring at the files that Matthew had found at the barracks. He glanced up as well, knowing Brian's mind, but not saying anything.

“You want us to go...meet...him.” This he stated rather than asked. Matt nodded again.

Brian sighed, dragging his fingers through his hair. “We could get caught.”

“You're such a pessimist,” Jimmy commented.

Matt chuckled. “Can't get caught for something that no one knows about. They think he's dead.”

Brian's brow furrowed as he tried to come to terms with that snippet of information. He shook his head in a sceptical motion.

“I don't like it... too much could go wrong.”

Matthew groaned irritation obvious in the sound. “Fine. You can stay here and make sure no one finds out.” His eyes narrowed on his friend. “Though perhaps you'll be tempted to tell.”

Brian frowned, “What're you saying?”

“Oh, you know, a little bird told me you told them about our little plan,” Matt stated a sardonic edge to his words. His friend stiffened at his words then hunched his shoulders, shaking his head; however he made no attempt to deny the veiled accusation.

“Damn it, Syn,” Matthew said, heavily, “I was going to tell her soon. I just wanted to see Eli first.”

Brian leaned back on his chair still shaking his head.

“What?” Matt raised his eyebrows. “Did you think I wouldn't tell her?”

Brian rolled his eyes. The ‘no shit’ was implied, hanging in the air between them.

“How'd you find out, anyhow?” Jimmy asked as he shut the file in front of him. Brian muttered under his breath, unintelligible.

Matt chose to ignore him as he focused on the taller male. “Val called, on her way home. She was...agitated.” He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, clasping his hands in front of him. “She…was practically begging me to tell her it was all a lie.” He lifted furious eyes to Brian. “I mean, what the fuck was I supposed to say? I had to reassure her that it was all okay.”

Brian swallowed hard. “Shads...I'm-”

“Don't you dare say you're sorry,” Matthew interrupted harshly, holding up a hand. “You shouldn't have said anything. She was upset. Real fucking sad.”

“Sad?” Jimmy asked.

Matt nodded. “That I'd withhold stuff from her. Stuff like this.” He sighed gripping his elbows hard. “I promised to go home to her...explain everything. But, we have to go see Masters first.”

Brian fiddled with his keys; the jingling mirrored the way his nerves were. He was undecided. Part of him wanted to join his friends on whatever crazy mission they were heading out on, but another part was afraid. Afraid of the consequences. Afraid that they would end the way their friend had. Still, he did trust Matt. He hadn’t steered Brian wrong in the past.

“Well, Syn?” Matthew spoke softly, “You coming with? Or staying here?”

Brian sighed, shaking his head, as he finally relented, “Can't let you have all the fun.”

The former commander grinned and slapped his knee. “Right, let's do this then.”

* * * * *

Matthew switched the on-board GPS off as he pulled off the road. They faced a long drive up to what appeared to be an old, dilapidated mansion tucked behind a stand of tall conifers. Brian blinked and glanced sideways at Matt.

“What is this place?”

Matthew shook his head, an uncertain light in his eyes. “This was the address he gave me.”

Jimmy muttered, “Looks deserted to me...” His friends murmured in assent as Matt started the journey up the drive.

The long strip of bitumen brought them directly to the front of the massive building. Lifting their eyes it seemed as if the tops of the main house touched the clouds.

“Wow,” Jimmy breathed awe in his voice.

Matthew killed the engine and got out looking up at the house.

“Yeah, it's impressive.” He didn't sound too impressed, but then he was a man on a mission. His focus was on the person he wanted to meet. Not the building in which he would be found.

“So, what's the plan?” Brian asked as he came alongside his friend. Matthew looked at him and flashed the files at him, without saying anything. “Oh, he needs to see those?”

Matt nodded then glanced back at the house. Jimmy stood on his other side tapping his hands against his thighs, a rhythmic pattern that was the only sound other than their breathing. Brian scrubbed his hands against his jeans then shoved them in his pockets.

“Right, we just gonna walk up there?”

Matthew inhaled slowly then crunched up the drive to the large front entrance. Jimmy's head was on a swivel as they approached. As they halted in front of the huge front doors a creaking could be heard as they swung outwards, opening onto a large entrance hall. Brian blinked slowly, Jimmy tilted his head to the side and Matthew crossed his arms as the sound of sharp footsteps could be heard coming toward them.

Several moments later a woman with a severe bowl cut and hard blue eyes, came through the doors and stopped in front of them. Matthew's eyes widened slightly; he knew this woman. He'd crossed her path in his position as Tasker One and it hadn't been the most pleasant of moments. It was several years ago, though and he hadn't expected to encounter her again.

“Melissa?”

The woman's lips twisted in a cool smile. “Hello, Matt. Long time.”

“True, what are you doing here?” Matt asked surprise in his tone. Melissa smiled more, glancing at Jimmy and Brian before she answered him.

“I’m Mr Masters’ personal assistant. I ensure he has everything he needs and,” she paused, lowering her voice, “Make sure the government keeps their noses out of his business.”

Matthew shook his head slowly, “You've been working for him since...?” he allowed his voice to trail off, leaving his thought unfinished.

Melissa inclined her head in acknowledgement of what he was not saying and stepped aside. She motioned back into the house.

“Please come in. Masters is expecting you.”

The three of them walked in then waited for her to lead the way. Jimmy and Brian frowned after the woman.

The latter leaned close to Matthew and muttered, “Isn't she that girl who started those riots back in ’04?” Matthew nodded tightly, his jaw line tensing. Brian held up his hands, obviously sensing that it was a touchy subject.

His friend’s lips twisted in a wry smirk then he winked. “Relax, Syn.”

Brian rolled his shoulders as they were lead passed many doorways to a large pair of oak doors at the end of a long hall. “Right…yeah, I’m relaxed.”

Matthew clapped a hand to his shoulder and patted it lightly. “It’s okay, man. You’ll like Eli.”

Jimmy laughed and said over his own shoulder, “Gates is always suspicious. Never likes anyone.”

Brian rolled his eyes but before he could retort a quiet, yet strong voice spoke from the now open doorway.

“M Shadows, I didn’t think you’d actually come.”