Chapter 5

Tom knocked rapidly on Liz's door as his anxiety over this latest development was taking over. He could kill Reddington for bringing him into this. In fact, he was sure he was going to put one in Reddington's head once he was done with Jeremy.

Liz opened the door surprised to see Tom at her front door looking nervous. "I was going to come to you," she said.

"Are you going to let me in?" he asked his voice tight. He walked in with gun drawn and headed for the window looking for any snipers.

"Are you alone?" Tom questioned.

"Yes," Liz answered. "How did you even find me? I never told you were I was staying."

Tom turned towards her. "Gina. Anyway, none of that matters. What did you hear about Jeremy Keith?"

"Nothing really. Reddington said I needed to talk to you. Clearly, he doesn't care about what your involvement means for me and the task force. All he said was this Jeremy Keith is the key to finding out about a Congressman who is apparently not as clean as he likes to portray. What do you know about this guy?"

"I know you shouldn't be looking for him. You need to drop this case Liz," Tom replied. "Reddington shouldn't have given you his name."

"What does this have to do with you?" Liz asked. "The truth. I can't just tell Cooper I'm dropping the case without some plausible reason."

Tom's mind worked quickly to give Liz a reason to halt her investigation. He could not take it if something happened to her knowing he had a chance to stop whatever Reddington was planning in its tracks.

"Jeremy is dead," Tom said evenly.

Liz pursued her lips not believing him at first. "I know Jeremy is hard to find which is why you are here. Now tell me something I can use."

"I am," Tom said. "He doesn't exist. Jeremy died five years ago. That is what you tell Cooper and the rest of them. You can't pursue a lead if the person is dead."

"How do you know this?" she asked.

"I just do. You can't investigate this anymore because there is nothing to investigate."

Liz shook her head. "Why are you lying to me?"

"I'm not. Jeremy is dead. Reddington doesn't know everything," Tom answered smoothly. "He was about to send you on a wild goose chase. Your search would come up empty. Trust me Liz."

She peered into his eyes and she wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust him but something was nagging at her. "Why were you so nervous before?"

"Because I don't like to see you put in harm's way due to Reddington's arrogance and need to control everything and everyone. He is pulling your strings and you need to see that," he replied. "Now promise me you will let this go."

"I promise," Liz said. "I won't look into it any further."

"Good," he responded and kissed her on the forehead. "Good night."

He walked out of the apartment closing the door behind him. He hoped Liz was do what he asked.

Liz waited until Tom left to dial Reddington. "Lizzy, did you find out anything?"

"Keith is dead according to Tom," Liz replied. "Is that true?"

There was a long pause before Reddington responded. "What did Tom say?"

"I asked you if it was true. Is the man dead? Did you set me up for some ridiculous cat and mouse game," Liz questioned clearly on the verge of screaming into the telephone.

"Liz, calm down. I did not set you up. I gave you clear information and now the question is who you are going to believe. Me or a man who spent his entire married life lying and pretending to play house. Please make the right choice. For your sake, it better be the right one."

The line went dead and Liz gripped the phone tight in her hand leaving a bruise. She was even more confused. Both men were keeping things from her and she needed to know why.

She grabbed her computer off the kitchen counter and searched for Jeremy Keith. "I will find you," she whispered.

Tom pulled up to the high rise condo near midnight. He sighed as he looked at the car window. "For Liz. All of this is for Liz."

He got out of the car dressed in his Armani suit with dark glasses. He was no longer Tom Keen and it surprised him how little effort it took to slip back into his old persona.

Tom walked into the building and approached the security guard. Tom read the name Martin on his tag.

"Hello, may I help you?" asked the security guard.

"Well, Martin. May I call you Martin? I'm here to see Jeremy Keith. He's expecting me," Tom said.

The security guard snorted. "I'm sure he is. The man seems to come alive after midnight."

Alive. If he had it his way the man would no longer be among the living.

"What is your name sir?" Martin inquired.

"Kyle Jeffries," he answered.

The security guard called. "You can go on up. He's on the top floor. Room 1311."

"Thank you Martin," Tom said.

As Tom approached the apartment he felt a surge of rage he thought he'd never feel again. Somehow Jeremy had gotten caught which would jeopardize everything about his life now. The door opened before he could knock.

"Kyle Jeffries," Jeremy greeted as if no ill will was between them.

Tom pushed his way through the doorway without warning.

"Nice to see you as well Jeffries. You look good for a dead guy," Jeremy said.

"Cut the crap Jeremy," Tom said. "You're supposed to be long gone. Literally dead to the world. How did you end up on Reddington's radar?"

Jeremy's face paled. "I didn't know."

Suddenly Tom pulled out his gun aiming it at Jeremy's head. "Don't lie to me. How did you manage it? How did Reddington find you? Wrong answer and it will be the last one you ever give."

"Who is she?" Jeremy asked avoiding the question.

"Keith, I swear-

"Don't tell me it's Gina. The one who "died" in that boat explosion right along with her husband Kyle Jeffries."

Tom turned the safety off. "One second."

"Whoever she is must be very important to you. I'm a low man on the totem pole. Kyle, there are players here that you know nothing about. If you shoot me, you won't get the answers." He paused briefly. "How did you escape the explosion anyway?"

Tom didn't have an answer for him and Jeremy smirked. "Not sharing anymore. That's fine."

"Enough games," Tom gritted out ready to shoot.

Jeremy put his hands up. "Alright. I'm on Reddington's radar because of who I work for. Congressman Richard Hartley."

"Go on," Tom implored.

"He doesn't know me as Jeremy Keith. I'm Charles Williams. I got assigned to Hartley after some rumblings of his extracurricular activities in Russia. Apparently, he owes some people. I'm not sure of all the details yet but I do know he has been on edge for months. The man is practically looking over his shoulder."

"I want a meeting with him," Tom said. Jeremy snorted at the request.

"Are you crazy? Unless you want to work security detail for him the answer is no. You are already on dangerous ground giving that you are involved. We shouldn't even be talking but since we're friends, I'll let this indiscretion of yours pass."

"We are hardly friends," Tom said. "Dead men can't be friends."

"Right," Jeremy said. He sighed. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks Keith," Tom said and he headed towards the door.

"Where is Gina?" he asked.

"I don't know," Tom said truthfully.

"I don't know what you got yourself in or who the person is but you need to stay away from this. They don't need you messing up things."

"Who is they Jeremy?"

"The people that won't hesitate to kill you and her," Jeremy warned.

Tom didn't turn around. "Goodbye and I don't want to see you again."

"Neither do I old friend," Jeremy said.

Tom was halfway to his car when he heard a scream. He whipped his body around to see a crowd of people gathering around a body. A chill went down his spine.

"If that idiot took a nose dive off the building...," Tome thought.

He ran to see Jeremy on the ground bleeding from his cracked skull. Tom quickly left the scene unnoticed by the crowd. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder as he entered his vehicle. He stilled.

"Don't be frightened Mr. Jeffries. It's Martin," he said behind him. Tom turned around feeling the uneasiness in the pit of his stomach.

Martin handed him an envelope. "Saved this for a rainy day. Everything is here. Records are clean. No one can trace this back to you. Mr. Keith died of a freak accident five years ago. He never lived in this hotel. Charles Williams did."

"Who are you?" Tom asked stunned.

"A friend. One who was expecting you and now my mission is complete. You will embark on a new one. Have a nice life Mr. Jeffries."

Tom watched Martin stroll down the street into the dead of night.