Chapter 25

Nate did not go back to his hotel, he knew if Sadiski did not have eyes on it the FBI would have people watching for if he returned. He was not exactly sure where he was going to go so he told the driver to take him to an old dive he used to hang out in during his heavy drinking days just after Sam's death. After paying the man he climbed out and looked around the street before stepping into the bar. It was dimly lit and there were few people in the place. It was now getting to be late afternoon and he knew the crowds would start coming in shortly. He took a seat right at the back of the room facing the door and ordered himself a whiskey. He needed a new place to stay and he needed a new plan too.

The FBI was compromised, so Penton was out of the question, the Marshals too. Paul was right he needed help though, he just did not know where it was going to come from. He sighed as he finished the last of his whiskey then paid the bill and walked outside. It was now very late, and the streets were almost empty, he looked across the street and saw a very dingy looking motel and thought that was as good a place as any to stay, all he needed was a bed, tomorrow he would come up with a new plan and then take it from there.

It was early morning when Nate decided he needed to give Sadiski a call and let him know he had missed, that he was alive and well and that he was failing again. He needed to keep the man's interest on him and not his team. He quickly rose and showered before sitting down on the bed and dialling Sadiski's number from his burner phone.

"Sadiski." He said as the phone was answered.

"Sorry he is not around at the moment."

"Moreau." Nate said immediately recognising the man's voice.

"I am flattered you recognise my voice. So how are you Nate?"

"Fine Moreau, you can tell Sadiski he missed his target."

"Yes well…" Moreau said smiling into the phone. "We will meet again."

Nate remained silent his mind working overtime and then he closed his eyes and cursed silently, the game had changed he thought and no matter what he did, his family was now in more danger than ever.

"Sadiski is dead isn't he?"

This time it was Moreau who was silent, then he smiled, this man was cleaver, and he knew even if he denied it that Nate already knew Sadiski was now out of the picture, he was not sure how perhaps something in his tone gave it away, but he did.

"He was not committed to the cause, so I regretfully had to let him go."

"You killed him." Nate stated confirming the feeling he had got when Moreau had told him Sadiski was not around. There was no way Sadiski would have let Moreau answer his phone if he thought it was Nate calling, the man had been obsessed with him.

"Just like I am going to kill you Ford, you and your beautiful wife and son and the rest of that team of yours."

"Well good luck on that score Moreau, I beat you once and I will do it again, you are no match for me." Nate said his gut churning at the mention of Sophie and Michael. He needed to keep the man focused on him not them, he needed to protect them.

"Maybe I will start with them Ford…"

Nate clenched hit teeth, he could not allow Moreau to get to him, he had to keep calm no matter how he was feeling.

"Well that would be just like you wouldn't it Moreau, go after the others because you know you cannot beat me. Well the game has changed now Moreau, I am now the hunter and I will hunt you down and I will kill you, I am not interested in putting you away like before, no, this time I will end you permanently, so you go ahead and spend your time trying to find them but know you better have eyes in the back of your head because I am coming for you."

"Tough talk from a man who…" Nate hung up the phone. He could hear the fear and the anger in Moreau's voice even though he tried to hide it and he wanted him to keep that fear, he wanted him to concentrate on finding him and ending him.

Moreau stared at the phone after Nate hung up on him.

"Did you trace it?"

"He was using a burner and he was not on for long enough…"

"So no…I thought you were the best."

"Nobody could trace that call…I have a general area though." She said looking away from the accusation in his eyes.

"Well he is going to come after me now, so we better find him." Moreau said walking over to the wet bar and pouring himself a drink, it was early morning, but he needed to steady himself. The last time Ford had come after him he had ended up in a cell, he had lost everything including years of his life, he was not going to allow that to happen again.

"What about his family?"

"I sent some people to their house in Portland last night, they are not there." Moreau said, obviously they had gone into hiding, probably on instruction from Nate.

"Do we concentrate on them or him." She asked looking intently at him.

"He is hunting me now, we need to make sure we are safe from him, we need to be more careful now, and we need to find him and end him, then I will take care of the others." Moreau said, the game had changed now from when Nate thought he was dealing with Sadiski, now he knew he was dealing with Moreau alone and now he was on the attack and despite himself he felt a shiver run down his spine at that thought.