CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
On Tuesday, Zane and Cass spent a long day at the DEA office, trying to get some work done. They still had other active files and investigations that needed their attention, and Zane was glad for a distraction from the looming threats to the team.
But the bottom line was that they were still targets—or at least everyone else was.
“You look deep in thought,” Cass said.
“Yeah.” There were too many things clouding his mind.
She nodded. “I can guess what about.”
Before he could confirm what she already knew, the door to the conference room opened, and Mason walked in.
“Zane, I need to talk to you alone for a minute,” Mason said flatly.
Cass stood. “I’ll head to the break room so you guys can talk.”
Zane wasn’t sure why Mason was kicking Cass out, but once it was the two of them, he watched as Mason frowned. “I recognize that face. What’s the problem now? Because I can’t deal with many more of them.”
Mason stuffed his hands in his pockets. “The team working on the investigation into the mole thinks they have intercepts between you and a member of the cartel.”
“What?” Zane felt his jaw go slack. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. Combine that with the fact that you’re the only member of a four-person team who has not been targeted directly, and those running the investigation believe you need to be questioned.”
Zane muttered some words that he probably shouldn’t say. “This is insane.”
“I know. I don’t think for one minute you’re dirty.”
“Then help me get out of this mess.” His voice got louder with every word.
Mason crossed his arms. “That’s my plan, but you have to talk to the team leading the charge. My hands are tied on that, but I already planted the seed with them that you’re not the problem here. If they look deep enough, they’ll figure that out.”
Thoughts started to race through Zane’s mind. “Maybe this was the plan the entire time.”
“How so?” Mason leaned against the table.
“They frame me to take the fall by purposely not attacking me. I’m painted as the traitor, and the real culprit keeps working for the cartel on the inside.”
Mason drummed his fingers on the table. “Sounds plausible to me. We have to figure out what those intercepts are they claim they have on you, though.”
“There’s nothing legit there. I can promise you that.” Zane hoped Mason would see the truth here.
“Okay. Defend yourself vigorously, and we’ll get through this. I don’t think the team really thinks you’re the mole, either, but they wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t run this thing down.”
“The mole isn’t me, but it is someone who has skills and is dangerous. We all need to watch our backs.”
Mason nodded before pausing. “How is Cass holding up?”
Zane wasn’t going to reveal just how vulnerable he thought Cass had become, because as much as he trusted Mason, it just wasn’t something he thought he should say. Cass needed time to get her head on straight, and she had earned that time without his color commentary on her mental state. “She’s solid. It’s been a lot to take in, but she’ll be fine.”
“Cass is a great agent, but she hasn’t seen combat like you and me. I just want to make sure she’s emotionally okay. Do you think she’d be open to counseling?”
Zane hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“Your face says it all. I didn’t think she’d want to do it either, because she’d be afraid it would make her seem weak, when that’s completely not the case. Do me a favor and ask her about it. I’d prefer she agree to it as opposed to it being an order coming from me.”
“Understood.” Zane would see what he could do.
Mason left him alone, and in a few minutes Cass returned with two cups in her hands.
“Coffee for you.”
“Thanks.”
She sat down, and he did the same. “What was that all about?” she asked. “Mason seemed even more serious than his normal self.”
Best to just lay it out on the table. “He was giving me a heads-up that I’m going to be looked at.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Looked at for what?”
“As being the inside man.”
She let out a loud laugh. “Wow. This really is amateur hour around here if that’s what’s happening. Is this just because no one has directly come after you?”
He shook his head. “No. That’s just an add-on. They claim they have evidence on me. If there is any supposed evidence, then someone wants me to take the fall for this.”
She grabbed his arm. “We can’t let that happen. Just let me know how I can help.”
He was acutely aware of her hand lingering on his arm. “Will do. Right now, I just wait until I talk face-to-face to the investigation team.” He placed his hand over hers and turned toward her. “There is one more thing.”
“Uh-oh. I don’t like the sound of this.”
“Mason wants you to go to some counseling sessions.”
She broke the contact between them and pulled away. “I hope you told him that would be completely unnecessary and a waste of time.”
“I told him I thought you were doing well and that I felt you’d resist this.”
“And you were right!”
“But he asked me to try to sweet-talk you into it because, Cass, he’s going to make it mandatory if you don’t go willingly.”
She threw her head back and groaned. “If I were a guy, we would not even be having this conversation.”
He didn’t fully agree with that. “I believe it has less to do with gender and more to do with your experience.”
“You’re a Marine, so you can handle it.”
“Do I sense some sarcasm there? I’m just being honest with you. I saw all manner of things when I was on my two combat tours. Mason is well aware of that, because he was there too. You didn’t go through that, and he just wants to make sure you’re handling everything okay. It has been a lot, and even though we see things on our DEA ops, what has transpired over the past couple weeks has been on a different level.”
“You’re obviously right about our experiences being different, and up until the last attack, I think I was pretty composed. Unfortunately, you’ve seen some of my weaker moments.”
“I would never hold that against you, and I promise I didn’t give Mason any indication that you were weak—just the opposite. You’re strong, Cass, and a great agent.”
She sighed. “Okay. I’ll do it, but only because I don’t want a mandatory order in my files.”
He smiled. “Good. Let’s get out of here and call it a night.”
Layla looked at Hunter as they walked toward the door of the trendy Georgetown hotspot. “Nick will be hanging out at the bar. Please keep your distance. I need to do this alone. If he thinks I’ve brought someone with me, it will be a completely different conversation, and I’m not sure I’m going to get a second shot at this.”
“Absolutely. But if there’s any problem, I’ll be there in a second.”
“There won’t be. I can handle Nick.” Or at least that was the message she wanted to convey to Hunter. She didn’t want him to think Nick was in control.
“If he’s not here, we can wait and see if he shows.”
She looked down at her watch. “Let’s hope he hasn’t changed his routine too much. Let me go in first. Give me a minute before you follow.”
“Roger that.” He looked around, surveying their surroundings.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and walked into the restaurant. This Georgetown hangout was known for its power-player lunches and after-work happy hours with the movers and shakers in town. Nick always got the best tables for dinner, and he basically had his own seat at the bar.
When she’d dated Nick, they’d come here often. She still hated a lot of the decisions she’d made where he was concerned, but she’d tried her best to give those regrets to God and move forward.
When she spotted him at the corner of the bar in his usual seat, a wave of memories started to overtake her—some good and some bad. But right now she was on a mission. There was no time for regrets and recriminations.
As Nick’s eyes met hers, they widened.
“Anyone sitting here?” she asked.
He motioned for her to sit down.
“Thanks.”
“You tracked me down outside of work, so something must be on your mind. Wanna have a drink?”
The bartender stood in front of her. “Club soda with lime, please.” She turned her attention back to Nick.
“I’m guessing this isn’t a social visit.” He lifted his glass to his lips.
“It’s not.” She moved in closer to keep her voice down. “Are you read into the IG’s investigation of me?”
He arched an eyebrow. “You realize it’s probably inappropriate for us to even be having this conversation.”
“Now you’re going to worry about what’s appropriate or not?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself.
He set down his drink. “Fair enough. Yes, I actually just got briefed today.”
“It’s all lies, and I need your help.” The words gushed out quicker than she had intended.
Nick sighed. “I know things didn’t end great between us. I was a big jerk, but I care about you, Layla.”
“You wouldn’t have done this to me.” She truly felt that in her gut and had decided to take this approach and see how he responded instead of accusing him outright.
“Never. I’m not the enemy here. I want to see you succeed.” He touched her arm gently before moving back. “And I think you know that, or you wouldn’t have come to me.”
“Actually, Bryce suggested you might be behind the whole thing.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “We both know that’s crazy. You fully understand what my job is like and what my aspirations are. I opened up more to you than I have to anyone. I couldn’t handle a scandal like that. Can you imagine? ‘Top-ranking CIA official sets up his ex’? Talk about a career killer.”
She knew Nick wanted to be the CIA director one day.
He looked directly into her eyes. “Have I ever lied to you?”
She thought carefully. “No. Actually, you haven’t.” He’d said a lot of things to her—some not very nice during the breakup—but he had always been open with her.
“In our line of work, there are a lot of lies and deceptions, but I’ve always been honest with you.”
She had to ask him something else. “Were you the one behind the plan to get me into the field? Riley going to Hunter back during my recruitment—was that all you?”
He shook his head. “No. That was all Riley. He was instantly fascinated with you and your background and was going to stop at nothing to make sure you got into the Agency and ultimately into the field. I agreed with his assessment and was on board with everything, but he was the driving force.”
She wasn’t sure if that made her feel better or worse.
“Did Hunter tell you?” Nick asked.
“Yes, but only recently. I believed a lie for all those years. And you knew it too and didn’t say anything to me about it when I confided in you.” That stung. It really did.
“It wasn’t my place. Riley had sworn me to secrecy years ago, and I keep my word. But Riley isn’t your enemy either. If you’re looking that way, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Riley would put it on the line for you, and if he wasn’t out of the country right now on assignment, he’d probably be in the IG’s office, trying to help you even though he shouldn’t be.”
She decided to take another path. “Then, who do you think my enemy could be?”
He inched closer to her. “Have you considered that someone on the outside is pulling the strings here, maybe using internal contacts to make it happen but driving the process externally?”
She had considered that. “It’s an option on the table. I’m sure they briefed you on those crazy pictures of me. You know I would never do that.”
Nick nodded. “I do. But, Layla, given my position, I’m not supposed to interfere with an independent IG investigation.”
“Even if you know they’re wrong? Even if you risk losing your supposed rising star?” She couldn’t help herself at this point.
“If I vouched for you in a more personal sense, don’t you think that would raise a lot more questions? We don’t want people talking about our relationship. That is in the past, and frankly, it’s none of the IG’s business, and I wasn’t about to make it a part of this. That could’ve put even more heat on you.”
“And you.”
He grinned.
“Why are you smiling?” Frustration built within her.
“Because it’s good seeing you fight for yourself. Facing tests like this will make you better, sharper. Especially in the field.”
“But I don’t want to be in the field.” Why did they refuse to accept her wishes on that?
“You’re far too gifted to be stuck behind a desk. I read the reports from the Honduras op. You were a vital part of the team.”
“I think you’re exaggerating.” She’d just been following the lead of much more seasoned field agents.
He shook his head. “Not at all.” He took her hand. “Listen, Layla, I need to stay on the sidelines on this one. You’ll come out stronger for it. I have the utmost confidence in you, and the IG’s office will get to the truth. I know that’s not the answer you were looking for, but it’s the best I can do.”
“Just promise me one thing.”
“Okay.”
“If I wind up dead, you’ll help clear my good name.”