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He was the one in charge, she decided quickly. Even Caleb had straightened to attention.
“Doctor Barone, I’m Assistant Director Lucas Caldwell with the FBI,” he said.
He gestured to the others. “Special Agents Martinez and Lowell from the DEA’s Miami Division, Special Agent Mia Anderson, FBI, Phoenix Field Office, and Special Agent Zamora, DEA, Phoenix Division. You’ve already met Special Agent Walton.”
His sharp blue gaze locked on her. “We’d like to ask you some questions about Vincente Lopez Garcia and DEA Special Agent Cardenas.”
Chin lifted, she faced the agents in the room. “Vincente murdered Antonio Cardenas. Said he was a DEA spy. I witnessed it. That’s why I ran.”
Her tongue swiped over dry lips. “I know I should have gone to the police or DEA right away, but…I was afraid.”
Caldwell’s gaze shifted to Caleb. “You need to wait outside.”
Caleb’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not happening.”
The Assistant Director didn’t blink. “You and your colleagues have official statements to give to Special Agent Walton about yesterday’s events.”
His voice lowered. “I pulled strings, son, with the Attorney General to have the US Marshal’s Office deputize Dìleas Security Agency personnel as federal agents. If I hadn’t, you’d all be facing federal charges.”
Gia’s breath hitched.
The risk Caleb and his friends had taken for her…
No one had ever done that before.
She blinked back sudden tears and touched Caldwell’s sleeve. “Thank you.”
His expression softened for the briefest moment before turning steely again. “Your meeting is down the hall, Sergeant Varella. Special Agent Walton will escort you.”
“I’ll be fine,” Gia promised Caleb, though her pulse hammered.
His gold-flecked eyes met hers. He placed a swift, hard kiss on her lips. “I’ll be right outside when you’re done, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.”
With one last look leveled at Assistant Director Caldwell, Caleb left.
Gia turned back to the government agents. Their badges gleamed under the ceiling lights, their expressions unreadable.
She drew a long breath. Held it.
Caldwell gestured to a chair. “Have a seat.”
Caleb followed Special Agent Walton to a second conference room, where Lachlan, Nathan, Ryder, and Danny were already waiting.
Danny slid a paper cup across the table. “Coffee?”
Nathan took a sip from his own and winced. “Gotta be a retired senior chief making this swill.”
Lachlan glanced up from his phone and addressed Agent Walton. “Mind giving us a few minutes, pal? I still have a business to run, and something needs my team’s immediate attention.”
“Immediate attention, huh?” The agent’s tone dripped with skepticism. But after a brief hesitation, he shoved back his chair. “Ten minutes.”
The door clicked shut behind him.
Lachlan nodded to Nathan, who pulled out a palm-sized black box, pressed a button, and set it on the table.
“There,” Lachlan said, “now we can talk.”
He cast a pointed look at Caleb and Danny. “How many bodies need to be handled?”