Page 27

The passenger in our vehicle was taking the lead. We were already drawing attention, the early afternoon crowd on a beautiful day taking note.

“That’s Lieutenant Grant,” I retorted. “And we’re not going anywhere until you tell us why we’re being detained.”

“You’re not being detained, Lieutenant,” he countered. “We were told to escort you to the Federal offices.”

“Attorneys?”

“Yes, sir.”

“We need to talk to someone, Maddox,” she offered. “Everything will be fine.”

I turned toward her. “Like I said. I don’t like this.”

“Neither do I, but what choice do we have? We have vital information that could help.”

The men seemed to have itchy fingers, acting like we were the enemy. Gray and I were going to have a long talk when all this was over. Something was way off about this. The thought she was being used continued to furrow in my mind. “Fine, but we expect answers.”

“Yes, sir, I understand. You’ll get them.”

As I led her back to the SUV, the suits stood around us as if we were still going to make a run for it. What the hell was going on?

When we were safely seated inside, I tried Gray’s number again. So far, he’d avoided two calls. That wasn’t like him and was something else to piss me off.

“Gray. I’m telling you. Give me a call.”

“You can’t get him?” she asked, the fear returning to her voice.

“No.” I rubbed my jaw, thinking about how this was going to play out. Until the very end of my career, I hadn’t been on the receiving end of harsh questions. Then they’d come fast and furious. This reminded me of the two long days I’d spent in debriefing meetings.

Interrogations. That’s what they’d been. Even with what Charmaine had gotten herself in the middle of, she didn’t deserve any additional harsh treatment.

The sons of bitches weren’t racking up the best points.

Minutes later, the entire brigade drove underground to a private parking area. When we stepped out, the others did as well and I noticed they were paying close attention to the space. What in God’s name were they expecting?

They climbed out, scanning the area like I would do in any covert operation. Once they opened the door, I sensed they were in a hurry.

We were escorted to an elevator, half the men cramming inside, the others remaining where they were.

She huddled next to me and the closeness was as damning as before.

When she touched my hand, I had a strong urge to take her away from all this.

As soon as the doors opened and we stepped out into the lobby, we were stopped.

“I’ll need to take your weapon, Lieutenant.” Well, one of the other men had a voice.

“Why?”

“Because it’s standard procedure.”

“You mean you’re afraid I might use it.” I reached into my jacket pocket, debating whether I should follow his orders.

“You’ll get it back once the meeting is finished.”

Somehow, that didn’t make me feel any more comfortable.

I checked the ammunition before I handed it over, staring him directly in the eyes. “As soon as the meeting is over.”

“Yes, sir.”

We were led down a corridor past several offices, stopping at a closed door seconds later. “You’ll be in here, sir.”

“What does that mean? I won’t be in there with him?” Charmaine asked, her anxiety rising.

“No, ma’am. You’ll be down the hall in another conference room.”

“Why are we being separated?” I knew the protocol. That didn’t mean in this situation I liked what they were doing.

“To expedite your time. That’s all I was told. Sir, if you will.” He opened the door and I hesitated.

She squeezed my arm. “I’ll be alright. Will you wait for me?”

We’d been told nothing about timing so there was no way of knowing how long we’d be kept in DC. “Yeah, I’ll be here.”

“Good. Just…”

She didn’t need to say it. What I had in my pocket could keep us on a lot of radars.

I walked inside, instantly feeling claustrophobic. For all the windows in the place, they wanted the heat on us. They better have a damn good reason.

The door was closed behind me and I stood staring at the small conference table. There were bottles of water on the table and nothing else. Maybe they were afraid I’d go ballistic. I’d been known to do that on more than one occasion.

I remained standing, heading toward the back wall and leaning against it. I pulled out my phone, double checking Gray hadn’t tried to return the call.

He hadn’t.

Exhaling, I leaned my head against the surface, trying to control my anger. That was tough for me to do and had been for a long time. Anyone who knew my back story realized I didn’t like feeling like a caged animal. I tended to get very cranky.

Minutes passed. At least ten.

I was ready to walk out when the door opened, Gray and two other gentlemen walking in. Gray studied me for a few seconds before closing the door behind him.

My attention was drawn to the two men, both in suits, but given one was obviously more expensive than the other, I’d say an attorney and a Fed.

“You better have a goddamn good explanation for this cloak and dagger shit, Gray. And for the fact you didn’t return my phone calls.”

“Why don’t you sit down, Maddox? You’ll be more comfortable. You’ve been through an ordeal.” Gray appeared more withdrawn than when he’d casually walked into the bar. If I had to guess, I’d say he’d been coached as to what he could say to me.

“I think I’ll stand. Why don’t you tell me what the hell is going on?” I glanced from man to the other two for a second time.

The once formidable Commander Jenkins seemed unsure of himself. That was odd given everything we’d been through. “You managed to infiltrate Alfaro’s organization not once, but twice in your career.” Gray kept his words succinct, almost as if silently telling me to do the same.

I laughed. “I wouldn’t say I infiltrated the organization. I simply followed through with an extraction as requested.” Why was it all three men appeared uncomfortable? “Hold on. You didn’t expect I’d manage to save Ms. Douglas. Did you?”

“I simply knew if anyone could, you’d be up for the task.”

“You fucking make this sound as if it was a cakewalk. We were almost killed twice. What the hell is going on and who are these men? Commander?”

He winced from my over-emphasis.

“Fine. What about the women I helped escape? Were they found?” I glared from one to the other.

Gray finally smiled. “Six of them were so far, but they’re still searching for the others. You saved their lives, Maddox.”

“You should thank Charmaine. She refused to go without them.”

The awkward tension pushed me closer to an edge.

“Lieutenant Maddox Grant, meet FBI agent Steven Wilshire and Attorney General Jack Price. They are helping with the investigation into Fernando Alfaro’s operations.”

He’d used all formal names, which meant this was a mandated shit show, details of which I hadn’t been privy to.

Exhaling, I curtailed my anger at this point.

But that wouldn’t last for long. I was more than hot under the collar since I’d obviously been lied to.

“I was successful in my mission. What are you… gentlemen searching for?”

“The truth, Lieutenant,” the agent stated. He seemed none too happy with my presence.

“About Alfaro?” I tossed out. “He’s a narcissistic dictator determined to take over the cocaine industry in as many countries as possible and he’ll do what’s necessary to make that happen, including killing off his enemies.

Since they got wise to his methods, he hired a scientist to provide a chemical compound that could be easily disguised thereby bypassing traditional methods of security. Am I right?”

I’d come close enough the agent appeared anxious.

“Yes, but it’s not that simple. The truth is we’re looking for a possible saboteur who is a threat to national security.” The attorney was frank, not over-embellishing his statement, which I appreciated.

“I could have told you that. However, what the hell does that have to do with me?”

In my experience dealing with enemies from other countries during my darkly illustrious career, I’d learned to capture the obvious. Tones, inflections, and body tics were extremely useful in discovering instantly if someone was lying.

All three men were hesitant to tell me but so much.

“What. The. Fuck? Do you really think an award-winning journalist like Charmaine Douglas somehow turned traitor? If you do, then you people are clueless.” When not one of the men countered me, I headed to the door.

“It’s apparent you do. I’m out of here and I’m taking Charmaine.

And there’s nothing you can do to stop me. ”