Page 46 of Stone Coast

I climbed out of the cabin, walked across the cockpit, and stepped to the dock.

Gavin and Silas loitered around, keeping a vigilant watch on the surroundings. I strolled away from theIntrepidand gave myself a little space.

“How’d it go?” Tyson asked as he joined me.

“Good, I think.”

We chatted on the dock for a bit in whispered tones.

After Ross consulted with Jared, he called me back aboard the boat. He smiled as I joined them in the galley. "Congratulations. Jared found nothing in your polygraph to indicate deception. As of now, I don't see you as a security risk. But for your protection, we will be keeping you under surveillance and monitoring."

"What does that mean? Are you going to spy on my phone? Install more cameras and bugs on my boat?”

Ross flashed a reassuring smile. "No. My apologies for that. But it was necessary at the time. You understand.” He took a breath. "I just mean we will be checking on you from time to time and making sure that no one else tries to harm you.”

"What are you going to do? Post officers on guard?”

"No. Nothing like that. But I would like to move you to an internal position.”

"A desk job?”

"Temporarily, of course. You'll make a great analyst. It will let us keep tabs on you and give you an opportunity to learnabout the organization again. Perhaps it will spark something in that brain of yours.”

"I don't want to sit behind a desk.”

"You're not exactly ready to go back into the field. This isn’t up for debate.”

My jaw tightened. I didn't really like where this was going. "What if I don't want an internal position?"

Ross shrugged as he considered it. "Of course, you're free to do whatever you choose. We would offer a generous compensation package with medical benefits, of course, if you should wish to end your employment. Who knows? In time, after a full recovery, you might be able to come back into the fold.” He paused and surveyed me carefully. "What exactly is it that you want? Do you even know?”

"I want to get my life back. I want to find the people who murdered Grayson."

"Understandable. All the more reason why I think you would thrive in an internal position. You would have access to all of our resources. I can think of no better way than to use the full power of the agency to find the man who killed your boyfriend.”

"I know who killed my boyfriend. I just need to prove it.”

Ross lifted an impressed eyebrow. "Who do you think is responsible?”

I told him.

"And I suppose you and Tyson discovered this?”

I nodded.

Ross made his best attempt at a reassuring smile. “How about you take a few days to decide? There's no reason to give me your answer today. Take some time. As much as you like. A week or two. How does that sound?"

I nodded.

"Good. We’ll circle back in a few weeks. In the meantime, I don't want you discussing your involvement with the CIA with anyone else, including Tyson. I know you had your discussions. But from here on out, no more talk of it."

That was a promise I didn't know if I could keep. "I've got questions of my own.”

Ross paused. "I'm an open book. Ask me anything. As long as it is not classified, I can discuss it with you. Unfortunately, you've lost your security clearance for the time being.”

"I want you hooked up to the poly when I ask my questions.”

Ross lifted a surprised brow. Subordinates didn't demand a superior officer take a polygraph. The look on his face told me as much.