Page 22 of Stone Coast (Tyson Wild Thriller)
" I 'm going to start with some baseline questions,” Jared said.
I nodded.
I was nervous, even though I didn't have anything to lie about.
"Are you currently employed by the CIA?”
I thought about it for a moment. "That's what they tell me.”
"Is your name Savannah Stone?"
“That's what they tell me,” I said again in a slightly sassy tone.
He gave me a somewhat annoyed look, and I responded with a slight shrug of my eyebrow. I don't think he was expecting that answer, but it was the truth. I had to take everything everyone told me at face value.
"What city are we in? ”
"Pineapple Bay.”
"What state are we in?”
"Florida.”
"I'm going to ask you some control questions," Jared said.
"I'm an open book. And not a very thick one at that.”
"Have you ever lied?”
"I'm sure I have.”
"Can you be more specific?”
"No. I can’t be more specific.”
“Have you ever taken anything that doesn't belong to you?”
"Not that I recall."
Jared studied the computer screen as I responded, looking for anomalies. By the look on his face, I don't think this was quite going the way he planned.
"Have you ever killed anyone?”
"Yes.” It sounded weird to say.
"How many people have you killed?”
"I think Ross is in a better position to answer that than I am.” I had the distinct impression that my time at the CIA wasn't exactly benign.
"I'm not asking Ross questions. I'm asking you questions.” Jared paused. "I'll repeat the question again. How many people have you killed?”
"One that I know about. ”
Jared studied the screen.
“Do you have any memory of being mugged?”
"No."
"Do you have any memory prior to being mugged?”
“No.”
"Have you ever taken something that didn't belong to you?”
"Not that I recall.” He’d asked the question before, just in a different way. It was a tactic to wear you down and check for inconsistencies.
"Have you spoken to anyone else about your employment with the CIA?”
"Yes.”
"Who?”
"Tyson Wild. In my defense, he was the one who told me about my association with the Company.”
Jared studied the screen as I answered. “Anyone else?”
“No.”
"Do you have any recollection of classified information or operations?”
“No.”
"Have you been contacted by any foreign operatives?”
“No.”
“Are you currently working with any foreign operatives or hostile entities? "
I chuckled. “No.”
“Just answer the question.” He repeated it.
I got the impression that Jared wasn’t a lot of fun at parties.
“No,” I said.
“Do you have any recollection of your training or missions with the CIA?”
“No.”
The questions went on like that for about an hour. Jared asked the same questions, phrased in different ways, multiple times. I answered consistently throughout the interview. There wasn't any other way to answer.
Finally, the interview wrapped up. Jared removed the sensors and monitoring equipment. I was free of the machine.
Jared exchanged a look with Ross. They needed to discuss the results.
Jared kept his cards close to his chest. I couldn't read his expression one way or the other.
He was one of those unemotional, nerdy guys who just cared about the data.
He didn't have good interpersonal skills. That much was clear from his interview.
Ross said, "Would you excuse us for a moment while we discuss the results?"
"Sure," I said. "When I get back, I’m gonna ask you for a favor.”
"Anything," Ross said. “Just name it.”
A slight smirk tugged my lips .
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 the Intrepid and 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 learn about 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.
"You said anything," I reminded him with a smile.
Ross matched my smile and replied, "I did, didn't I?"
After a moment's pause, he agreed.
Jared broke out the polygraph device and all the accessories. He rigged Ross up, and my section chief took a seat at the settee. There was enough room for me to sit beside Jared and keep an eye on the screen as I interrogated Ross.
"Are you ready to begin?"
Ross nodded .
“I'm going to ask a few baseline questions," I said.
"Whenever you're ready," he replied.
I went through the standard questions. Once I asked all my baselines and controls, I proceeded with the most important question. "Was the mugging an attempt on my life?"
"I don't have enough information to answer that. I assume that the attackers were after something valuable.”
"Did you have any involvement?”
Ross looked astonished by the question. "No.”
"Have you ever been involved at any stage in any plots or attempts to have me assassinated?”
He balked. "No."
"Please answer the question again.”
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
"Was the attack at Grayson's house carried out under your direction or control?"
"No."
I studied the monitor on the laptop for any signs of deception. Ross's vitals had remained steady, even through all of these questions. But I wasn't done yet.
“Do you believe I'm a threat to the agency?"
"After what I saw here today, no. But your memory problems make you vulnerable. And that is a threat. "
"Have you ever taken steps to discredit me within the agency?”
"No."
"Have you, in the past, or are you now, planning on taking hostile action toward me?”
"No.”
"Do you have any personal vendettas against me?”
"No.”
“Do you have any reasons to want me dead?”
"You're quite paranoid, aren't you?"
"I'm sure you taught me to be that way. Just answer the question. Do you have any reason to want me dead?"
"No.”
"Are you aware of any plans to harm me?”
"No.”
I studied the monitor carefully, and again, there were no signs of deception throughout all of these questions.
Ross wasn’t a field agent. I didn’t think he possessed the skill to beat a poly. And I had caught him unprepared. It was probably as close to the truth as I was going to get. And it did make me feel somewhat relieved.
"Is there anything else?" Ross asked.
"Who's the most beautiful woman on this boat?"
Ross laughed .
"It's a legitimate question."
"Indeed it is, and an easy one to answer. You are far and away, the most beautiful woman in all of Pineapple Bay.”
A slight smirk may have curled my lips.
"How did I do?"
"I think you passed,” I said.
"Well, that's a relief! Can I get out of this contraption now?”
"Yes, you may,” I said.
Ross unhooked the gear, and Jared stuffed it all back into the case.
"I hope you weren't offended by any of my questions," I said.
Ross smiled. “Not at all. I think this was good for us.
It puts us on even ground. We know who's who and who we can trust. You were always one of my best operatives.
I'm looking forward to the day when I can say that again.” He smiled and put a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"Is there anything you need from me? Anything I can do?”