Defenseless (Salvation, #5)(63)
“Let’s not play games. You and I both know your father would’ve passed the information to the only person he trusted—you.”
“Sir,” I say. I’m still trying to ensure I display the appropriate reactions. Confusion is the one I’m working with now. “If I knew anything that my father knew, wouldn’t I have already gotten Mazir?”
He studies me, watching for a tip that I’m lying. They know my tells. They know my every move. They created it, but they don’t understand how far I’m willing to go for this. “Unless that was part of your plan.”
“What plan?” Now I work on anger. “How dare you question my loyalty to this agency? I’ve worked my entire life in service of this country. I lost a parent who was everything to me. I’ve had countless bruises and beatings, and I’ve spent years of my life on missions, all for the CIA. Now, you come in my home and do this?”
Damn. That was good.
“Cut the crap, Charlie. I trained you, and I know you better than this.”
“You apparently don’t.”
“I knew your father. He would’ve told either you or me. He would’ve never left any chance for the investigation to derail.”
I humpf and mull over that piece of information. “Well, Chris, if he didn’t share it with me, maybe you’ve known it all along. Maybe you want to push me into thinking there’s more than I actually know. I can only guess your intentions, but whatever my father had—I don’t know what it is or where he left it. Besides, you and I both know you’re not here for the reasons you claim. You’ve already proven that.”
His hand makes a loud smack when he hits the table. “I’ll give you one week. One week to fill this file with everything you know. Everything he told you. Or I’ll start picking off your family members one by one. Should we start with Priscilla . . . or Dominic? Maybe your new boy toy would like a visit?”
He really doesn’t know anything, but he’s right about my father. He would’ve told Chris. They were friends, partners in a lot of ways, and shared a lot of knowledge. Which means my father lost his trust in him somewhere along the way. There’s not a chance in hell I’m telling him a damn thing. I also don’t believe him about how long I have to get him any information. I have no time. No one ever tips their hand like that. I’ll die tonight if he doesn’t think I have what he wants, or I’ll die tonight if he thinks I’m hiding it. So, I have to fight. When I first found the file there was a handwritten note inside that warned me to trust no one.
I shake my head and huff. “I can’t tell you what I don’t know, Sir. Unless you’d like me to fabricate something?”
I alternate between addressing him by his name and title. I want to see if he notes it, responds to it, or ignores me. I’ve known him since I was a kid. There may not be any advantages for me, but I know his kind. I was raised by his clone. I try to imagine what my father would do. He’d threaten me and force me to fall at his mercy. He might alternate from good guy who wants to help to bad guy, keeping me on my toes. Good thing I’m light on my feet, and him threatening my family or Mark just makes me furious. I’ll kill him and everyone he’s ever known if he touches a hair on their heads. Bloodlust paints my vision, but I keep it in check.
“Don’t play coy with me, little girl. You’re way out of your pay grade.”
I stand because he’s out of his damn mind if he thinks he can talk to me like this. “You want information I don’t have. I want the information you think I have. So, how does this even make sense? If I knew anything, I’d be in that country right now. I’d have Mazir’s head in my hands. But I don’t. I don’t know where he is, what he’s up to, or anything more than I gave in my debrief, Sir. If I already knew what my father was up to, I never would’ve opened that file.”
Director Asher stands so we’re eye to eye. “Say what you want, Charlie. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. You have one week to get me what should’ve been in that file. One week before I start taking matters into my own hands.”
He swipes the file off the table and is gone before I can draw a breath. I scan the room, trying to wrap my mind around all that has happened. I’m sure that they’ve bugged my house, searched through any possible space they could find. The only solace I have right now is that if they had found the file in my office, this meeting would’ve never happened.
My mind spins with questions. Do I search for the devices that I know are here or leave them and go to my safe house? I don’t even know if it’s safe anymore, but no one knows where it is. It’s really the only place I can go. But what about his threat? Do I call Mark? Call my mother?
I can’t stay here. I can’t say or do anything I don’t want to be tracked. Notifying anyone is completely absurd. They need to be left in the dark. It’s safer for them.
I quickly change my clothes into something non-descript. My jeans and white shirt will blend easily. There are bound to be a few tourists in similar clothing. I throw on my gray hoodie and grab my purse. There are no easy choices here. Either I’ll end up dead or someone I love will. Once out the door, I lock everything as if I’m heading to the store. The feeling of being watched is heightened. If Christopher wants me to be seen, I’ll have multiple tails. This will have to be timed perfectly.