After all, Alex appeared to be a damn good FBI agent. She was quick, and smart, and not easily intimidated. Teren knew that was going to be important if Alex was to solve her current case. And Teren wanted it solved. She knew that the people behind Perry’s death were probably behind many more. She wanted Alex to lead her to them.

Of course, then Teren and Alex would have a problem. Alex would want the guilty party taken to jail. Teren would want them taken to the morgue.

Teren glanced at her watch. It was almost seven-thirty. She’d be late to her class, but if she hurried, she could be there by quarter ‘til. Already constructing her excuse, Teren slid behind the wheel of her Nissan, and pulled away from the curb.

Chapter Five

Alex looked grumpy but semi-coherent as she got into David’s car. Without comment, David handed her a donut and a cup of hot chocolate. As he drove, Alex ate. Other than the engine and the radio, silence ruled the car as David pulled on the interstate to take them into Baltimore.

She finished the donut and crumbled the paper, still slowly sipping at the cup in her hand. With a glance at David, Alex sat up a little straighter, and rubbed her eyes.

“I thought you were just going home after we talked last night. You look like you were up all night. What happened?”

“Couldn’t sleep much. Think Cliff’ll kill me if I slip home for a nap this afternoon?”

“Can’t tell you. But you do look beat. Any reason you were up?”

“Don’t laugh. I was having bad dreams.”

David smiled, but managed not to even chuckle at his partner.

“You, bad dreams? You’re the one who stayed up watching horror movies all night on Halloween — when there was a thunderstorm raging, I might add.”

“I know.”

She was quiet longer than he liked. “Want to talk about it?”

Alex sighed. “I can’t prove it, but I think someone was following me last night.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“No. It could have been my imagination. After all, when you’ve spent part of the evening talking to a CIA assassin, you kind of get the heebie-jeebies anyway. But I could swear there was somebody there.”

“Wait, hold on. What assassin?”

“Teren Mylos. I told you about her, remember?”

“The frostbite bitch?”

“I didn’t call her that.”

“No, but if you couldn’t charm her, she deserves the name. She’s an assassin?”

“Yeah. That’s the bad news. The good news is, she’s on our side.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means she’s searching for the same guys we are. She thinks they may have had something to do with her partner’s death.”

“Hm.” David waited while Alex finished her cocoa. “Think she could be the one following you?”

Alex sighed. “I don’t know, Dave. Why would she? It’s not like I’m a threat to her.”

“Maybe she’s not what she says she is. You know spooks switch sides all the time.”

“I know. Fun and games, man, fun and games.” They grinned at each other. “But I don’t think so, Dave. She’s serious, deadly serious. Her partner died, and she took two bullets because this guy blew their cover. She thinks he was paid for it, and by the same guys that paid to have Dabir killed.”

“Any proof?”

“Well, she did I.D. the shooter as George Mather, former CIA agent, the same man whoscrewed them in eastern Europe.”

“At least we have his name. Did she say who paid him then?”

“No. I don’t think she knows that. But she does know something, I’d bet on it.”

“What about the driver?”

“Mather’s brother-in-law. An agency wannabe. Name’s Darryl Wilford. And by the way, Teren ‘says’ that no prejudice was involved on their part.”

“Bullshit. You and I both know there was.”

“I don’t know, Dave, she made a really convincing case. After all, she knew this guy, and was convinced he killed for money, not ideology. I’m inclined to believe her on that.”

“So now you don’t think these killings were racist?”

“I didn’t say that. I said, I agree that Mather may not have killed out of prejudice. Doesn’t mean that whoever paid him wasn’t a racist son of a bitch.”

David tapped his hand against the steering wheel in frustration. “How does that help us, Alex? I mean, doesn’t that put us back at square one? I mean we know about Brogan’s family ties, and I’m telling you he gave them the car. But how do we tie him to this Mather guy?”

“I don’t know. But I was asking Teren about how he would be paid, and she said it would either be cash or electronic transfer. That reminds me,” Alex reached down to her belt and unclipped her cell-phone. She dialed rapidly, then waited.

“Who’re you calling?”

“Jenny, that friend of mine in Research. She’s a whiz with — Hey, Jen, this is Alex, howya doin’?”

“I’m good, Alex, but busy. And I have a feeling you’re going to make me even busier, right?”

“Could be.”

“Hey, didn’t we do enough for you with that report for Ken? He said it was also for you. Didn’t we do a good enough job?”

“Oh, you guys were great. That was really helpful, and when David and I go back to Philly we’ll be able to really put the screws to Mr. Brogan.”

“If he’s involved in this shit, Alex, I hope you get him, but good.”

“Thanks, Jen. But, you were right, you know. I am going to ask you for something else.”

“Damn. Knew you wouldn’t just call to say thanks.”

“If you can help me out with this, I’ll send you roses and a thank-you card.”

“Oh, don’t do that, my boyfriend will get jealous.”

Alex laughed along with her friend, then became serious again. “Okay, Jen, got a pen and paper?”

“Yeah, go.”

“All right, I need any and all financial records you can find on these two names. First one is Mather, m-a-t-h-e-r, first name George. You might have some trouble getting things on him because he’s confirmed CIA, but try anyway.”

“Okay, and number two?”

“Wilford, w-i-l-f-o-r-d. First name Darryl, d-a-r-r-y-l. Unfortunately, that’s all I know about him, just his name.”

“So, you want background as well as financial?”

“At this point, anything, but especially finances.” Alex bit her lip, and then gave a half-sigh. “Hell, let me give you these other two names as well. I don’t know if you’ll find anything, since they’re CIA as well, but we can try.”

“Great. Don’t suppose you want to tell me why I’m chasing spooks for you?”

“Not really.”

“Didn’t think so. What are the other names?”

“Watson, Perry. Spell it just like it sounds.” She waited a moment. “Mylos, m-y-l-o-s. First name Teren, t-e-r-e-n.”

“Got it. Mather, Wilford, Watson, and Mylos. Good guys, or bad guys?”

“At this point, I’m not so sure I can tell them apart. I’m hoping you can help.”

“I’ll do my best, pal. You still with that cute partner of yours?”

“You mean David?”

“Yeah. Is he still married?”

“Yes.”

“Damn. Well, gotta go. Somebody, who shall remain nameless, just dumped a shitload of work on me.”

“Sorry, pal. Get me something on these guys, and I’ll send over lunch for you and the old gang, all right?”

“Hey, that’ll work! Talk to you later, Alex.”

“Thanks, Jen.”

Alex folded the phone and reclipped it to her belt.

“What was that about me?” David asked.

“Oh, Jen thinks you’re cute.”

“She always had good taste.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you saw her new boyfriend.”

“Bad?”

“I hear he has piercings where no one should have piercings.”

“Ouch.” He waited. “Okay, you want to tell me why you just ordered financial records on someone who’s supposed to be dead?”

“You mean Watson? I don’t know. I mean, I know the guy’s dead, but —” She threw up her hands. “I don’t know, call it a hunch.”

“And this Mylos?”

Alex frowned. “Again, I can’t tell you why. Something in me says I can trust her, but something else says I should be prepared in case she’s not all she seems.”