Teren didn’t say anything.

“I remember you telling me there was a reason you thought the same person or persons were behind the death of your partner and the murders I’m working on. If it’s something you absolutely can’t tell me, I’ll accept that. But you even agreed earlier that we’re on the same side. If you have any information, I really need you to share it with me.”

“You’ve been doing very well on your own, Alex. Why would you need me?”

“Everything I’ve found has simply confirmed what you told me Monday night. George Mather and Darryl Wilford killed several people. Now their dead. I need to find who killed them.”

“Why? I thought they did you a favor.”

“Because whoever killed them also ordered the murders. They’re the ones I want.”

Teren stayed quiet.

“You told me you wanted them, too.”

“I do.”

“Then help me.”

Teren sighed. “Look, I already told you, when I get the word on Mather’s apartment, I’ll let you know.”

“Teren, —”

“Alex, stop.”

They were both quiet for a moment. Teren glanced at her passenger.

“How do I know I can trust you, Agent Reis?”

Alex tilted her head. “I could ask you the same question, Agent Mylos.”

A nod. “So, it looks like we’re at an impasse.”

“Looks like.”

Teren pulled the car over to the curb in front of Alex’s apartment house. She dimmed the lights, but didn’t turn the engine off.

“Teren, I know the killings were probably ordered by the Klan, but I can’t prove it.”

“You mean Derek White?”

“Yes. He has a cousin in Philadelphia named Kyle Brogan. We can’t prove it, but we’re positive Brogan gave Mather his car to make the hit in. Then he reported it as stolen.”

“I think you’re wrong.”

That stopped Alex. “What are you talking about?”

“Look, I’m not saying White isn’t involved. I think he is. But I don’t think he’s the guy at the top.”

“So who is?”

“I don’t know. If I did, do you think I would need your help?”

They stared at each other in the darkness of the car. Alex was shocked by Teren’s admission, but could clearly hear the frustration in her voice.

“What do you need me to do?”

“You have access to records that I can’t get. Officially, I’m no longer an agent; I’m on leave for at least another two months. I have some sources, but none of them are legal, and I wouldn’t trust any of them not to slit my throat. I need someone who has access to information I don’t have.”

Alex took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Then maybe you’ll be interested in making a deal.”

“I hate deals, Alex.”

“I’m not fond of them. But my boss, Cliff Jackson, said he would be willing to share resources with you.”

Teren fixed an eye on her. “If?”

“If you share all your information with us.”

Teren gave a hollow laugh. “Right. I give him information, he lets it slip to the wrong person, and I’m the next person getting their ass blown to hell. I don’t think so.”

Alex could see her point. She searched for a way to bridge the distance between their positions.

“Okay. Let me give you a little bit of what we know. George Mather, Kyle Brogan, Darryl Wilford and Derek White knew each other. We can prove that.”

Teren just nodded.

“Because of his involvement in right wing extremist groups, the FBI keeps a general surveillance on White. We know he’s been visiting a lot of different cities. Unfortunately, we don’t know how, or if, his travels tie into the conspiracy. We also don’t know why he would suddenly change his mind and kill his killers before they finished their job. Now, the letter that went to the Post said that at least five people would die, after Max Rhodes.Three have, and we know Mather and Wilford were responsible for two of them. That leaves at least two more killings that are supposed to occur.”

Another nod.

“We also know Darryl Wilford was spending a lot of money, but I can’t trace where it came from. He made huge deposits into his bank account but it was always in cash. There were no electronic transfers.”

Teren gazed at her steadily. Alex was running out of things to say.

“We’ve got Brogan under surveillance, and we’re hoping he’ll crack. We’re also looking at a clothes company that White is involved in —”

“Kittredge.”

Alex paused. “Yes.”

Teren nodded. “Take a close look at Kittredge. And not just at how it’s connected to White, but others that are linked to it as well. Look at the money, closely.”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “You know something about the company?”

“I know it makes fine clothes for men. I also know that for the amount it spends on materials, it makes very few fine clothes for men.”

“Really.” Teren nodded. “And I should follow the money?”

“Yes.”

Alex took the tip seriously. “Thank you.”

Another nod.

“I wish I could give you a tip as well, but I’ve already told you everything we have. We’re waiting for reports on a few places we know Wilford visited, but I have no idea if any of them will pan out.”

Teren sighed again. “So, what resources was Agent Jackson willing to share?”

“I’m not sure. You said you needed someone with access to records. What records are you looking for?”

“Financial. Transactions from a bank account in the Cayman Islands. It was closed just after the fiasco in Europe. I want to know where the money came from, and what happened to it.”

“Whose account was it?”

“Mather’s.”

Alex nodded. “Do you have the account number?” At Teren’s nod, she asked, “Will you give it to me?”

It took a moment, but finally Teren nodded again. She pulled a pen from the sun visor, and a notepad from the side pocket on the door. After a minute she handed a paper to Alex. Alex reached for it, and Teren pulled it away.

“I’m trusting you to share what you learn, Alex.”

“Whatever I learn you’ll learn. I promise.”

She took the paper and slid it into the pocket inside her jacket. “Is there a number where I can get in touch with you?”

“I’ll call you. If you don’t want to wait you can always leave a message with Margo. I’ll get back to you.”

“Right. I’ll check this out tomorrow, and let you know what I find.”

“Okay.”

Alex reached for the door handle. Teren turned the headlights on, and watched Alex climb out of the car.

She turned and looked back. “Thanks for trusting me, Teren.”

Teren looked at her. “Just remember, Alex. It’s a chess game. Defend and attack. You have to risk something if you want to win.”

“And you never lose, do you Teren?”

“Only once, Alex. And I won’t let it happen again.”

The last sentence was spoken in a dead voice, and it chilled Alex more than the weather ever could. She nodded once more, then closed the car door. She could once again feel Teren’s eyes on her back as she walked up to the front door. Once she was inside, Teren drove away. Alex breathed a sigh of relief and took the stairs to go to her apartment.

She was changing her clothes when she realized she’d forgotten to tell Teren about Perry Watson’s bank accounts.

Teren watched the front door close behind Alex, and then pulled away from the curb. It would be a long drive to her condo, and she settled in, turning the radio on. But she couldn’t get the conversation out of her head.

Attack and defend. Risk and protect. She had truly felt she could trust the FBI agent, and had therefore taken a risk by sharing the account number with her. Teren had no idea where the money might have gone, but she did know where it had come from. The problem was, if certain people knew she was aware of it, she would find a bomb under her car one day. That was the reason she had hesitated to share the number with Alex.

If the wrong people found Alex sniffing around the account, the agent could be in a lot of danger.

Risk and protect. Sharing the account number with Agent Reis had been a risk, but Teren couldn’t decide who for.