Teren didn’t move, but her eyes flicked to Alex.“Why should I believe you?”

“Because I haven’t done anything that says you shouldn’t.”

“No, you just brought this jerk —”

“This jerk is my partner. Yes, he’s an idiot sometimes, but he’s my idiot, and I’m asking you to let him leave with the same number of holes in his head that he came in with.”

Teren had to crack a tiny smile at Alex’s dry humor. It wasn’t something she had expected, or ever run across. She wasn’t sure she knew how to deal with it.

“How do I know he won’t go outside and call your friend Jackson?”

“Because I’ll take his cell phone.” Alex was edging closer to Teren, but she made sure her hands were well away from her sides. She didn’t want Teren to think she was trying to attack. “Do we have a deal?”

Teren stared at David a moment later, then slowly eased the hammer forward. Her arm dropped, and David drew in a deep breath for the first time in several minutes.

“David, apologize to Teren.”

David swallowed, and said, “I’m sorry.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

“Good.” Alex moved in front of him, standing directly between her partner, and facing the icy gaze of the dark haired woman. “Now, go outside.”

David tried one last time. “Look, Alex —”

Alex whirled and glared at him. “Get the fuck out of here.”

They locked eyes for a moment. David finally nodded his head. He handed her his cell phone, took one last look at Teren, and turned around. He walked out the front door, glancing back once before leaving the house.

Alex drew a deep breath in through her nose, then let it out threw her mouth. It was another of those calming techniques Sarah wanted her to learn. She reflected that it didn’t help anymore than any of the others.

She turned back to Teren, to see her sliding her weapon back into the holster at the small of her back. Alex’s eyes met Teren’s and held them.

“Thank you for not killing him.”

“Contrary to his opinion, I’m not naturally a violent person.”

“I never thought you were.”

“Really. What did you think, Agent Reis?”

Alex cocked her head and considered. “I always thought you were extremely dangerous, Teren Mylos,” Alex said truthfully. “But I never thought you were purely violent.”

Teren raised an eyebrow. “Thank you, Alex.”

“You’re welcome.” She pointed at the box on the table. “Shall we?”

Teren unloaded the box one item at a time. She would call out the denomination, and the amount of money in each bundle, and Alex would mark it on an inventory sheet, keeping a running total of the cash. The metal case contained over eighty thousand dollars, most of it in one-hundred dollar bills.

They’d finished repacking the money, when Alex noticed a small brown leather pouch that lay outside of the box. Wondering what it was, and why she hadn’t noticed it earlier, she reached for it just as Teren closed the lid on the case. As Alex’s fingers closed around the leather object, Teren’s hand slammed on top of hers.

“What do you think you’re you doing?”

“I was going to look at this leather bag. I’m guessing it came from inside the box. Is that right?”

“Yes. But it doesn’t belong to you.”

“Teren, it’s from the personal artifacts of a suspect in a federal crime. I need to see what it is.”

“It’s from a dead suspect, and no you don’t.”

“Teren, —”

“This is not negotiable, Alex.”

Alex waited a moment, but Teren’s hand didn’t budge. “Alright. Just promise me that I’m not letting go of something that will help me in this case.”

“You aren’t. I swear it.”

“Can’t you tell me what it is?”

“No.”

A moment more, and then Alex nodded. “Fine. Wanna let go of my hand?”

“Let go of the bag first.”

“I would if you’d ease up just a bit.”

Teren realized she was squeezing Alex’s hand too hard for her to do anything. She gently released the agent’s fingers. “Sorry.”

Alex smiled, and let the object drop back to the table. “No problem.”

Teren picked the bag up and tucked it inside her jacket. She fidgeted for a moment, then eyed David’s phone, which Alex had placed on the table. She picked it up and handed it to Alex.

“Here. Call your friends.”

Alex took the phone cautiously. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. They can tear everything apart now.”

Realizing Teren had found what she was looking for, Alex dialed and waited for Cliff to pick up.

“Jackson.”

“It’s Reis. Got a pen?”

She gave him the address, and he told her he’d send the team right away. She hung up and looked at Teren.

“That’s done. Why don’t we go outside so David doesn’t go crazy thinking bad thoughts?”

Teren nodded, then grabbed at Alex as the smaller woman stumbled.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah. I didn’t eat much at lunch, and we didn’t exactly stop for dinner. I think I’ve still got some crackers or something in my briefcase.”

“Do you always get unsteady when you don’t eat?”

“Only if I mix not eating, with not enough sleep, and a whole lot of stress.”

Teren nodded again. “And that’s exactly what you’ve been doing.”

“Well, yeah. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

They went through the front door, easing around the still upright tripods with their guns still attached.

David was leaning against the wall outside the metal gate. He heard the two women come out of the house, and he tensed slightly, hoping Teren had calmed down.

“Cliff’s on the way, David.”

“Any idea how long?”

“They’re taking the ‘copter to the field outside Towson. From there it’s probably less than fifteen minutes. I’d say forty-five for the trip.”

“Good.” David took a deep breath. “Uh, Teren, look—”

“Yeah, I know, you’re a by the book kind of guy, always follows procedure. Don’t push it, David, I’m really not in the mood to kill you tonight.”

“Well, that’s good to know. But I wanted to apologize.”

“Why?”

“Because even though I’m a procedures person, and I still think it was wrong, I had no right to say what I said. That was stupid, and insensitive, and I’m sorry.”

Teren glanced at Alex, but the agent looked away quickly.

“So, you’re apologizing.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I’m not apologizing for arguing, but …” he threw his hands up. “I shouldn’t have said what I said. I am sorry.” He waited a moment longer. “And I don’t think you’re really a killer.”

Teren raised both eyebrows, and was silent so long that David began to sweat. Finally, she nodded.

“Of course I am.” They locked eyes in silence for a moment. “But thanks.”

David nodded once, and turned away. Teren took a breath, and looked over at Alex, who was staring at the ground with a slight smile on her lips. She could see that the blond woman was a little paler than normal.

“Alright, tell you what. David, you wait here for your friends. Alex and I are going to get some dinner. I’ll drive her home afterwards.”

“But —”

“Don’t start arguing with me again, Agent Wu.”

David closed his mouth with a snap.

“Thanks, Teren, but that’s not necessary.”

“I didn’t say it was. Come on, Alex, I’m hungry.” She started across the street towards her car.

“But —”

“Like she said, don’t argue with her, Alex.” David grinned. “Go on. I know that monster in your stomach is probably giving you a hard time. Besides, I think Cliff will understand. I’ll just tell him you were trying to keep a working relationship with our CIA contact.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Mind? I have a choice between that house, with it’s traps disabled, or hanging around with a spook who wouldn’t mind blowing my head off. I thinkt I have more chance of surviving if I stay here.”

“She wouldn’t shoot you, David.”

David’s face was very serious. “You didn’t see her eyes, Alex. I thought I was dead.” They looked at each other.