Ken laughed at the shocked look on Alex’s face. “For some reason, they decided it was important to follow some corporate links, rather than the right-wing groups. So, they’ve been over at the IRS offices a lot, looking at tax records. You’ll have to talk to them yourself. When they found out you were coming back, they said they had some great stuff for you.”
“But you don’t know what they’re doing, Cliff?”
“Oh, I know where they are, and I know they’re tracking corporate leads, I just don’t have any specifics for you. In the week or so that you’ve been gone, I’ve kind of left them to their own stuff,” Cliff said. “They requested to miss the daily meetings so they could spend their time at the IRS— they were on to something, and they weren’t letting it go.”
“Well, good for them.”
The door to the study opened, and Alex turned to see Ron Graves leave the room and head for the stairs. A moment, later, Andrew Collins called her.
Alex stood and shared a grim look with Ken and Cliff, before going back into the study and closing the door behind her.
Collins seated himself and motioned her to sit down. She did so and he nodded. “You’re off rogue status, Reis.”
Alex let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “Thank you, s—”
Collins held up a hand. “Don’t thank me, ” he said. “You’re not a fugitive, but I’m afraid I will have to ask for your badge.”
Fuck.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Teren was staring at the two briefcases as they sat next to the door. They hadn’t moved since she’d arrived, and she was determined that they weren’t going to. Instead, she would wait until Alex came in, and then she would pick them up and carry them right back downstairs and out the door.
At the first tap on the door, she was up and across the room, pulling the door open in anticipation, only to find Ron Graves before her.
“What?” Teren growled.
“Uh, I’m sorry, Teren. I thought I’d let you know that your car is here.”
She stared at him. “My car?”
“Yes. I had it brought here from the airport garage. And your luggage has arrived, too. I’ll have someone bring it up to you.”
Thinking quickly, Teren shot a hand out. “No, Ron, don’t bother. Leave the bags where they are for now. I’ll get them later.” She glanced back at the briefcases. “Has Alex finished, yet?”
“Just about. She should be up soon.”
“Good,” Teren nodded. “I’ll follow you down, if you don’t mind.”
Graves shrugged. “Sure.”
He led Teren though the corridor, then turned and went down a long flight of stairs. As they reached the bottom, Teren could see Alex leaning against a wall in the living room, with Ken beside her. Cliff was there as well, and he was shaking hands with a gray haired man that she recognized as Andrew Collins. As she watched, Collins gave a final wave to Alex, and left.
Graves cleared his throat as he and Teren went into the living room. Alex looked up and lowered her eyes quickly. Ken saw Teren and grinned.
“Hey, Teren. How are you?” He tilted his head a little, noting the bandage on her temple. “Ooh, looks like you got roughed up a bit.”
“It’s no big deal, Ken. Nice to see you. How’s the leg?”
“Good. Still hurts, and I’m supposed to be on the crutches, but, ” he shrugged. “I hate those damn things.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling.” Another glance at Alex made Teren’s stomach flip. Something was wrong.
Cliff stepped forward, and shook Teren’s hand. “Nice to see you again, Mylos. Wanted to thank you for helping Alex out. We all really appreciate it.”
“It’s no problem, Cliff.”
“Glad the two of you are back. It’ll be nice to have Alex back on the team.”
Alex shook her head at that and pulled herself away from the wall. “That’s just it, Cliff. I won’t be back.”
“What the hell are you saying, Reis?” Cliff asked.
“I mean, I can’t come back. Director Collins took me off rogue status. However, he also took my badge. I’m no longer a member of the FBI.”
There was a shocked silence that filled the room. Then Ken broke it.
“Fuck, Alex, what does that mean? He fired you?” His voice was incredulous.
“No, Ken. But I’m on indefinite suspension, until this entire case is cleared to his satisfaction. When it is, he’ll reconsider.”
Again, the moment stretched, until Cliff dropped into a chair with a groan. “Holy fucking shit.”
Alex nodded. “I agree.”
Teren folded her arms. “Fine. Alex, you’re not going to be arrested again, are you?”
“No.”
“Good. I figure you’ll feel better in your home than here. Ron, here, has graciously had my car brought over from the airport, and our bags have arrived. How about I get our briefcases, and we can get the hell out of this fucking place? Sound good?”
Her blonde partner nodded. “Sounds great, Teren. I’d love to go home.”
“Good. I’ll meet you at the car.” She turned to Graves. “Do you have the keys?”
“No, I —”
“Well, I suggest you get them. Now.”
He nodded, and turned to leave.
“Ron? Have our bags taken to the car as well, got it?”
“Teren — “
“Got it?” She put more menace in her voice and was satisfied to see him look miserable. He nodded, and left.
Teren put a hand on Alex’s shoulder, then walked back toward the stairs which she took two at a time.
Cliff and Ken just stared at Alex in disbelief.
Alex waited by the driver’s door. As Teren approached, she held out her hand.
“Keys.”
“Why?”
“I’m driving.” Teren started to protest, but Alex held up a hand. “You got shot in the head three days ago. You may fool everybody else, but I know when you’re hurting, Teren.”
The taller woman stood there with her mouth open, then shut it with a snap. Without another word, she dropped the keys in Alex’s hand and walked around to the passenger door.
“Where are we going, Alex?”
“My apartment. When we get there, I want you to sweep for bugs.”
“Right.” Teren paused. “I thought you wanted to go see David.”
“I do. Tomorrow, when he’s home. Right now,” Alex said, “we need to talk.”
They got in the car and drove in silence.
After a thorough search, Alex’s apartment was pronounced clean, and she dropped onto the sofa, glad to be home.
Teren stood near the door, looking uncomfortable. “Should I go —”
“Absolutely not. Get your ass over here and sit.”
The darker woman raised an eyebrow but sat down on the couch.
“You need to see this.” Alex handed her a folded wallet. Teren opened it to find a CIA ID badge, in Alex’s name.
“What the hell?”
“I haven’t been suspended. I’ve been placed on loan to the CIA, as your temporary partner, until we figure this out.”
Her partner stared at her. “Why? Who did this?”
“Director Collins and Agent Graves, with permission of several other people whose names I wasn’t told. At first, they were just going to pair me with you, since the two of us had already proved the international connections, making it CIA territory as well. But, I told Collins about your theory of someone in the FBI working with White and Treville, and he agreed with it. They decided that the best way to cut that person off from us and any reports on our progress is to make them think that I was no longer with the FBI, or on this case.”
“So, they pretended to put you on suspension, but …”
“But, they actually give me temporary status in the CIA so that we can keep working.” She gave Teren a half smile. “I wanted to tell you right away, but we all agreed that it would be better if the two of us got out of there. I’m exhausted, so, I didn’t have a problem with faking my reaction — depressed is easy. But, I thought we should keep your reaction as real as possible. So, I decided to wait until we got back here.”
“Why didn’t you tell me in the car?”
“Well, I thought maybe Graves had bugged it, and I didn’t want to tell you knowing I might be recorded.”