“Alright. Do you have any way of getting in touch with her?”
“Yeah, she gave me a pager number.”
“Good. Call her. Ask her if she’d like to be there when we open this box. Tell her I’d like her there, at Washington Federal. I’ve made an appointment for us at eleven o’clock. Afterwards, I’ll take her to lunch.”
“You will?” David sounded skeptical.
“Yes. I think it’s time I had some direct contact with Ms. Mylos.”
Cliff turned back to the blond woman. “I’ll let her know you protected her secrets. And I agree that the rest of the team doesn’t have to know about this. It’s not important for them to know how we got the name, and I can say I found the key among some of the evidence taken from the house last night.”
“Thank you, sir. Do you want me to go with you and Teren?”
“No, I don’t think so. I’d like this to be a one-on-one, candid conversation. She can choose the restaurant if she wishes.”
“I’ll let her know.” Alex stood up. “Is there anything else, sir?”
“No, that’s all. Mark and Ben are supposed to be here soon. They were still mapping out some connections, and they wanted to keep going. They said they thought they were close to something.”
“Great. David and I will see if we can help them.”
“First, make that phone call. Then, check in, but don’t get started on anything. We’ll have to leave in about twenty or twenty-five minutes to get to the bank.”
“Right.” Alex made eye-contact with David, silently asking him to give her a moment. He sighed and shook his head, but excused himself and left.
“I’m sorry I let you down, Cliff.”
“You didn’t, really. I just think you took a suggestion a little too far.”
“I guess I shouldn’t have let her keep the watch, huh?”
“I would have given it to her.” Alex looked surprised. “But I also would have demanded to see it first. You didn’t know what it was. I think the only mistake you made was letting her take it without you, and David, knowing what it was from the start.”
Alex dropped her head. “I didn’t want to push her, Cliff. She’s a bundle of contradictions, wrapped in a keg of dynamite.” She raised her eyes to his. “When you have lunch with her you’ll see what I mean.”
Cliff nodded, and put a hand on her shoulder. “Alright, Alex, tell me something.”
“What?”
“What in the hell did David say to make her almost shoot him?”
Alex frowned. “He accused her of wanting to steal the money, and then he called her a killer.”
Cliff shook his head. “That was dumb.” He paused. “Do you think she would have shot him?”
“No.” Alex didn’t even have to think about the answer. “I think she wanted to prove a point. He provoked her. And she could have killed us both in an instant, her draw was that fast. But the point was, she’s not really a killer. She didn’t want to kill him.” She shrugged. “Something tells me she was really good at her job, but didn’t really enjoy it. Unlike George Mather.”
Her boss rubbed a hand across his face. “Okay. Get out of here. Make your call.”
“Yes, sir.”
Alex headed for the door, but stopped when Cliff called her name again.
“I want to ask you one more question, and I want you to think about the answer. Don’t give it to me now, tell me later, at the bank, okay?”
“Okay. What’s the question?”
“Do you think, if you hadn’t insisted on seeing the watch, would Teren have given us the key if she found it on her own?”
Alex opened her mouth, then stopped. Cliff motioned for her to leave, and she did, closing the door behind her.
“So, what happened?”
“Nothing. We just talked. He wanted to know what stupid thing you said to make Teren pull a gun on you.” Alex left Cliff’s outer office, and headed for her cubicle.
David followed. “I didn’t do anything. She’s just oversensitive.”
“Dave, you called her a killer.”
“Well, she was.”
Alex stopped outside her doorway. “You think she needs to be reminded of that fact?”
“Well, I —”
“David, do you like being reminded of the time you had to shoot the guy in Minnesota?”
David stopped, and stared at her. “You know I don’t.”
“It was in the line of duty.”
“Well, yes —”
“But you didn’t like doing it.”
“No.”
“Don’t you think maybe Teren feels the same way?”
David blinked. He tried to say something, but there was nothing to say. It wasn’t something he’d thought about.
Alex sighed. “I have a phone call to make. Why don’t you see if Ben and Mark are here, and let them know we’ll be around this afternoon to help.”
Her partner nodded. “Right. Meet you in the control center?”
“Sure.”
David looked like he wanted to say something else, but he turned away. Alex almost felt bad for bringing up the one time both she and David had had to discharge their weapons. But her mind played back a picture of the way Teren looked when telling about her partner’s death, and she knew she was right. Everyone assumed assassins killed because they liked it. Some probably did. But what if it was simply your job?
She shook her head, and entered her office.
*******************************************************
“Reis.”
“I got your page, what’s up?”
“Teren, you have a personal invitation to be present when we open Mather’s deposit box. We have an appointment at the bank at eleven.”
“Which bank?”
“Washington Federal, the main branch.”
“I’ll be there, and thanks for the invite, Alex.”
“It’s not from me. It came direct from my boss. He wants to meet with you, and he’s offering to take you to lunch.”
“What? You’re kidding me.”
“I’m not.”
“Will you be joining us?”
Alex smiled. “Unfortunately, no. But I’d love to be a fly on the wall.”
She could here Teren chuckle. “What restaurant?”
“He says it’s your choice.”
“Really. This should be interesting.” She was quiet for a moment. “Okay, tell him I’ll do it. I’ll see you at the bank at eleven.”
“Great. And Teren?”
“Yes?”
“Think you could leave your gun at home?”
Teren laughed, then stopped. “No.” She hung up.
*******************************************************
When they arrived at the bank, Alex didn’t see Teren at first. She was trying to keep an eye out for the dark haired woman, and still follow the guard escorting her, David and Cliff. She was beginning to think Teren would be late, when suddenly Alex felt a presence and looked up to see Teren standing at her side. She’d never even seen the woman approach.
She whispered an aside to the taller woman. “Damn, you’re good. Even when I’m watching for you, I don’t see you.”
“Part of my training.” Teren said just loud enough for Alex’s ears. “Become invisible until you want someone to see you.”
She gave Alex a wink, and followed the agents as they entered the deposit box area.
David looked over at Alex, blinking when he saw the tall figure beside her. “Teren, when did you get here?”
“Just minutes before you. How are you, David?”
“Better.” He grinned. “Can I ask you a favor?”
Teren sighed. “I won’t shoot you today, alright?”
“That’s good, but that’s not the favor.”
“What is?”
“The next time you feel like shooting me, just punch me. You’ll feel better, and I won’t have nightmares about the muzzle of your forty-five.” His smile got a little wider. “Deal?”
Teren had to chuckle. Alex was right, she thought, David was okay. “It’s a deal.”
Cliff finished his conversation with the desk personnel, and motioned them to follow him into the room. He spotted Teren, and nodded at her. She nodded back, and followed Alex.
Once they located the box, and the keys had been turned, the guard left the four of them alone in the room. The three agents all pulled on rubber gloves, then Cliff lifted the lid off the box, and set it aside.