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“Is that what the FBI is reporting?”
“I haven’t seen anything official about that from the FBI.”
“I’m still working that one out. In the meantime, some guy pulled a gun on Claire at a bus station outside Philly. That means the money in Claire’s box had a tracking device hidden in it. You know the FBI doesn’t work like that.”
Jack whistled. “This has gone beyond informing on Claire to the FBI.”
Claire leaned forward. “I knew it was a setup, Jack, and my stepfather’s fingerprints are all over it.”
“We’re working on that, Claire. Where are you, Mike?”
Claire poked Mike in the arm and drew her finger across her throat. Jack Coburn might be married to one of her oldest friends, but he still worked for the US government, the same government that just might be trying to set her up.
Mike scowled at her. “We’re at a safe house, Jack. I’m assuming we can’t come in yet.”
“No. It’s one thing for you to be on the run with Claire, since everyone still thinks you’re the hapless fiancé, the cover, but we can’t let the intelligence community believe we have any part in this. We can’t offer Claire any official protection.”
Claire couldn’t wait any longer, so she ducked her head and whispered in Mike’s ear, “Ask him about the videos.”
“Any news on those videos I sent you?”
“Nothing yet, although the evidence is compelling.”
Claire sighed, her shoulders sagging. “Finally.”
“I thought so, too.” Mike squeezed her knee. “No ID yet on the man with Senator Correll?”
“Not yet. If the guy spent most of his career as a terrorist covered up, we might have a hard time linking him to any cells or groups.”
“But his eye. That means something.”
“Means a lot, Mike. Like I said before—compelling.”
Mike picked up the phone as if by speaking into it directly, he had a better chance of convincing Jack. “If we can tie Spencer Correll to terrorist activity, the Agency and the FBI are going to have to look into him for this hit on the director. He’s going to step into Haywood’s shoes any day now.”
“He’ll need confirmation first, and that’s not gonna happen before the holidays. The deputy director will run things for now.”
“We need to make that connection, Jack. Isn’t there still a heightened alert at the White House for Christmas Day?”
Claire sucked in a breath. This was the first she’d heard of that.
“There is, or there was until McCabe discovered all of Tempest’s plans.”
Claire folded her arms and tapped her fingers against her biceps. They’d just lost her. She didn’t know a McCabe and had no ideas what a Tempest was, except that she was in one.
“The assassination of Haywood could be part and parcel of the same attack.” Mike rubbed his knuckles across the scruff on his chin.
“We considered Tempest as soon as we heard about the car bomb. All I can tell you is we’re on it, Mike. We have your back.”
“And Claire’s?” Mike shifted his gaze to her and watched her beneath half-mast lids.
“As long as you’re with Claire, we have her back, too.”
“I’m with Claire, Jack. I’m staying with her. That’s why you sent me on this assignment.”
“That’s before she became a suspect in a terrorist attack.”
“I’m still on the phone, Jack.” She clenched her jaw.
“I know, Claire. I’m sorry, but we have relationships to maintain. We gave you Mike, and that’s all we can do right now.”
Her tight lips curved into a smile and she dropped her hand to Mike’s back. “And I thank you for that.”
The two men ended the call and Mike collapsed against the back of the love seat. “Life would be so much easier right now if they could ID the man who murdered your husband and link him to the man meeting with Correll.”
“I’ve been saying that for five years.” The sadness tugged at the corner of her lower lip.
Mike dabbed the rough tip of his finger on her cheek. “I’m going to make this right for you, Claire.”
