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“And how did you meet Mr. Hunter?”
“I bumped into him with my chair,” I explained. “What does this have to do with why I’m here. I don’t understand any of this.”
The agent laughed. “He’s done that one before.”
“Done what before?”
“I’m sorry. Let’s continue. How many times has Mr. Hunter been in your apartment?”
I stared blankly. “I haven’t taken count.”
My mind raced. Did I need to protect Vaughn? Was he in trouble? Was I saying too much or did he need me to tell them every detail to keep him safe? I didn’t know. I didn’t know whether to talk or clam up.
“But you are sleeping together?”
My eyes widened. “I don’t think you can ask me that.”
“I can. It’s part of the investigation.”
“What investigation? You said we would talk through this. So far you’ve only asked me questions. I think I should know why I’m here. Why I’m being recorded. Why there is someone on the other side of the glass watching. Why I’m in a building I can’t identify.” I folded my arms. “I think I want to evoke my right to counsel.”
He shook his head. “Wait. Wait. Let’s talk. You’re right.”
It was the one bit of leverage I had over the agent. He wouldn’t want to bring anyone else into the room. As soon as he did, I wouldn’t be any use to him. Another attorney would demand official charges. Require evidence. Insist on a subpoena.
I felt a slice of victory. But it was the briefest of moments. Before my entire world crashed and shattered around me. Before Agent Kenneth pulled my heart from my chest and butchered it on the interrogation table. Yes, it was a tiny, momentary victory.
“This man, M
iss Charles. The one who has claimed to be Vaughn Hunter, is in fact a contract operative by the name of Jeremy West. We believe you have colluded with him to steal highly classified documents regarding the sale of weapons to the U.S. government.”
“No. No.” I shook my head, creating a dizzying sensation that spread through my limbs. I couldn’t feel my body.
“You and Mr. West used your proximity to Greer Britt to obtain documents that are worth billions.”
My palms flattened on the table. “No. That’s not possible.”
“We have already questioned Miss Britt extensively. We are aware you and West had access to work files. She contends that you wouldn’t steal.” He sat back in his chair. “That’s not up to her, but to me to decide. I need to know how far your involvement goes.”
“Greer? Vaughn?” I looked at him as the room spun in circles.
There was no way to hold on to the attorney in me. The woman with the calm rational legal expertise. I couldn’t keep her locked in and absorb the words at the same time. I couldn’t process what he said as part of the law and not as a woman who had learned the unthinkable.
“When? When did this happen?” I mustered a few words.
“The Senate Defense Committee alerted us to the breach immediately. The way this works is you give me information and then I share information.” He tilted his head. “There is no question that West was behind the information attack. The question is what role you played.”
“I think I’m going to be sick again,” I whispered before what was left in my stomach spewed across the table.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When I dressed for the flight home I had chosen stretchy yoga pants and a long-sleeve running shirt. It was supposed to be comfortable on the cramped airplane. A female agent stood behind me in the ladies’ room while I used a scratchy paper towel from the dispenser to try to clean the cheerful fabric. I had bought it so I could run at night ane be seen by cars. The vibrant tangerine was like an arrow pointing to me when I walked through the halls.
She watched me in the mirror. Her arms folded. I could see the gun on her hip. I washed my hands and wiped the smudges from my face. She led me along the hall, but guided me to a different door.
The interior of the room looked the same as the last one, only it wasn’t filled with the stench of sickness.
I sipped on a bottle of water while Agent Kenneth waited for me.
