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Her eyes opened wide. “I’m, I mean, I?—”
“If I were you, I’d start with an apology. First to Agent Baur, then to me.” I looked over my shoulder. “What about you, Rogue? Has Ehren been harassing you as well?”
“Not that I’m aware of, sir.”
“Sir, I apologize, but?—”
“I suggested you apologize to Agent Baur first. However, I take exception to your use of the word ‘but.’ Didn’t your parents or perhaps another commanding officer teach you that once you utter the word, what you’re saying is no longer an apology? It then becomes an excuse.” I stroked my beard. “I fear this isn’t going to work.”
While my tone could have been described as sarcastic or taunting, my last statement was not. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more behind Ehren’s actions than mere jealousy. “Agent Richter, did you have occasion to work with Agent Baur when you were both with Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service?”
“Not directly, sir.”
“I see.” I turned to Rogue and Schön. “Will you please excuse us? Perhaps find out what the hotel offers in the way of breakfast?”
Once they left the room, I motioned for Ehren to take a seat, then did the same.
“Anouk, I’m concerned,” I began. “I don’t know you well, but I find it surprising an agent so well-regarded that she’d be recommended for a UN coalition would behave in the manner you have. There’s got to be more to this.”
She folded her arms and leaned back in the chair.
“I’m giving you one opportunity to explain. If you choose not to do so, I will ask for your immediate resignation, and rather than return to Shere, I’ll suggest you report directly to FIS headquarters in Bern.”
The war waging in her mind played out on her face. I was right in my assumption that this was not a simple case of “agent rivalry.” Ehren’s resentment of Schön ran deeper.
“Agent Baur compromised one of my sources. He was an asset I’d spent years grooming as an informant.”
“In what way was he compromised?”
“He was murdered, sir.”
Based on her demeanor, I sensed the relationship between her and her asset was more personal than professional. “I see. And you blame Schön.”
She tightened her folded arms and stared in the direction of the windows rather than maintaining eye contact with me. “She was responsible, yes.”
“Did FIS conduct an internal investigation?”
“No, sir.”
“It boils down to this, Agent Richter. Are you able to continue with this op in a professional manner, or shall I make arrangements for your replacement?”
“I am able to continue the op, sir.”
“Ehren?” I waited until she looked at me to continue. “The better question would be, do you want to?”
“If you’ll allow it, sir.”
I rested against my chair like she had. “You understand why I’m reluctant to do so. I need to feel confident you will protect and defend the other agents on this op.”
She didn’t respond right away, and I appreciated her taking the time to think about her answer. Had she replied off-the-cuff, I wouldn’t have believed her.
“I give you my assurance I will protect and defend my fellow agents. Please do not remove me from the op or from the task force, sir.”
“You owe Schön an apology, but I wonder if you’re capable of doing so in a sincere manner.”
“I am, sir.”
When Schön returnedwith Rogue after I’d messaged, asking them to do so, it was obvious I was in the doghouse with her. However, I doubted she knew the issues with Ehren were more than surface resentment and jealousy.
