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Whiling his life away in federal prison was too good for that terrorist bastard.
Kyle stretched his stiff legs out in front of him as best he could, then rested his still-handcuffed hands atop the metal table. The clank of metal on metal echoed through the otherwise empty room. At least the rest of his team had gotten away. With her superior skills, Hayley would have that computer busted wide open soon enough.
Finally, the door opened, and the same dipshit from the alley strolled in. He took a seat at the table across from Kyle while another agent stayed in the shadows near the door. Every agent in the building seemed to be wearing the Agency’s uniform—standard-issue black suit and white shirt. No style and even less personality.
“Bet you’re tired of sitting there, huh?” dipshit said. His mousy brown hair was combed over to cover the bald spot on the top of his head, and he looked about as threatening as a stick of gum.
“I’m fine, Agent…?” Kyle said.
“Call me Doug. Perhaps you don’t understand the severity of the charges we’re about to bring against you, Lieutenant Commander Matthews.”
“Wow. Full titles again. Is that supposed to intimidate me?”
“No.” Doug gave Kyle a cold smile. “It’s supposed to get you to agree to our arrangement.”
“And what was that again? I’ve forgotten in my boredom coma.”
“Funny. You should go on the road.” Doug shoved a sheet of paper across the table to Kyle. “This is a list of all of the known terror attacks that Miles Arrieta has claimed responsibility for in the last year.”
“Impressive.” Kyle barely glanced at the list. “What’s that got to do with me?”
“We believe there’s more that aren’t on there. And we also believe that he’s infiltrated several other radicalized groups around the world. If he dies, that shuts down a major avenue we could use to find out exactly which groups those are and stop them. That is why we need Arrieta alive.”
“He killed my brother. That is why I need him six feet under if he gives me the slightest excuse to make that happen.”
“So we’re at an impasse, then?”
“Appears so.”
The other agent started toward the table, but Doug held up a hand to stop him. “Give us five minutes, please, Rami. And tell the others to leave the observation area too.”
The agent nodded and left.
Kyle smirked toward the mirrored window.Douchebags.
Doug leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “I can’t protect you if you won’t cooperate, Lieutenant Commander.”
“Sorry. I didn’t realize my safety was so important to you.”
“It’s obvious you think the CIA is nothing but some hive of mindless bureaucrats, but we love this country as much as your team does, Matthews. I’m very sorry about what happened to your brother and the unfortunate mess that occurred afterward, but apprehending Arrieta and bringing him to trial is our number one priority.”
This asshole’s blasé attitude toward what he and his team had been through over the past few months made Kyle see red. Suddenly, all of Natalie’s actions were starting to make more sense. She’d been acting on this guy’s orders.
Doug sighed. “This isn’t getting us anywhere.”
“At last we agree on something.” Kyle raised his hands to scrub them over his face, then stopped, holding out his restraints. “Seriously? Can we at least get rid of these?”
“Not yet.” Doug raised a thin brow. “Not until you agree.”
Kyle’s growing irritation bubbled over into full-blown fury. “You going to lock me up until I die? You people talk a good game when it comes to the Patriot Act and all that crap, but I still have rights. I want an attorney. And my phone call. And I’m not agreeing to anything or telling you diddly-squat until I get them.”
“Calm down!” For the first time since he’d walked into the room, Doug looked a tad nervous. “We don’t have much time left.”
Frustrated, Kyle flopped back in his seat and glared across the table. “Another scare tactic?”
“No. The truth.” Doug hiked his thumb back toward the door. “When my associate returns, he’ll haul you away to a top-secret facility, and you won’t see daylight again. I don’t want that to happen to you. Please, just agree to give us that other notebook so we can crack Arrieta’s virus.”
“Why?”
