She pushed her pen through her slender fingers as she watched me.
“I’ve never shot anyone, I’ve never wrapped someone in a carpet and pushed him into the Hudson River, nor have I ever sold anyone on the black market, but my job is to find out every single detail that took place when those things happened, and I do. I see things that most don’t. That’s what makes me a damn good lawyer. I understand right from wrong, and what is happening to Blackstone and North Rock is wrong. And this interview with you, Agent Black, is where I am starting, per Frank’s request.” She raised a hand to show peace. “But I can turn the recorder off and start with Lopez or Logan if you’d prefer.”
I rather liked her approach with me. She could’ve just backed off, but instead she played diplomat and showed her intentions.
“How much of this has Frank shared with you?”
“Enough.”
“Does he know something that we don’t?”
“I don’t know.” Her eyes softened. “You haven’t shared anything with me.”
True. I took a deep breath and cleared my head. It went against everything inside me, but I opened the door a little.
“We got the call to move out at zero five hundred. We were told North Rock had been monitoring a house at the last known coordinates of their lost team member. He had been separated from the team during their last raid, six days ago.” I paused to clear my throat. “They were in their second position when they were ambushed from the south. Which is odd, considering North Rock, like us, changes their location constantly. They are extremely unpredictable, they barely use radios, and when they do, it’s nearly untraceable. We have our own codes so if anyone is listening, it wouldn’t mean anything to them.”
She didn’t move, she didn’t write anything down, she just listened.
“When we touched down and followed the last coordinates, we either walked into a trap or we were followed. I don’t think I want to know which is the truth. And in case you were thinking it, no, Sergeant First Class Chamness is one of the best God damn soldiers I’ve ever known, next to my family up there.” I pointed to Shadows.
“I wasn’t,” she whispered.
“There was a lot of chaos and times where I lost sight of my team. But when you’re over there, it’s do or die, so we do. It was pouring for most of it, which doesn’t work in our favor because you have to account for slippery gear and ground. I was hit by a bullet, and my gun was cut from me, and then after some hand to hand, I lost my footing and fell backward down a cliff.”
She winced before she jotted down a note.
I shifted in my seat and spent the next hour and fifteen reliving the story. Once I was finished, she stayed in a trance like she was letting the movie I painted finish out in front of her.
“Um…” She suddenly moved and pulled on a pair of blue-rimmed glasses and studied a paper.
“You mentioned earlier, there was a tattoo on the man’s arm you fought with. Can you describe it?”
I stood to grab a marker off the whiteboard ledge and began to draw a spider web with a seven drawn through it.
“Seven spider web,” she whispered to herself.
“Have you heard of it before?” I sat down and watched as she pulled out her phone to Google something.
“Huh.” Her eyes squinted as she read something. “I don’t know yet.”
“But it does sound familiar?”
“Maybe.” She forced a smile. “It’s a possible starting point.”
I wanted to push further, but I also didn’t want to be overwhelming either. Savi’s words echoed in my head.
Her phone went off, and she cursed under her breath then lowered the phone and ignored the call.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Her tone changed a little, almost nervous, or maybe she was just beat from her trip. “Um, I think that’s all for now. Let me do a little more digging, and I’ll see what I can come up with.” I went to stand when she said, “Who was the man you were with? Brick or Brock?”
“Brick?”
“Yeah, is he here? Can I talk to him?”
“He’s not here.” I smirked, knowing this was going to be entertaining. “He’s with the Devil’s Reach.”
“The what?”
“Devil’s Reach Motorcycle Club in Santa Monica.”
She leaned back in her chair and looked up at me. She nibbled on the top of the pen cap. “Let me guess. He was there on business?” Her eyebrow arched, and I couldn’t help but smile at how sexy her brow looked behind her glasses.
“Something like that.”
“I’d like to meet with him.”
“I highly doubt Frank will let that happen.” I smiled then stood and checked the time.
“Mm, we’ll see,” she muttered.
I liked that she wasn’t scared of Frank or the fact that Brick was with a motorcycle club.
“Oh, John?” She stopped me when I got to the door.
“Yeah?”
“Can you get me clearance to get a hotel room in town?”
Huh?
“Frank said I should talk to you about getting the all-clear to leave.”
Interesting.
“You don’t like it here?”
She crossed her legs, which drew my eyes to her long, slender calves that led my gaze to her black matte heels.
“It’s just that I don’t want to impose, and I like to be able to come and go as I please.”
My hand dropped away from the door handle, and I leaned my hip against the windowsill. It would be better she learned now than later.
“Frank tossed this at you last minute, right?”
“Something like that, yes.” She pushed off her chair and started to gather her paperwork.
“If this case is something, which my gut is telling me it is, you’re best off here and not in town.”
“I appreciate the concern, John,” she clicked off the recorder, “but I’ve been living in Washington for a very long time and have dealt with some pretty scary people, and I’ve been okay.”
Then why are you here?
I rubbed my chin and thought about another angle to take with the conversation.
“The people up in that house,” I nodded toward the main house, “have seen all kinds of ugly, and though you might think you’ll be okay, I’d appreciate it if you’d humor them by staying.”
She stopped what she was doing and seemed to hear me. “Okay,” she nodded, “I respect that.”
Good.
I glanced at my watch. “Dinner is at six.”
“I’m not really that hungry. I think I’ll just stay here and get myself organized.” Her hands twisted together. Poor thing was very uncomfortable. I actually felt bad for her, but I also knew Savannah wouldn’t have it.
I smiled. “One thing you should know about this place, Sloane, Savannah is relentless. Unless you want her bringing the whole cavalry down here, you’d best be there at six.”
“Okay,” she held her hands up in defeat, “I’ll see you at dinner. And, John?” I looked over my shoulder. “I’m sorry for your friend.”
The painful knot returned when I pictured the rookie’s lifeless face. Though I didn’t know the kid, it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.