“Who is ElCuervo?”
She didn’t want to look at Adrian. Not when she waslike this, with her emotions far too close to the surface. Meganwanted to leave that part of her life behind, the way she’d leftthe FBI behind.
And kept the badge.
She figured it was Hank refusing to let her go, andtwisting some arms to get it approved. Or maybe sliding paperworkthrough, under the radar. They didn’t pay her. She didn’t have therights or authority an FBI agent possessed—at least, she hadn’tattempted to exercise those rights. If she did, someone wouldprobably notice and Hank would get into trouble.
Megan shook her head to chase away the errantthoughts. She had to focus, or Adrian would realize exactly howunhinged she was.
Hank was already frowning at her. “You want to tellhim the story, or should I?”
“Why does he even need to know? So what if there’s alink between Zimmerman and ElCuervo? It’s probably only because one is an FBIagent and the other is a wanted criminal.”
“They were communicating.”
She lifted her chin. “We already know Zimmerman isdirty.”
She knew she was arguing only as a delay tactic,because she’d rather run, but leaving would be too obvious. Shealso wanted actual proof before she jumped on this bandwagon andchased after Zimmerman for answers. “We’re already trying to find SAC Zimmerman, whatdoes it matter the reason? Our priority is bringing him in becauseof the sonic weapon and what he plans to do with it.”
She glanced between them and let her gaze settle onAdrian. Wasn’t he going to say something?
“Plus the fact he’s been blackmailing people aroundWashington and terrorizing them for his own gain.” Adrian studiedher, then turned to Hank. “She’s right. Unless this will help uslocate Zimmerman, it’s only an incidental connection.”
She asked Hank, “Do you think Zimmerman has gone toEl Cuervo for cover while heenacts whatever plan he has in place?” Then she realizedanother—possibly more deadly—scenario.“Or is he planning on selling the sonic weapon to theVenezuelans?”
A flash of disappointment moved over Hank’s face. Hesat back in his chair, the look disappearing almost as fast as ithad come.
Because she hadn’t wanted to talk in front of Adrianabout what happened two years ago?
He said, “The chatter indicates the relationship wasalive and well as far back as two years. Specifically in the weeksbefore…” He shot her a pointed look.
She didn’t move a muscle. Didn’t breathe. Didn’tthink, just said, “Before Special AgentTennyson was killed?”
He nodded.
Megan was surprised she’d even been able to get herpartner’s last name out. “Was Zimmerman responsible for whathappened?” Someone had burned her and Will, and it led to Will’sdeath.
“Maybe you should find him, ask him that foryourself.”
If Hank thought that would make her push harder tofind Zimmerman, he was mistaken. The man was a traitor at best, aterrorist at the worst. She didn’t need more drive than that to goout and find him.
“I will.” She swallowed.
Adrian was watching the whole thing, glancing backand forth between them, but saying nothing. Just sitting theredoing whatever he was doing. Her life wasn’t that interesting. Butwould she be able to convince him of that? Probably not. She was ananomaly. That was all. Nothing but a mystery he needed to solve,having been trained extensively to spot inconsistencies, uncoverhidden truths, and see things that were out of place.
Megan’s whole life was out of place.
What special agent could ignore that?
Her phone rang in her jacket pocket, vibratingagainst her hip, but she ignored it.
Apparently Hank saw it. “Probably your mom.”
Megan rolled her eyes. “Get me intel that will helpme find Zimmerman. If you don’t have it, then you’re wasting mytime here.” She turned to the door, glancing back over her shoulderfor a second. “It was good to see you, Hank.”
Megan strode out through the bull pen to thehallway.
Hopefully he would need to talk more with Adrian,being the man’s boss and all. That would give her some time to getout in front of Walker on the search for Zimmerman. She didn’t needhis help—or anyone else’s—to bring down the rogue agent. Especiallyif he had something to do with Will’s death.
She’d been looking for El Cuervo in her spare time since she signed on asone of Steve’s team members at Double Down. Lately, she hadn’t mademuch progress. Most of her leads had gone dry, given basicallyeveryone who had been present—or who knew about that night—waseither dead or in jail.
The ones in jail, two members of El Cuervo’s group, hadn’t wanted to speak toher when she paid them a visit. They’d both died in prison fightsless than a month later.
No one wanted her asking questions. Whoever wasbehind Will’s death hadn’t wanted her to find out the truth. Andthe FBI had told her to take some time. Get her headtogether. Whatever that meant.
But until she got answers, her head wasn’t going tobe “together.” Was it? So she’d lived with the dissonance of it allfor two years. Questions. No answers. Death. The end of her FBIcareer. Maybe Hank was only prolonging the inevitable, not doingher a favor by allowing her to keep her badge.
Sure, every so often hethrew her the odd undercover assignment. Or a recon mission hedidn’t have an agent for. On occasion he needed someone off radarbecause it was sensitive.
Maybe she should just quit it all. Leave her badge onHank’s desk.
Give up Double Down.
Go back to her basement and the murder board she’dset up down there. Find a new lead.
Bring El Cuervodown.
Her phone rang again. She pulled it out and lookedfor a quiet place to answer. The caller ID said, Double DownInc.
She slid to answer the call and said, “Hi, Mom.”
“Megan.” Her mom’s voice was soft, which meant no oneelse was in the reception area of the office. Any other time shewas all business. She treated Steve like he was her wayward son,and the other men like they were a bunch of rabble-rousers. Like,she’d literally used that phrase.
Megan said, “I thought we were packing up the officebecause of you-know-who.” This wasn’t an elaborate children’sfantasy novel, but they did have a powerful enemy. One who
