“And the Agency wonders why I want a desk job.”
Scarlett laughed. “You’re more talented than you even realize, you just don’t have the confidence yet to see it. But enough of all this. If I do hear anything, I’ll contact you immediately, and my earlier advice stands. Lawyer up before you submit to any questioning. Even if they claim it will be informal. There’s no such thing. Okay?”
“Understood.” Layla would just have to be patient, because the IG was clearly running at their own speed.
“Anything new on Mejía from your side?” Scarlett took another sip of coffee.
“Our best guess is that either the team was caught on a surveillance camera we missed or that someone on the inside sold us out. The same person they suspect has been feeding intel to the cartel for quite a while to help them stay one step ahead of DEA.”
“How careful were you with the electronic surveillance?” Scarlett asked.
“I thought we were completely buttoned up, but Mason thinks we missed one of the cameras. DEA is actively investigating the mole. Hunter has also been hired to conduct a separate independent investigation.”
“Really?” Scarlett smiled. “How are things going with him?”
She’d told Scarlett about the Hunter saga years ago. “It’s not easy, but our personal baggage has to wait. There’s no time to get distracted by all of that right now.”
“I know you may think that, but baggage has a way of always being there. That’s why they call it baggage.” Scarlett sighed. “But I am a complete and utter failure in the romance department, so don’t take advice from me on that front.”
That wasn’t true, as far as Layla was concerned. “You’re single by choice, Scarlett. You’ve had plenty of guys interested in you.”
Scarlett grinned. “Thanks for helping support my narrative.”
Both of them laughed, but Layla had one more serious topic to get to. “There’s something else I wanted to run by you.”
“Shoot.”
“There’s new information that the DEA mole could actually be CIA.”
Scarlett’s eyebrows went up. “Really? Now, isn’t that interesting. How reliable is the intel?”
“Seems like it could be legit, but I wanted to pick your brain. You know a lot of the Agency officers who work in the region. I’ve done some digging, and one name keeps coming up as a potentially promising lead.”
“Who is it?” Scarlett asked.
“The last thing I want to do is wrongly throw someone under the bus, because I’m living through that situation now, but I trust you, and I know you’ll be discreet about this.”
“Absolutely. My lips are sealed.”
She knew Scarlett wouldn’t act on anything she was saying. “The name is Keith Hammond.”
Scarlett’s eyes lit up. “Yes, I’m familiar with Keith. He’s been in Honduras off and on for the past couple of years. He’s known as a tough operator who isn’t afraid to make waves. I can’t say that he has anything to do with this, but he would be a good possible fit for the profile.”
Layla grabbed Scarlett’s hand. Maybe this would be a much-needed break. “That’s valuable insight. We’ll run it down, and I promise we won’t do anything that will compromise him without real evidence.”
Scarlett squeezed her hand. “I’ll do anything I can to help you, but I’m worried about your safety.”
“But you just commented on my great security detail.”
“They’re only here with you at your condo. When you leave, you’re out there on your own.”
“Not exactly. Hunter is my shadow right now.”
“That’s a good thing. Keep it up. I can’t say I’m a big fan of him, given how he treated you, but it seems like he still cares about you and is willing to go to the mat. You need people like that surrounding you.”
“Yeah. I can’t live under a rock forever, but the way I understand it, if Diego wants you killed, then you don’t make it out alive.”
Scarlett patted her shoulder. “Drug lords may have a lot of power, but you still have the resources of the US government behind you and a great head on your shoulders. You’re going to make it through this.”
Layla looked down. “I can’t say the same about John Diaz.”
Scarlett hung her head. “John was a great agent and a good man. Really a decent guy, and there aren’t many men like that anymore.”
“You know how these cartels work a lot better than I do. Why haven’t they touched Zane? He was on the op.”
“Maybe they don’t know he was there. That would be my best guess. Or they have a bigger plan for him down the road. Or . . . I hate to even say this.”
Layla shook her head. “No. Zane isn’t working with them.”
“You have one of the kindest hearts of anyone I’ve ever met, but that’s also your blind spot. I’m not accusing Zane. I’m just pointing out once again that you need to keep your eyes open, okay?”
Layla knew in her gut that Scarlett spoke the truth. The question now was what she was going to do about it.
Hunter sat in his office, staring at his computer in frustration. He’d been tasked by Mason to find out who had stolen the cartel cash, but unfortunately, even after all the work he’d been putting in, he was no closer to finding the culprit.
He’d received a load of documents from the DEA that had been secured through warrants to a variety of banks and financial institutions. He’d been sworn to secrecy, so he hadn’t been able to talk to Layla about any of this, and he felt the weight of guilt at poring over her finances—which he’d done because he wanted to satisfy himself and Mason that Layla was clean. Layla’s finances were exactly what he’d expected. She lived a reasonable lifestyle, putting a good part of her modest government
