“If I vouched for you in a more personal sense, don’t you think that would raise a lot more questions? We don’t want people talking about our relationship. That is in the past, and frankly, it’s none of the IG’s business, and I wasn’t about to make it a part of this. That could’ve put even more heat on you.”
“And you.”
He grinned.
“Why are you smiling?” Frustration built within her.
“Because it’s good seeing you fight for yourself. Facing tests like this will make you better, sharper. Especially in the field.”
“But I don’t want to be in the field.” Why did they refuse to accept her wishes on that?
“You’re far too gifted to be stuck behind a desk. I read the reports from the Honduras op. You were a vital part of the team.”
“I think you’re exaggerating.” She’d just been following the lead of much more seasoned field agents.
He shook his head. “Not at all.” He took her hand. “Listen, Layla, I need to stay on the sidelines on this one. You’ll come out stronger for it. I have the utmost confidence in you, and the IG’s office will get to the truth. I know that’s not the answer you were looking for, but it’s the best I can do.”
“Just promise me one thing.”
“Okay.”
“If I wind up dead, you’ll help clear my good name.”
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Watching that Nick guy fawn all over Layla had been sickening. And when Nick had taken her hand, it was all Hunter could do not to react. But he’d sat quietly at his table, brooding and trying to read lips the best he could without staring. It was the longest twenty minutes of his life.
Now they were in his car so they could speak freely without the prying ears of the Agency. He’d taken extra precautions to make sure there weren’t any surveillance devices in his home or car for that very reason. They already had enough eyes on them.
“You’re keeping me in suspense,” he said. He didn’t want to push her, but he also really wanted to know what had happened.
“Sorry. I’m just replaying the conversation in my head.”
“No need to apologize. I can try to be patient.” Try being the operative word. He glanced over and smiled at her.
She gave him a weak smile in return. “Nick says he wasn’t involved in this, and I believe him.”
“Isn’t that good news?” He knew there was more to the story.
She shifted in her seat. “Yes, but he also said that he can’t interfere in the investigation and then gave me this big pep talk about how this was just going to make me a better agent and I’d be stronger for it.”
“I saw him touching you.” It came out more accusatory than he had intended.
Layla sighed. “Yeah, but it wasn’t a romantic gesture. That is over, and he knows it.”
Hunter had been shocked that Layla had carried on this secret relationship with a top-ranking CIA official, but he certainly didn’t judge her for it, although it seemed like she was judging herself pretty harshly. “I wasn’t trying to insinuate anything except for my dislike for the guy.”
They drove in silence for a few minutes before she spoke again. “Nick also suggested that someone outside the Agency could be behind all of this.”
Hunter nodded. “The cartel has eyes and ears everywhere.”
“I guess it’s possible, but it seems like an elaborate ruse for the cartel to orchestrate. Why not just kill me?”
“True.” He looked in his rearview mirror. “Hey, let’s put that on pause for a second. I think we may have a tail.”
She turned and looked. “I see them. Black Chevy SUV. The question is whether it’s the Agency keeping tabs or someone else.”
“Let’s see. Hold on.” He slammed on the brakes and took a sharp left. Then he floored it before taking a hard right.
“Where did you learn to drive like that?” she asked.
“You’re not the only one who has had training. Mine has just been a bit more informal. Call it on-the-job training.” He gritted his teeth as he watched the rearview mirror.
“I think you lost them.” She let out a sigh.
He wasn’t taking any chances. He accelerated down the road and then headed toward the highway.
“The Agency is probably trying to keep track of my whereabouts. As if the safe house isn’t enough.”
He actually hoped it was the CIA following them. If it was someone from the cartel, they were in grave danger. “The Agency we can handle. What we don’t want is more cartel hit men on our trail. I feel like a sitting duck out here.”
“Yeah. I agree with you.”
There was only a moment for him to regroup before, out of the corner of his eye, he saw another black SUV barreling toward them. It was a different vehicle than before. Without even thinking, he spun the wheel at full speed, and they did a one-eighty. He peeled out the other direction.
“Nice move,” she said. “I don’t think that was the Agency. We shouldn’t go to your place or the safe house. Let’s just keep driving for a while and make sure we’re in the clear.”
“I’m on it.” He glanced at her and saw that she’d pulled her Glock out of her jacket and had it sitting in her lap.
They rode in silence for a few tense minutes as he replayed the sequence of events in his head.
She looked over at him. “That wasn’t a coincidence. It could’ve been a two-man team trying to box us in.”
“Which is why your idea about continuing to evade and escape is a good one.”
She smirked. “They teach us a few things about evasive maneuvers at the CIA.”
“I bet they do.” He paused, wondering if he should broach this topic. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” she said.
“Why are you so against fieldwork? You’re obviously talented at it.”
“It’s hard enough to live the double life I do with my State Department cover as an analyst.
