Page 44 of Shadow
“You sound confident.”
“I’m useful.”
“Are you?”
“You wouldn’t have asked me here otherwise.”
Draven sighed. Nodded. “What do you know about Roger Rousseau’s protection detail?”
“Federal protection is compromised. They know it. Martha Lintz proved that.”
“Yes.”
“So they brought in a specialist. Private contractor. Former US marshal. She’s running the operation off-grid.”
Interest flickered across Draven’s face. “Where?”
“Working on it. She doesn’t trust anyone. Including federal agents.”
“Smart woman.”
“Paranoid woman.”
“In her position, paranoia is survival.” Draven’s fingers drummed the table. “When will you have the location?”
“Roger’s being released tomorrow afternoon. Once they move him to the safe house, I’ll know.”
“Unless she doesn’t trust you.”
“She doesn’t. Yet.”
“What makes you think that will change?”
“I’m very persuasive.”
Draven laughed. Soft. “You’re very something.” The amusement faded. “How long?”
“Once I have the location, you’ll know.”
“That’s vague, Asher.”
“That’s realistic. She’s good. This will take finesse.”
“I don’t have time for finesse. Roger testifies in four weeks.”
“I’m aware.”
“Are you?” Draven’s voice went cold. “Because from where I’m sitting, you interfered with an operation, and now you’re telling me you don’t have intel on the one thing I need.”
Asher didn’t react. “From where I’m sitting, I maintained my FBI cover and positioned myself as liaison to the protection detail. Strategy. Not betrayal.”
“It’s called suspicious.”
“It’s called doing my job.”
They stared at each other.
The warehouse settled. Metal groaning. Dmitri shifting.
