Page 64 of Wrecked
Anita rose. “From what I learned, you’re very good at it.” She walked to the door, glanced back at Henry. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
Anita left, shutting the door behind her.
“When I was in the Middle East, I had several assets,” Addison said. One, in particular—a woman we helped relocate to the US—was the reason I found Haqazzii. Will she be notified?”
“No,” Henry replied. “We don’t get involved with former assets.” He pushed out of his chair. “Thanks for coming in. I hope you’ll reconsider our advice based the seriousness of the situation.”
“Thanks for letting me know about Ronald.”
Henry walked her to his assistant’s desk, told her he’d be in touch, and returned to his office.
Addison was escorted to the lobby.
On the way to her car, she thought of Ronald, Becky, and their children. Emotion clogged her throat, but crying wouldn’t bring her friend back. Hunting down his killer wouldn’t either, but it might bring closure for his family. If anyone could find out who was behind the car explosion, it would be her.
With phone to ear, she made the first of two calls.
“Cooper Grant,” he answered. “Where are you?”
“You should know. I’ve got a chip in my—”
“I’m not online,” he interrupted. “I talked to Anita Robinson earlier. Where are you?”
“Langley. I was told to go into hiding.”
“Yeah, she recommended the same thing to me,” Cooper said. “Work at the black site this afternoon.”
“I don’t want this to turn into a thing,” she pushed back.
“If Jenning’s death is connected to the Haqazzii terror cell, you’ll need to drop below the radar.”
“Jenning went on dozens of missions. The car explosion could have been related to any one of them.”
“But he wentpublicabout the Haqazzii strike,” Cooper said.
“But I wasn’t named in his book.”
“CIs and assets can be turned. You found Haqazzii. Someone could have spent the last three years hunting for the people who took him out. Who else was killed during that raid?”
“Four additional adults,” Addison said. “I can’t discuss details, not even with you.”
“I want you to lay low until we hear back from them.”
It could take months for the CIA to find out who killed Ronald.
“Got it,” she replied, not wanting to get into it with her boss.
Cooper ended the call.
Though she doubted someone was tailing her, she’d watch her back. That was nothing new.
She opened her car door, let the heat of the day rush out. Before this morning, she’d never thought twice about starting her vehicle. She eased into the driver’s seat, inserted the key, turned the ignition. Her vehicle started.
Relax. No one is hunting you down. Jenning went public. I didn’t.
She lowered the windows, letting the stifling heat escape, cranked up the air, then made the second call.
“Yes,” answered the familiar voice.
