Betrayal (32 page)

“I still haven’t heard from Brady.”

“You’re worried,” Agent Fallon surmised.

“I am.”

“What about Alex?”

Michael Taylor stretched his neck from side to side. “She’ll be on her feet before you know it. If I know Alex, before she should be.”

Agent Fallon pursed his lips. “What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

“How did you know she was hurt if Brady didn’t…”

Taylor cut off Brian Fallon’s questioning. “This is not the FBI, Agent Fallon. It’s a different game altogether. I told you that.’

“Interesting that you call it a
game
.” Fallon’s voice dripped with disgust.

“Why? What would you call it?” Taylor rose from his chair and paced across the floor. “I have known Alex Toles a long time, Agent. A very long time.” He turned back to face the man still seated and brought his hands to a point in front of his face. “What do you know, Agent Fallon? About Agent Toles?”

“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“Mm.” Taylor sat on the arm of a large chair, took a deep breath and put his hands on his knees. “Agent Alexis Toles…. when I first met her she was Lieutenant Alexis Toles. I was her
captain and the man you know as President John Merrow was our colonel.”

“I know that,” Fallon replied.

“Yes, but I suspect that is all you know. Alex,” he sighed, “Alex is the most intelligent agent I have ever known.” Fallon had always considered his partner intuitive and capable. He had to admit he was surprised at the definitive sound in the NSA director’s appraisal. “Ahh…that surprises you a bit? Well, Agent, did you know that Alex can speak and translate thirteen languages?” Fallon felt his mouth open slightly. “Uh-huh. Not three, not seven; as she so modestly is reluctant to admit. Thirteen in total.” He laughed. “She says seven because it is seven she can interact with as if sitting across from you and I in conversation. She has eidetic memory. Did you know that? She can see things that others will not. She holds degrees in linguistics, psychology and forensic psychology, which I might add she had completed by the age of 29. And that isn’t all.” Fallon swallowed hard. “Before her injury, she was scouted by the Olympic team. She’s as good a sharp shooter as any I have known and I would not want to face her hand to hand. She is the real deal. The shit spy movies are made of.”

“Okay….But what does that…”

“Alex Toles spent five years at the Pentagon, Fallon. She was placed there by John’s predecessor. She continued to work there as an NSA agent into John’s presidency. She doesn’t even know why; why he wanted her there.”

“Why?” Fallon asked the obvious question.

“Because Alex, as smart as she is, as fit mentally and physically as she is, possesses something few people in this field do, Agent Fallon; integrity. He trusted her. She was a barometer for what was wrong and what was right. She helped keep him honest in a job that demanded anything but that. More than that, Agent; John Merrow loved Alex.”

“What does that have to do with…”

“It has everything to do with everything, Fallon. To most people in the intelligence community this is a game. It is a game of wits and physical prowess. They lack integrity. They speak of loyalty but they would sell out their own brother for a chance to get ahead. This is all just a challenge to most. Alex is an anomaly. She is loyal and she is humble. It’s what made him fall in love with her.”

“You are telling me that the president was in love with Agent Toles?” Fallon asked doubtfully.

“I am. She has powerful friends, not just the president. Friends who would give their life for her; for her happiness. It is something she earned. And, it is one of those friends that called me.” He thought about the woman who placed the call. “I dare say she may be more powerful than any of us could imagine possible.”

“Are you one of those friends, Taylor?”

Michael Taylor smiled. “There are few things I would sacrifice myself for anymore, Agent Fallon. I’ve seen too much. Alex Toles remains one of them. Whatever we are into here, John wanted us to dig in. It’s big. It’s dangerous. And Alex is in the thick of it.”

“What about Brady?”

Taylor nodded. “Time will tell. If he’s not dead, he is laying low somewhere.”

“You think he’s dead?”

“I don’t know. I’m not Alex. I can discover information, she’s the one who sees the picture.”

“So, what from me?”

“I want you to search through Alex’s old NSA case files. And I want you to keep working the congressman’s accident,” Taylor explained.

“Spying on Alex?”

“No. But, there is a trail. Heard of Advanced Strategic Applications?” Fallon nodded. “I want you to see if it appears in her previous investigations….anywhere. And, I want
you to see if it appears beside Jonathan Krause or William Brackett.”

“Krause and Brackett I understand. The Russian manufacturer, why?”

“An old friend has some suspicions about the president’s death.”

“What are you saying?” Taylor laughed at Fallon’s innocence. “Are you saying that the assassination is somehow linked to O’Brien?”

“It’s all linked, Fallon. I just don’t know how. I need Alex back for that. Dig. Use whatever resources you have….but make sure they are trustworthy.”

“What about Cassidy?”

“She’s with Agent Toles. Book yourself a flight to Connecticut next week, Fallon. You’ll feel better when you see them.”

“You think I’m….”

“I think,” Taylor said as he made his way back to the chair behind his desk, “that Agent Toles has many powerful friends, Agent. She’s lucky.”

“What about you?”

“I have my own stones to turn over. Go easy with Toles… she’ll want to jump right back in.”

“Director?”

“Yes, Agent?”

“Do you know? Who shot her, I mean?” Fallon tried to control his anger.

“No. Perhaps Alex will shed some light on that.”

Fallon nodded. He couldn’t be certain what was really happening. His head was spinning with endless possibilities. Foreign companies, presidents, assassinations; how could they all be connected? He shook his head hoping to clear the jumble that had amassed within it. “Alex, I hope you can make some sense of all of this.”

“No. I’ll call, Barb.”

“Cassidy, I can call Helen if,” Barb Toles said through the phone.

Cassidy had one more call she needed to make. She had saved it for last and it would be the most difficult yet. Part of her wanted to accept her friend’s offer to call Alex’s parents, but she felt it was both her place and her responsibility. They were together. They were committed. When the roles had been reversed; Alex had dealt compassionately with Rose and Dylan. Now it was Cassidy’s turn. “No. I’ll call her Barb, but thanks.”

“You sound tired. Do you know when…”

“I don’t know. You know Alex. She’ll want out the minute she wakes up. We’ll see what the doctor says.”

“Are you alone?” Barb asked.

Cassidy smiled. “No. One of Alex’s friends is with me.”

“Okay, you have Rose call us and let us know…we’ll…”

“I will.”

“We love you both,” Barb said.

“We love you too,” Cassidy hung up her phone and took a deep breath. She took hold of Alex’s and sighed. Slowly, she allowed her finger to press the contact and she waited for a voice to answer the line.

“Alexis?”

“No…”

“Cassidy?” Helen Toles asked. “What’s wrong? Is it Alexis?”

Cassidy wasn’t certain why but the sound of Alex’s mother’s voice began to break down her emotions. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “She’s okay,” she began. She heard Alex’s mother release her own sigh of relief. “But, she…”

“Cassidy?” Helen softly urged. Cassidy’s tears had begun to flow again and in spite of her efforts she could not seem to control them. “It’s all right, dear. Tell me what happened.”

Cassidy sniffled and massaged her forehead, attempting to will her own words. “She was shot.”

“Oh dear God; she’s all right though?”

“Yes,” the teacher managed through her tears.

“Where are you, dear?”

“We’re at a military hospital.”

“Is Alex there with you?”

“I just stepped out to call. She’s sleeping….they had to remove the…”

“Tell me where you are, Cassidy.”

Cassidy licked her lips and tried to calm herself. “Hanscome Airforce Base.”

“In Bedford?”

“I don’t know, Helen…I….”

“Is Dylan there too?” Cassidy could hear the concern in Helen’s voice.

“No, he’s with my mom.”

“Good. We can be there….”

“No…I don’t know how long she will even be here. She won’t want to stay when she wakes up.”

Helen Toles let out a soft chuckle. It was clear now that her daughter was not in imminent danger. It was also clear that the young woman on the phone was distraught, and moreover that she knew her daughter quite well. “I am certain that’s true. What can I do for you?”

“Nothing. I wanted you to know. As soon as I can I will have her call you.”

“Well….”

Cassidy laughed through her tears. “I promise, Helen. I will have her call you.”

“I know you will. Right now, I think I am more worried about you, dear.”

“I’m all right,” Cassidy said weakly.

“Cassidy,” Helen Toles smiled and shook her head on the other end of the phone. “She is very lucky to have found you.”

“I don’t know about that, Helen.”

“I do. Don’t worry too much about arguing with my daughter to call,” Helen said, momentarily lightening Cassidy’s mood.
“You have Rose call me when you know what is going on. I’ll assume you already spoke with Barb?”

“Well….I did….But I….”

“You don’t need to explain. That’s how sisters are. I know that is how she thinks of you.” Cassidy smiled. Helen Toles was still a bit of a mystery to her, but Cassidy was certain of two things; no matter what had happened in the past, Helen loved Alex and Alex, in spite of her protests, loved her parents.

“I’m sorry I had to call with such…”

“I am just glad you are both safe. You’ve had quite the time.”

“Yeah….I guess we have,” Cassidy admitted as her tears began to subside. “I should get back…”

“You tell Alexis we love her.”

“I will.”

“And Cassidy?”

“Yes?”

“Take care of yourself too.”

Cassidy nodded as she disconnected their brief call. She had only been gone a few minutes but the time apart felt like an eternity. The short trek back to Alex’s room was filled with overwhelming emotion. Knowing that Alex would be back to herself should have been a relief, but in some ways it seemed to terrify Cassidy. She took a deep breath and opened the door. “Hey,” a grumbled voice called.

“You’re awake,” Cassidy said almost to herself.

“Looks like.”

“I’m sorry…I needed to…”

Jane smiled and squeezed Alex’s hand. “I’m going to leave you two alone,” she winked at the teacher as she passed. “I’m going to go find that brother of mine.”

“Thanks, Jane,” Cassidy smiled.

“Don’t thank me,” she whispered. “You’re going to have your hands full with that one.”

“Hey!” Alex tried to yell after her friend but her voice cracked.

Cassidy raised an eyebrow. “You starting trouble already?” she asked as she made her way to Alex.

“Me? Never.” Alex coughed out as she reached for her lover’s hand.

“Mm…How are you feeling?” Cassidy asked, stroking the agent’s forehead.

“Kinda like a truck hit me, backed over me and then hit me again.” The teacher nodded. She was finding it difficult to look in the agent’s eyes, fearing her emotions would get the best of her again. “Cass? Hey, I’m okay.” Cassidy nodded again. “Cass, look at me.”

“I can’t,” Cassidy whispered.

Alex closed her eyes. She understood. When she had seen Cassidy for the first time after the incident with Carl Fischer, Alex thought she might literally fall over. It was overpowering; the relief, the guilt, the fear, most of all the love she felt running through every inch of her. “I’m sorry, Cass. I’m okay, really.”

“I know.”

“Hey, don’t cry.”

“I can’t help it, Alex.”

“Listen, it’s not that bad.”

“Alex, someone shot you. I’d say that qualifies as
bad
.” Things were still fuzzy for the agent. She could remember pieces, but between the painkillers and the pain itself it was still difficult to see anything clearly. “Alex, what happened?”

“It’s still cloudy. I remember this voice…deep voice…I thought it was Brady, but…”

“You mean you thought Agent Brady shot you?” Cassidy was confused.

“No, got me out of there. I can’t remember how I…just that voice. Must have been a dream.”

“What did this voice say, Alex?” Cassidy asked, finally looking at her lover.

“Something…I was calling for you. I remember that.” Cassidy smiled and ran her thumb gently over Alex’s hand
as she held it. “Said to tell you Pip brought me.” The breath instantly left Cassidy’s body and she covered her mouth with her hand. It confirmed what Jane had told her. “Cass, what? I’m sure it was just a dream.”

“I don’t think so, Alex.”

“What?”

“Pip….Pip is an old friend of mine,” she looked into the agent’s eyes and sighed. “Alex, Pip…that was Jon’s nickname. It’s all I ever called him when we were in France.”