Redeem My Heart (26 page)

Fallon debated on whether to inquire about Townes’ security clearance. He was full of contradictions and this only added to his enigma. Crest had certainly found a gem amongst the rubble. Townes’ appearance this morning also answered Fallon’s curiosity about the tailored suit he was wearing. His hair was pulled back into a long ponytail, but one couldn’t tell from the front of him.

“Fine.” Fallon hadn’t been sure exactly what she’d needed to do or who she might need to speak with today, especially after Ryland had pulled a disappearing act, so she’d dressed the part. She wore one of her best pantsuits with a steel grey satin blouse underneath and accessories with matching jewelry. “Although I think I should point out that I’m certain pinpointing Ryland’s location as soon as possible is imperative. My time could have been better spent working on that instead of putting on pretenses for Quaid, considering we aren’t even sure he’s who we are looking for in the first place. Of course, that is all predicated on the highly suspect idea that you’ve shred what you’ve uncovered with me thus far.”

“Ryland isn’t far.” Crest picked up the files and made his way to the door. “He’s too close to you now as it is, Fallon. You would have been the first to point that out had this not been so personal. You’ve lost your objectivity because you didn’t keep your professional distance.”

Fallon bristled, not appreciating being chastised in front of the entire group of CSA team members. She gently but calculatedly placed her untouched mug of fresh coffee in the sink and walked the opposite way, not bothering to hear what else Crest may have had to say. She walked back into her bedroom, closing the door, and ignoring the tangled sheets on her bed. Images of the activities they’d indulged in floated through her mind and she did her best to disregard those as well. It hurt that he would go at this alone now that she’d all but showed him how far she was willing to bend to see that this worked out for the two of them. There was still a chance…but only if she could look into his eyes.

She shook her head at her foolishness. There had never been a chance. He was always going to confront this issue alone. How she would have loved to just take a moment to immerse herself in her misery, but she’d never been one for self-pity. How many times had Ryland shown his true colors? Or told her that she was dreaming of someone else? How many warnings had Crest given her? She knew exactly who she was dealing with and she’d still made excuse after excuse, justifying his behavior based on past discretions. Her whole justification for being with him was based on a realization. She couldn’t get through the day without it. She’d given him her body and right when anger should have taken root…she recalled his one word question—
why?

“Do what you do best,” Fallon whispered to herself as she rested her hand against the doorframe of her closet. Thoughts and opinions whirled in her mind as she profiled Ryland’s behavior for the last couple of days. He could have easily shut her out back at Crest’s cabin, as well as the possibility of completely disappearing after Schultz had allowed him to vacate the crime scene of Special Agent Jernigan’s residence. He’d uncharacteristically spent the night with her, holding her when he should have left once he’d gotten the information he’d wanted from her. He’d also held her when she’d slept despite his own insomnia. His previously suppressed personality had been evolving this entire time and no one had noticed…not even her. “What would his next move be, Fallon?”

“I’m not going to be happy if you tell me Ryland is in that closet.”

Townes had announced his position from just outside Fallon’s now open bedroom. She startled slightly, but didn’t show it by turning around. Instead, she slipped her feet into her most comfortable high heeled shoes and secured her side holster to her belt. She checked her weapon, immediately securing it to her waist just as she’d been trained. A good agent always knew the state of their weapon and their own ability to face the coming day. She wouldn’t chance going unarmed now, not until E.D.A. was just another page in the secret history of this country’s clandestine agencies.

“Don’t worry, Townes,” Fallon assured him, exiting her closet and then walking with confidence the length of her bedroom to join him. She’d just figured out what Ryland’s next move was and she needed to discover a way to contact him before he implemented his plan. It would most likely save his life and she, for one, would very much like him to live. “I’m just a silly woman talking to myself. Are you ready?”

“Let me be the latest in a long string of friends and acquaintances to give you a piece of unsolicited advice,” Townes offered solemnly, leading the way into her kitchen which everyone had vacated while she’d been in her bedroom. “I’m a patient man. I’m doing a job for Crest right now, which is to protect you—sometimes in spite of yourself. The moment my assignment ends here, my own needs will become paramount and my brother’s death will be avenged. Don’t try to be his personal savior, because he’ll only end up becoming another sacrifice on the altar of justice in spite of your attempt to rectify the past.”

*   *   *   *

“How did your consulting job with CSA go?” Special Agent Quaid asked after a brief knock on Fallon’s door. She’d been perusing the want ads from yesterday and this morning in the D.C.
Times
and
Post
, looking for anything that would lead her to Moza or Cyril. Considering reaching out to either man was Ryland’s only choice, the newspaper was the safest way for him to make contact. She folded the paper and laid it on her desk as she focused her attention on her immediate supervisor. “It was rather a quick assignment this time. And I thought Stacey said you were taking a personal day.”

“I didn’t expect to be back so soon either,” Fallon replied, reaching for her coffee cup before standing. She walked over to the Keurig machine she’d installed in her office. That was after wading through a river of bureaucratic bullshit and swearing an oath of allegiance to the fire marshal in order to have it here. It definitely helped when she pulled all-nighters during the many different assignments she was given. “I was able to get done what I needed to yesterday.”

Fallon stuck with the story Crest had fabricated for her, pulling her cup out from the machine after it had quickly brewed her favorite brand. She made sure a bright smile was on her face as she turned around to face Quaid.

“Well, we’re glad to have you back. Steve caught a potential domestic terrorism case and he’s going to need a profile drawn up to narrow his search parameters for the LEOs he’s using as his first line of detection. Right now, he’s flying blind and any leads he’d started with are quickly drying up.” Quaid nodded his acknowledgement to another agent who passed by him in the hallway before turning his attention back to her. “Did you hear about Special Agent Jernigan from the Agency? His residence caught fire and he didn’t make it out. His wife has been in contact with Stacey. We have an envelope going around the sections for a flower arrangement and then the department has a discretionary budget for their assignment. Regardless, we should have details on the service soon.”

Fallon was so glad she’d not taken a sip of her coffee and that she’d just set the cup onto the hard surface of her desk; otherwise she would have choked and spit the hot liquid out all down the front of her. It had escaped her to ask Crest just how that situation would be cleaned up, but now she had her answer.

“I didn’t know that,” Fallon replied somberly, guilt settling in that she’d been a part of what had taken place to such a well thought of agent. Jernigan might not have been responsible for E.D.A., but he’d known about the program and may have even been aware of who had reinstated the agency’s covert platform for murder. “He was still doing consulting work for the Agency and the Bureau, wasn’t he?”

“Yes, although he’d slowed down in recent months.” Special Agent Quaid glanced at his watch. “Which is why I have a meeting with Utley in ten minutes. We’re looking over the cases he had and then reassigning them to the few consultants we have left covering those specialty fields. The budget we’ve been given to work with isn’t giving us the luxury of hiring additional resources at the moment, so we’re going to have to do more with less until this damned administration changes.”

“The field agents can’t handle more caseloads without support personnel,” Fallon said, grateful to now be off the topic of Jernigan. “Something’s going to give if we keep stretching ourselves thin.”

“Agreed, which is why we’re looking at combining departmental administration support staffs and utilizing the difference in support positions down at the section level,” Quaid said, tapping the side of the doorframe indicating his time was up. “We need to come up with an abbreviated security clearance process and get these paper pushers up to speed to support field operations logistically, at least. Don’t forget to speak with Steve before this afternoon. He’s heading out for an initial briefing at fourteen hundred.”

Fallon nodded that she would do as he’d asked, finally sitting down in her chair and breathing a sigh of relief that she’d pulled off her first run-in with Quaid. It was rare that she spoke with Utley, considering he didn’t even work in this building. She did wonder if Quaid told her about the meeting on purpose, covering his tracks with some excuse about combining departments when they could very well be discussing E.D.A. Were both of them involved? Her mind was running in circles.

“Anything I need to be aware of?” Fallon looked up to see that Townes now stood in the place that was previously occupied by Quaid. She hadn’t seen him for the last two hours and now he appeared as if he’d been outside of her office the entire time. She grabbed a piece of paper and picked up her pen, her intention to write down her message. She had no idea who might be listening or what devices had been planted in her office. “You’re clear. You can speak. Your office was swept this morning before you arrived.”

Fallon looked up with surprise, wondering how Townes would know that and then thought better before asking. This man appeared capable of just about anything, putting him quite on par with Crest. It made her wonder why someone with his abilities would want to work for someone else.

“He’s meeting with Utley in ten minutes,” Fallon said softly, still mindful of who might be walking by in the hallway. “He also mentioned that Jernigan’s death was due to a fire at his residence.”

“I did hear that Special Agent Jernigan perished in a fire. I could grab the envelope that’s making the rounds. I already dropped a few bucks in earlier.” Townes glanced down the hallway to his left before finishing their conversation. “My condolences should you attend his service. Thank you for the information. I’ll let his tail know what’s up.”

Townes disappeared as fast as he materialized and it wasn’t long after that Stacey was standing in Fallon’s doorway with a file and an envelope in her hand. She was delivering Steven’s latest domestic terrorist case and basically tying up Fallon’s late morning and early afternoon instead of giving her time to search the newspaper like she’d been. She now wished she’d gone against Crest’s orders to come into the office today. She just hoped like hell that Ryland didn’t do anything to put his life on the line until she could find time to save his ass.

Chapter Twenty-Two

R
yland spent the morning putting his plan into action, lining up the players, and ensuring that vital third parties participated in said event as they had been scripted. He was still in disguise, allowing him to maneuver the city and his various destinations without delay. He was now entering the same restaurant Crest was using for a business meeting and was quite pleased to see that it wasn’t with Schultz Jessalyn. Secret Service would have already scouted out the location and that many agents in close proximity would have posed quite a problem.

“I would very much like that table, miss,” Ryland expressed to the hostess by pointing with his cane to the table next to the one Crest had just been taken to. There was nothing better than when things went as planned. “My wife and I used to come here quite often before she passed on and we always sat there, bless her soul.”