Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 86450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
I nod in understanding because I know the minute I escaped with my life I became an integral part of the case against Voronin.
I am now a key witness.
“Do you understand the importance of that?” she asks me.
“I do.”
“Do you understand what that means for your personal exposure?”
“Yes.”
“We’ve lost two informants and we’re confident that Voronin killed them. While he doesn’t know if you survived, I’m sure he’s going to be looking for you, as well as the boat that pulled you out of the water.”
My stomach cramps at the thought. While I get that my life is going to be in continual danger, I don’t want Finn and his crew to be hurt. “I understand.”
“I want you to be fully aware, Josie.” The use of my first name, a rarity for her, doesn’t go unnoticed. It means she’s worried.
I meet her eyes. “I’m personally aware, Agent Royce.”
“Good.” Her gaze slides to Malik. “Let’s talk new operational options.”
Conversation opens to all sitting at the table and in the end, it’s clear there are two paths.
The slower one is to continue building direct against Voronin. It will be circumstantial because Voronin will never be directly involved. Blocks of financial data and relationships will be key. We’ll lean heavy on surveillance and it will take a long time to continue to build the case. We’ll keep searching for new informants and hope we get a lucky break.
The other option is to focus in on Mikhail Sokolov now that I’ve linked him to a clear moment of trafficking. We would focus our attention on this man, ideally trying to catch him in the act again. Make an arrest and get him to flip on Voronin.
My eyewitness testimony would be greatly bolstered.
Neither of these paths are exclusive and will continue in tandem, but it’s agreed that our focus will be on Mikhail.
Which is completely ironic seeing as how if Royce is correct, Mikhail’s probably going to be focusing his attention on me. Chances are, when two people are so focused on each other, their paths will intersect.
Cole and Royce engage in specific operational details between our two agencies including surveillance, asset deployment and comms protocols. I listen attentively, although I’m not sure if they want me involved.
That curiosity is answered sooner rather than later. Royce circles back to me. “Ms. McAdams. We need to talk about your protection.”
“My what?” I ask, head swinging between her and Malik, who happens to be nodding in what appears to be grave agreement.
“We know that Voronin’s men went through your vehicle and will know that you work for Jameson,” Royce says, and I don’t miss the slight censure in her voice.
“We could put her in a safe house arrangement,” Malik offers. I cut a glance at Cole whose expression remains impassive. Reid looks confused. “We have one available outside of Issaquah, secure, off the books. Jameson would maintain the cover.”
Royce considers this, but I’m firmly opposed.
“Malik,” I say and his attention comes to me. “May I say something?”
“Go ahead.”
“With all due respect, putting me in a safe house at this point is a worse option than keeping me in plain sight.”
The room turns to me.
“You said it yourself, Agent Royce. Voronin doesn’t know I survived. The version of events on the dock that night is that I went into the water and didn’t come out. Sokolov will have reported that. The most likely thing Voronin currently believes is that I drowned.”
“Likely,” Royce agrees.
“If they’re somehow watching Jameson and see that an agent disappears from work tomorrow, that will alert them. A Jameson analyst who suddenly stops coming into the building is visible. The minute you put me into protection will actually put more attention on me and I will be actively hunted.”
“Ms. McAdams,” Royce says, almost a little too kindly. “While I appreciate your zeal in wanting to stay on this case, surely you can’t think I’d fall for that reasoning.”
No, I didn’t. But I’m not done. “I’m the analyst who built most of this case. I’m running BOB and I have the pattern work that’s driving our objectives. Pulling me off the case at the moment we are about to operationalize what I built makes the case worse, not better. And my best personal protection is to look exactly like a Jameson analyst working an eight-to-five job. Boring. Visible. Not worth investigating.”
I look at Malik. “I’m asking you to put me back on the case. Officially. With whatever guardrails you and Agent Royce think are appropriate, but you need me to work this, and frankly… I need to work it.”
Malik rubs his jaw as he considers. Royce stays silent, willing to leave the decision to him.
He looks at me and I’m aware he’s deciding between the version of me that’s his employee and the version of me that’s the case.