“I loved you. I felt like it was my only option. You were so high on the Agency gig. That’s all you talked about. How you wanted to become a top-rated analyst and save lives. Thwart the next 9/11. Be the one who could see things that others couldn’t see. Connect all the dots. There was no way I was going to take that away from you. It meant far too much.”

“I don’t even know how to begin to process all of this,” she whispered.

“Do you want a few minutes alone?” He was willing to give her all the time she needed.

“No,” she responded quickly. “I have questions.”

“Whatever I can answer, I will.” That was the least he could do.

“This man who came to you. What was his name?”

“Riley Brown.”

Her eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

“Well, I can’t be sure he was telling the truth, but that’s what he said his name was.”

“What did he look like? Do you remember?”

How could he forget? “Yeah. White guy, I’d say in his late fifties, with dark hair graying at the temples. Probably about five ten, light eyes. Do you know him?”

She nodded. “He’s high up at Langley, but not in the DA.”

“DA?”

“Directorate of Analysis—my division. Riley’s from the Directorate of Operations, aka the clandestine service.” She shook her head. “If the DO’s involved, they had this planned all along.”

“What planned?”

“That I’d come in as an analyst, and they’d make me a field officer even though I told them I wanted a desk job. If Riley Brown came to you, they were working me from day one, and I never saw it coming. I’ve played right into their little web of tricks.”

He put the pieces together quickly. “But why not just recruit you for the clandestine service from the beginning?”

“Because I made it clear from my first interview that I wanted to be an analyst.”

“And they didn’t want to take no for an answer.” He had to ask. “Do you think any of that history and their plan for you has anything to do with the IG investigation?”

“I doubt it, but at this point, everything is on the table. Honestly, Hunter, my mind is blown right now.”

He knew he might be pushing his luck, but he took her hand again. “I’m so sorry about all of this.”

“Me too,” she said softly. “This is all the more reason to take you up on your offer to go with me tomorrow as my attorney.”

“Layla, I know we can’t turn back the clock, but I vow to you right now that I’m going to stick by your side through this.”

“I believe you.”

As he looked into Layla’s dark eyes, he wondered if there was any chance of starting over with her.

CHAPTER
FOURTEEN