I blinked and then did as he’d commanded. The three mysterious picture frames were still on his desk, but the center frame was lying on its face.

“I can’t make them wait any longer,” Thomas said. “The Office of the Inspector General wants an arrest.”

“Travis?”

He turned. The skin under his eyes was purple. He looked like he’d lost weight. “No, no…Grove. Travis will start his training soon. If Grove hears from Benny or Tarou about Travis…well, we’ll be dead in the water anyway.

“Constance will send everything you have to the US Attorney’s office. They’re going to stage an armed robbery at the gas station he frequents. He’ll be shot. Witnesses will testify that he was killed.

“Then, Tarou and Benny will think they’re shit out of luck instead of packing up and destroying evidence because Grove was busted and all roads lead to their criminal activity.”

“Sounds like a home run, sir.”

Thomas winced at my cold response and then sat behind his desk. We remained in awkward silence for a solid ten seconds, and then Thomas made the smallest gesture toward the door.

“Thank you, Agent Lindy. That will be all.”

I nodded and stood up. I walked to the door, but I couldn’t leave. Against my better judgment, I turned, holding my free hand in a fist and tightly gripping the file folder so that I wouldn’t drop it.

He was reading the top page of a stack, holding a highlighter in one hand with the cap in the other.

“Are you taking care of yourself, sir?”

Thomas blanched. “Am I…excuse me?”

“Taking care of yourself. You seem tired.”

“I’m fine, Lindy. That will be all.”

I gritted my teeth and then took a step forward. “Because if you need to talk—”

He let both hands fall to his desk. “I don’t need to talk, and even if I did, you would be the last person I would talk to.”

I nodded once. “I’m sorry, sir.”

“Stop…calling me that,” he said, lowering his voice at the end.

I held my hands in front of me. “I feel it’s no longer appropriate to call you Thomas.”

“Agent Maddox or Maddox is fine.” He looked down at his paper. “Now, please…please leave, Lindy.”

“Why did you call me in here if you didn’t want to see me? You could have just as easily had Constance take care of it.”

“Because, once in a while, Liis, I just need to see your face. I need to hear your voice. Some days are tougher for me than others.”

I swallowed and then walked toward his desk. He braced himself for what I might do next.

“Don’t do that,” I said. “Don’t make me feel guilty. I tried not to…this is exactly what I didn’t want.”

“I know. I accept full responsibility.”