“Of course not,” Agger said quickly. “Of course not.” An awkward pause followed. “But look, we all know what you’ve been through. All those months of VC torture. I mean, Jesus. Beaten, starved—that’s got to mess with your head. Sooner or later, it’s got to mess with you. Christ, the things they did to you …” In a quieter voice he added, “Not to mention the things that you did.”

A chill ran down Janson’s spine. “Nelson, what are you telling me?”

“Just that there are a lot of worried people, and they’re way up the intelligence food chain.”

Did they think he was insane? If so, they couldn’t afford to let him wander free, not with everything the former Cons Op agent had in his head—the extensive knowledge of procedures, informants, networks that remained in operation. A security breach could destroy years of work and would simply not be countenanced. Janson knew the chain of official reasoning in a case like that.

Despite the bright hilltop sun, Janson suddenly felt cold.

Agger shifted uneasily. “I’m not an expert in that kind of thing. They said you’d seem to be plausible, cogent, in command. And no matter where your head’s at, sixteen million is going to be pretty hard to resist. Maybe I’m just speaking for myself there.”

“I have absolutely no explanation for the money,” Janson said. “Maybe the Liberty Foundation has an eccentric way of rendering payment. Compensation was referred to. Not negotiated, not specified. Look, that wasn’t a principal motivation on my part. It was a debt of honor. You know why.”

“Paul, my friend, I want to get all this straightened out, and I’ll do whatever I can—you know that. But you’ve got to help me out here, give me some facts. When did Novak’s people make their first approach to you?”

“Monday. Forty-eight hours after Novak’s abduction.”

“And when was the first eight million deposited?”

“Where are you going with this?”

“It was deposited before you say these people approached you. Before they knew you’d say yes. Before they knew an extraction might be necessary. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Did anybody ask them about it?”

“Paul, they don’t know who you are. They don’t know about the abduction. They don’t even know the boss is dead.”

“How did they react when you told them?”

“We didn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Orders from the top. We’re in the information-collecting business, not the information-dissemination business. Everyone’s been given strict orders as to that. And speaking of collection, that’s why people are so determined that you come in. It’s the only way. If you don’t, assumptions are going to be made. And acted upon. OK? Do I have to say more?”

“Jesus,” Janson said.