Justified Means (Book One) (The Agency Files) (13 page)

“
Yeah, it will. I plan to make sure that this doesn’t happen to another person again.”

“
The government will look, but they will not find us. Your accusations will be silenced. Seriously, are you really that naïve? You forget that you’re not the first. Do you watch the news?”

“
Yeah.”

“
And how many public accusations of kidnapping by the government or any other agency do you hear about?” Even from the other side of the wall, Keith knew what Corey’s face looked like as she added, “You’ll keep your mouth shut and be thankful for your life like the hundreds of other people that we’ve helped. You’ll quit whining about how horrible we are, and if you’re not a completely self-centered jerk, you might have the decency to thank us.”

“
Thank you! Thank you for
this
? You’ve got some nerve!”

Realizing that they
would never agree to disagree, Keith stormed out of the room, grabbing Corey’s arm as he did. He ignored the light outdoors as he pulled her outside and unleashed his pent-up fury. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“
She’s completely unreasonable. Talk about a diva!”

“
Even if that were true, who cares! Since when do we take rejection of our protection personally?”

Corey glared at him.
“What protection? We’re standing out here exposed, you idiot! You’ve gone soft with this one! What, she’s too cute to ignore? After all the millionaires’ daughters, with their perfect complexions, bodies, and model looks, you go goofy over some snotty barista? You’ve lost your perspective.”

“
You’ve lost your mind and your professionalism. I expect you to go in there and treat her with the same care and courtesy that you showed that actor’s agent.” He frowned, a discouraged look on his face. “I’m going to have to report this.”

“
And I’m going to have to report your loss of perspective. You can’t fall for your assignment.”

“
I’ve fallen for no one,” he said quietly, realizing that Erika probably heard every word. “I have no objections answering for every decision and action I’ve made since Mark assigned me to this case.”

“
You are so delusional.”

The venom in her tone
stunned him; Keith didn’t know how to respond. “I can handle the accusation. Can you handle the inquiry?” Without waiting for her reply, he turned and returned to the cabin.

Erika looked distressed.
“I’m sorry—”

“
You have no reason to be. You’ve done nothing wrong—nothing that every client we’ve ever helped has done. I’m going to bed. If there’s a problem, of any kind, come get me.”

Just as he closed his eyes and pulled the bag over his shoulder, the d
oor opened again. Erika’s face peeked through the door. “Keith?”

“
Yeah?”

“
If you get in trouble, just tell whoever is in charge to talk to me. I’ll back you up.”

The argument replayed itself in Erika’s mind until she thought she’d go crazy. The dagger looks that Corey sent her made no sense. She paced the floor until her irritable captor demanded she stop “making all that racket,” and then looked for something to read.

Corey
’s snort of disgust when she picked up Keith’s Bible made her want to throw it at the woman, but instead, she forced herself to be as pleasant as she could muster. “Do you have a problem with me reading this?”

“
He’ll see through it. Keith isn’t stupid.”

“
You sure treated him like he is. What kind of garbage was that?”

“
He’s going to make stupid mistakes thanks to you. Just leave him alone!”

Corey stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.
As quietly as she could, Erika picked up her chain and held it as taut as possible as she crept into the bedroom. “Keith?”

“
Yeah?”

His being awake surprised her until she remembered the slammed door.
That’d wake anyone. “I think I know what’s eating Corey,” she whispered.

“
Good. Just avoid it at all costs.”

“
I can’t.”

“
Why?” He raised himself on one elbow to look at her.

“
It’s me. She’s jealous. She has it in her head that you’re interested in me.”

“
Yeah, I got that much, but why the—” Understanding wrinkled his face in confusion until he shook his head. “No, I don’t think so, Erika.”

“
Look, it’s that or she’s got some kind of ‘Post Abduction Stress Syndrome’ or something.”

“
PASS. Cute. I’ll call Mark. Thanks.” He jerked his head toward the bathroom. “Better get back in there before she returns. If you can’t take it, just come play cards on your bed or something. You won’t bother me.”

“
Like she’d let me do that.”

“
Just do it. I’ll back you up.”

As she shut the door behind her, Erika saw him pull out his phone.
This was interesting. First, the target was located. That was fascinating enough. Did it mean that they’d be able to take him down soon? Isn’t that what happened when you located a target?

More than that, though, the idea of not being associated with the government intrigued her.
What did Corey mean? Was it true, or was it some cover story used to prevent people from exposing the American government’s illegal activity?

Additionally, was he calling to report her, Corey, or himself?
Erika had no doubt in her mind that Corey saw her as a threat to whatever she hoped to cultivate with Keith. Actually, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that Corey wouldn’t have anything to do with him now. In the agent’s odd way of seeing things, he had been compromised. He’d lost his value in her opinion, and in doing so, Erika’s opinion of him grew more favorable—slightly.

The moment Corey returned from the bathroom, Erika knew
something dreadful had occurred. Corey looked exultant. Murmurs on the other side of the wall grew slightly louder and forceful, but something else filled Keith’s voice—desperation. She tried not to look at the woman across the room, but Erika couldn’t seem to control her eyes. Corey sat, fingers interlocked with an assumed air of calmness. Silence grew so intense that it nearly deafened her, and still the agent spoke nothing and communicated everything.

At last, the bedroom door opened, and Keith appeared, jacket in hand.
“That was low, Corey. You’re just delaying the inevitable.”

“
You could have red-lined me if you considered me a danger to the assignment.”

“
After you red-lined me, that’d leave her unprotected while they flew someone in, and you know it. Despite what I think of your behavior, I think more of our responsibility to protect her. Once this case is over, you will be called to answer for your misuse of your position and your treatment of our client.”

He turned to Erika, who sat stunned as she realized what his words meant, and said,
“If there’s any problem at all, I’ll want to hear about it during debriefing. Do you understand? No matter what she says about anything, if there is anything that makes you feel mistreated or unsafe, make sure we know.”

Keith passed her a pad of paper and a pen.
“Before I go, I thought you’d want to write a note home. I’ll have it mailed from somewhere down by Nashville.”

“
What do I say?” The question asked itself before she realized she didn’t want to be told how to write to her own family.

“
Tell them you’re fine, that you saw two squirrels fighting over a nut, and that you’re amazed at how well your car is holding up—only two flats and a dead starter so far.” He grinned at her snicker. “Oh, and make sure you let them know you love them.”

Those words sent a chill through her heart.
Why had he emphasized that? It sounded as if— “Ok.”

She wrote each line carefully, making sure every word was exactly what she wanted it to be, and then, at Keith
’s insistence, rewrote it quickly, copying it from the original in order to make it look quick and carefree. He folded it, slipped it inside an envelope, and had her address it before slipping it inside a pocket inside his jacket.

“
Take care of yourself, Erika. Just don’t do anything stupid. Corey knows her job. She can and will protect you, even if it seems like she won’t. It’s her job, and she’ll do it right. You don’t have to like her, but don’t be afraid to trust her.”

At the door, he turned back to both of them.
“I’ll get these guys as soon as I can. Try not to kill each other while I do it.”

With each step away from the cabin, Keith grew more nervous. Everything he knew of Corey told him to trust her, but his suspicions about a mole made him question everything he’d assumed to be true. As he reached the point where he knew he’d be unable to hear her if she called out for him, Keith’s stomach churned. What was more important? Obeying orders and finding Alek Anastas and his crew or risking everything—including his job—to protect Erika from what might be a new threat?

He paused, one hand leaning on a tree as he prayed for wisdom and guidance.
Despite his deep desire to return, he felt unsettled at the thought of disobeying orders. A verse from Romans, “obey those who have rule over you” mocked him. Sure the Scripture spoke of government authorities, and technically speaking, his entire job was a violation of that verse.

The official stance of the government was that his agency was subject to prosecution
; they were, by legal definition, criminals. However, the government also looked the other way at their activities. As long as people did not raise a public stink and complain, his employer made the jobs of the FBI, CIA, NSA, and Homeland Security much easier—and at no charge. With each change of presidential administration, the tension within the agency became nearly palpable, but in three decades, not one president had made the choice to take the information public and shut them down.

“
Lord, which authority do I obey? My boss? The Constitution? The President of the USA? I’m lost here.”

As if a Divine finger illuminated the memory with a switch, Keith remembered how the Magi refused to return to Herod and tell him where to find Jesus.
They’d ignored the commands of a powerful ruler like Herod, and in doing so, saved the life of the Savior of mankind. Mark said to come in. He’d go.

“
Take care of her, Lord. Just—just take care of her.”

Refreshed after a long enforced nap, Keith met with Mark in the office of the Mayflower Trust building in Rockland.
The plaque on the door read, “Acquisitions,” which always amused him. Mark Cho watched him from across the desk, his fingers toying with a pencil as he made his initial assessment.

Despite
his Asian sounding surname, Mark’s broad-shouldered, tow headed, piercing blue eyes belied the hint of any Asian heritage. Rumors among the agents ranged from adopted to dominant Scandinavian genes. Keith just assumed he’d changed his name for personal protection and privacy.