Intersection (28 page)

Alex entered the president’s private study to find him poised on the corner of his desk, waiting. “Alex,” he smiled. “I’m sorry about this…I just thought it best we speak here.”

“It’s fine. What is it?”

“Sit,” he said offering a seat and moving to a blue arm chair. “Carl Fisher.”

“What about him?”

“You suspect him,” the president said.

“I do. I wonder why the CIA would be involved in a congressional campaign,” she said flatly.

“It is interesting,” he agreed. “More interesting though, Alex, he’s not CIA anymore.”

“What do you mean? I have the file from…”

“Yes, well, even Taylor doesn’t bat a thousand.” He stood and headed for the small liquor cabinet. “You want a drink?” Alex shook her head. “Seems his firing from the congressman’s campaign caused him some issues. He’s been working freelance ever since, kind of a drunkard from what I understand.”

“Why the interest?”

He returned with his scotch in hand. “Because, Alex, I have suspected for a while that Christopher O’Brien is not the ally he appears to be.”

Alex felt her jaw stiffen. “How so?”

“Oh… some financial things started it. Hence the CIA at the campaign,” he lifted his glass. “But recently some meetings to his office. Fisher being one of them, and Jonathan Krause. I’m sure you remember that name.” Alex certainly did know that name. Jonathan Krause was widely considered to be one of
the most pivotal brokers of large arms sales to foreign nations. He had a storied Naval Career and was well connected, had worked overseas with the CIA and was credited with foiling several large scale attacks on financial markets. But, many insiders suspected that he had his own interests. He was elitist, highly intelligent and a true charmer; everything a great spook needed to be and everything that made them so dangerous if they went astray.

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Alex asked.

“Because, I wasn’t sure, and frankly, I hoped I was wrong. The accident changed that.” Alex remained stoic. “Oh come on, Alex. I know you already suspect that was no accident. Doesn’t add up, does it?”

Alex shook her head. She was curious about the congressman and his dealings for a number of reasons. Right now, Cassidy was her concern. Her friend studied her as closely as she observed him. “Alex?” She looked to him. “I know about Cassidy…and you.”

“I assumed.”

He nodded and let out a strong sigh. “Fisher, I don’t know his agenda. I do know he is dangerous.” Alex suspected that already.

“You think O’Brien’s behind this, with Cassidy?” Alex asked.

The president shrugged. “I don’t know what I think, Alex. I just know that Congressman O’Brien is in ICU after he’s been meeting with an arms broker that no one can seem to pin. What role Fisher plays, well…only the congressman knows that.”

“So what do you want from me, John?”

“Well, I’d like you to look into the congressman’s dealings with Krause. But…I would also like you to keep Cassidy and Dylan safe. Cassidy has been a good friend to my administration.”

“You needn’t worry about Cassidy or Dylan,” Alex assured him.

“Never thought I’d see that.”

“What’s that?”

“You, in love,” he said.

“Jealous?” She smiled now.

He nodded. “Alex, O’Brien is still central to a lot of things for this administration. I can’t…It has to remain an accident in the public view.”

“I understand. It stays here.” Alex hated this part of her job. It was the president before her now making this statement, her Commander in Chief, not simply her friend.

“Not even to Cassidy,” he said. Alex’s gaze narrowed. “Toles?”

“I wouldn’t tell Cassidy anything about the congressman unless I was sure, John.” He nodded and walked her to the door.

“Be careful, Alex. Fisher’s a loose cannon and we don’t know who has their hand on the wick.” She gave him an acknowledging smile. “Tell Cassidy I said hello. I have to say, she has always been charming. More so than even I would have imagined,” he smiled.

Alex shook her head. “I’ll be in touch.”

Click. Click and a sigh. He looked out the window as the car pulled up and the man opened the door for his passengers. She was talking to the older woman. Click. Click. The dark haired agent was noticeably absent. Click. Click. Click. Click. Another sigh as he watched her bring the phone to her ear. More clicking and ticking, driving him to distraction. She got in the car. Fumbling about, he picked up the back box. “She’s not with them….Yeah I’m sure…..Fine.” He pulled the silver container from his passenger seat companion and opened it, taking a large gulp followed by a low groan. Back to the bag it went. Again the black box pressed to his ear.

“Fisher…Awake?I see… Understood….Closer….by Friday.” He smiled and tossed the black box onto his companion. “Change is coming.” He lit a cigarette and took a long breath,
relishing the sensation of the hot smoke traveling through his lungs. He grabbed the notepad and the black marker and began to write. “Well Cassidy finally…we will see…you and I… she’ll be gone…. Will be soon…we will dance…you will die.” He stopped and took another long drag of satisfaction.

The agent was unusually quiet during the trip home. She was relieved to be with Cassidy and Dylan but something about the way things continued to unfold in the case bothered her. Based on her profile of Christopher O’Brien she would not be surprised if he engaged in some shady funding practices, but she saw him with Cassidy and Dylan. She found it very hard to believe that he would put them in danger knowingly. She wondered why O’Brien had been upset about firing Fisher if what the president told her was true. If it was, O’Brien should not have known Fisher was CIA. Then she wondered if Fisher had been playing both sides of the fence and Cassidy was just an unforeseen bonus for the sadistic son of a bitch. She knew his type too. They either became assassins or serial killers, same difference in the agent’s view. He had been the former now she feared Cassidy might be the first game piece in his quest to become the latter. This case was so much like what she had confronted all those years ago in Iraq. It was like peeling an onion that has endless layers, a puzzle that was missing just enough pieces that you couldn’t seem to link anything. That just made Agent Alex Toles more determined. Only now she feared that Cassidy might be hurt in more ways than one. Alex brought in the last bags just as Cassidy was coming back down the stairs from putting Dylan in his bed. The petite blonde stopped on the bottom stair, falling nearly eye to eye with the taller agent. “So…you want to tell me what’s wrong?” Cassidy asked.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Alex tried to sound convincing.

Cassidy put her arms around the agent’s neck. “Terrible liar.”

“I am, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Mmm…maybe I just missed you today,” Alex flirted.

“No. You’re worried. You rubbed your temples for the entire ride home.”

“I am worried about you. I hated leaving you this morning when you were so upset.” Alex knew this would be believable because it was true.

“Well, I’m okay. I don’t want to talk about any of that tonight, okay? Maybe not tomorrow either. You do what you need to. I just want to enjoy a couple of days at home, not think about it….If that’s okay?”

Alex felt a weight lift from her. Cassidy needed space from the case and Alex needed to keep Cassidy out of it as much as possible. The teacher’s request meant that the agent did not have to feel she was being secretive or worse, that she was lying. “I think,” Alex said looking into the woman’s eyes, “that sounds perfect. In fact, I have some things to do in the morning at the field office, but after that I am free. I was thinking…A Batman marathon and tacos?”

“You were, were you?”

“Well, yes. I was.”

“Mmhmm. I don’t suppose a little Speed Racer put you up to that?” Cassidy raised an eyebrow.

“No, actually. I like Batman and I like tacos.”

Cassidy smiled. “Yes, I remember that, Alfred.” Alex laughed the pet name.

“Ummm… children?” Rose called from the kitchen. “I made tea.”

“Oh, look at that,” Cassidy said. “My mother must have known we had an English butler stopping by.” She kissed the
agent gently and stepped off the stair. Alex stood still, breathless as this woman always seemed to leave her, watching as Cassidy walked down the hall.

“Hum,” the agent raised an eyebrow. “I wonder if the lady will require the butler’s service,” she laughed.

“She might,” Cassidy called from the kitchen doorway. “There will be dishes to do.”

“Goodnight, Alex,” Rose said heading to one of the spare bedrooms for the night.

“Night, Rose.” Alex walked into the bedroom to see Cassidy already under the covers.

“Tired?” The agent asked.

“Yeah, I am,” Cassidy said fighting a yawn.

Alex went to the side of the bed and sat on the edge. “Cass…”

“Hmmm?” The woman’s eyes were already closing.

“Never mind,” Alex started to get up and Cassidy quickly pulled her back down.

“No you don’t…I’m not asleep…what is it?”

“It’s nothing. Go to sleep, sweetheart.” A wide smile crept onto Cassidy’s face and her grip tightened on the agent’s arm. “What’s that about?” Alex asked.

“What?” Cassidy asked.

“That,” Alex traced the smile on the woman’s lips with her finger.

“You called me ‘sweetheart’.”

“I guess I did.” Alex ran her hand through the woman’s hair.

“What were you going to ask me?” Cassidy opened her eyes.

“Nothing. Really….go to sleep,” Alex kissed Cassidy’s forehead. This time the agent made it to her feet and to the bathroom. She washed up, brushed her teeth, put on her oversized, gray ARMY T-shirt and climbed in behind the sleeping woman.
She kissed the soft blonde head next to her. “I love you so much, Cass. I wish you knew.” The agent rolled onto her back and put her hands behind her head, staring at the ceiling as though it were a starry night sky.

Cassidy rolled over and put her arm over the agent’s middle. “I do know,” she said softly.

“I thought you were asleep.”

Cassidy let out a sleepy groan. “Alex, what’s bothering you?”

“I told you,” she kissed the woman’s head again, “nothing. I just…”

“Alex…”

“Cass…I just don’t want disappoint you.”