Unofficially, Fallon reported all that he was able to uncover to Jonathan Krause and Alex. He was acutely aware that in this game of international economics and politics, there were truly no agencies. Names were merely facades. Individuals had agendas. There were groups within groups, and discerning the true motives of any person meant painstaking research, intrusive observation, and the acceptance of constant risk. Tate had been his mentor early on at the bureau, and Fallon had always respected the man. He hoped that his trust would be proven a wise decision. If it was not; he would not hesitate to use, expose, or even silence Joshua Tate. It was a shift in his life that sometimes sickened him. There were ugly truths he had seen now. He could not close his eyes to them.
“Agent Fallon,” a deep voice broke through the agent’s musings.
“Assistant Director,” he returned his superior’s greeting.
The appearance of a familiar waitress momentarily froze any further discussion. “Usual?” she asked.
“Indeed,” Tate responded.
She winked. “Coffee, cream, no sugar and a cinnamon bun.”
He returned her wink and awaited for her departure to continue. “We both know I love the coffee here, Fallon,” he said dryly. “What gives? Taylor is not giving you enough work these days?”
Fallon nodded. “NSA, FBI, all the same thing; isn’t it?” he responded.
“Not always,” Tate answered. He smiled at the waitress as she placed his order on the table. He sipped his coffee until she was out of sight. “So, then, agent….what is it you need from your former boss?”
“Last I checked you were still my boss,” Fallon responded.
“On paper,” Tate replied.
“I guess the question is whether or not I can still trust you,” Fallon said plainly. Tate silently sipped his coffee. “Claire Brackett,” Fallon began. Tate shrugged. “Seems Agent Brackett has some friends that no one was aware of.”
“The notion that Claire Brackett has any
friends
at all is a revelation,” Tate said.
“She gained entry to a facility in Baltimore,” Fallon explained evenly.
Tate’s expression remained the same. “How
is
Alex?” he asked, noting the question in Brian Fallon’s eyes at his response. “She’s wondering where I will fall,” Tate laughed. “I don’t know why Claire would be at that facility. Why were you?” he asked. “And don’t insult me, Fallon. I’m not talking about you trailing Agent Brackett.” Fallon nodded but was unsure how to respond. Tate sighed. “You think I know? Who she met? I know who you met. Tell Krause and Toles to be cautious. I will see what I can find out. Brackett’s been traveling in the company of NSA for months. Be careful, Fallon. I can’t cover all the tracks. There are too many now.”
“Assistant Director,” Fallon began. “You think her contact is NSA?”
“I think Admiral William Brackett is the CIA, Fallon. If she is not in step with her daddy, then it has to be someonethat covets his authority. Believe me, there are many; CIA, NSA, DOD, FBI, and it does not end there. President Merrow had grown cautious of everyone. He involved only a handful of people that I am aware of. That included myself, your new friend Agent Krause, an ally in Russia, an old family friend, and Agent Toles; which involved you by extension. Other than that, I don’t know of anyone that he entrusted with anything of importance. It’s a small circle. A miniscule circle in a massive organization. I’ll play some poker, Fallon, but I can’t make you any promises. Tell Alex and Krause; they are wise to test me,” he smiled. “Watch the admiral. Closely.” Tate rose to his feet and stopped to whisper into Brian Fallon’s ear. “They are the pair he fears, Fallon. Agent Toles and Agent Krause. They were never supposed to find one another. It’s changed everything. Be careful,” he cautioned.
Brian Fallon stared at the table for a long moment. Nothing Joshua Tate had said
“Agent Fallon,” a deep voice broke through the agent’s musings.
“Assistant Director,” he returned his superior’s greeting.
The appearance of a familiar waitress momentarily froze any further discussion. “Usual?” she asked.
“Indeed,” Tate responded.
She winked. “Coffee, cream, no sugar and a cinnamon bun.”
He returned her wink and awaited for her departure to continue. “We both know I love the coffee here, Fallon,” he said dryly. “What gives? Taylor is not giving you enough work these days?”
Fallon nodded. “NSA, FBI, all the same thing; isn’t it?” he responded.
“Not always,” Tate answered. He smiled at the waitress as she placed his order on the table. He sipped his coffee until she was out of sight. “So, then, agent….what is it you need from your former boss?”
“Last I checked you were still my boss,” Fallon responded.
“On paper,” Tate replied.
“I guess the question is whether or not I can still trust you,” Fallon said plainly. Tate silently sipped his coffee. “Claire Brackett,” Fallon began. Tate shrugged. “Seems Agent Brackett has some friends that no one was aware of.”
“The notion that Claire Brackett has any
friends
at all is a revelation,” Tate said.
“She gained entry to a facility in Baltimore,” Fallon explained evenly.
Tate’s expression remained the same. “How
is
Alex?” he asked, noting the question in Brian Fallon’s eyes at his response. “She’s wondering where I will fall,” Tate laughed. “I don’t know why Claire would be at that facility. Why were you?” he asked. “And don’t insult me, Fallon. I’m not talking about you trailing Agent Brackett.” Fallon nodded but was unsure how to respond. Tate sighed. “You think I know? Who she met? I know who you met. Tell Krause and Toles to be cautious. I will see what I can find out. Brackett’s been traveling in the company of NSA for months. Be careful, Fallon. I can’t cover all the tracks. There are too many now.”
“Assistant Director,” Fallon began. “You think her contact is NSA?”
“I think Admiral William Brackett is the CIA, Fallon. If she is not in step with her daddy, then it has to be someonethat covets his authority. Believe me, there are many; CIA, NSA, DOD, FBI, and it does not end there. President Merrow had grown cautious of everyone. He involved only a handful of people that I am aware of. That included myself, your new friend Agent Krause, an ally in Russia, an old family friend, and Agent Toles; which involved you by extension. Other than that, I don’t know of anyone that he entrusted with anything of importance. It’s a small circle. A miniscule circle in a massive organization. I’ll play some poker, Fallon, but I can’t make you any promises. Tell Alex and Krause; they are wise to test me,” he smiled. “Watch the admiral. Closely.” Tate rose to his feet and stopped to whisper into Brian Fallon’s ear. “They are the pair he fears, Fallon. Agent Toles and Agent Krause. They were never supposed to find one another. It’s changed everything. Be careful,” he cautioned.
Brian Fallon stared at the table for a long moment. Nothing Joshua Tate had said
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