the matter discussed raised some flags. Right now it’s deemed an unofficial inquiry. But, as I said, I’ve been instructed to clear things up.”
“Clear things up, Sir?” Natan pulls on her jacket tail as she cocks her head at Marsh. “You know me, Marsh. What would I be conspiring to do…make Knight’s coffee taste better? I mean really.”
“This came from the top, Agent Natan.” Marsh looks down, unable to look her in the eye. “There are concerns that you and this professor are involved in some sort of covert operation…possibly smuggling Mexican artifacts or something…. Congressman Bradshaw, the congressional official who requested help for the Professor, will even be questioned about his involvement.”
“What?!? How’d they come up with smuggling?” Natan fumes.
“Some history with the professor and his experience with artifacts.”
“And what about you, Chief Marsh? Are you being investigated for issuing the order as a favor?”
“I was asked to state my case and that seemed to appease them…for the time being. Though, this could get very sticky very quickly for you, Agent Natan.”
Natan throws her hands up. “Only an inquiry, Sir? With all this?”
“You know, Agent Natan, I do know you and I’m surprised that you haven’t yet told me why the professor arranged to meet with you. What is this about?”
“Sir. It sounds like you all have manufactured your own story already. ” Natan loses patience. “With a version like that, mine would only pale in comparison.”
“Don’t look at me like that , ” Marsh replies, “I’m on your side here, Agent Natan. I don’t know how this whole investigation began or why. But, you should also know that they’ve interviewed the customs agents that you both checked in with at the airport. They’re reviewing everything. Agent Natan, I hope you can recognize the seriousness of this. Even with Boston on your record, I’m worried.”
Natan takes a breath. “You shouldn’t be, Sir. I’m at a loss here.”
“Well, you better get a solid explanation pronto because Baxter wants one within the hour.” Marsh taps his pen on his desk. “That’s all I got.”
Natan gets up from her chair and starts to leave. She stops, turning back to him. “Thank you, Sir…for informing me ahead of time. I hope you aren’t dragged into this any more than you have been.”
“Don’t worry about me, Agent Natan. Just cover your own ass. And, I know you value privacy, Agent, but you need to get whatever this is out in the open.”
“I’ll do my best, Sir.” Natan leaves the office as Marsh sits at his desk, tapping a file in front of him. He slowly opens a file with Josh’s photo and information in it. Who are you, Professor Sails?
Chapter Thirteen
Inside the N.S.A.’s general offices, Agent Knight greets Natan holding a present wrapped in cartoon police officer wrapping paper. The blue paper depicts cartoon cops with guns chasing bandit crooks with stolen toasters.
Knight addresses his partner. “Agent Natan. I heard you have to visit with the top bull dog today, so I thought you’d need some cheering up.”
Natan replies, “If only the rest of the world knew that the N.S.A. just can’t keep secrets…”
Knight smiles coolly. “We keep the most important ones.”
“Right.” Natan isn’t convinced.
Knight hands her the gift.
Natan is curiously shocked. “You got me a gift? My birthday is months away.”
He replies, “I wanted to. Besides, it’s for both of us.”
Natan unwraps the gift, “Both of us…” She laughs when she sees that it’s a very typical alarm clock.
“Very clever, Knight.”
“Now you won’t be late again, Agent Natan, and it won’t reflect negatively on me…your handsome and prompt partner.”
“I
“Clear things up, Sir?” Natan pulls on her jacket tail as she cocks her head at Marsh. “You know me, Marsh. What would I be conspiring to do…make Knight’s coffee taste better? I mean really.”
“This came from the top, Agent Natan.” Marsh looks down, unable to look her in the eye. “There are concerns that you and this professor are involved in some sort of covert operation…possibly smuggling Mexican artifacts or something…. Congressman Bradshaw, the congressional official who requested help for the Professor, will even be questioned about his involvement.”
“What?!? How’d they come up with smuggling?” Natan fumes.
“Some history with the professor and his experience with artifacts.”
“And what about you, Chief Marsh? Are you being investigated for issuing the order as a favor?”
“I was asked to state my case and that seemed to appease them…for the time being. Though, this could get very sticky very quickly for you, Agent Natan.”
Natan throws her hands up. “Only an inquiry, Sir? With all this?”
“You know, Agent Natan, I do know you and I’m surprised that you haven’t yet told me why the professor arranged to meet with you. What is this about?”
“Sir. It sounds like you all have manufactured your own story already. ” Natan loses patience. “With a version like that, mine would only pale in comparison.”
“Don’t look at me like that , ” Marsh replies, “I’m on your side here, Agent Natan. I don’t know how this whole investigation began or why. But, you should also know that they’ve interviewed the customs agents that you both checked in with at the airport. They’re reviewing everything. Agent Natan, I hope you can recognize the seriousness of this. Even with Boston on your record, I’m worried.”
Natan takes a breath. “You shouldn’t be, Sir. I’m at a loss here.”
“Well, you better get a solid explanation pronto because Baxter wants one within the hour.” Marsh taps his pen on his desk. “That’s all I got.”
Natan gets up from her chair and starts to leave. She stops, turning back to him. “Thank you, Sir…for informing me ahead of time. I hope you aren’t dragged into this any more than you have been.”
“Don’t worry about me, Agent Natan. Just cover your own ass. And, I know you value privacy, Agent, but you need to get whatever this is out in the open.”
“I’ll do my best, Sir.” Natan leaves the office as Marsh sits at his desk, tapping a file in front of him. He slowly opens a file with Josh’s photo and information in it. Who are you, Professor Sails?
Chapter Thirteen
Inside the N.S.A.’s general offices, Agent Knight greets Natan holding a present wrapped in cartoon police officer wrapping paper. The blue paper depicts cartoon cops with guns chasing bandit crooks with stolen toasters.
Knight addresses his partner. “Agent Natan. I heard you have to visit with the top bull dog today, so I thought you’d need some cheering up.”
Natan replies, “If only the rest of the world knew that the N.S.A. just can’t keep secrets…”
Knight smiles coolly. “We keep the most important ones.”
“Right.” Natan isn’t convinced.
Knight hands her the gift.
Natan is curiously shocked. “You got me a gift? My birthday is months away.”
He replies, “I wanted to. Besides, it’s for both of us.”
Natan unwraps the gift, “Both of us…” She laughs when she sees that it’s a very typical alarm clock.
“Very clever, Knight.”
“Now you won’t be late again, Agent Natan, and it won’t reflect negatively on me…your handsome and prompt partner.”
“I
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