Read Online The Kill Order by Robin Burcell - Free Book Online Page B

bunch of mumbo-jumbo about once those documents were recovered, the objective changed, and it was all about damage control. What the hell does that mean? You knew I thought those documents had something to do with my father’s murder. You also knew I thought they were offshore bank account numbers from BICTT,” she said, referring to the international CIA bank scandal that had also been connected to her father’s case. “Anyone who asked knew exactly what I thought, so thinking I wouldn’t make a copy was probably stupid on their part, don’t you think?”
    Scotty threw her a dark look. “Are you serious? That’s your weak excuse?” He stalked back to his seat and dropped into it, clearly upset with her.
    She didn’t care. Right now she had bigger issues, and, looking out the window, she saw one of them was about to hit. Pearson approached, carrying her old laptop.
    Scotty happened to look up at the same time, saw it, then turned an accusing glance her way. “Please tell me he’s not going to find anything incriminating on there?”
    When she didn’t answer, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then wiped all emotion from his face before Pearson walked in and deposited the laptop on his desk.
    “Is this yours?” he asked Sydney.
    “Yes.”
    “The files on it?”
    “What about them?”
    “You put them on there?”
    “I did. I don’t recall seeing any marks showing them as classified.”
    “Except they all pertain to a classified investigation we’ve been running for years.”
    “The only thing I was aware of was that they pertain to my father’s murder.”
    “How did you acquire them?” Pearson asked.
    She could feel Scotty’s gaze burning a hole in her back and she didn’t dare turn his direction. “Lots of digging over the years.”
    “The files are dated a few months ago.”
    Which was interesting, since she’d only downloaded them today. But then she remembered which computer she was dealing with. The date was probably set wrong, never mind the battery had been dead forever. Apparently he thought the laptop date was correct, not the flash drive date. So be it. “ If you recall, a few months ago, I was actively pursuing my father’s case. These are the files I felt were somehow connected.”
    “And what was the connection?”
    “Honestly? I haven’t a clue. Which is why they’re still sitting there. It’s hours of research over the years that finally led me to believe that my father’s case was possibly tied into other cases, some of which are still going on today. That and the bits and pieces I was able to gather after talking with Robert Orozco down in Mexico,” she added, since she damned well knew he’d have a hard time checking into that. “But what does this have to do with the list of numbers you were looking for?”
    He didn’t answer.
    Not a good sign, she decided. “You did find it? In my desk drawer, where I said it was?”
    “Yes.”
    “Am I under arrest?”
    “No.”
    “Am I being investigated?”
    “No. As I’m sure Scotty explained, this is about national security and your safety. The only reason we asked to search your apartment and office—which we thank you for your cooperation—is because of the last few missions you’ve worked. You’ve been exposed to things beyond your clearance level. Things that, when you started looking into them, you could never have realized the implications.”
    She stood there a moment, trying to think of what to say, what might help her case, but nothing came to mind. “Can I go?”
    “Yes.”
    She glanced at Scotty. Normally she had no trouble reading him. He was mad, she knew that. She just wasn’t sure where that anger was directed. At the Bureau or at her? Probably her, she decided, and walked to the door, opened it.
    “Fitzpatrick?”
    She stopped, waiting for whatever it was Pearson was going to throw at her. She did not, however, turn around.
    “I know it doesn’t seem like it right now. But I’m on your