Intersection Read online

  “Really? Why is that?”

  “You’d figure it out anyway,” Alex chuckled receiving another peck on the cheek. “And anyway… I want to tell you.”

  “Alex?”

  “Hmm?” Alex mumbled.

  “When you left the hospital today, you went to get that pool cue, didn’t you?” The agent shrugged. Things like this still made her feel embarrassed. She wasn’t used to being affectionate so openly. Cassidy brought that out in the agent and so did Dylan. She wasn’t quite used to that yet, allowing herself to be so vulnerable. “That’s what I thought.” The smaller woman moved over the tall figure beside her. “You,” she kissed the agent’s forehead. “Are full,” she kissed the agent’s cheek. “Of surprises,” she brought her lips to Alex’s and kissed her passionately.

  “What was that for?” Alex said biting her lip and fighting to slow her heartbeat.

  “I might have a few surprises of my own,” Cassidy flirted before beginning to plant kisses the entire length of the agent’s body.

  “Uhhh…Cass?”

  “MMM?” The small blonde woman stopped momentarily and raised her eyebrow at the agent who met her gaze with a slight blush. “Quiet down, ‘Cap’,” she smiled.

  “Is that an order?” Alex asked somewhat hopefully.

  “It is now.”

  lex reached for her phone, Cassidy still wrapped around her. “What the hell time is it?” She groaned as she answered it. “Yeah, Toles. Taylor? What?” The agent hopped to her feet without thinking, waking her sleeping lover. “Are you sure? Taylor… He what?.... Doing?... Christ.” Alex was pressing on both sides of her temples with her fingers forcefully. “What about Brackett?” Alex was facing the wall with her back to the bed. She was so engrossed in her conversation she forgot where she was, that she was stark naked and that Cassidy was in the bed behind her. At the mention of the redhead’s name Cassidy sat up like a shot. “He’s a spook? A spook? I don’t know Taylor… But why? Why Cassidy? Yeah…yeah… Okay. Thanks.” Alex hung up the phone and closed her eyes tightly. Some of the puzzle pieces were showing their colors now.

  “Why Cassidy, what?” The woman called from behind her.

  Alex sighed and rubbed her face. “Shit,” she mumbled.

  “I’ll say…what the hell was that? Who’s Taylor?” Cassidy’s fear was building. She heard the tone in Alex’s voice. The agent took a deep breath and slowly made her way back to the bed. She put the phone down, climbed in next to the woman and nodded in preparation of the truth. “Alex?”

  Alex kissed Cassidy’s forehead gently. “I love you, you know that?”

  “Of course I know it…Alex, what is going on?”

  The agent hadn’t intended to tell her lover what her suspicions were about the congressman’s accident, at least not yet, but she had to make a choice now. She could either lie or tell Cassidy what she knew and what she thought it meant. There was no way she was going to lie to the woman she loved. “The guy that’s been stalking you, I think anyway….he’s Intelligence.”

  “You know who it is?”

  “Yeah…I think so.”

  “Who is it? Alex….”

  “Cass, you have to promise me you are not going to freak out, okay? You have to trust me if I am going to tell you this. I mean it…..Believe me when I tell you I will not let anything happen to any of you.”

  “Dammit Alex, just tell me what is going on.”

  “Okay, I don’t think the congressman’s ….. I don’t think it was an accident,” Alex said cautiously.

  Cassidy nearly gasped. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying someone wanted him out of commission, if not dead.”

  Cassidy felt sick. She dropped her face to her hands in disbelief and frustration. She exhaled and looked back at Alex. “Okay, what does that have to do with me?” Alex bit her lip hard. “Alex…”

  “Well…I’m not totally sure. At first I thought the letters were from two people, someone leveraging the letters about you to scare him off of something….but this Fisher guy…”

  “Carl Fisher?” The teacher interrupted.

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh Jesus, Alex…”

  “What?” Cassidy’s face went completely white. “Cassidy? What is it?”

  The blonde woman got out of the bed and put on her robe. “Carl Fisher, he worked on Chris’s campaign.”

  “I know that.”

  “I made Chris get rid of him.”

  “Why?” The agent asked. Cassidy sat down in the chair and dropped her face again. Alex suddenly felt her stomach turning violently. She suspected the reason. “Cass….” Alex got up and moved to her, throwing her shirt on while she moved.

  “I caught him watching me, you know…”

  Alex felt an anger she had never experienced. The thought of anyone violating Cassidy in any way propelled her anger to a frightening level. “What did Chris do?”

  Cassidy began to cry. “He refused…to fire him…said I was imagining things…I backed off at first…but…”

  “Cass?” Alex gently urged her lover to continue.

  “I was getting Dylan into the tub and I saw him outside…I mean he did work for Chris, but I just….It wasn’t right. I could feel it. I just thought it was a tabloid thing, you know? I just … I told Chris if he didn’t get rid of him I wouldn’t do any more campaigning. He was furious…refused to talk to me for a week, but I didn’t see Carl again. That was over two years ago.”

  Alex put her hands on Cassidy’s. “Cassidy, Carl Fisher is CIA.” Cassidy looked at the agent in shock. “Yeah, I know. Look…that’s enough for tonight. What you told me, it helps.”

  “Alex, why were you talking about her?”

  “I don’t trust Brackett, Cassidy. I just don’t trust her. I need to spend another day here in D.C. I know you planned on leaving Friday morning but I’d like to get you back to New York tomorrow night.”

  “Why?”

  “Cass…Please just trust me. Please.”

  “I do trust you, Alex.”

  “Then let me do what I do. Taylor, he’ll…well…he’ll come through…he always has.”

  “He’s the one…isn’t he? Your Cap?”

  “Yes, Cass, he is….and he thinks New York is safer for you right now. You trust me. I trust him.”

  Cassidy nodded, her tears beginning to flow as the gravity of the situation suddenly hit her full force. “Alex, what am I going to do?”

  “Nothing. You’re going to let me take care of you and figure this out. That’s it, just that.” Alex held the woman tightly. “I love you, Cass. I promise…I will keep you and Dylan safe, no matter what.”

  “What’s going on?” Fallon asked as Alex let him into her apartment.

  “Did you have any luck on Fisher?”

  “Toles…I told you…”

  “What would you say if I told you he was a spook?” Alex asked.

  “What? How could you know that?”

  Alex picked up a file from her coffee table. “Trust me…it’s true.”

  “Why the hell would the CIA be watching Cassidy?”

  “Good question. I’m not sure they are.”

  “I don’t follow,” Fallon said taking a seat on the couch.

  “Cassidy caught him watching her, when he was working for the congressman. She made him fire Fisher, apparently that didn’t go over too well with our friend O’Brien.”

  “Shit. Toles, do you think the congressman set up Cassidy?”

  “No. I don’t, but I am curious why a CIA operative would be masquerading in a congressional campaign.” Fallon’s left eye started to twitch. “What are you thinking?” Alex asked noticing her partner’s physical response to the information.

  “Well, Toles… years back I investigated this money laundering thing…when I was still P.D. Thing is, it looked like there was money going through this campaign, a couple actually. Thought it was drug money but after some digging,” Fallon paused and shook his head.

&n
bsp; “What? Fallon…after some digging what?”

  He looked at his partner. “It looked like arms sales, and I don’t mean guns, Toles.” Unfortunately for Alex her partner’s revelation did not surprise her. She had worked several cases like that at the NSA. “They took the case. FBI, ATF… never heard anything more. Never set right with me either. One of the guys, Ciarcia, who was setting up the funds? I swear to you he was CIA.”

  “He was.”

  Fallon’s body jerked. “What?”

  “He was CIA. Congressman Jeffries, right? Oklahoma, but all the transactions went through the D.C. office,” she said.

  “How do you know that?” Fallon asked.

  “Look, Fallon, all you need to know is I saw a lot when I was at the Pentagon…a lot. You think this guy was funneling through the O’Brien campaign?”

  “I don’t know, just feels familiar. Christ, I sound like you.”

  Alex laughed. “Well, I think you might be right, but I don’t think that’s why he’s watching Cassidy.”

  “You actually think he’s stalking her?”

  Alex felt her anger rise again. “Yes. I do.”

  “So you think it’s just coincidence? The congressman and the letters?” He asked her.

  “I didn’t say THAT,” Alex said. “The doctors told Cassidy this morning that the swelling in his brain seemed to be going down. Maybe he can shed some light on Fisher when he wakes up.”

  “Are you going to talk to him?” Fallon asked.

  “No. You are.”

  “I thought you’d…”

  “I’m taking Cassidy back home on an eight o’clock flight tonight. I’m pretty sure Fisher is here, in D.C.”

  “I’m not going to ask how you would know that,” Fallon said.

  “What about the witnesses?” Alex asked.

  Fallon sighed, “two are dead ten years plus, and the other is wheelchair bound in a nursing home in Minnesota.”

  Alex stretched and let out a powerful sigh, “figured.”

  “Toles, this is deep…maybe we need Tate.”

  “No. No Tate. What about Brackett?”

  “So far everything seems normal,” he said. “I think she’s just a bitch, Toles.”

  “She is, but I still want you to keep an eye on her.” Alex got up and started for the door. “You have the key with you?” Fallon nodded. “Good. I’m going to meet one of my Pentagon contacts before I pick up Cassidy. Watch yourself, Fallon.”

  Alex picked up her phone, “Toles.” She was surprised to hear the voice at the other end. “Alex.”

  “Colonel?”

  “Listen…we need to talk.”

  “What’s going on?” Alex asked. When John Merrow called Alex Toles it was always as a friend but there was always, without question, something he wanted.

  “Can you come here?” He asked.

  “To the White House?”

  “Yes, I don’t want to talk on the phone.”

  “John, I have an eight o’clock flight…”

  “I know that,” he said bluntly.

  “Of course you do. How silly of me,” Alex answered a bit annoyed.

  “Alex, I will get you to the flight and I will get Cassidy there. We need to talk.”

  “Fine. I’m on my way.” Alex knew whatever was going on, she was moving in the right direction. If Taylor hadn’t called Merrow then the president was keeping a closer eye on things than she realized. The three had always kept the closeness of their relationship somewhat quiet. Generally, that was an asset in situations like the current one. Knowing the president’s overly cautious nature that meant something was wrong and that worried the agent. She picked up her phone and dialed Taylor who confirmed he had not spoken to their friend. Her captain taking the opportunity to give her another cautionary advisement.

  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 imag
ined,” 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.