Page 53 of Silent Sins
“You and me both. You’re holding something back. Tell me.”
She sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “I called in a favor. From an old friend at the FBI. I asked her to look into some things for me, off the record.”
“What kind of things?”
Avery’s eyes met his, her expression pained. “I think someone in the agency is leaking info to Stenberg.”
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“I didn’t wantto alert you or the team until I had more information.”
Avery faced Mason, her eyes searching his for any sign of anger. She had been keeping her suspicions to herself, not wanting to alert him or his team until she had more information. But now, with the truth out in the open, she could only hope that he would understand her reasons.
“I didn’t want to waste your time, or deflect your energies from rescuing Paul. It could be anyone from a director to an administrative assistant to a janitor. Or I could be completely off-base altogether.”
Mason’s eyes softened, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. “You didn’t want us focusing on Goshiro. Starting trouble he didn’t deserve.”
Avery’s mind went from red alert to green in a heartbeat. The panic that had been coursing through her veins fizzled out, replaced by a sense of relief that was almost jarring.
He understood, even without her having to explain. It was a testament to the bond they had formed, the trust that had grown between them.
“You do have a tendency to jet off on your own,” she said, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “I didn’t want to set something in motion I wouldn’t be able to control.”
“Like a runaway train, maybe?” Mason chuckled, the sound warm and rich in the stillness of the room. “I’ve got a great crew,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “But we don’t exactly play well with other teams, if that makes sense.”
“Totally. I feel the same way,” she admitted, her voice wistful. “Only I don’t have a team of my own.”
Yikes. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she had to say next. “I need to identify this inside person working with Rain Bay,” she said, her voice low and urgent. “I was worried that it might be my supervisor, Ryan. So far, I haven’t been able to find any evidence to support that, which makes me happy.”
The light in Mason’s eyes flattened. “You like him.”
“I trust him,” she corrected. “He’s a friend.”
Was it her imagination, or did Mason’s broad shoulders just relax?
She shook off the idea. Probably just wishful thinking on her part.
“Paige did a deep dive on Goshiro’s background when we first met you,” Mason said. “She didn’t find anything to suggest that he’s dirty. In fact, he’s a success story. Kid from the streets makes it into college on an academic scholarship and catches the eye of an FBI bigwig who mentors him into the academy.”
A tale she knew well. Ryan wasn’t shy about telling stories about himself. She had been so focused on her own suspicions that she had forgotten about the resources Mason and his team brought to the table. If Paige hadn’t found anything, then it was unlikely that Ryan was involved.
“It’s going to take some time for my FBI contact to dig into this,” Avery cautioned. “She’s got to be careful.”
Mason’s eyes met hers, a flicker of concern crossing his face. “No kidding. You trust her?”
“Completely. She’s smart, and she’s a friend.”
“Good enough.” Mason grinned at her, the tension gone. “If you trust her, that’s good enough for me, Special Agent.”
“Good to know.” A new kind of tension swirled between them. The kind that gave her butterflies, not stomach aches.
Graham waved at them from the living room, dissipating the delightful feeling. “Paige has a plan,” he called out.
Avery followed Mason back to the group, feeling ten pounds lighter. No more secrets. She could trust him, and his crew, to weigh her ideas with the same seriousness they gave each other.
“If we want to throw Stenberg off-balance, I’ve got an idea,” Paige announced. “He’s co-hosting a gala at the art museum. Tonight. Might be a good time to let him know we’re onto him. See how he handles it.”