Page 85 of Grave Danger

“Walk with me,” he said.

He started up the sidewalk. Andie hesitated for a moment, then walked with him, the park to their right and northbound traffic to their left.

“It has come to our attention that you ran a Brian Guthrie through the FBI database.”

One more thing that was known to very few—Andie, Isaac, and the geeks who conducted the occasional IT audits of the system. But Andie wasn’t about to confirm or deny anything until this guy identified himself.

“Are you with headquarters?”

He ignored her question. “Have you figured out what ‘locked’ means, Agent Henning?”

She didn’t respond; they continued walking.

“It means Mr. Guthrie is one of us.”

“Us?”

He stopped, and so did Andie. He flashed his badge. His name—Hartfield—meant nothing to her. But she recognized the agency.

“You’re CIA?” she said. “Guthrie isCIA?”

“One of us,” he said, driving the point home.

“Well, you’re late to the game,” said Andie. “The State Department made it crystal clear that my husband is jeopardizing the negotiations for Mr.—AgentGuthrie’s release. They already asked me to get him to back away from the ‘Ava is dead’ theory.”

“We play harder than the State Department,” he said.

“Meaning?”

“We’re not asking. We’re telling you.”

“I get it. Do as I’m told or kiss my promotion goodbye. Is that it?”

“Promotion?” he said with an extortionist’s chuckle. Then he turned serious. “Unauthorized use of the FBI database is no small thing. You’ll be lucky to keep your current job.”

Andie was speechless.

“Have a good day, Agent Henning.”

Andie watched him walk away, suddenly feeling as though she had fewer options than Loco Lenny.

Chapter 30

A stony silence filled the near-empty courtroom. Jack could only imagine what was going through Yasmin’s mind, as she stared out from her seat on the witness stand. Her hands were in her lap, clenching the doll from the judge’s chambers, her eyes wide with fear.

“Mr. Swyteck, you may proceed,” Judge Carlton said.

Jack chose not to rise. He would question the witness from his chair, seated right beside her mother. His aim was to be as nonthreatening as possible.

“Thank you, Your Honor. And hi, Yasmin.”

“Hello,” she said softly.

Jack had examined child witnesses before in other cases. It was never easy. The image depicted in Yasmin’s drawing made it even more difficult in this case. Jack was still trying to wrap his mind around it.

“Can you hear me okay, Yasmin?”

“Uh-huh.”