Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
Baltimore, Maryland
Simon checked his mirrors constantly the whole way home, half expecting someone to open fire on him. Or leave him in his car burning in a ditch.
So paranoid.
But what else could he be when everyone at Langley was looking sideways at him.
No one talked to him, but the glances? His attempts to find the person who had his life in a vice and was constantly turning the dial up, squeezing the life out of him, had turned up nothing but more questions.
Eventually, it would all pop and his entire existence would explode. What a mess.
He pulled into the drive that ran alongside his house, to the back where the garage was. Busted lock. Busted door. He pulled up so the front of his car almost touched the door and got out, bringing his work backpack with him.
So stressed out he’d forgotten to pick up dinner on the way home, and there was nothing in the house except coffee. He’d have to order in.
Stupid…whoever they were. He was done.
He slammed his car door, frustrated that his attempt to get out from under this had gone unanswered. He’d messaged the internal account over and over again throughout the day.
This whole thing has gone too far.
You can’t expect me to compromise my position like this.
I don’t care what you know about me.
It’s over.
Sure, it sounded like an angry breakup text, but Simon wanted nothing to do with Division Zero, or Stephanie-Jo whatever-her-name-was. None of it. Not anymore. He was done risking his career for whoever thought they could hold his indiscretions over him.
He was going to return the money. Call his bank tomorrow and tell them that the deposit in his account was an error and it should be transferred back to whoever had “paid” him.
That would kill their leverage over him.
And if they retaliated by telling the government about the gambling debts he’d racked up over the years…
so be it. He might get fired, but at least he’d be free of it.
Simon ignored the neighbor dog barking through the fence, snarling like he was an intruder, and headed for his sidedoor to the kitchen. Inside still smelled like this morning’s coffee, and he needed to take the trash out.
He dumped the backpack on a chair and went to take a shower. Six minutes later he pushed the curtain back and fished around for his towel. It wasn’t on the hook. The bathroom was completely steamed up, but he wasn’t blind.
“Where’s my towel?” he muttered.
The door swung open.
“Looking for this?” A blond man held his towel from one finger.
Simon needed a weapon, but he wasn’t a fighter and this guy was huge. “Give me that.”
“Sure, provided you answer some questions.” The guy tossed him the towel. “Don’t worry, I’m not one to stare at another guy’s…”
“Thanks.” Simon wrapped the towel around his middle. Wait. Why was he thanking this guy? “Get out of my house.”
Blond Guy leaned against the doorframe. Jeans, boots, and a T-shirt with a dark jacket over it. Bulges that were probably weapons in his pockets. A menacing expression on his face. “Not until I get what I came for.”
“And what is that?” Water dripped down his spine, but Simon just stood there.
“I know about the Division Zero team, about the agent you just burned for nothing. Lives you’ve destroyed.”
“So? You some kind of do-gooder here to right a wrong?” Simon snorted. “We all do what we’ve gotta do.”
The guy just stared at him. He had that holier-than-thou air that all cops had. Probably a fed fishing for information because he knew he had nothing. Otherwise, Simon would’ve been arrested by now.
Simon went on, “You’ve never been backed into a corner before?”
“Tell me who forced you to do this.”
Simon shook his head. “You think I’m gonna narc.”
“I think you’re a weasel. But it’s not my job to hand over what’s coming to you.” Blond Guy crossed his arms. “Unless you don’t answer these questions to my satisfaction.”
Simon almost laughed, but the look on the guy’s face made him swallow and keep his mouth shut.
“Have you told anyone what you know about Adam Helton?”
Simon said, “What?”
“Adam Helton.” The guy lifted his chin, staring intently at Simon. “The terminal you work from identified him using a voice recognition program. Who have you told?”
“No one.” Simon let out a frustrated sound.
“Who were you messaging with? Did you tell them who Adam is?”
“I don’t know who it is,” Simon said.
Blond Guy frowned. “Have you ever spoken to an actual person?”
“Who does these days? It’s all online.”
“Like your debts?” The guy barely paused before saying, “Any idea why the ‘person’ giving you orders wants Division Zero taken out and Steph off the agent roster?”
“I didn’t ask.”
Blond Guy didn’t move. He just stood there blocking the doorway.
“You gonna buy me dinner now?”
“That’s not what this is.” He shifted off the doorframe. “You have no idea what you’re mixed up in.”
“Long as it’s over.”
Blond Guy shook his head. “Only way it’s over is if you’re out of play. And if you’re not dead, it means you’re still useful.”
“You here to kill me?”
The guy just stared at him. “You told no one about Adam Helton?”
Simon shrugged.
The guy lifted a pistol and fired two shots that hit Simon in the chest, one in the head. He fell back, hit his head on the rim of the toilet, and was dead before he hit the floor.