Chapter 28
“That was yesterday with”—Fox consults her notes—“Agents Jarper and Merimanga.”
“Yes. They are the ones who called me downstairs.”
“At whose orders.”
“The orders came through with the presidential code words.”
Fox’s lips thin, as do Pamola’s and Deere’s. No one is happy to have me here today because of my actions last night. Except if I didn’t take my best shot, I wouldn’t be sitting here answering questions. I’d be dead.
As dead as they wanted my wife to be.
“At what point did you realize your wife’s life was in danger?”
My fingers clench against the chair. That’s when Deere reprimands me, “Director Thornton, please relax. Your heartbeat is accelerating.”
I snap, “You try to live through a day like yesterday and not have your goddamn heartbeat accelerate, Deere.”
Surprisingly, Fox crouches in front of me. Her eyes met mine head on. “There isn’t a single man or woman in this building today who doesn’t have your back, sir. And if they don’t, they’ll be incarcerated. You’ll see to it. You know we’re here to do a job you trained us to do. We’re almost done.”
Jaw clenched, I nod. Instead of berating me for not audibly responding, Fox pushes to her feet before offering me a quick drink of water. Then, she repeats her question. “At what point did you realize your wife’s life was in danger?”
I get my shit together so I can reply. “When the agents burst in and held the people who were questioning me—like you are right now—at gunpoint.”
She swallows. “Right.”
“So, if we could wrap this up, I have more important places to be.” Like at my wife’s hospital bedside.