Covert Interview

by Missy Marciassa

  Elle felt her stomach drop, as if she’d just gone over a high drop on a roller coaster. No. No, that sick son of a bitch had not-

  “There’s no sign-” Mason cleared his throat, the only indication he may have been just a bit uncomfortable, “no sign that he succeeded.”

  Elle sagged back onto her pillow. She hadn’t even realized she tensed up until then. Thank God. She stared at the plain white ceiling. It felt surreal. Why the hell would Kagan drug one of his business associate’s daughters? Well, she wouldn’t have remembered if she woke up somewhere later. They may have flirted a little, but Jesus.

  She let her eyes close as she drew in a deep breath. It felt better to have her eyes closed. Her head hurt a tiny bit less. Yet they popped open again as she realized something.

  “How do you know?” She forced herself to look at Mason, really study him.

  Was there a flicker of unease in his eyes? After a pause he said, “The doctor examined you-”

  “How did you know I was with Kagan?” she interrupted. She herself barely remembered: he’d met her out in the lobby, by the revolving door, and had taken her hand… Everything grew fuzzy after that.

  Silence. Elle could have sworn he avoided her gaze for a moment. A few moments.

  “They were under surveillance,” he finally said.

  “They?”

  Her father. Her father had been under surveillance by the CIA. And since the CIA couldn’t operate on domestic soil- or at least so they claimed since Elle didn’t know what the hell to believe anymore- that meant the FBI was watching her father. And Kagan.

  Elle rubbed her forehead. All this thinking wasn’t helping her head any. “Sounds like you’re interested in my father after all.”

  She looked at him, waiting for elaboration. When it became clear none was forthcoming, she spoke again. “Mason?”

  Mason didn’t answer. Elle forced herself to sit up. “What’s going on?” Her voice was stronger, louder.

  Mason rubbed his own face, letting some of his weariness show. “You don’t have clearance.”

  “Clearance.” She lay back down, looking up at the ceiling again. She wanted to reach over, grab his necktie, and pull as hard as she could, but that wouldn’t get her anywhere. “I had the clearance to develop the program.”

  Silence.

  “I had the clearance to fly over to the South of France-”

  “We’re exposed,” Mason interrupted, glancing around. “This is not the place.”

  Elle’s fingernails stung when they dug into her palms as she balled her hands into fists. Her head was throbbing. “I had the clearance to do what you wanted me to do. Now I end up here and I don’t have the clearance?”

  “You aren’t part of this op.”

  “Really?” Her seething heated up her voice. “Would you even have this op if it weren’t for my program?” Maybe she was overstating things, but dammit, she didn’t care.

  Mason was silent.

  “I thought I was a part of the-” Elle glanced at the door, saw it was closed, “the community.”

  “You are.”

  Elle realized that was all he was going to say. Like that helped. “What’s the use of being in the community if you can’t know what’s going on?”

  “Remember who you work for.” He might as well have said a phrase Elle had come to hate: Remember the score.

  “Everything is on a need-to-know basis.”

  Elle imagined pulling tight on his damn necktie until his face turned magenta and his eyeballs were about to pop out of his head.

  “So how do you know Kagan drugged me?”

  Another pause. He had to think too damn hard for answers that should roll right off the tip of his forked tongue. “Toxicology tests.”

  Elle sighed. She was sick of answers that weren’t answers. “How do you know he didn’t…?” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word “raped” aloud. She closed her eyes.

  Mason actually sighed. “He’s known for paying off bartenders. The surveillance team saw the bartender put it in your drink while mixing it.” Pause. “They pulled the fire alarm: interrupted him before he could do anything.”

  Nausea roiled her stomach, forcing her to swallow hard. “So the surveillance team watched me drink it.” She hated that her voice trembled. She squeezed her eyes tight against the sting. Was that sound Mason shifting in his chair? He didn’t shift. She wanted to look but dared not open her eyes until the stinging went away. She would not cry in front of him, dammit.

  Once the burn faded from her eyes, Elle opened them to look at Mason, that inexpressive face. Her hands were starting to ache along with her head from her balling them into fists. “Should I send them a thank-you note for their, I don’t know- loyalty to their colleague?” She shouldn’t let her anger show- it wasn’t professional- but she couldn’t help himself.

  “Their orders were to watch Kagan: nothing else. They broke protocol pulling the fire alarm.”

  Well wasn’t that generous of them. “Then I guess I will send them a note. I’ll have to send it through you, since I probably don’t have the clearance to get their addresses.”

  Mason just looked at her.

  “Oh, I forgot-” She smacked her forehead and instantly regretted it as the throbbing intensified. “I can’t tell them I’m a colleague, can I? I’m a secret member of the intelligence community.”

  Mason rose. “I’m going to let you get some rest. The doctor wants you to stay a while longer for observation and some extra hydration.” He picked up his blazer and left without another word.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Elle was released from the hospital later that day, so she returned to the hotel. She didn’t feel up to making long drives, so she went to the Library of Congress, where she met her supervisor there, Dick Hendricks. It was a struggle for her to take notes on some of the things he wanted her to coordinate with the libraries, but she managed. He was also very interested in her project for Janet, so she promised to keep him apprised of her progress. At least meeting with him meant Elle didn’t have to lie to either Lyle or Marni about why she was still in DC, although she did have to tell them she had been struck with a severe stomach bug that required an overnight stay in the hospital.

  When Elle left DC, she arranged to go to Charlottesville first. She wanted to see Lyle, but he was in the middle of a major trial, and she didn’t feel up to making a four hour drive. Charlottesville was only about two hours from DC. She came to the apartment to find Marni busy writing.

  “Why can’t lawyers write like everyone else?” Marni demanded. “Always either over-explaining or making things tricky.”

  “Something tells me that’s the essence of the law,” Elle said as she drank more water.

  Marni’s brow furrowed in concern. “You look so pale. You really got sick, didn’t you? Was it food poisoning?”

  Elle shrugged. She hated lying to Marni. In contrast, her father hadn’t even called her, so he had no idea she had even fallen ill after their dinner. Kagan, according to Mason, had split as soon as the surveillance people (dressed as hotel staff) had taken her. He likely thought she wouldn’t remember even seeing him, Mason had told her.

  “Happy writing,” Elle said as she headed for her bedroom. “I’m turning in early. I have to be at work at nine, since I, you know, work for a living, unlike some people.”

  Marni harrumphed. “Look who’s working now at nearly nine o’clock in the evening.”

  Elle rolled her eyes, although Marni couldn’t see her. She bet her friend hadn’t started working until an hour or so before that.

  ***

  The next day, Elle barely made it through the reference room of the library before running into an ecstatic Janet.

  “It’s working!” she trilled, enveloping Elle in a hug. Elle knew Janet was enthusiastic, but this was a bit much even for her. It was good news, however.

  Pulling back, Janet studied her closely. “Are you all right? You look a little pale.”r />
  “I’m recovering from the stomach flu.” Time to change the topic. “Let’s look at the data: I’m sure we can make further modifications. Then we need to talk about broader implementation.”

  It was a good day at work. She sent Dick an email, letting him know the preliminary pilot for the program had gone well. Mason didn’t contact her, and she didn’t know when he would, although she knew her ninety-day evaluation had to be coming up. She was actually surprised he hadn’t mentioned it at the hospital.

  She hurried home as soon as five o’clock rolled around. One of the local bars had drink specials Monday through Thursday evening. Mondays were margarita Mondays. Elle had no desire to drink any alcohol at all- certainly not any mixed drinks, but she had promised Marni she would come hang out. She often couldn’t hang out with Marni and her law school friends because she had to work, but she wanted to tonight.

  “Hey, are you ready to get liquored up-” she called out as started unlocking the door. Yet the door swung open. The lock was broken. What the hell was this?

  Elle walked into the apartment. And froze.

  The apartment had been ransacked. Papers were everywhere, every drawer was emptied, and the futon mattress was off the frame, lying on the floor. And Elle could make out a foot poking out from under the futon mattress.

  Marni!

  Elle didn’t know if she called out her best friend’s name out loud or not as she started pushing at the mattress. She just knew she had to get it off-

  Marni was lying on the floor. Blood soaked the carpet around her head.

  Oh God. Oh no. No, no, no, no, no.

  Elle bent over Marni, feeling her neck. It was warm. That was a good sign, right? She felt around for a pulse. At first she just pressed into warm skin, but after fumbling for a few seconds, she felt the beat of a pulse. It felt strong, steady. She guessed. How did a strong pulse feel?

  “You hang on,” Elle said out loud. Her voice shook but not as badly as her hands. It made fumbling around for her cell especially difficult, not to mention dialing 911.

  “This is 911. Do you need fire, rescue, or the police?” The voice was calm, too calm. Didn’t this person know it was an emergency?

  “I- I- I- I- I need-”

  “Ma’am, take a deep breath,” the voice said. It was still too damn calm. “Speak slowly, so I can understand you.”

  Elle drew in a deep breath, slowly let it out.

  “Do you need fire, rescue, or the police?” the voice asked again.

  “Not fire. Rescue. I need rescue. And the police.” Elle could hear her voice rising and couldn’t stop it. “Someone broke in!” She spit out her address as she bent back down over Marni. “My friend- they hit her on the head- she’s bleeding.” Elle began feeling around her skull. “She’s bleeding a lot. From the head.”

  “I understand, ma’am,” the voice said, still as calm as ever. It was worse than talking to Mason. “And you said someone broke in?”

  “Y-yes.” Elle was about to turn Marni over but then thought maybe she shouldn’t move her. Her face was to the side, so her nose and mouth were unobstructed.

  “Is the person still there?”

  Elle felt her blood run cold. She hadn’t even thought someone could still be there. She raised her head, wanting to run. But Marni was there. She couldn’t leave Marni. The doors to both of their bedrooms were open, and it looked like their rooms had been ransacked, too. Their TV was missing.

  “I- I- I don’t think so,” she managed. She crouched closer to Marni. She wasn’t leaving her, dammit, no matter what. A burglar could just run past them. She wouldn’t stop him. Or her.

  The wail of sirens became audible, but they were still far too damn faint.

  “Fire and rescue are en route,” the calm voice said.

  Elle waited what seemed like an eternity, keeping her fingers pressed to Marni’s throat, where she could feel her pulse beat. It didn’t seem to slow down or change. That had to be good, right? Where the hell were the damn police? This city wasn’t that big!

  And then, as if on cue: “Police!”

  Elle jumped as officers appeared in the doorway, guns drawn.

  ***

  Why were hospitals so damn bright? Whether someone was sick or injured or waiting for a loved one, no one wanted to be virtually blinded by the glare. It may help someone feel awake in the middle of the night, but Elle thought that would be worth sacrificing for a little dimness. Hell, she’d be happy for a pale yellow light rather than this harsh fluorescent stuff. No one should need sunglasses in a hospital.

  Elle had given her statement to the police. Besides the TV, Marni’s laptop seemed to be missing. Nothing else.

  “They really went through everything with a fine-tooth comb,” the officer had said. “Normally burglars aren’t that thorough. You said you work at the university and your friend is a law student there?”

  Elle nodded. “Library of Congress, and I work with the Virginia university library systems, including the one here in Charlottesville.” She was so damn sick of giving her cover story.

  “Is there anything that could make you targets, like lots of jewelry lying around or anything?”

  Besides her working for the CIA? Elle shook her head. “No, nothing.”

  Then she just had to wait to see how Marni was going to be. They were taking her down for CAT scans. She hadn’t regained consciousness on the way to the hospital. Once they wheeled Marni away, Elle whipped out her phone and dialed a too-familiar number.

  Mason picked up on the first ring. “What was in your apartment?”

  “Who the hell cares?” Elle tried to lower her voice as people glanced in her direction, but she was too frazzled to exercise that much self-control. “Marni hasn’t woken up!”

  “Our understanding is that they were trying not to kill her, just knock her unconscious.”

  “What’s the difference if she doesn’t wake up?!” To hell with keeping her voice down.

  “Kagan’s suspicious about you. He was trying to get some info on you. That’s all.”

  That’s all?

  Another pause, then the slightest of sighs. “Did you have anything revealing your agency association in your apartment?”

  Elle felt her stomach heave. It was a good thing she hadn’t eaten much that day, or someone would need to clean up the floor in this godforsaken waiting room. She had put her best friend’s life in jeopardy, just by being her roommate. She tried to breathe, fighting the urge to throw her cell up against the wall so it would smash into pieces. “Have you heard anything I said? My friend has not woken up.”

  “He’s not going to go around killing people unnecessarily. Makes him too hot.” Another pause. “I have to know what you had in the-”

  “Nothing!” She kept her agency ID in a tiny pouch sewn into an inner pocket of her laptop bag. Living with Marni, she couldn’t risk leaving anything lying around. “There was nothing there. Just Marni…” She couldn’t talk anymore, pressing her trembling lips together. Everything went blurry. After a few deep breaths, she asked, “W- why would he-”

  “We think Kagan’s been having you followed from the time you left the hospital. He realizes the one unusual thing that happened right before so many of his business transactions got intercepted is finding you on your father’s computer.” A pause. “It’s probably why he slipped you the roofie.”

  Of course it would be. A guy like that would not be interested in a girl like her otherwise. And she had brought this on Marni because of something she wasn’t even supposed to be doing for the agency. She’d been so damn stupid. Stupid to even try flirting with him. Stupid to let herself get dragged into “the community” of the CIA, where she was so far over her head she might as well be drowning. Elle sucked in air, trying to calm herself down. “Guess I didn’t have the clearance for you to tell me that in the hospital,” she finally said, her voice tight.

  Mason didn’t respond for so long, she checked the phone to make sure she hadn’t d
ropped the call. It hadn’t dropped. “Ms. Paquet, you know the score. Being associated with the agency can require personal sacrifice-”

  “I know the score, dammit. I made the commitment. Marni didn’t! Marni’s a law student, she’s just my roommate-” Her voice shook, and she couldn’t stop it, couldn’t stop the tears that slid down her cheeks. She rubbed them away with a shaking hand, clearing her throat.

  “We do not believe Kagan has any intention of doing harm- any further harm- to your friend.”

  “Has he been arrested yet?”

  “Arrested?” Mason sounded as if she had been hit in the head. “For what?”

  “For what?!” Elle was aware of her raised voice by people glancing at her. She took a deep breath but felt as if she was exhaling flames. “For breaking and entering? For assault and battery? You really need a reason?”

  “We do not believe Kagan poses a significant threat to your friend.” It almost sounded as if he was reading from a script with some of the flattest delivery she’d ever heard.

  Her voice wasn’t flat; Elle heard the hiss in her voice, knew losing control wasn’t a good idea, but she didn’t give a damn anymore. “Yeah? You know what, I’m beginning to not give a damn what you- or the agency- believes.” Her breath bursts out in gasps, forcing her to stop.

  Mason remained silent for so long, she again checked to make sure the call was still connected. Once she was sure she could keep her voice even, she spoke again. “I’m going to have to tell her. Everything. And everyone else I know, too. It’s too dangerous.”

  “Ms. Paquet, you signed an agreement-” Mason’s voice actually rose in alarm.

  “I agreed to be an analyst!” The hissing probably sizzled the airwaves connecting their call. “I didn’t agree to- to- go out in the field, become a target- twice, mind you-”

  “You were informed that association with this agency required commitment, not just interest, Ms. Paquet.” Mason didn’t raise his voice again but the steel in his voice was enough. “This isn’t some interesting and unique little thing to do. Breaking our agreement-”