The Puppeteer

Read The Puppeteer for Free Online

Book: Read The Puppeteer for Free Online
Authors: Tamsen Schultz
case. He wasn't going to miss a thing.
    “What was that look about?” he asked, as if to prove her point.
    “Nothing,” she responded, climbing the stairs to the second floor.
    “Liar.”
    “I wouldn't want to disappoint you. I am a federal agent.”
    “So federal agents lie?”
    “Doesn't matter if we do or don't, the locals always think we do anyway. Right?”
    “Just as often as you feds think the locals are backward yokels unable to grasp simple concepts—like the fact that there is more to this case than you're letting on. Agent ,” he added.
    Dani could argue with him, but it wasn't worth the effort. If he'd already figured out there was more to it than Getz and Eagle's Wing, she was better off not saying much of anything at all. That there was a chance the investigation might surface some facts about the weapons everyone in the broader US intelligence world would want to keep a lid on was paramount. As for her, this case was the case she'd been waiting for her whole career, it was her reason for joining the CIA in the first place. She wasn't going to let anyone or anything interfere with it—including Ty. And neither of those aspects of the investigation were anything she or the team wanted to share with anyone.
    Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't have been an issue. Jurisdictional courtesy between the DEA and the local law enforcement was encouraged but not required. And sharing wasn't all that big with the CIA either. But, in this situation, they didn't have a choice. Playing nice with the locals was the price her team paid to the DEA team who would have handled the case if CIA hadn't taken over. If they weren't going to get the credit, Drew had to at least agree to preserve their relationship with Portland PD.
    With a renewed focus and plan, Dani sighed. Glancing at her watch, she wondered how long she'd have to shuffle him around before he settled somewhere and she could get away from him. And it didn't escape her that this sentiment was a far cry from less than twenty-four hours ago, when she couldn't seem to get enough of him. If she let herself, she might even start to feel a bit schizophrenic about it.
    “Earth to Dani,” Ty's voice came from behind her.
    “Hmm?” she turned and looked at him over her shoulder.
    “I asked where we're going? Since you don't seem interested in telling me what's going on inside that head of yours, I might as well meet everyone and see if someone might find me useful.”
    She wanted to say, “Don't count on it,” but held her tongue. Her team was top notch and didn't tend to take to outsiders. Trusting someone from the outside, even if they were trustworthy, added a layer of complexity to the investigation no one wanted. As far as Ty was concerned, the less said, the fewer opportunities he would have to question them or their actions.
    “We're going to meet Cotter, who runs visual surveillance, then I'll take you up to the sunroom to have a look at Getz's compound. After that, if there's anything you want to follow up on before you leave, feel free.”
    “Aw shucks, you're just saying that.”
    She turned and caught his eye. And laughed. He knew there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell he would be ‘free’ to follow up on anything. At least he had a sense of humor about it.
    As they climbed the stairs to the second floor, Ty changed modes. “Since you're not going to tell me anything interesting, explain the handles to me.” It was an easy topic. A safe one. And one that would keep him from thinking about the case, and what she wasn't saying.
    “Where should I start?” she glanced back at him over her shoulder.
    “Marmie.”
    “Marmie looks like the quintessential school Marm, don't you think? She's an amazing woman. I've worked with her a long time and not a single thing has changed about her. Not her hair, not her clothes, not her glasses. She could be anywhere from forty to sixty. I have no idea.”
    “You mentioned a Cotter?”
    “Cotter's

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