Ian stopped, his face hardening into stubborn lines. “It’s not the same.”
“It’s exactly the same.” Eve tapped a manila folder on the desk in front of her. “Right down to the profile I did.” She flipped it open and started to read. “’After careful consideration, I would be surprised to discover the subject is involved in anything that would go against her obvious values. It is my judgment that Avery Charles be treated as an innocent asset and all due consideration to keeping her safe should be taken.’ I think I said the same about Grace, and you ignored me. Ian, you are allowing your own history to affect your judgment, and it’s going to cost you another friend if you don’t back off.”
“You have a file on me?” Avery asked.
Ian sat back, quiet for once and willing to let Eve take charge. “I do. I’m a psychologist. I’ve worked for the FBI before. Now I work with these idiots who rarely listen to me. I studied your prior reports. You had a psych evaluation before you were accepted into the medical study that gave you back the use of your legs, and you saw a therapist for years before that to deal with the trauma of the accident.”
“That was supposed to be private.” Avery reached for the file. “Whatever happened to doctor’s confidentiality?”
Eve slid the file to her, a sure sign that she trusted Avery. “I’m so sorry, but MI6 got me the records, and they most likely had the aid and consent of the Agency. This is a very important mission. These are high-grade weapons, and he’s moving more and more of them. If he manages to move into the Middle East, those weapons are going to be turned on American and British troops. They can be used to destabilize whole parts of the world we would rather have calm.”
“So my privacy is being invaded to fight terrorists, is that it?” Avery flipped through the file. Her face flushed.
“Privacy is something no one really has, Miss Charles.” Ian sounded calmer, his eyes steady on Avery. “Privacy is something that’s only granted until it intrudes on someone else’s right to live.”
“You were a crucial piece to this investigation,” Alex continued, his voice softer. “We had to ascertain whether or not you were involved in getting the weapons into the grain shipments. You’re close to Molina.”
“Is there any way this is someone else? Like someone else in the company?” She asked the question in a shaky voice.
Knight slid a black and white photo across the table. “This is your boss with a man named Eli Nelson. Nelson is a rogue CIA agent who by all accounts is rapidly turning into a mover and shaker in the criminal underground. They’ve been meeting regularly since you and the boss got to London.”
“His lunch appointment with a friend.” She sniffled a little, and he wanted so badly to drag her into his arms and hold her tight.
“Avery, anything you can tell us will help. Have you noticed anything at all odd about the UOF? Any weird business practices? Something unusual Molina’s been doing lately?” Alex asked. He seemed intent on playing good cop.
“I don’t think Avery knows anything,” Liam replied quickly. He wasn’t going to have her brought into this. Simon Weston had asked about some files, but he could be fishing. As long as Avery didn’t mention them, he could make a case for taking her out of here, perhaps even back to the States. She would need protection while everything was sorted out. Once he got her back to his place, he could work on reestablishing the relationship, on a proper footing this time.
Crap. He needed a new place. His place was awful. His place consisted of a mattress on the floor, a recliner, and an enormous telly. It would not impress her.
But it might give her something to do. Maybe she would view him as a project. If he could get her involved in fixing up his place, maybe she would start to view it as her place, too.
Or she would burn it down with him in it. He was willing to take the chance as long as he got her out of England and away from Molina and Nelson.
“There are some files I think you should look at,” she said quietly.
“Avery, keep your mouth closed. You are getting out of this,” Liam ordered.
A stubborn look settled on her face. “No. If I’m in it, then I’m in it. If I did anything to help this gunrunning thing, then I have to try to make it right. I have a friend who works at the Fund. I think maybe he’s seeing the same thing I am. There have been several multimillion dollar donors who have been turned down for reasons I don’t understand.”
“Why would a charity turn down money?” Alex asked.
“For any number of reasons.” Eve slipped the file on Avery back into her briefcase as she spoke. “Oftentimes if a charity turns down a donation, it has something to do with the moral view of the donor. A women’s group might turn down a donation that was made by a group of exotic dancers who made the money by providing lap dances or a bikini car wash.”