CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
FBI Academy
Lucy wasn’t at all comfortable with the role of spy.
She went to the gym hoping to avoid running into anyone she knew. Since new agents preferred to work out in the mornings or evenings, she usually had the gym to herself mid-afternoon. Today, however, Harden was running Carter and Eddie through intensive drills. Eddie looked angry and Carter looked ill.
She stretched, then worked with free weights, hoping the guys would be done soon and she could use the equipment unobserved.
“Take five,” Harden told Carter and Eddie after fifteen minutes. He approached Lucy. “I’m going to send Nix and Acosta to the pool for laps, if you want to join us.”
She didn’t, but at the same time a hard swim sounded like exactly what she needed to relax.
“Are they being punished for something?”
“Breaking curfew. Marines,” he added under his breath. “Ten minutes, meet you at the pool.” He walked back to Carter and Eddie.
Lucy wasn’t sure exactly what Harden meant, considering that they had the weekend off. She grabbed her swimsuit from her bag and changed in the women’s locker room.
Ten minutes later, Lucy was cutting through the water with sure, even strokes. This was exactly what she needed to leach the tension from her muscles and focus on something other than Hans, Tony, and her unwanted role as spy.
After the swim, Lucy was surprised to see Noah talking to Harden. She dried off and walked over to Carter and Eddie. She pulled off her swim cap. “What did you two do?”
Eddie said, “Broke curfew.”
“You didn’t sign out for the weekend?”
“Bingo. Carter was wasted, I was driving.”
Harden called out, “Acosta, Nix, you’re both mine for the week, but you’re done for today.”
“Sleep, then dinner,” Carter said. “See you at the mess hall?” Carter asked Lucy.
“I’ll be there.” She started to walk out with them when Noah called, “Kincaid, a minute please?”
Carter gave her an odd look, and Lucy shrugged. Harden left Noah and Lucy alone in the pool room.
Noah said, “I e-mailed your private account with the whereabouts of every new agent on Saturday from midnight until two a.m. Half were on campus. I’m verifying their background information, but you also have access and you need to be on alert for any discrepancies.”
She nodded, but looked at the door, hoping Carter, Eddie and the others would forgive her when this all came to light.
Noah eyed her. “What’s troubling you?”
“Other than the obvious? My mentor is dead and Hans is in a coma?”
“Lucy, I know this is hard—”
“I can handle it,” she snapped.
“You’re angry.”
She turned away and stared at the pool. The water was settling down from the laps. Watching it calmed her. Water always gave her peace.
“It’s being a spy,” she said quietly. “On my friends. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Noah, but I don’t have a lot of friends.”
“You have many friends.” Noah sounded confused.
She shook her head and faced him. “I have lots of family, and I love them, but my friends are few and far between. I haven’t kept in touch with anyone from high school or college. No one. I thought—” She shook her head. “Never mind.”
“Lucy, you know you can trust me.”
She shouldn’t be talking to Noah about this, but she was tired and upset. “I thought I was forming lifelong relationships with some of the people here.” She jerked her head toward the door. “Carter and Eddie, for example.”
“You’ll be happy to know they’re in the clear. They went out with a bunch of their Marine buddies from the base, didn’t come in until nearly three in the morning. Fortunately, Acosta doesn’t drink and we don’t have a DUI situation, but it was still a serious breach.”
Lucy sighed in relief. “Two down, thirty-one to go,” she mumbled.
“You still can’t talk about this, even with them.”
“I know. I don’t have to like it.” She took her hair band off her wrist and put her hair up.
“Chief O’Neal and I cleared Tom Harden first thing this morning and I just gave him a quick debrief. If you need to talk and I’m busy, you can go to him. But still, be discreet. You might want to touch bases with him now—he wants to talk to you.”
“I wouldn’t make a good CIA agent.”
Noah cracked a grin. “I don’t think you would. But you’re going to make a great FBI agent.”
If I stay.
But she didn’t say that to Noah.
*
Lucy found Tom Harden in his small office off the gym. Harden wasn’t a special agent; he was one of the few instructors who was a civilian. He’d been in the Army special forces and when he got out ran his own gym while getting his degree in physical training and nutrition. Five years ago Quantico brought him on to lead their revamped new-agent PT program.
“Noah said you wanted to see me,” Lucy said.
“Sit down.” He motioned to the only other chair in his office.
She did, antsy.
“Hans is a personal friend of mine.”
“Have you been to the hospital? How is he?”
“I went by this morning. I have one of the nurses sending me updates. There’s been no change.”
She let out a long breath.
“I’ll let you know if there’s a change in his status,” Harden said.
“Thank you.” She looked at him, curious. “You’re not a federal agent and Hans was never in the Army. How do you know him?”
“In 1999, a year before I left the Army, I was tasked with protective detail in Kosovo. The FBI agents and scientists were sent over to identify victims of genocide. There were several operations where small groups of agents went out to remote burial sites, we had a few close calls with insurgents, and Hans and I remained friends after it was over. He told me about the opening here five years ago. I never planned on working for the federal government—I liked having my own gym. But I was given a lot of leeway to develop this program, and I owe that to Hans. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished here, and more confident that we’re sending out agents who are both physically and mentally prepared for the tasks they face.”
“No complaints from me.” Harden worked them thoroughly, but Lucy saw the purpose in everything they did and had personally benefited from it.
He smiled. “Not you, but not everyone is as in shape or dedicated to staying that way. Other than your very bad habit of eating granola bars to replace meals.”
That he knew this detail about her bothered her. “How do you know?”
“In light of what’s going on—Noah briefed me—I need to tell you something. Hans asked me to test you. Off-the-books. I agreed because it’s my job, but it was also before I knew you. The pull-ups the other day was a test. I know what you fear, and I needed to make sure you can handle it.”
The truth sunk in. “You knew Hans got me in.”
“No. Not until yesterday afternoon. After you left, he told me, which explained why he wanted to assess you differently. Harder than others. I put the pressure on you for the past four weeks to confirm you can handle it. That part’s over—with the investigation right now, I need you to trust me. That’s why I’m coming clean.”
Lucy felt manipulated and upset but, to her surprise, not as angry as she thought she should be. “Who else?”
“Who else was testing you? No one.”
“Are you certain?”
“Hans doesn’t trust a lot of people, but he would have told me.”
“He told you I quit.”
“You’re still here.”
“My ID was at the desk. I guess he didn’t accept it.”
“For what it’s worth, completely unbiased, I don’t think you should quit. If I was going to pick two agents I’d want on my team, it would be you and Carter Nix.”
“Why Carter over Eddie?”
“Carter thinks for himself and Eddie is a soldier at heart. We need both types in the Bureau, and I love military folks coming in for a second career. But if I were building a team, I’d want loyalty, dedication, intelligence, and physical stamina. And I’d want those who see more than what’s on the surface. Instincts. Working as a team is important. But using your instincts to benefit the team is crucial. Because when you’re in the foxhole with someone, you have to be able to trust them with your life. And sometimes, that means breaking the rules.”
She smiled. Sean would like Harden.
“What Noah is having you do isn’t easy, but it’s necessary,” he continued. “He wouldn’t put you in this position if he didn’t think you could handle it.”
“Thank you.”
“One more thing. Who told you about the hiring panel?”
“Are you ordering me to tell you?”
“No. But I will if that makes you more inclined to share.”
“Why is that important?”
“Because the only people who knew, until you found out yesterday, were the three people on the hiring panel, Hans, and Rick Stockton. That means that one or more of those three agents who interviewed you told someone after they were debriefed and told never to discuss the situation. It’s a security breach. Personnel issues may seem minor on the surface, but revealing confidential information leads to other breaches.”
“It wasn’t someone on the panel.”
“If I guess will you tell me?”
Lucy was intrigued. “I’m not going to play twenty questions.”
“It was Rich Laughlin.”
Lucy was stunned. “How did you know?”
“I noticed him watching you and his body language told me he was angry. I couldn’t imagine what you might have done, so I kept my eyes open. Then Friday I walked out with Kosako and he said your score plummeted from ninety-three to thirty-two. It surprised him, and me, so I asked if there was a weapons problem. He noticed Laughlin standing in your peripheral vision and how your eye kept moving toward him. He thought it was a problem because of tactical training issues—but I put two and two together.”
“He doesn’t like me, but I think it has something to do with Kate. I’ll take care of it myself,” Lucy said. “I appreciate your understanding, but just as I don’t like being singled out in my training, I don’t like being cut any slack. I’m going to have to deal with more agents like Rich Laughlin when I get out of here.”
“You will. Hans asked me to find out for him, because he needs to know who on the panel can’t be trusted.”
She stood, uncertain what Harden expected from her, and simply said, “Thanks.”
“I may not be a federal agent, Kincaid, but I have your back.”
She smiled. “I’m glad.”
*
To her surprise, talking with Harden helped Lucy put her assignment in perspective. Lies and deception weren’t in her personality, but this was an assignment. She didn’t have to like it, but she had to get it done—and do it right. The obvious reason was because someone here may have killed Tony and put Hans in ICU. That person needed to be exposed.
But the other reason, just as important as justice, was that this was her job. If she couldn’t perform a basic undercover investigation, what kind of agent would she make when it counted?
It was why Laughlin’s presence was the true test. If she couldn’t handle the pressure he put her under, then how could she handle real pressure in the job? If she let his hatred affect her—to the extent that she quit—who won? Certainly not her.
Lucy made her way over to where Carter and Eddie were eating at the table their group usually spread out on. Carter had heaped comfort food on his plate—mashed potatoes, meat loaf, and green beans.
“No loud noises,” he said. “My hangover is almost gone.”
Eddie laughed and Carter hit him in the arm.
“I’m getting too old to go out with these young Marines.”
“I thought they were your friends?” Lucy said.
“Two of the guys, Dorman and Renko, were in our unit. We met up with some of the new guys.”
“You’re thirty-four, buddy,” Eddie said. “You shouldn’t have even tried.” He winked at Lucy.
“You were sober; you should have dragged my ass out of there.”
“I don’t need alcohol to have fun.” He leaned over to Lucy and in a loud stage whisper said, “I’ll show you the pictures later.”
Reva rushed over and dropped her tray on the table next to Lucy. Carter groaned.
“Tell me everything,” she demanded.
“Excuse me?” Lucy stared at the energetic Reva who plopped down on the seat next to her.
“About your weekend with your hot boyfriend. Where’d you go? What’d you do? Does he have a brother?”
Margo sat down across from Reva. “I’m sure Lucy doesn’t want to share details here.” She waved her hand toward the men at the table, then gave Lucy a half smile. “Reva and I will expect the scoop after dinner.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I’ve been seeing Sean since January.”
“How did you meet?” Reva asked.
Lucy didn’t feel comfortable talking about her personal life. But wasn’t that what friends did? Share details about their life and hobbies?
“He’s my brother’s partner. They’re private investigators.” Rogan-Caruso-Kincaid Protective Services did a lot more than cut-and-dried investigations, but Lucy didn’t want to go into details. “I met Sean when he and Patrick opened the D.C. office of RCK. Sean’s brother and my other brother run the California office.”
“Keep it in the family,” Oz said as he sat down with Jason. He grinned at Carter and Eddie. “I’m surprised you guys are still standing. I walked by the gym after my run and Hard-ass was working you both into the ground.”
“It’s worse when you have a hangover,” Eddie teased.
“Thank God I was a Marine, or I would be dead now,” Carter said.
“Hoo-rah!” Eddie said.
“Hoo-rah!” Carter repeated.
“Where’s Alexis?” Oz asked. “Working with Gordon on her shooting?”
Reva leaned forward and in a conspiratorial tone said, “I think she and her husband got in a huge fight last night.”
“Knock it off,” Margo said.
“Just saying, she was yelling at him, then she went for a run late. I asked if she wanted company and she blew me off.”
“Because you’re a big gossip,” Oz said.
Reva looked hurt. “I don’t mean anything by it. I just think you should know, so when you see her you’ll know why she’s so upset.”
Lucy understood where Reva was coming from. She was a gossip, but she wasn’t malicious. However, this was the perfect opportunity to start filling in the time line.
“Next time,” Lucy said, “maybe you should ask her. I think she’s lonely and missing her family.”
“It’s not like I wanted to knock on her door at midnight,” Reva said. “I was beat. But maybe next time.”
“Hopefully they work it out,” Lucy said. Midnight, that wasn’t going to help. Most of the new agents would be in their dorm rooms by midnight. Alone. That wasn’t going to make this easy.
Eddie changed the subject. “I didn’t know you were a fish, Kincaid.”
“College swim team,” Lucy said, glad Eddie had taken the lead in diverting the conversation.
Reva snorted. “What she’s not telling you is she had a chance to try for the Olympic team.”
Lucy reddened and stared at her food. “It wasn’t like that,” she said. She didn’t want to talk about her past, and even though it wasn’t a secret that she’d been a championship swimmer in college, any discussion might bring up what happened at her high school graduation. She didn’t even know how Reva found out. It wasn’t a secret, but it wasn’t like Lucy had announced it.
“You gave up that opportunity?” Margo said. “Wow.”
“I swam in college because I enjoyed it. I didn’t want to make a life out of it.”
Carter bumped Lucy with his shoulder. She shot him a surprised look—then he winked. It was a reassuring look. Did he understand her need for privacy? “Aren’t you search and rescue certified?” he asked, gradually changing the subject.
She said, “Water search and rescue. Mostly search, not as much rescue, when I was with the Arlington County Sheriff.”
“I didn’t know you were a deputy,” Jason said.
“I wasn’t—I was in the office developing first-responder plans, plus I worked on the search-and-rescue team.”
“I thought you’d worked at a morgue,” Reva said.
For all her effort not to be the subject of any conversation, Lucy found herself in the middle. She ended up lying just to get the attention off her. “I guess I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.” She grinned. “And all of you are in second careers in the FBI as well, aren’t you?”
“Don’t know if I’d call my three-year tour a career,” Margo said.
“Didn’t you do something before you were a paramedic, Oz?” Carter asked.
Oz glared at him. “Thanks, Nix, buddy.”
“What?” Reva asked. “What’d I miss?”
Carter laughed. “Before Oz was a paramedic, he was a stuntman.”
“Seriously?” Reva asked, eyes wide. “In Hollywood?”
“How’d that happen?” Jason asked.
“By accident, really. I used to skateboard, surf, bungee jump—when I was a teenager, I did some really stupid things, trust me. I think I’ve broken half the bones in my body. But my true love was dirt bikes. A director saw some of my stunts when I was at a competition and hired me. It paid my way through college.”
Carter had Oz talking about some of the movies he worked on, and Lucy was both interested and relieved that the conversation had turned away from her.
Oz, Jason, Margo, Reva—all on campus when Hans was attacked. And Lucy had to confirm where everyone was between midnight and 2:00 a.m. without them knowing.