For the first time, Swanson looked alarmed. “Nah, please don’t, she’s a sweetie, bought into the whole deal, plus she thinks I’m very cool. However, this time it doesn’t appear she did a good enough job, since you’re here poking around, looking for me.”
“No, she’s a very good liar,” Nicholas said. “We saw you pull the Suburban into the garage. You didn’t even bother to check your surroundings before you led the FBI right to your doorstep. Now, enough fun and games. What were you doing in Brooklyn last night? Who’s the redheaded woman you took away? Where is she? We know she’s involved with COE, so that means you aided and abetted a terrorist, and you better believe I will light you up like a Christmas tree in two seconds flat if you even try to lie to me.”
Swanson stopped cold, held his hands palms out in front of his face. “Listen, you want more, you gotta talk to my boss. I’ve said all I can. Trust me, mate, we’re on the same side.”
Nicholas turned to Ben. “His girlfriend is up in 1507. Go arrest her on obstruction.”
He turned back to Swanson. “You got something to say to me before we arrest Melody?”
Swanson said, “No, no, don’t arrest her, she didn’t do anything. Seriously, that’s a low blow. Leave Melody out of this. All right, I’ll talk to my boss.”
“And who might your boss be?”
“Let me use my phone and I’ll call him. He can debrief you from here. Please, don’t arrest Melody.”
“Not a chance in Hell, mate. You give me names, I run a background to make sure you aren’t lying, then you can talk to him.”
Swanson pulled the cloth away from his nose, saw no new blood, and managed a sneer. “And here I thought all you FBI types were nerds and wing tips. But not you, you’re a real tough guy.” He touched his fingers to his nose. “I gotta say, you have a mean right hook.”
“The contact, now, or you’ll see my left jab, and trust me, you won’t like it.”
Swanson spit blood onto the garage floor. “All right, all right. Lighten up. My boss is going to rip you a new one, not me.” He read off a number.
Ben typed it in on his tablet. “It’s legit. Goes to Langley.”
Mike said, “Call it, Ben.”
Ben dialed the number from his own phone. It connected and he put it on speaker.
A male voice said, “Craig? Everything okay?”
“Yeah, there’s—”
Nicholas spoke over him. “This is Special Agent Nicholas Drummond, FBI. Please identify yourself.”
There was a brief pause. “Carlton Grace. CIA.”
Ben started tapping away, looking for the name. A few moments later, an eyebrow raised, he nodded.
“Agent Grace, we have your subordinate Craig Swanson in custody. He was—”
“Drummond?” They heard a whistle. “Well, how’s that for luck. I already spoke to your boss, Milo Zachery. You and Mike Caine need to come down to Langley to meet with me right away.”
“You never know, do you?” Craig Swanson said, grinning.
Nicholas managed to resist smacking him again. His spook boss had already cleared it with Zachery? What was going on?
Nicholas said, “We’re not going anywhere unless you tell us right this minute what this is all about.”
? ? ?
Carlton Grace laughed low and quick. “What’s wrong with you? You know I can’t tell you a thing, not on this open line. Agents Savich and Sherlock will be here as well. It’s time. Oh, and Drummond? Bring Swanson with you. He needs a few lessons in subterfuge, apparently.”
The line went dead. Swanson was still grinning.
“Ain’t that a kick?” Ben said.
Nicholas looked at Mike. “What in the bloody hell is going on here?”
She was playing with her ponytail, staring off at nothing in particular.
“Mike?”
“Nicholas. Remember I told you the redhead was familiar to me? Well, I remember who she is.”
“How do you know? Facial recognition hasn’t come through; we don’t even have Mrs. Antonio’s sketch of her.”
“Everything clicked into place. Her name is Vanessa Grace, the same name as Craig’s boss. Is she related, Craig?”
“Yes, he’s her uncle.”
“I went to Yale with her. Nicholas, she’s got to be CIA, too.”