“You pay cash for property research?”
The finance director looked amused.
“She's smart.”
The retired commander did not smile.
“How do we know you aren't police?”
The room tightened.
The agent looked toward him.
Then slowly held up both wrists.
Cuff marks still visible.
“If I’m police, somebody needs to tell your people.”
The finance director laughed.
Even the code supervisor smiled.
The retired commander remained suspicious.
He stepped closer.
“You said federal yesterday.”
The agent’s pulse did not change.
“What?”
The room became silent.
He continued.
“Officer report says you claimed federal.”
The agent stared.
That information should not have reached him.
Proof.
She shrugged.
“I said whatever I thought might get cuffs off.”
The retired commander watched.
“FBI?”
“Secret Service too.”
The finance director laughed.
She continued.
“I think I said judge at one point.”
The finance director looked toward the commander.
“She was panicking.”
The agent snapped:
“I wasn't panicking.”
Good.
Defensive pride fit.
The retired commander studied her.
Then:
“Turn around.”
The agent did not.
“Why?”
“Turn around.”
She folded her arms.
“No.”
He stepped closer.
The finance director said:
“Relax.”
The retired commander ignored him.
“You want work?”
“Yes.”
“Then turn around.”
The agent’s mind raced.
Hidden transmitter at her waist.
Backup team outside.
If he searched her, they would enter.
Operation might end before enough evidence.
She stared at him.
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
She continued.
“You don't touch me.”
“I already had cops put hands on me yesterday.”
“You want another man doing it, find somebody else.”
The code supervisor looked toward the finance director.
The finance director raised both hands.
“She has a point.”
The retired commander remained inches away.
Then smiled.
“You've got attitude.”
“I've got rent.”
He stepped back.
“Fine.”
The agent breathed internally.
Not outwardly.
The finance director opened the envelope.
Eight addresses.
The federal team listening recognized six.
Homeowners who had resisted selling.
The agent picked up the photographs.
“What's useful?”
“Patterns.”
“Visitors.”
“Who's helping them.”
“Lawyers.”
“Reporters.”
“Cops who aren't ours.”
There.
She looked up.
“‘Ours’?”
The finance director glanced toward the retired commander.
The commander said:
“Meaning cooperative.”
The agent smiled.
“Sure.”
She put the envelope in her bag.
Then the city council aide spoke.
“What about the old woman on Hazel?”
The widow who started the investigation.
The code supervisor answered:
“She gets another notice Friday.”
“For what?”
“Fence.”
The aide frowned.
“Fence passed last inspection.”
The supervisor smiled.
“Then maybe this inspector sees differently.”
The agent kept her expression neutral.
The aide looked uneasy.
Interesting.
Not everyone at the table had the same appetite.
The retired commander said:
“If she keeps refusing, we escalate calls.”
The finance director glanced toward the agent.