Gunnar stared at his cell.“What the actual fuck?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said.Danilo Malavita.Mid-level guy, been with Russo’s organization for about five years.He’s scared out of his mind, claiming his boss has lost it and is planning something that will start a war.”
“As opposed to their normal criminal agenda, I suppose,” Bryn griped.“Because that pushes pacifism down everyone’s throats, doesn’t it?”
“And he wants to make a deal?”Emmett asked.
“Hi, Emmett, yes, he wants full witness protection in exchange for everything he knows about Russo’s current operations.Says he never signed up for what Russo’s planning to do.”
Gunnar glanced at the clock.“Bryn needs to read him while he answers questions in case he’s a plant.”
“Indeed.Can you be here by ten?”
“We’ll be there.”
After Gunnar ended the call, Bryn sat on the edge of Emmett’s desk swinging his legs.“Well, things don’t stay still for long around here, do they?”
“You up for this?I should have asked before volunteering you,” Gunnar said, grabbing his jacket.
“Of course.This’ll be interesting.”
“I’d take the bike but Warden won’t let me at the moment.He likes armor-plated glass between you and the outside world.”
“Maybe we should bring Emmett.He gets a gun.”Bryn pouted.
Emmett bounced.“Ooh, road trip!But I don’t have a gun anymore.I don’t like them so Warden said I didn’t have to carry one.”
“You have him wrapped around your little finger, don’t you?”Bryn grinned.
“We’ll check in with Warden on the way out,” Gunnar cautioned.“I’m sure he’ll have an opinion, so behave.”
* * * *
Thirty minutes later, Bryn was slumped in the passenger seat of the car, nursing a travel mug of coffee that was strong enough to wake the dead.Gunnar was behind the wheel and Emmett was in the back.Giles hadn’t been around when they left and wasn’t needed for this job anyway.
“This could be rough on you,” Gunnar said, glancing over at Bryn.
“Do I have a choice?”Bryn took another sip of coffee.“If this guy has actionable intelligence about Russo’s plans, we need it now and we need to know this isn’t a trap.”
“I know.But pushing yourself when you’re already running on fumes isn’t a great idea.”
“It’s my job,” Bryn said.“You don’t need to baby me.In training I managed a lot more readings before I passed out.Fun memories.Besides, cooperative subjects are easier to read and I doubt this guy will be as intense as Katarina was.That woman’s head was a minefield full of bombs with ultra-sensitive triggers.”
“I packed snacks,” Emmett contributed.
“And that’s why you’re the most important member of this team,” Bryn said, grateful for the change of topic.He and Emmett spent the rest of the journey discussing the relative merits of Cheetos over Lay’s Bugles and whether Hershey’s Kisses were worth unwrapping.
They met Bell at the federal building, where he escorted them through security to an interrogation room masquerading as something less intimidating.
“We should have our own office at this place,” Bryn commented, “we’re here so often.”
“We couldn’t afford to fund your coffee habit,” Bell said.
Danilo Malavita was already seated at a table, flanked by two agents.He was a thin man in his forties, wearing an expensive suit and tie, but his knee was bouncing and there was a visible twitch beneath one eye.
“Mr.Malavita,” Bell said as they entered, “these are the specialists I mentioned, from GCR.They’re going to help us verify your information.”
Malavita fixed on Bryn, and he blanched.“You’re the augur.The one who can read minds.”
