“You said that about trusting Raven, too. We can’t do both.”
She raised her eyebrows. “We can, and we will. I’m playing all these people against The Board. Between all of us, maybe we’ll be able to take them down.”
Alex puffed out his cheeks, his hands falling onto his hips. “Okay. I guess…we’ll take every opportunity we can.”
“Yep,” she said before they returned to the agents. She crossed her arms. “All right, I’ll tell you everything I know, but I can’t do it tonight.”
Agent Sanderson shifted her weight, clicking her tongue.
“Please,” Ava said. “It’s been a long night, and Alex is right. I’d like an attorney present.”
Agent Sanderson raised her eyebrows. “Something you’re afraid of?”
“Yeah, that the government is going to twist something I say and use it to threaten me into doing whatever they want like spying for them.”
“We’re not in the habit of–”
“Of what? Using informants? Of threatening people to get them to do your work for you? I don’t buy it. Now, I’m willing to cooperate and play ball with you, but I want my attorney present.”
“Also,” Alex chimed in, “why are you not asking me to give information?”
“You haven’t been the subject of Sebastian Bancroft’s attentions lately, Mr. Stone, otherwise we would have.”
Ava heaved a sigh. “And I’m willing to tell you everything about those interactions tomorrow morning with my attorney present.”
“If this is a put-off tactic–”
“I’m going to be there bright and early in the morning,” Ava answered. “And I am going to answer every one of your questions. No one wants to take The Board down more than us.”
“That’s an interesting statement,” Agent Sanderson said. “Why is that?”
“They stole several million dollars from StoneCorp. And since then, we’ve been digging into them without finding much. So if you’ve got the chops to dismantle them, I won’t say no.”
“Well,” Agent Sanderson said, “then I suppose we’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning, Ms. Collins.”
“I’ll be here.”
The memory faded of the recent conversation, and Alex returned to watching the progress bar inch higher.
“Come on,” he grumbled, checking his watch for the third time in as many minutes.
Hands grabbed his shoulders, squeezing. Alex jumped slightly.
“Tense, buddy?” Kyle asked, his familiar grin trying to diffuse the tension.
Alex’s lips tugged into a frown, not used to the friendship. “A little.”
Kyle smacked his shoulder before he skirted the couch and plopped down next to him. “Files transferring too slow?”
“Something like that.” Alex’s mind processed the entire set of worries that flooded his mind again.
“Want to talk about it?” Kyle asked.
“Nope,” Alex said without even glancing sideways.
Kyle grinned at him, cocking his head. “I’m a good listener.”
Alex winced as he finally slid his eyes toward the man. “No offense, Doc, but…it’s kind of weird.”
