FBI Field Office, D.C.
Eighteen months earlier
Carter wasn’t sure of the time when the door to the interview room finally opened again, and Silvia Maldonado walked in.
“My apologies for leaving you for so long,” she said in a coolly professional tone. “You been given something to eat?”
“Of a sort.” She didn’t seem like she was about to sit, so he stood. “Why the delay?”
“You’re free to go,” she said, gesturing at the door.
“What?”
“You’ve been cleared for early retirement with full benefits. Human Resources will be in touch with the details.”
“The hell?”
She tilted her head to one side. “It’s a good deal, Carter. Take it and walk away.”
“What about Nika—Elena? What’s happened to her?”
“She’s been released too. She’s accepted a generous resettlement package and a new identity.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to. You’ve never had to. To be frank, I don’t either. Above my pay grade.”
“Aboveyourpay grade?”
“Oh, there are many pay grades above mine. I’ve had your belongings brought over from your hotel. The account is settled—including an impressive minibar bill. You will have to sign an NDA before you leave. Officially, you never worked for the CIA, but your military record will be extended to cover the missing years. Covert action strike force under Title 50, so you can’t talk about that, either. You’ll be a boring guy to invite to a dinner party.”
“You’re making me leave the CIA? Why? I did nothing wrong—you know that, right? I mean, sure, my cover in Moscow might be blown but?—”
“Not my call, Carter. Take the deal. You’ll be set up for life. God knows I would.”
“I doubt that very much.”
She almost smiled. “Right this second I would. This isn’t a choice, Carter. You’re walking away.”
“You still haven’t told me why. Unless … you don’t know why.”
Her mouth flatlined.
“Where’s Nika? I need to see her.”
“She’s already signed. She’s gone.”
“What? Where?”
“Wherever she wants. She’s a free woman of independent means. If you’ll excuse me, I have rather a lot of paperwork to sign off.” She gave a brusque nod and stepped to the door.
“Wait, so that’s it?”
“It seems you have a powerful friend. Or rather, she has.”
“Who?”
“Carter, I know you’re a guy who wants all the answers, I remember that about you, but with this… Let it go. Don’t go looking, okay? Move on. Start over. Thank you for your service and have a nice life. Oh,” she said, pulling something from her jacket pocket, “Annika asked me to give you this.”
