"You mean the one he didn't recognize?" she asked sarcastically.
"He definitely recognized him," Max said. "I think Spencer did, too, but the kid isn't going to tell us anything in front of his boss."
"You're right," she said with a sigh.
"The facility closes at nine," Max continued. "That's twelve minutes from now. Why don't we wait in the car and see if we can catch Spencer when he leaves work?"
"Fine." She got into the car, which was thankfully facing the gym, so unless Spencer left through a back door, they should be able to see him.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, then she said, "So what was it like working for the CIA?"
"It was a lot of things."
"That's vague. How did you get into the CIA?"
"It was so long ago, I barely remember."
"I'm sure you remember." She sent him a pointed look. "You just don't want to tell me. I'm not the enemy. We both want to find the person who blew up the café. Unless that's not really your goal?"
"What other goal would I have?"
"Protecting your client. Finding out what we know so that you can help him." She didn't want to believe that, but she couldn't ignore the possibility that Max had a hidden agenda.
"Dominic had nothing to do with that bomb," he said.
"I'm not saying he tried to kill his girlfriend. But that doesn't mean she wasn't targeted because of him, or that he doesn't know more than he's saying, or that you don't know more than you're saying."
"I am legitimately trying to help you, whether you believe it or not."
"And once again, you're not addressing what I just said."
"You're speculating based on nothing. I like to look at facts."
"So do I, and the fact is you're acting shady."
"I'm really not, Agent Reid. But you don't have to trust me to work with me. And I don't have to trust you."
"Why wouldn't you trust me?" she asked in surprise.
"I don't know you."
"I'm a federal agent."
"That doesn't automatically make you trustworthy," he said with a cynical smile. "At least, not from my experience."
She couldn't really argue that point because her own experience had also taught her that sometimes a badge could be used as a cover. "That's a fair point."
"It is?" he commented, surprise in his voice. "I thought I'd get an argument."
"No, you're right. Labels mean nothing. Neither do words. It's all about actions. That's when you see who people really are. Maybe I'm a little suspicious of you because my coworker told me he met you overseas several years ago, but you had a different name then."
"He did, too," Max said.
Now she was taken aback. "Really? He didn't mention that. What were the circumstances of your meeting?"
"That's classified."
"So, it had something to do with intelligence?"
