The chief of police had ordered a few officers to drive by Marissa’s house every hour in case Bill’s accomplices returned.
With the rental out front, the cops would likely investigate and blow Jarrett’s interrogation. He rolled his stiff shoulders as the chilly breeze tousled his hair. Gray clouds streaked the sky as whistling birds alluded to everything being a-okay. What a bunch of bull. Sweet, innocent laughter echoed from down the street as three kids played in the snow. Too bad he had to bring down a criminal instead of having a snowball fight with Marissa and Jason.
He leaned against the door. “Why are you so upset that I didn’t answer? No offense, sir, but you sound like a needy woman.”
“Seal that smartass mouth. I’m not in the mood.”
Jarrett clamped his jaw shut on another insolent retort. “How did you get here so fast, boss? You fly up?”
“Yeah, I chartered a helicopter and got that rental in Seattle.” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder toward the slick black sedan at the curb. “I have no problem pulling one of my men out of the fire, but you should’ve gone to Montana.”
“You’re right on that.”
“Whittaker had tight lips about all this. Debrief me inside.” He stuck his hands in his overcoat pockets and moved toward the door. “Aren’t you freezing, Brandt? Well, maybe not, but I’m not from around here. I can’t stand this weather.”
“Oh, I’m cold. Not much is worse than a Washington winter.” No way would he willingly let him near his family. If only his mentor would do or say something to dispute Whittaker’s claim.
“Are the girl and her kid here? What about your parents?”
Jarrett nodded. “They’re pretty shaken up. They know, of course, about my job.”
“I figured as much. Let’s go for a ride. We can crank up the heat in my car.”
“I’d rather not leave them unguarded, sir.” Should he go with the man? Though he wanted Ackermann far away from Marissa’s house, a shitstorm would probably rain down on his head if they went off together.
“All right, outside it is. What happened yesterday?”
Jarrett straightened and told the man everything, except for the assassin’s confession.
“Didn’t you coerce information from the bastard before he died? After all the hell you’ve endured over the years, you should know torture techniques.”
He scratched at an old, ridged scar on his chest. “Well, he did say something interesting. I don’t believe it, not for a second, but...” He hid a chuckle behind his hand. “The prick claimed you hired them to kill me. Crazy, right?”
“Me?” Ackermann laughed and swished his hand in the air. “What a load of horseshit.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought at first, but it makes sense when you think about it. I wanted to stay in San Francisco, but you demanded I retreat to a safe house, an isolated little cabin in the middle of nowhere. It probably would’ve been a great place to kill me.”
A tic erupted in Ackermann’s jaw.
“All-in-all, we kept my whereabouts hush-hush. You were the only agent who knew the location of the safe house. You refused to tell even Whittaker, so I assume you were also the only agent who knew I wasn’t there. I gave you my sister-in-law’s address under the assumption that only you would be privy to that information.” He licked his dry lips. “Besides that, you have access to my files. It makes sense you’d be the snitch.”
“When you put it that way, the guilty light does shine on me.”
“Even so, I don’t believe you turned against me or the agency, not after all the cases and headaches we’ve gone through together.”
He scratched at his stubbly cheeks. “Hell, if I wanted to kill you, I’d take out my gun and blow your head off. My connections could easily cover it up.”
“But why did Bill say it? Most people don’t lie on their deathbeds. How the hell did he even know your name? He didn’t seem the type to do his homework before a hit. His attitude and plan of action reeked of an amateur.” He met his superior officer’s hard gaze. “Someone in the agency leaked the information. There’s no alternative. Bill and his accomplices discovered my whereabouts too quickly, too easily. That same person probably tossed out your name as well.”
Ackermann shifted his feet before he straightened to his full height. “I’ll check it out. Why didn’t you tell the yokels about this, or better yet, Whittaker?”
“Not their business. I’m not about to incriminate a man I respect.”
“You’re a good guy, Brandt. Whittaker didn’t think you’d be an asset all those years ago, but we proved him wrong, huh? Still, I worried you couldn’t pull off the Consuelo assignment. Addiction is hard to beat, especially when thrust in your face.”
“I won’t deny it. The cravings were unbearable at times.” Jarrett clutched his hands together behind his back. Goosebumps pricked his arms. “I couldn’t break. Too many people depended on me.”
“How much does your family know? Did they hear the assassin’s accusation?”
