“I put my life in the hands of a fucking librarian. Who went to Harvard. And uses words likesubterfuge.” Sejal licked her lips. “Tell me that’s a real gun you have, and not, like, one that shoots ink.”
“It is a real gun. I do know how to shoot, and how to fight. My mom ensured it.”
“Your mom who is definitely not a former florist.” She kept talking before he could answer. “Why the hell did you do this to me?”
“I didn’t mean to do anything to you. It was... I had to get to Cobra.”
“Why, though?”
“Because my little brother’s missing.”
“Avi. The actual FBI agent.”
“Correct.”
She linked her hands over her stomach. Some of the fury had left her face, but he wasn’t fooled. Anger simmered in her dark eyes; it was a tense aura around her. He swayed toward her like he could bank it with his own hands.
You shouldn’t care so much that she’s upset with you.
Except he was. He was incredibly, terribly upset.
“Tell me everything,” she demanded.
He grabbed the glass of water Sunil had left for him. Ironically, it had no ice in it. Mira and Naveen’s nanny had found him while he’d still been sucking air in and helped him back to the room, but the ice bucket had been left behind.
Krish took a long drink. His vocal cords hurt, but she deservedthis honesty and explanation. “A known Cobra associate, an attorney, was pulled over for speeding last year. He flashed Avi’s business card to try to get out of it. The FBI started a probe, and in exchange for cooperation, the guy claimed that Avi, for the last five years, had taken money and gifts from Cobra in exchange for information.”
“What kind of information?”
“Running law enforcement database inquiries on suspected Cobra associates or potential associates to see if they were under investigation. Interfering in active investigations where he could. Mostly keeping them informed and jamming up the works when necessary.”
“So your brother was arrested?”
“No. It would be easier if he had been. Things didn’t get that far. He disappeared. They think he ran away to some island somewhere.”
“But you don’t?”
Krish pulled out his wallet, then held out the folded-up letter inside. “I found this in his house.”
Sejal took it from him and opened up the letter. Though Krish hadn’t had it for long, he’d read it so many times the paper creases had settled into grooves. He’d memorized exactly what it said.
Krish,
By now, you’ll have heard that my colleagues believe I took money in exchange for favors to an organization called Cobra.
You know me, and know I could never betray my oath like that.
Cobra approached me five years ago and asked me to help them. I refused. Since then, I’ve kept close tabs on them andtheir associates, to see if I could vet out any other corruption. I found plenty. I believe they decided I was a liability, and framed me to get me taken out of the picture. Unfortunately, that means that the Bureau will not help you. Don’t trust any of them. Consider everyone a Cobra operative.
If anything happens to me, please know that I did not go voluntarily. Tell Mom I played by the rules, no matter what. Don’t bother looking for me, please—I don’t want you to get hurt. Know that I am content with my choices.
I love you. Avi
She folded up the paper. He tried to read her expression, but it was blank. “So you think your brother is innocent—”
“I know my brother’s innocent. Or at least, something funky is going on.” He quickly summarized his phone call with Peter.
“Does your mom even know he’s gone?”
