Page 124 of Every Last Breath

The three of them shared a light chuckle.

“I should probably be the one recruiting for my boss. Donovan Carmichael could use some of your black ops folks.”

“Donovan and I go way back from our former days at the Agency. He’d love to get his hands on my people, but I pity the person foolish enough to poach from me.” Sanborn gave a wolfish smile.

Cole raised his palms in a hands-off gesture.

“I’m afraid you can’t sit in on Novak’s interrogation,” Sanborn said. “You’re free to go, but Maddox will be done soon if you’d like to wait for her in the conference room.”

Cole cupped her arm, caressing her with his intense gaze. Her face heated, and her soul sighed. She was so thankful and ecstatic to have him back, and she’d show him every day.

“I’ll wait,” he said.

She nodded. “See you in a few.”

Sanborn opened the door to the viewing room that looked in on the interrogation cell through one-way glass. “Daniel, escort Cole to the conference room. See that he has anything he needs to be comfortable.”

As Daniel Cutter joined them in the hall, he looked the happiest Maddox had ever seen him. Almost satisfied for once. Working the case with them must’ve been a boost. Maybe the guy would tone down his gung ho style.

The entire team had pulled together, unlike any other op, to get this mission done. Made them tighter, stronger than ever. Ironic considering there was a mole in their midst.

“Novak keeps asking for coffee, food, and to see his son,” Cutter said.

Sanborn’s lips flattened into a tight line. “Let Janet know to get him something.”

“Sir,” Maddox said, “Novak is in pain and uncomfortable and I’d rather keep him that way until he starts talking. I need some concrete answers first.”

“Okay.” Sanborn nodded and gestured to Cutter that it was okay to leave.

Cutter chatted with Cole on their way to the conference room, passing Nicole Tully, who carried a microwaveable meal, looking the same as she always did, probably headed to the ITM section.

No one appeared any less innocent or guiltier. No one was the slightest bit out of character, as if they were on edge from harboring a terrible secret. Since the yacht, she’d made a list of everyone in the Gray Box, checking it twice—was it him, or maybe her?—but none of them struck her as the traitorous type. They were some of the best spies in the world and couldn’t tell who the liar playing them for fools was.

And that made their predicament horrifying.

“Maddox, you and Castle owe me an explanation.” Sanborn’s voice was firm and coarse.

She braced herself. “Sir, if you don’t mind letting me question Novak, I think everything will become clear.”

“All right. But I expect full transparency.”

Maddox gathered her thoughts, took a deep breath, and entered interrogation room one.

Sitting in a chair, Novak clutched his bandaged hand. His wrist was handcuffed to the bolted-down steel table. His face was scratched and bruised. Weary eyes reflected the dissipation of adrenaline and whatever he’d been hopped up on.

She sat across from him. “If you’re in a lot of pain, Doc can give you something.” In an hour or two, they might consider giving him a couple of acetaminophen tablets.

“No. Just hot coffee and something to eat.”

“First, you need to answer a few questions. We know why you wanted to kill all those people. What we don’t know is who helped you along the way. Who is your mysterious, powerful friend? Who leaked my name? That I would be at the auction? Where I live?”

A laugh came out as a snort. “What do I get in return? Needs to be more than food and coffee.”

“Depends on the value of your information.”

He sat silent, staring at the one-way glass like he could see through it with the sheer power of his mind.

Maddox’s thoughts offered up a hundred ways for Gideon to torture him, but with Novak’s training, he’d resist. Not break. “What do you want in exchange?”