Page 116 of To Die For

“And why would your employer—”

“Former employer,” Jackson corrected.

“—former employer do that to you?”

“Because I believe an opportunity of collaboration came along with this sameenemy. On top of that, I had discovered that certain people at my former employer had conspired to murder an agent of one of our allies. So to save themselves, my former employer offered me up as—”

“—an olive branch?”

She studied him. “Why did that particular term occur to you? Because it’s exactly the one I was going to use.”

“The hit with me on the train?”

For the first time, Jackson visibly reacted to his words. “Yes?”

“Apparently yourformer employeronce more got a better offer and extendedmeas an olive branch. So you were hired to do to me what had once been done to you.”

Devine watched the woman closely. Cold-blooded killers were a dime a dozen. And while the woman in front of him was definitely a killer, he believed she was the rare one with principles.

Like me.

She said in a tight voice, “The client was not made known to me, nor the reason. It was a kill on demand, half the fee up front, the rest on photo confirmation.”

“Would it have made a difference if you’d known?”

“I would have had no problem killing you, Devine, under most circumstances. But not under those, no.”

“I appreciate the candor. You mentioned the chopper?”

“I’m sure you’ve investigated that,” she said.

“Two agencies use it. Mine and—”

“—my former employer. As I told you before, I saw them load two bodies into it.”

“Recognize anyone?” asked Devine.

“No, but I’ve been out of that world for some time now.”

“Do you understand my current mission?”

“Danny Glass, Betsy Odom, who seems a wonderful girl full of spirit, and people who want you dead.”

“And do those same people wantyoudead?” he asked.

“They think Iamdead. So she wants you to be her guardian?”

“Betsy told you that?” asked Devine.

“No, I had other means.”

“I may end up being her guardian, at least temporarily.”

“Do you know who killed her parents?”

“No, but apparently, higher-ups in the government got DOJ to bag the RICO indictments,” noted Devine.

“They would only do that for some platinum treasure in return.”

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