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“Absolutely. What can I help you with?” Carrie dug through her mental filing cabinet. She couldn’t remember contacting the AG’s office for a comment on anything recently.

“I’m calling to advise you to drop whatever you’re working on that involves sex trafficking in Colombia, or anywhere else, for that matter. I can’t tell you why, but I can tell you it’s in the interest of national security.”

“First, what makes you think I’m investigating anything in Colombia? Second, It takes way more than an unverifiable phone call to convince me to drop any investigation. I’m a journalist and I’m protected by the constitution.”

The man on the other line sighed. “I was hoping to avoid an official cease and desist letter, but I can see you’re going to make things difficult. I have no problem making things difficult for you as well, Carrie.” The way he said her name sent a shiver up her spine. This was more than an official phone call from the government. It was another threat. One that Carrie didn’t appreciate.

“I’m just doing my job. I would advise you not to threaten me.”

“And I’m just doing mine. I don’t make idle threats. Have a good day, Miss Davenport.” The line went dead, and Carrie stared at her phone in disbelief.

Something wasn’t right about the phone call. Not that it was beyond the government to threaten people, but she had barely submitted her FOIA request an hour ago. Those things took at least ten days to process. But that was the only thing that Carrie could come up with that tipped them off. Was the caller really from the Attorney General’s office? Or was it someone from the CIA, working for Corbit Upwood? Carrie picked up her phone and dialed reception.

“Erika, it’s Carrie Davenport. I have a weird question. I just got a call that you transferred to me. Does your system log numbers?”

“It sure does. What do you need?”

“The number from the call that just came in. I’ll come up there and get it from you in a minute.”

Slipping on her shoes, she jogged to the reception desk and took the number that Erika had written on a sticky note.

“Thanks girl, I owe you.”

After several reverse number lookups, she couldn’t find the number listed anywhere associated with the justice department. A look at their online phone directory told her that this number didn’t come from them. Or if it did, the caller used a cell phone. All the justice department numbers started with the same three numbers. The caller’s number didn’t match.

A look at the CIA website told her it probably didn’t come from there either.

While it proved nothing, it gave credence to Carrie’s belief that the caller was not a government official. Or at the very least, wasn’t acting on official government business when he made the call.

She slipped the sticky note into her briefcase. Peter would probably be able to track down the owner of the phone number.

But he was overprotective and would probably demand that she stop going to work all together, so she wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him about it yet. She picked up her phone and called a friend in the IT department.

“Harrison, you sexy devil. What would it take to find out who a number belongs to?”

“If it’s work related I’ll do it for free. If it’s personal, a quickie in the men’s room will suffice.”

She snorted. “Whatever Harrison, we both know my dick isn’t big enough for you.”

Harrison was gay, but they flirted mercilessly and Carrie wouldn’t have it any other way. Though if Tom heard them, he would have a heart attack.

“You’ve got bigger balls than most men I’ve been with, that’s for sure. Send me the number. I’ll see if I can work my magic.”

Carrie rattled off the number. “I have a name too, if that helps.”

“Then what do you need me for?”

“It’s complicated. He says he works for the AG’s office and I don’t believe him. Pretend you’re helping me vet a source.”

Harrison promised to call her back if he found anything.

She turned back to her screen to work on her article, but it was hard to keep her mind off of the mysterious phone call.

Fifteen minutes later, Tom called her into his office. He sounded tense.

“Hey Tom, what’s wrong?” she asked when she stepped into his office.

“I just got a call from the Justice Department.”

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