Page 66 of Maddox

“No, ma’am. You’ll be down the hall in another conference room.”

“Why are we being separated?” I knew the protocol. That didn’t mean in this situation I liked what they were doing.

“To expedite your time. That’s all I was told. Sir, if you will.” He opened the door and I hesitated.

She squeezed my arm. “I’ll be alright. Will you wait for me?”

We’d been told nothing about timing so there was no way of knowing how long we’d be kept in DC. “Yeah, I’ll be here.”

“Good. Just…”

She didn’t need to say it. What I had in my pocket could keep us on a lot of radars.

I walked inside, instantly feeling claustrophobic. For all the windows in the place, they wanted the heat on us. They better have a damn good reason.

The door was closed behind me and I stood staring at the small conference table. There were bottles of water on the table and nothing else. Maybe they were afraid I’d go ballistic. I’d been known to do that on more than one occasion.

I remained standing, heading toward the back wall and leaning against it. I pulled out my phone, double checking Gray hadn’t tried to return the call.

He hadn’t.

Exhaling, I leaned my head against the surface, trying to control my anger. That was tough for me to do and had been for a long time. Anyone who knew my back story realized I didn’t like feeling like a caged animal. I tended to get very cranky.

Minutes passed. At least ten.

I was ready to walk out when the door opened, Gray and two other gentlemen walking in. Gray studied me for a few seconds before closing the door behind him.

My attention was drawn to the two men, both in suits, but given one was obviously more expensive than the other, I’d say an attorney and a Fed.

“You better have a goddamn good explanation for this cloak and dagger shit, Gray. And for the fact you didn’t return my phone calls.”

“Why don’t you sit down, Maddox? You’ll be more comfortable. You’ve been through an ordeal.” Gray appeared more withdrawnthan when he’d casually walked into the bar. If I had to guess, I’d say he’d been coached as to what he could say to me.

“I think I’ll stand. Why don’t you tell me what the hell is going on?” I glanced from man to the other two for a second time.

The once formidable Commander Jenkins seemed unsure of himself. That was odd given everything we’d been through. “You managed to infiltrate Alfaro’s organization not once, but twice in your career.” Gray kept his words succinct, almost as if silently telling me to do the same.

I laughed. “I wouldn’t say I infiltrated the organization. I simply followed through with an extraction as requested.” Why was it all three men appeared uncomfortable? “Hold on. You didn’t expect I’d manage to save Ms. Douglas. Did you?”

“I simply knew if anyone could, you’d be up for the task.”

“You fucking make this sound as if it was a cakewalk. We were almost killed twice. What the hell is going on and who are these men? Commander?”

He winced from my over-emphasis.

“Fine. What about the women I helped escape? Were they found?” I glared from one to the other.

Gray finally smiled. “Six of them were so far, but they’re still searching for the others. You saved their lives, Maddox.”

“You should thank Charmaine. She refused to go without them.”

The awkward tension pushed me closer to an edge.

“Lieutenant Maddox Grant, meet FBI agent Steven Wilshire and Attorney General Jack Price. They are helping with the investigation into Fernando Alfaro’s operations.”

He’d used all formal names, which meant this was a mandated shit show, details of which I hadn’t been privy to. Exhaling, I curtailed my anger at this point. But that wouldn’t last for long. I was more than hot under the collar since I’d obviously been lied to. “I was successful in my mission. What are you…gentlemensearching for?”

“The truth, Lieutenant,” the agent stated. He seemed none too happy with my presence.

---