Page 67 of Maddox

“About Alfaro?” I tossed out. “He’s a narcissistic dictator determined to take over the cocaine industry in as many countries as possible and he’ll do what’s necessary to make that happen, including killing off his enemies. Since they got wise to his methods, he hired a scientist to provide a chemical compound that could be easily disguised thereby bypassing traditional methods of security. Am I right?”

I’d come close enough the agent appeared anxious.

“Yes, but it’s not that simple. The truth is we’re looking for a possible saboteur who is a threat to national security.” The attorney was frank, not over-embellishing his statement, which I appreciated.

“I could have told you that. However, what the hell does that have to do with me?”

In my experience dealing with enemies from other countries during my darkly illustrious career, I’d learned to capture the obvious. Tones, inflections, and body tics were extremely useful in discovering instantly if someone was lying.

All three men were hesitant to tell me but so much.

“What. The. Fuck? Do you really think an award-winning journalist like Charmaine Douglas somehow turned traitor? If you do, then you people are clueless.” When not one of the men countered me, I headed to the door. “It’s apparent you do. I’m out of here and I’m taking Charmaine. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

CHAPTER 18

Maddox

“You’re not going anywhere,” Jack stated, the attorney smirking.

This was bullshit. I’d been lured into bringing home what everyone thought was a fugitive.

I threw the man a hateful look, contemplating my options as I thought about the jump drive in my possession. If Charmaine said anything about what she’d obtained, there was a small chance she’d be implicated in an act of treason.

And I could go down with her.

By just studying Gray’s face, I sensed he didn’t like being a part of the witch hunt. It would seem the two of us had been led down a long trail that wouldn’t end well.

“Yeah, I am. I refuse to allow you to railroad Ms. Douglas.” I had my hand on the door, prepared to follow through with my threat.

“Lieutenant Grant, while the United States Navy appreciates your service and your sacrifice, you’re not in a position to make a single unsubstantiated claim against the government.”

Everything about the FBI agent’s tone and his words infuriated me. “And why is that?” I shifted slightly, eager to hear what the man had to say. “You’ve done nothing but treat both Ms. Douglas and me as enemies of the state. I don’t think that endears you to either one of us, let alone provides a reason to cooperate.” I tilted my head, eager for his reaction.

“That’s not true, Maddox. We did send a SEAL team to secure your safety,” Gray said more quietly than before.

I glanced at him and shook my head.

The agent took two long strides in my direction. If for some insane reason he thought he could intimidate me, the fucker was sorely wrong. He looked me up and down, the typical sizing-me-up routine. I did the same just for the fuck of it. No longer was I mandated by protocol to show respect.

Did I love my country? Of course I did. That’s why I’d almost died twice in defending everything I held dear about life and democracy, but I refused to head down a road of falsehoods and lies just to tie up loose ends. Charmaine deserved accolades, not accusations.

“I am well aware of what you went through in El Salvador and in Kandahar, son. I know you were falsely accused of crimes you did not commit. That haunts you to this day and taints your stellar record. This is a way for you to show the military and the rest of the world you are a loyal SEAL.”

“What the hell would you know about that?”

Agent Wilshire sighed. “I served several years in the Navy. Your SEAL team was highly regarded, soldiers the guys in my unit looked up to.”

Well, my God. There it was. The strange thing about the words the agent was spouting off was that he was nervous that I’d rebuke his hard push. Because he sensed I’d gotten close enough to Charmaine to learn actual truths.

The only real bargaining chip either Charmaine or I had was the jump drive.

“What do you want?” I asked. Learning what they were after would at least shed some light on whether this was nothing but a fishing expedition.

Now only the admiral and the attorney commiserated by locking eyes with each other. Gray was clearly annoyed.

Jack cleared his throat. “We need to know what you witnessed and what Ms. Douglas said about her meeting with Alfaro.”

“She didn’t have a meeting with Alfaro, Mr. Price. She was kidnapped, held in a concrete bunker, deprived of food and water. A bunker I know too goddamn well as the three of you should know. She was also beaten, as evidenced by the bruises on her face. We had a harrowing experience after her extraction and quite frankly, I’m surprised we weren’t killed prior to leaving the godforsaken country.”

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