Page 27 of Gluttony
“No?”
“Yeah, you heard me. No.”
“Why not?”
“Because if someone was investigating us, it would be the FBI, not the CIA. Maybe Homeland, or even the NSA, depending on whether they classed us as a threat to national security. But it would start with the Bureau, or the local cops and I’m all over the latter. Unlikely the spooks would bother with us if we’re just based in this city.”
“But the Syndicate isn’t. It’s worldwide.”
Liza clicked her jaw shut. “Goddamn. You’re right.”
“The initial background check Sloan ran came up with nothing major prior to her being in the agency,” Tony added.
“Nothing. Nobody has nothing. Evenwehave something.”
“Oursomething was fudged high school records to make it look like we studied abroad when we were really training how to cross a frothed up stream after recent rain with Master Yoshi—I still don’t get why we had to do that.”
“It was a metaphor.” She blinked at him. “We had to wait until the froth settled before making a move.”
“Yeah. I knew that. Was just checking if you did.”
She snorted. “Point is, maybe she’s just squeaky clean. Or maybe all her trouble happened before she was eighteen and on the record.”
A few moments of silence passed by as they both ruminated. While Tony’s mind wandered to Bailey’s past, Liza pulled out her cell phone.
“What are you doing?” he asked. “Calling Max? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Shh.” She lifted her finger. “I’m calling Joey Luciano.”
His brow furrowed, confused. “From high school?”
Obviously they were thinking very different things in those few moments.
“He’s in the FB—Hey bud, guess who?” The tone of her voice changed completely when she switched her attention to the person on the other line. With Tony, she was hard and sarcastic. With the man Tony assumed was Joey, she was all sugar.Interesting.
With her cell held to her ear, Liza turned away, half obscuring her face. She toyed with the end of her braid. “Yeah good to hear from you, too. Listen, I have a favor to ask.” A pause. A secret smirk. “Yeah, you’d love that, wouldn’t you? Seriously, I need you to see if someone is still active in the CIA.” A longer pause. “Not even just to see if she’s still gainfully employed? Please, Joey?”
He couldn’t believe it. Joey from high school. He was on the football team with Tony. He had no idea Liza still kept in contact with him. And he was FBI.
“You are a legend. Thanks, bud.” She paused, her eyes flicked to Tony, then she relaxed at something Joey must have said on the other side. “Maybe next time.” Then she cut the call. “He said he’ll try, but he’s not positive he’ll get access. We’ll have to ask Sloan, which means Max will know, which means…” Liza rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “We’re going to cause shit between them.”
“Sloan already did some digging for me. Maybe it was enough. I’ll go through what she found tonight.”
Liza sat heavily back down on her seat. “You want some help?”
“Nah. You look tired.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Serious bags under those eyes. I’ve got some cream that will do it wonders—ow!” Tony flinched from Liza’s right hook to his pec. “That hurt.”
“It will hurt more if I have to take you down for real next time.” Something dark flickered in her gaze. “I’m serious, Tones. If you get out of balance, I won’t hesitate next time.”
“I get it,” he said quietly. “I need to work out this business with Bailey.”
Liza scrutinized him. “It’s more than the CIA thing, isn’t it?”
“Hell, how do you do that?”
