Page 32 of Code Name: Tank
“Former CIA, but recently under federal protection. I’m surprised the DOJ didn’t mention him to you.”
“As am I,” Hartwell muttered, ending the call after telling me he’d be in touch.
When I returned to our work area, Flint and Dragon were reviewing something on her monitor while Atticus observed from his position near the windows.
“What was that about?” he asked, motioning in the direction of the door I’d walked out of.
“Hartwell.”
He raised a brow. “And?”
“He called with intel about financial transfers.”
“What aren’t you saying?”
I turned so my back was to Dragon and Flint. “He seemed surprised by the news that someone had joined the team.”
“Odd,” Atticus muttered.
“Then, when I mentioned his name, Hartwell said he’d never heard of him.”
Atticus was stunned. “You gave him his name?”
“It’s his investigation.”
“I know, but…”
“But what?” I asked.
“You might want to give Admiral a heads-up.”
Rather than disregard advice given by someone I trusted with my life, I looked around the room until I spotted Admiral on the opposite side of it, looking at something on his phone. He glanced up when I approached.
“Listen, I?—”
“I already know. Conference room. Now.”
He was about to close the door behind us when Alice stepped across the threshold. She looked from me to her husband, then back at me.
“You heard too?” he asked.
“Heard what?” Alice’s head cocked.
“Tank took it upon himself to inform Secretary Hartwell about Pierce joining the investigation.”
Alice looked between us again. “So?”
“I just received a call from him asking why I hadn’t informed him.”
“And?”
If Admiral’s anger wasn’t already dialed up, I might’ve grinned at Alice’s responses. Preferring to continue to live—and have a job—when this meeting ended, I refrained.
Alice motioned to a chair, which her husband pulled out for her. “I don’t recall anything that said we were to give day-to-day updates to him or Brenna Austen.”
“That isn’t the point,” Admiral snapped, then looked in my direction when my brow furrowed. “What?” he barked.
“Brenna Austen,” I said. “Who is she?”
