Page 49 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“She’s not an informant Maddie.”

“What would you know? You’re not working my case.” She stated.

“What case?” He asked.

“Like you’d know if I told you.”

“Maddie listen to me.” Brandon said glancing at Max and then back at her. “That girl is not an informant.”

“What are you saying?” Maddie asked.

“Max you need to leave.” Brandon said and Max nodded.

“No, he’s not going anywhere.” Maddie stated.

“He doesn’t have clearance for this.” Brandon said.

“Clearance for what?” She asked getting annoyed. Brandon rolled his eyes and looked at Max again who held his hands up as if surrendering before walking out the door.

“For fucksake.” Maddie said watching him go before turning to fully face Brandon. “What the fuck is this?”

“You know what, everyone get out.” Brandon said looking around and Maddie frowned even more though a part of her was relieved. The whole damn audience thing was starting to seriously grate.

“Brandon what the fuck is this?” She asked but he just gave her a look that clearly told her to shut up as all the other agents shuffled out.

“Sit down.” He said once it was just them.

“I’m good standing thanks.” She replied. She was sick of people telling her to sit all the time she thought, remembering back to how her day had started, with her dad. Jesus, it’d been a long day.

“On that leg?” He said.

She scowled yanking out a seat and sitting down with her arms crossed. “What is this about?” She asked.

“The Omega Project.” He said sitting down too and her jaw dropped.

“Is that a joke?” She hissed.

“No. That girl, that supposed informant of yours, her boyfriend Marcus is up to his eyeballs in this case.”

“What?” She snarled.

“We’ve been tracking them for months. They link back to one of the Basildon Five.”

“Fuck off.” She said.

“It’s true Maddie.”

“That guy, Marcus, he’s not her boyfriend. He’s her pimp.” Maddie stated. “He traffics girls in from all over Europe. Not just girls, children. Some of them are barely older than twelve.”

“Is that why you took the case? Because you’re working that angle?” He asked and she nodded.

“How does that fit with the parameters we set you?” He asked narrowing his eyes.

“What?” She snapped.

“We gave you very clear instructions, what cases you were to work, what cases you were to avoid.” He stated.

“Seriously?” She snapped.

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