After connecting with someone, he handed me the phone. “Tell Martin everything you know and he’ll get you some answers.”
I almost sighed in complete relief. Martin was the absolute best when it came to anything concerning computers and technology. I told him everything about the situation and he agreed to look into it and call me when he had something. I hung up and tossed the phone back to Alex. “Thanks. I appreciate it. I know this is awfully personal to be appropriating CIA resources, especially Martin.”
Alex waved off my concern. “If it were Evie, I’d be doing the exact same thing. Also...” he trailed off and stared at me, clearly contemplating whether to go on. “There is another reason I wanted Martin looking into it, but until we hear from him, I think it’s best to keep my suspicions to myself.”
“Are you fucking kidding me, Justice?” I exploded, then immediately settled down and contritely apologized. “Damn, I’m sorry, Alex.”
His eyes were narrowed in disapproval, but the understanding was still there. “Look, I know you, Weston. You’re one of the best agents I’ve ever worked with, but you and I both know you have a short fuse. And, when people threaten the women we love, that fuse is non-existent. If I tell you who I suspect, you’ll run straight at them and I’m not going to let you risk your career if I’m wrong.”
I held in a frustrated growl and simply nodded my acceptance. “Thank you.”
“So,” Alex said, leaning back in the desk chair, clearly ready to move on. “Aspen lives here? In Atlanta.”
I mirrored his position, seemingly relaxed, even though I was wound up tight. “We just bought a house in a neighborhood near where I grew up.”
Alex raised a single brow and stared hard at me. “Bought a house? Fuck,” he sighed. “You’re really serious about Columbia being your last mission.”
My spine snapped straight. “Columbia?” The assignment I just completed was in Europe. “I told Porter I was done before I came to Georgia. I turned in the papers three weeks ago.”
A manila folder sat on the desk in front of Alex and he slowly tapped a finger on it. Then he opened it and flipped it around, pushing it towards me. I reached forward and picked up the sheaf of papers inside.
On top was my transfer application, nothing seemed out of the ordinary until I reached the requested date for re-assignment. It was six months away. What. The. Fuck. I shifted it to the back of the pile, revealing a mission assignment, with my fucking signature accepting the job. Next, was the job specifics.
Six months.
If I didn’t get out of this, I would lose Aspen.
“Justice, please tell me you know this is bullshit.” My voice was vibrating with contained rage.
“I do now, but I had no way of knowing that when the paperwork hit my desk.”
The folder dropped to the floor, the papers scattering, and my hands balled into fists on my knees. “Alex, this needs to be fixed or I’ll be forced to resign,” I said tiredly. “Aspen and Carter come first. Always.”
“And, your signature?” He sat back again, the finger now tapping his lip.
I picked up the transfer form and studied it for a second. “It’s a damn good imitation, but something isn’t quite . . .” I pulled the form closer and then twisted the paper, making sure I was seeing it correctly. “Look at the curve of that letter. The person who copied it is left handed.”
Alex took the paper and set it on the desk without glancing at it and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll take care of it.”
My remaining fist unfurled slowly. “Thanks, Alex.”
He laughed and shook his head. “For such a damn fine operative, you are surprisingly easy to read, Weston.”
I glared at him. “Bullshit.”
“You switched to calling me Justice every time you got angry.” He laughed again, and I just rolled my eyes. The relief sweeping through me was consuming my whole focus.
“Kat was going to send the documents and your ticket to your house. Since you were already meeting with me, I left her a message not to worry about it. In case she didn’t get it and sent everything, disregard them, the transfer application too, since it was apparently bogus. But, make sure you shred all of it. You’ll report to Max Brentwood, starting Monday.”
“Great. Thanks, Alex. I—” My house? “She sent everything to my house?” Panic started to set in, and my voice was slowly escalating into a roar. “Fuck!” The folder would be marked confidential, but I’d promised no secrets. I had no doubt Aspen would open the package and it would go off like a nuclear bomb.