Or was he?
His marriage had disintegrated thanks to lies and mistrust. He’d many times wondered what honesty would have added to that equation. Could it have saved the relationship?
His cell phone rang.
He’d been expecting the call and was not disappointed to see Stephanie Nelle appear on the screen.
“I heard you had a rough night,” she said.
“You worked me.”
“I needed your help. This started off as a simple background investigation on a foreign national. But it’s turned into something else entirely. A U.S. senator is involved. A man named Rowan from Utah. I also had no idea Barry Kirk was a plant. Obviously, Salazar is way ahead of us.”
“Get to the important part.”
“Cassiopeia is there to expedite things and learn what she can. She’s the closest person to the problem. But I’m not sure that’s a good thing anymore.”
“You kept that from me.”
“You weren’t supposed to get that close.”
“So you just used me?”
“To find my missing man? You’re damn right.”
“Frat Boy tell you he’s dead?”
“He did. My first inclination is to take Salazar down. But I’ve been ordered not to do that. Luke also said you were upset by what you saw. Cassiopeia is doing me a favor, Cotton. That’s all.”
“So she’s lying to Salazar?”
“That’s right. And she’s not happy about it, but agreed to play it out a little longer.”
“She didn’t look like she was suffering.”
“I know this hurts—”
“Does she know I was there?”
“I’ve told her nothing about your involvement.”
“Keep it that way.”
“She and Salazar were not even supposed to be in the house.”
“The whole thing seemed a setup.”
“I agree,” she said. “But it worked out. We learned some valuable intel.”
“That’s what Frat Boy said?”
“He’s not an idiot, Cotton. In fact, he’s quite good. Just a bit impetuous. Maybe a symptom of his last name.”
He hadn’t made the connection before this moment. Daniels. “He’s related to the president?”
“He’s Danny Daniels’ nephew. One of his brother’s four sons.”
“That how you ended up with him?”
“It’s not what you think. Luke’s a southern boy, like you, born and raised in Tennessee. After high school he enlisted and became an Army Ranger. A good one. His personnel jacket is loaded with commendations. He served all over the Middle East, including three tours in Iraq. He wanted to work for the CIA, but the president asked if I’d take him. No conditions, no special treatment. If he couldn’t cut it, I was free to fire him.”
“If he didn’t get killed first.”
“I remember, fifteen years ago, thinking the same thing about you. But that turned out all right.”
“You held back on me, Stephanie. I hated that when I worked for you and I really hate it now.”
“I never mentioned anything about Cassiopeia because I didn’t think you’d be around long enough to find out. She’s helping me out, and wanted it kept between us.”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“You’re not married to her, Cotton. She has her own life to live as she pleases, just like you do.”
“Common courtesy would say otherwise.”
“So I assume you tell her everything?”
“What exactly is she doing for you?”
“I can’t go into that on this phone.”
“Luke said there’s something going on that involves the Founding Fathers.”
“It’s my mess, not yours.”
He hesitated a second before saying, “I agree. I also agree that Cassiopeia is a big girl. She can handle herself.”
“I’m sure she can. The question of the day is, can you?”
He could not bullshit Stephanie. She knew him, as he knew her.
“You love her, Cotton. Whether you want to admit it or not.”
“She didn’t involve me here. So it’s not my business. Like you say, we’re not married.”
“I’ve recalled Luke. He should be back here in the States shortly. Salazar’s men saw him and you, so his effectiveness there has been compromised.”
“Do Frat Boy and the president get along?”
“Luke has no idea that his uncle intervened on his behalf. That was another presidential condition.”
He was impressed Stephanie had done the favor. Not necessarily her style. But he’d learned from Cassiopeia that feelings existed between his former boss and the current president. Which had surprised him. But never had he and Stephanie spoken on the matter. Neither one of them liked to talk about those kinds of things.