“She’s not going to Idaho,” said Decker.
“That really isn’t your concern,” said Talbott sharply.
“Well, considering that we’re partners, it’s very much my concern.”
“Decker,” interjected White. “It’s okay. I can work this—”
“No, it’s really not okay. So we’ll just stay here and remain partners and do our job.”
“That is not your call,” Talbott barked, the kid gloves now off. “You’ll do what you are ordered to do, or—”
“Or you’ll can my ass, which is what this whole bullshit thing is about. Fine. Do it. Like you said, I’m not a real agent or anything, which means I’m not bound by the same crap as real agents are.”
“What exactly do you mean by that?” exclaimed Talbott.
“What I mean by that is the media would love to hear our story.”
“What story?”
“Two heroic FBI agents who solved a major crime and a decades-old spy case get kicked to the curb because they won’t play the stupid reindeer games to suit the fucking stuffed shirts that run this place.”
White stepped back, closed her eyes, and said a silent prayer.
“What did you just say to me?” barked Talbott.
“Maybe your sister intelligence agencies, who are so grateful for what Agent White and I did, would like to take us on. I mean, don’t they love it when they can kick the Bureau in the nuts? And they have media people there who I’m sure could get the word out about what the FBI does to people who just do their job and keep the country safe. But maybe, since you’re just biding your time until you retire so you can go and sit on your ass somewhere, or play fucking golf, you don’t want to deal with all that shit, because it might end up getting your pension screwed. You know, budget cuts and all, so be prepared to tighten your belt if you go that route. But there’s a way for you to avoid all of that, and you know exactly what it is. Your call.”
The two men stared at each other for what seemed an eternity.
Finally, in a muted voice, his gaze averted, Talbott said, “You will carry on your normal duties until further notice.”
“Yes sir,” said White immediately. She pulled on Decker’s arm and forcibly dragged him out of the room.
As they walked down the hall she said, “Do you realize you pretty much just blackmailed the man?”
“Must be all that crap in Florida rubbing off on me.”
As they got outside, White said, “Look, we have a ton of stuff to talk about, but I really need to head home and see my kids.”
“Absolutely.”
“I do have to say one thing.”
“What?” said Decker warily.
“After hearing what you said to Sandy Lancaster, and then seeing you with Tyler…you must have really been a wonderful father, Decker.”
Decker appeared stunned, and White had the look of a person who suddenly realized she had just gotten way out over her skis.
“My friends call me Amos,” said Decker finally.
White smiled. “Well, would you like to come up to Baltimore to meet my kids, Amos? And my mom is a great cook, and I’ve been known to open a decent bottle of red for the right guest, although I have plenty of beer, too. And Calvin’s been talking about wanting to play football. You could teach him some stuff, maybe.”
“Yes, I would like that. But not today. You need some time with them alone.”
White’s expression turned somber. “Thanks for standing up for me back there.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you, Frederica White, you don’t need anybody to fight your battles. You do that just fine all by yourself.”
She reached up on tiptoes and gave him a hug, surprising Decker. He surprised himself again when he squeezed her back.
“I’ll see you at the office, partner,” she said.
“Yep.”
He watched her walk off and then he trudged the other way.
Chapter 98
DECKER HAD ONLY BEEN IN his apartment for about an hour, and he’d had only two beers with more to come, when the knock came.
He opened the door to find Kasimira Roe standing there.
“I missed you by a few minutes in Florida and jumped on the corporate jet.”
“Why?”
“Can I come in?”
He stepped back and let her pass. She had on jeans and a dark green sweater and low-heeled leather boots. Her hair was down around her shoulders, making her look younger, but she appeared anxious, at least to Decker.