Page 142 of Crossfire

Internal.Ivy didn’t know anyone internal to the CIA, and even if she did…

“Why would someone go through this much trouble to kill one woman?”

I snapped my hand from Ivy’s, pacing back and forth, too furious to hold still.

“Grayson…” Ivy’s voice pleaded. “This is good news.”

She was right. So, why didn’t it feel good?

“You can take this to the CIA and get her name cleared,” Hunter added.

“Will you be able to figure out who did this?” I stabbed my finger at one of the pieces of paper.

Barry’s demeanor remained calm. “I’m not sure.”

“Will youtry?”

“Grayson,” Ivy said gently.

But maybe she wasn’t understanding the problem here. Sure, this was a big win—I could take this evidence to Daniel and prove Ivy’s innocence with regard to the CIA, but it still didn’t answer the most important question—who had done this? Whoever it was had gone to a lot of trouble to try to eliminate Ivy, and I had no idea why.

While this proof of manufactured evidence would protect Ivy from the CIA, that would not protect her from whoever was doing this.

Until we knew who was behind this, there was a good chance they’d try again.

And then we had the second complication this created.

By comparison to Ivy’s life, a secondary issue, but a horrific one all the same.

“What if this isn’t the first time someone manufactured evidence like this?” I dedicated my life to eradicating the earth of monsters who took the lives of innocents. “Does this mean it’s possible the CIA could havepurposefullyterminated innocent people before?”

More to the point, hadIkilled innocent people?

“Manufacturing evidence against someone isn’t impossible,” Barry allowed. “Evidence like this is so compelling that someone would need to work ondisprovingit in order to uncover these kinds of inconsistencies. And then follow those inconsistencies to an indisputable truth.”

My gut churned with both nausea and pain.

So, it was possible that in my years as a CIA operative, I might have killed innocent people? Not just collateral damage, but direct targets? One of them was almost Ivy herself.

That night that I broke into her house, if that light hadn’t hit her face at just the right time, I would’ve ended her life before I even realized who she was.

Luck. That was the only reason Ivy was still alive today.

I stared at the evidence blanketing Hunter’s desk.

“Do whatever you have to do to find out who did this and how they got this evidence past the CIA.” My tone was harsher than intended, but Barry’s impassive expression showed he understood. He knew my anger wasn’t directed at him.

Barry’s attention swept across the documents again. “I’ll need some time. Unfortunately, I was in the middle of the case when you called, and I already did a favor for Hunter by prioritizing your case over?—”

“I’ll pay you triple whatever that person is paying,” I interrupted. More. All my money, if that’s what it took.

“It’s not just about the money, Grayson.” Barry rubbed this side of his face. “Every person’s crisis is important to them.”

“But Ivy’s life is in danger.”

Barry slid his hands into his pockets, evaluating me with pity.

“You used to work for the CIA.” I stepped forward. “You know as well as I do that when you join this organization, it’s predicated on one unbreakable oath—that you’re working for thegoodof this country, toprotectits citizens.”

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