Page 73 of The Spy Ring

“What? How did something like that happen?” I moved quickly past the guys at the table and out the front door of the bar. Once I was on the sidewalk, I moved around the corner to a darkened alley to hear better.

“I was hoping you might know something,” Tenn said with a resolve I wasn’t used to.

“Why would I know anything? I’m not an agent anymore, remember?”

My eyes watched the people walk by the alley, most unaware I was only a few feet from them. A few glanced my way when they heard me talk but the lack of light shaded me.

“You were fired for a reason—”

“Which was because you told Katlin about me spying on Tiffany.” I was ready to reach through the phone and strangle him.

It was stupid of me to spy on her, but Tenn promised not to say anything. I told him I pulled the equipment, that I kept my word to stop spying on her, but he told Katlin anyway.

Maybe this was his plan all along? He wanted me fired and had the perfect excuse to make that happen.

“I never told Katlin anything. She only said you were let go because of something involving the Jewel case. Since Emma Hawthorne started to accuse you of framing her, I thought there might be some truth to that.”

This was why I was in charge of missions. Tenn was great at putting agents and equipment in place, but he wasn’t the best at keeping his mouth shut.

“I can see why you would believe that, but it’s not true. You’ve known me for years, when have I ever helped a criminal?”

“The way you’ve been acting for the last few months, I wondered if I really knew you.”

He was right. Tenn didn’t know me. No one knew me. Not even Tiffany. Maybe that’s why she regretted marrying me.

“As I said, it’s not true what Emma Hawthorne was saying about me. But if it was true, Tenn, you just revealed everything to me. If I’m a suspect, why did you tell me all that?” I shook my head worrying what would happen to this case with Tenn heading it.

“Fuck. You’re right.”

“Did you put into place some ops on her old contacts?” I asked.

“I was going to do that but I wanted to call you first.”

“This is so messed up. Get people tailing anyone she had contact with. Even me, if you have to. But, I have to warn you, I’ll figure out who’s tailing me before they even get a chance to put their car in park outside my building.”

“I know,” Tenn said, and I heard a loud sigh from the other end. “I wish you still worked here.”

For the first time, I realized I was happy not being an agent.

“Well, I don’t. You wanted to head a mission? You got it. Find the Jewel.”

“Right. Who do you think told Katlin about you spying on Tiffany?”

“I don’t know. But while you find Emma Hawthorne, I’m going to figure out who is spying on me.”

Someone must have seen me because Tenn was the only one that I told. Obviously, I told Dr. Randy but he’s required to keep everything confidential. He will give opinions to the department head if he believes an agent is a danger to themselves or others.

Maybe he thought I was a danger? He could have easily called Katlin after I left his office. It would have been a short conversation as it only took me a few minutes until I was outside her office.

I hung up the phone as the realization hit me. Emma could be coming after Aria. Aria was at the bachelorette party. Tiffany was at that party. I had to get to them right away.

Once I made it back inside the bar, I ran up to Henrik’s table.

“You need to tell me where the ladies are?”

“I don’t think they want you spying on them, Jagger,” Edgar mumbled loud enough for me to hear as he lifted his beer to his lips.

“They might be in danger. I need to get to them,” I said glancing at the men.

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