Page 93 of In Too Deep

Vidic said, “Not an agent, then. An informer. Whatever they call it. He flipped. Wanted out, did a deal.”

Kane shook his head. “I knew Gibson. He was no rat. But you?”

Vidic took a step toward him. “I’m no rat.”

Kane said, “You know what they say. If you’re explaining, you’re losing.”

Paris said, “Stop this. I want proof. Not insults.”

Kane said, “Ask your boyfriend how he was able to set this deal up so fast.”

Paris said, “He’s not my boyfriend.”

Vidic said, “Easy. I have connections.”

Kane said, “What kind of connections? You deal with fences. Fences sell art. Not nuclear secrets.”

Vidic said, “Right. Fences sell art. And they know people who sell all kinds of other things. Including secrets. Like I said, it all comes down to connections.”

“Connections, like foreign spies?”

“Any kind of connections.”

“Warhol one day, warheads the next? I call bullshit.”

Paris put the gun in her purse and walked up to Vidic. She said, “Ivan, look me in the eye. Tell me it’s not true.”

Vidic said, “It’s not true.” Then he looked away.

“Liar!” Paris slapped him across the face. “What happens next? A bunch of agents kick the doors in and drag us off to jail? Or will they wait till we’re in the Bahamas? Where it’ll be easier for us to get shot resisting arrest.”

“Nothing like that.”

Paris didn’t reply. She couldn’t bear to look at him.

Vidic said, “OK. I was an agent.”

Kane said, “You still are an agent.”

“Actually, no. As far as the Bureau is concerned, I’m dead.”

Paris said, “That’s why you wanted the phosphorus. So they’d think Gibson’s ashes were yours. And you tricked me into helping you. This situation just keeps getting better.”

“Look, does any of that matter? We’re here. The gold is here. We did that together. Let’s not throw it away over some stupid—”

“It’s not stupid—”

A red dot appeared on Vidic’s forehead and the next instant the back of his skull was torn off. The cage next to theirs was sprayed with blood and brain. Then Paris heard the sound. A gunshot. She spun around and saw Kane holding his .22.

Kane said, “There’s your extra nine million. I never liked Vidic. But you? I can see a future for us. On the island. On the beach. In the bedroom…”

“I’d rather eat crushed glass.”

“You’ll come around.” Kane took out his phone and took a picture of Vidic’s body. “An FBI agent selling nuclear secrets? It’s theultimate Get Out of Jail Free card. Go find a container. A jar or something. We need his blood. His DNA. Find something with today’s date. And get me his phone.”

Paris picked up Vidic’s phone, handed it to Kane, turned, and started toward the reception area.

“Paris?”

---