Page 133 of To Die For

62

CAMPBELL ANSWERED THE DOOR ANDtold Devine that Odom was in her room. Devine introduced Chambers and Davenport, and they all sat down in the small living space off the two bedrooms.

Devine brought Campbell up to date on his conversation with the two CIA officers. Campbell said, “I was actually wondering when someone from your agency would arrive on the scene.”

“We’re not often the cavalry charging in; that’syourusual role,” retorted Chambers.

Devine interjected, “Jackson basically told me that she had been set up while at CIA because she knew of a coverup of a murder of an agent of one of our allies. A murder committed by CIA. So they threw her to the wolves.”

Davenport and Chambers exchanged looks. Davenport said, “That may be what Pru believes, but that isnotwhat happened. In fact, the people behind that murder are currently in prison.”

“What happened to her, then?” asked Chambers.

“She said she spent two years in a prison in whatever country it was.” He looked at them both, but they were apparently not going to tell him a specific place, even if they did know. “From things she hinted at, I believe she was tortured during those two years.”

“I see,” said Davenport, her expression pained.

Campbell said, “You mentioned you thought she was dead. How did you get on to her?”

“Her mother, Molly Jackson, died in a nursing home a short while ago,” explained Davenport. “We had a man posted there, just in case. An old friend showed up to say goodbye. She looked legit soour man did not challenge her. It was only afterward that we discovered the ‘friend’ had undergone emergency surgery and had been hospitalized during that time.” Davenport added wistfully, “Pru really was so very good at disguise.”

“How did you know to come to me?” asked Devine.

Before they could answer, Campbell said, “Let me just spell something out for you both.” Davenport and Chambers turned to him. “I have heard rumors that your agency may have done to Devine what Jackson says was done to her. I’m talking about that hit on Devine on the Milan train.”

“That wasnotauthorized by us,” said Chambers indignantly. “We would have had no reason to do such a thing.”

Davenport looked at Devine. “Your assistance with our joint operation prevented a very dangerous situation from escalating further. You are a valuable asset to this country, as you also proved during the Silkwell matter. The organization you helped take down is no friend of ours. We would never do business with them under any circumstances.”

“I wish I could believe you,” said Devine. “About me and Jackson.”

Davenport and Chambers sat back and looked helplessly at one another.

She said, “We know that Jackson was behind the attempt on your life in Europe and believed that she had followed you out here. By your own words, we now know that is correct. We want to know more about that.”

“She could have killed me several times,” said Devine. “But she didn’t.”

“And why is that, do you think?”

“She sees bigger fish to fry. The people who betrayed her. I hope you recognize yourselves. And she was intrigued by the Danny Glass matter, since it seems clear that he’s cut a deal with the government to walk on the RICO charges, and get his niece in the bargain.”

Campbell added, “The DOJ’s case was considerably weakenedby the loss of three witnesses. All killed by world-class snipers with excellent inside intelligence. So excellent, it seems to have come from within the government itself. Maybe a particularpartof the government?”

Both he and Devine stared at the two CIA people, both of whom stared right back at them.

Davenport said, “I resent that you would think we had anything to do with that. We do not murder American citizens, even those who have collectively murdered dozens of people.”

“On Glass’s orders,” countered Devine.

“I am not going to waste a minute of my life defending Danny Glass,” retorted Davenport. “He is tough and opportunistic, yes, but still scum in my book. But we often have to deal with scum to catch bigger and more dangerous scum. And while Glassisdangerous, in his own way, he is not dangerous, per se, to this country, as a whole. He’s more of a nuisance.”

“So did you have the men killed?” persisted Devine.

“No,” said Chambers. “I have served my country honorably and occasionally bent the rules in so doing. But I have no interest in going to prison! Are we clear on that?”

Devine glanced at Campbell, who seemed to be appraising both of the CIA officers.

Campbell said, “Okay, we’ll accept that, for now. Keep going. How did you get into bed with Glass?”

---