Page 46 of Hidden Ascent

“And you claim that Fogarty implicated himself before he died, but you were the only one to hear.”

“I know how it sounds, but if I was guilty, would I be standing here now?”

“I’ve seen a lot in my years. You’d be surprised how some people act.”

“I didn’t kill him. And I promise you, everything I’ve told you is accurate. ”

“Then I trust you can appreciate the severity of this accusation?”

“That’s the only reason I’m here. It would be easier for me to disappear than try to fix it.”

The door opened, and Harris Baker walked in.

Isla was never one to yield in the face of danger, but she staggered back a step before she could stop herself.

“Lloyd, there’s someone—” Baker said before his attention turned to Isla. “Agent Taylor. This is unexpected.”

Before she could regain the ground she’d given, Jay moved forward. “Is it?” he said, positioning himself between Baker and Isla. “Or did you see us enter and decide you had to take action?”

“That’s about right.” Baker nodded to the guard as he walked slowly toward Whitlock. “Lloyd, I don’t want to alarm you, but we have a situation.”

Beldane pulled his weapon.

“What’s going on?” Whitlock said.

“Agent Taylor is a wanted fugitive. Has she threatened you in any way?”

“No.”

“Not yet,” Baker smirked.

“What are her charges?”

“I take it you’ve been informed about the massacre on a recent DEA mission?”

“I have. Agent Taylor was telling me about it.”

“And the supervising agent? Did she tell you she’s wanted in connection with Fogarty’s murder?”

“She told me someone in your department was responsible.”

“In the DHS?” He looked at Isla. “That was the best you could come up with? It was me, wasn’t it? I’m the one who killed Fogarty, not you. Right? That would be convenient.”

Implicating him now would only make her sound desperate. Unfortunately, she was.

Whitlock looked confused, but he didn’t distance himself from Baker, who’d called him by his first name. That wasn’t a good sign.

“Lloyd, I don’t know the extent of what she told you, but I will say we’ve been searching for her. It is believed she’s not only involved in a coverup that led to the deaths of her entire team but also that she’s the one who murdered Fogarty at his house. Her DNA was at the scene, and we found her fingerprints on the murder weapon.”

“That’s because you put the gun in my hand while I was unconscious.”

Baker laughed. “Is that so? Then why didn’t you kill me? Why kill Fogarty?”

“Why don’t you take off your jacket and show the attorney general the gunshot wound on your arm?”

Baker sighed and looked at Whitlock. “Lloyd, would you like me to show you my arm? I wouldn’t normally indulge such a ridiculous request, but if you have any doubt about the validity of what I’m saying, I’ll cooperate.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Whitlock said.

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