Page 49 of Sinner's Salvation

“So the FBI agent is alive?”

Evan focused on Brian. “Sir, I’m looking right at him. He’s tired, beat up, and more than a little angry at the situation, but he’s alive and well.”

“And he wasn’t helping the diplomat plan a bombing?”

“No, sir.”

“Ledger saysyouset off a bomb inside the medical building.”

“Did he also mention his plans to kill me and every person who’d had contact with the FBI agent and diplomat?” Evan asked, in his driest tone. “I have a recording of his conversation with a United States congressman and senator. He planned to make my murder look like I gave my life in heroic defense against a foreign terrorist.”

“Terrorism?” Nika scoffed, her voice carrying across the ten feet or so that separated her from him. “He’s fresh out of Quantico, he wouldn’t recognize a bomb if it fell into his lap.”

It looked like he wasn’t the only one being accused of bullshit.

“May I speak candidly?” Evan asked.

“That would be a refreshing change,” his commander said, in a drawl.

“He’s a few fries short of a Happy Meal.”

His boss grunted and gave hisI’m considering how to kill youhum. “Maybe so, but I need you to come in and give your side of the story. I’m going to need your evidence to keep you out of jail. The accusations made against you are serious. It’s good news the FBI agent is alive, because they want him back.”

“What do Baz and I have to do with anything?” Nika asked, in a tone that would have had Evan backing up. “I’ve been at the precinct...”

Nika pinched the bridge of her nose. “So let me see if I’ve got this straight. Someone from Homeland Security showed up at the precinct and ordered you all to bring an FBI agent, a foreign diplomat, a cop, and a cab driver in for suspicion of terrorism. You know that sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, right?”

“How badly is the diplomat injured?”

Evan switched his attention to Anna’s face. “She’s in rougher shape than the FBI agent. Ledger shot her. She’s got a concussion, suffering from smoke inhalation, and has a few burns too. She’s refusing medical treatment though. She says she doesn’t trust us. That if one man can go crazy and do this to her, anyone could. She’s insisting on returning to her embassy in New York.”

Over on her side of the table, Nika threw her hands up in the air. “No, I’m not trying to wind anyone up. I’m asking some questions for clarification. Here’s another one. Has a judge signed warrants for everyone’s arrest?” She paused for a second after the question. “Go ahead, I’ll wait.”

“Well,” Evan’s boss said. “That’s what she would say either way, right? Bring her, the FBI agent, and yourself in. We’ll get this sorted.”

Evan paused, looking at Anna. “Sir, she’s terrified, and after what I just saw, I don’t blame her.”

“Bring her in,” his boss barked, into the phone. It was hisI’m done talkingtone.

“Where, sir?”

“The FBI’s field office in Manhattan.”

That sounded awfully official.

“Understood, sir.” He ended the call.

“No warrants?” Nika said. The change in her tone, from irritated to satisfied, caught his attention. “Then our hands are tied. I don’t care how loud he yells, we can’t just arrest people on those kinds of charges without a warrant. Especially an FBI agent and a diplomat.”

She paused, listening. “Oh, I’m a top suspect now, too? Wow, put me on speaker phone for a second.” A moment later she said, into the phone, “You want to arrest people on terrorism charges you’d better have all your Ts crossed and Is dotted. If not and it gets tossed out because you didn’t follow proper procedures, you’re going to look like an idiot at best and crazy at worst. Right now, you sound crazy.”

She ended the call with a snarl on her face. “Well, that might keep the lid on things for an hour or two, until Ledger finds a judge who’s feeling pissy today.”

“Can they track your phone?” Evan asked.

“Of course, me especially, since I’ve been kidnapped once already. This bar won’t come as a surprise though. Baz and I have come here on several nights after work.”

“We need to move then,” Anna said.

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