Page 247 of Filthy Lies

Me: Yes. We’re still ascertaining how.

Unknown: Belyaev was feeding us intel.

Me: On?

Unknown: Art trafficking from looting during Operation: Enduring Freedom.

Whatever I’d expected him to say, it wasn’t that.

Unknown: For obvious reasons.

My breath hitched.

Me: Me?

Unknown: Yes. That was why you were swallowed up by their trafficking operation, no?

Well, that and the double agent in our ranks, but I wasn’t about to share anything of that nature with him.

Me: You were trying to find me?

Unknown: Yes. Belyaev was an old friend of Aleks’. From school.

Me: They were friends?!

Unknown: Yes. Aleks, like your mother, was a double agent.

Me: You knew he was a Sparrow?

Unknown: Yes. He was a Brother first.

Unknown: Belyaev had a bride from the Sparrow slaves. When Aleks learned that she died, he suspected Belyaev was behind her death and used it as leverage against him.

Unknown: Before that point, Aleks was well-positioned but not highly ranked.

Me: Why didn’t you tell me this when we started?

Unknown: I wanted to see what you’d uncover on your own.

Me: And what I’d share with you?

Me: You were testing me.

Unknown: This comes as a surprise?

Me: It shouldn’t. You didn’t know their deaths were linked?

Unknown: I don’t see why. Belyaev was visiting Ohio at the time of his death. He passed away from a heart attack in a hotel room in Cincinnati.

Me: He didn’t. He died in a car crash. Where did you get that information from?

Unknown: It’s irrelevant.

Me: It isn’t if someone fed you false intel.

Unknown: I’ll deal with it.

Unknown: Are you close to finding his killer?

---