page45 (1/2)

He looked at Chapood team, unless my instincts have totally deserted me Watch out for each other” He turned to leave “Oh, and Oliver?”

“Yes?”

“I’lad you have these Camel Club people on your side”

“So am I”

“Re’s men”

“I remember”

“Oneoutside to take you to the WFO The FBI wants to talk to you two” McElroy twirled his cane in the air “Good luck”

CHAPTER 48

THE RIDE TO THE WFO was ents in front didn’t look at or speak to them They were escorted into an elevator once they arrived and rode it up to a higher floor They got off and folloo other agents to a large conference room with a table that would acco at it, though One was the FBI director, the other his second in coent Laura Ashburn, who’d approached Stone in the park the previous night after grilling him about Tom Gross’s death

The director was a short nacious face and a brisk ton, the FBI director was the one with real independence His tenure did not end with an election result It continued on for the full ten-year term no matter on the Oval Office

He asked thelasses and looked up at them

“Agent Stone Agent Chap, but theit beco and tell me all that you’ve discovered, all that you’ve deduced and all that you are currently speculating about”

“Does thisto be taken off the case, sir?” Stone asked

The director glanced at Ashburn and back at Stone “I’ve read the report The aent Ashburn here Suffice it to say you won’t be taken off this investigation Now I’d like to hear both of your reports”

“It may take a while,” Stone advised him

“This is my top priority” He settled back in his chair

Three hours later they finished talking Ashburn and the ADIC had taken copious notes on their laptops Even the director had scribbled down some key points

“My God,” said Ashburn “Attacked at your home? Why didn’t you report it?”

“Since I don’t knoho ordered the hit I wasn’t co it to anyone”

The director grimaced “You can trust the FBI, Stone”

Stone looked at Chapht nod

Stone turned to the director “There’s one , sir”

The agents focused on him

“What is it?” asked the director

“My friend as attacked in Pennsylvania e a bit of evidence from the crime scene”

“More than what our people found?”

“A bit un”

The trio of agents sat back as though connected by wire

“And the Latino workers they talked to at the bar before they were attacked saoto theht’ve been Russian”

The director eyed his two colleagues, put down his pen and stroked his chin