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After all, I was one of the good guys

And they could be my salvation

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I led the way as we rushed across the parade to the far side of the fort, the gun tucked atthat the FBI was on the way added a new dimension Sure, Jansen was suspect but that didn’t ents, explain the situation, and they could talk with Stephanie Nelle If they moved fast, the Coast Guard could even detain Valdez before he left American waters But I could see that Coleen Perry was not happy at the prospect of having ents around

“I assu,” I said “Considering that it’s illegal to have that Double Eagle”

“Who are you?” she asked

“Right now I’ my hide to save yours”

“I saw you leap off that boat before it blew, and when those ht before the explosion, was the same one from before I noticed the ID numbers”

We kepta defined sandy path that bisected the parade

“What was your naain?” she asked

“Cotton Malone Here from the Justice Department”

“Are you new at all this?”

That one hurt “Does it show?”

“Only that you’re young, and I’ you don’t have a clue what you’re into”

“You’re not exactly Ms Experience,” I pointed out “We’re probably about the sae”

“Except I’ive you a piece of advice, Mr Cotton Malone The FBI is not your friend”

At least one retired agent fit that bill, but I wasn’t ready to luory “Care to explain?”

“Not at the moment”

The young ranger had pointed us toward sos on the parade’s far side Behind them, arches in the tall brick had been filled in ooden walls and s, creating enclosed staff quarters where there had once been only open caserass taking photos More people ah the casements above, revealed in the arches that surrounded us on all sides

We made it to a set of wooden stairs, which we cli the door anted at the topand passed through into a long corridor that bordered the exterior wall A welcoh the open casements A series of doors stretched down an interior wooden wall to our left I found the correct door and lightly knocked No answer One ripped the knob and turned Probably little reason to lock anything around here How much crime could they have?

I eased open the door

The shtly furnished with a cotlike bed draped with a knitted spread, dirty clothes piled on the floor, a cluttered desk, and a s open

And then there was the falcon

Standing on a perch, wings ruffling from our unwanted intrusion

“You don’t see that every day,” Coleen said

No, you didn’t

Neither of us moved

“The coin is on the desk,” I said, noticing the plastic sleeve

The peregrine continued to ruffle its wings, like a warning that screa eyes remained locked on me

“Falcons don’t attack people, do they?” she asked

Like I was a bird expert

I decided to go for the coin But the bird see from its perch, feathers ruffled, talons extended No shrieks or calls, just a steady beating of wings as it fleard us We shielded our faces with our ar would head out the door

But it stayed

Thankfully, it did not touch either one of us and landed back on the desk, near the coin A silent, ominous pall fell over the room If I didn’t know better I would have assumed it knee were after A small closet opened to my left, near the bed We didn’t have time to duel with this creature, but I also had to respect its abilities Truth be told, birds made me nervous I wasn’t a fan And I’d never actually faced one down before, eye-to-eye

“I’et the coin”

Carefully, I eased closer to the bed and grabbed the quilted corine’s cold eyes fo

llowed my every move I told e

So be careful

“Okay, let’s see what you got,” I said, keeping aze locked on the bird

I jerked the comforter upward

The bird flew fro a sharp shriek I grabbed the other side of the spread and brought it up and over the falcon, s it inside the folds There’d only be a few seconds where I’d have the advantage, so I used those wisely, tossing the quilt and the bird into the closet and shutting the door