Chapter 44

Jake exhaledsome of his tension from the passenger seat when Dana drove them out of the Bureau's parking lot. Surrendering his government vehicle had been almost as humiliating as losing his badge and weapon. But he was counting himself lucky that security hadn't escorted him directly into NSA custody.

Claire was in the back seat, eyes wide, spewing an endless stream of questions that Jake couldn't answer. "I don't understand what just happened. Did Jenkins lose her job? And why did she suspend you?"

"I tried to keep your name out of the witness report," Jake answered. "So much for Hartwell having my back," he muttered to himself.

Jake was planning to call the backstabbing Metro officer and rip him a new one, despite the good it would do now. He continued to scroll through the article the Post had issued:

… some speculate Agent Shepard's abuse of power was prompted by his alleged relationship with Dr. Dana Gray and known associate Claire Townsend, who's recently been hospitalized for a drug overdose. Townsend, only witness to murdered Congressman Norton Hayes, was seeking psychiatric care at Passages Rehabilitation Center when the death occurred.

Allegedly Agent Shepard's decision, concealing the case's only witness, has thwarted progress in apprehending Hayes's assassin. Disregard for protocol call in this case has called Shepard's integrity into question. The Department of Justice is calling for the FBI to reevaluate all cases involving Agent Shepard. Repercussions could jeopardize major arrests, overturning countless cases, including the prominent D.C. Card Killer, and the Romeo Juliet murders, where Shepard's direct supervisor and mentor was implicated, spawning the question, how far back does the corruption go?

Jake closed the article; afraid he wouldn't be able to keep his temper in check if he read more of the slanderous accusations.

Dana spoke for the first time since security had escorted the three of them from his office. "The timing of this doesn't make any sense. Why now?"

"Now's as good a time as any when an appointed official has been brutally murdered and it looks like a federal agency is trying to cover it up."

"But why is this blowing up all of a sudden? Hayes was murdered almost two days ago."

"I made a lot of calls. I guess I ruffled the wrong feathers. Hayes isn't the only soldier-turned-official with skeletons in his closet."

Dana shook her head. "Jake, I saw the article. This attack seems more personal than that."

"You think someone is trying to shut me up?"

"I don't know yet. But something doesn't add up. I get how it looks bad for you, but what did Jenkins do to get suspended?"

Jake struggled to keep his cool when he really wanted to shove his fist through the dash of Dana's old Range Rover. But since he was now without a source of income, he refrained. "I used Jenkins' ID number to issue visitor passes for you and Claire today."

Dana glanced at him nervously. "So, it looks like she brought us there. For what?"

Jake shrugged. "Sheltering fugitives is an easy leap."

"But she didn't even know we were there."

"That will only make her look incompetent."

"Isn't that better than complicit?"

Claire spoke up. "This is all my fault. There has to be something we can do."

"Right now, we just need to go home, lay low, and cooperate with whoever comes knocking."

"Jake, I don't mean to be blunt, but maybe it's better if you go back to your place until this blows over."

He shook his head. "This isn't the sort of storm that passes quickly, and I don't like the idea of you two being alone."

"Jake, we'll be fine?—"

"Gray, I need you to not fight me on this," he snapped. "Claire's been tied to the Reaper case, and you keep conveniently forgetting someone broke into your house two days ago. I'm staying with you and Claire. End of discussion."