did you come back?” “I thought that would be obvious.” “Not to me.” “I’ve grown

accustomed to having you around.” Before he could respond she added, “And I

would never go over to the dark side, Puller. I might bend the rules to get the

job done, but I didn’t join up to do bad things. Or to see really bad things

covered up. Like the deaths of four women. Or the disappearance of your mother.”

A long moment of silence elapsed. “I appreciate that, Knox.” “But you still

don’t trust me?” “I didn’t say that.” “You didn’t have to. The look on your face

says it all.” “You risked your life to save my brother. Ordinarily, that would

be enough for me to always believe you’re on the up-and-up.” “Ordinarily.” “Part

of your job is to lie, to deceive. I never know when I’m on the receiving end of

one of those mortar rounds, Knox. It’s just how I see it. I’m sorry. It’s just

how I’m wired.” She nodded. “I guess I can understand that. So where does that

leave us?” Before he could answer his phone rang. He looked at the screen.

“Don’t recognize the number.” “You better take it anyway. Maybe it’s Super

Paul.” “Hello?” “Agent Puller, my name is Claire Jericho. I’m with Atalanta

Group.

 

And I believe we need to meet.”

 

Chapter 50

 

ONE BREATH, TWO breaths, three breaths, four breaths.

 

Rogers had turned the water on in the shower until it was near scalding. He was

rubbing the soap so hard against his skin that he could feel the flesh tearing