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My future at the Bureau would be more tied to the outcome of this case than I’d realized when I’d said yes.
I started the video again. Moving forward was the only option open to me.
Kelly’s inability to take the rules seriously loomed even bigger in my mind than it had earlier. Would she screw up and get herself hurt? If so, Ashley Benson would surely see to it that I got the blame and a one-way ticket out of the Bureau.
If I’d refused the protection assignment on Monday after learning her name, the damage would have been contained, but I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Now if I pulled out, and anything went wrong for any reason, Ashley Benson with her pipeline to the director would ruin my career, claiming my actions had alerted SMK.
It was time for another two pills. Pulling open the drawer, I chose Advil this time.
An hour later, Dad’s face showed up on my phone as a call came in. “Dad?”
“How’s life treating you? Got a girl for us to meet yet?” Our calls started the same way almost every time. Mom was itching to spoil some grandkids.
“Not this week.”
“I’m calling because I could use your help.”
“Sure. What with?”
“I’m in a bit of battle with one of the Bensons.” That was nothing new. “One of the sons this time. Your old friend Dennis.”
I couldn’t stop myself from reaching for my knee.
“Anyway, we have a whistleblower with some information on him, but she’s afraid to come forward.”
It was about time somebody blew the whistle on those people. “What can I do to help?”
“She’s scared to go to the SEC herself—you know, job security. So I’d like you to pass the information on and see that it gets to the right people.”
I thought about possible blowback on this and couldn’t come up with any right away. “I’ll have to ask around to see how to go about it, but I should be able to do that.” Since it was outside the Bureau, helping to take the Bensons down a notch might not help my career here, but if anyone deserved to be cut down to size, it was Dennis.
“Great,” Dad said. “I don’t know how long it’ll be, but I’ll forward the information when I get it. And be sure to let me know when you find her.”
Theherwas the proverbial one who was good enough to bring home to the parents—the one I would be proud of, and the one that could endure my mother asking her about future babies.
After what Dennis Benson had cost me, payback would feel good.
Chapter 12
Kelly
The Ghost wantedthe inventory schedule.
It had arrived yesterday afternoon, and he knew it. That most definitely put him in this building.
I’d been careful that nobody was watching while I scanned the schedule and attached it to the email message, per his instructions.
But I was still wondering what it all meant.What did the schedule have to do with anything?When we did an inventory, the buildings were packed—with more people around, not fewer. The museum even x-rayed everybody’s bags as they left to make sure nothing walked out the door.
This was for those FBI geniuses to figure out, I guess. I had to wait for the Ghost to tell me what door to unlock, or what to steal for him.
If he wanted me to take something, he damned well better tell me how to get it, and how to get it out as well, because I certainly didn’t know. Our procedures had been honed over the years to prevent exactly that.
We knew the risk of theft was highest during an inventory, and we were prepared. During normal operations, with guests in the buildings, anything that could be carried out was locked up and behind glass. We had alarms and surveillance galore, not to mention guards at all the doors.
The Ukrainian address connection still bugged me.
A little before lunch, Kirby and Evelyn appeared together at my cube.
