Page 72 of The Shadow Friends

“Don’t try to defend him!”

“But it’s true,” said Rodrigo. “This was Ingrid’s show. The planning, the setup. Right down to the location of our operatives.”

Lloyd stared at Ingrid. “You made yourself the target?”

“It had to be me,” said Ingrid. “I’m the right height and the right weight to pass as Beatriz. This is the kind of thing I used to do, Lloyd.”

“And she’s still good at it,” added Rodrigo.

“So don’t blame it on anyone else,” said Ingrid. “Once I understood the stakes, I jumped in with both feet.”

“It’s a risky game you’re playing,” said Maggie. “I can’t believe the Agency agreed to it.”

“Officially, they haven’t,” said Rodrigo. “That’s where Argus comes in.”

“The Agency hired you?”

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Come on. We both know it’s the CIA.”

“Again, I’m not at liberty to say. Our secrecy agreement is ironclad.”

“That’s why I couldn’t talk about it,” said Ingrid.

“Even with your own husband?” said Lloyd.

“That,” said Rodrigo, “you can blame on me.”

Lloyd glared at him. “Oh, I do.”

Rodrigo shrugged. “It’s just business. Our client demands confidentiality. I deliver the goods, and no one ever knows who hired us.”

“And how much do they pay you for this?” said Lloyd.

“I have no complaints.” He looked at his two younger colleagues, who’d been silently listening. “Retired intelligence professionals are in demand. We have specialized knowledge, an unusual skill set. Worldwide contacts. These are valuable assets, especially when so many government agencies are paralyzed due to pesky things like international law. This situation needed quick and decisive action. Our client is deeply rattled by these assassinations.”

“We should all be rattled,” said Ingrid. “If Russian defectors are being killed, it means we can’t be trusted to keep them safe. It means every potential defector will think twice before coming to us.”

“You should have told me,” said Lloyd.

“She couldn’t,” said Rodrigo.

“But I’m her husband!” Lloyd turned to Ingrid. “Or am I now just an inconvenience?”

“I tried to keep you out of it for your own safety,” said Ingrid.

Lloyd laughed. “And it almost got me killed.”

“That’s what Maggie was supposed to prevent.” Ingrid turned to Maggie. “I was relying on you.”

Lloyd looked at Maggie, then back at Ingrid. “What do you mean, relying on her?”

“Ingrid asked me to keep you safe,” Maggie admitted.

“When did she ask you this?”

“It was a text message.”