“I can get it next time,” Mitch said quietly. “I don’t wanna go.”
“I was just thinking that same thing,” Cody anchored the phone on his shoulder as he slid Mitch’s jacket on one arm, then the other. He shrugged the coat onto his shoulders, surprised at how well the cut fit. He’d thought Mitch was bigger than him.
“Hang on, that’s Kreed,” Mitch said and clicked over. Cody kept the phone to his ear and went to the bathroom mirror, looking at himself with Mitch’s jacket on.
“Hey, wanna come pick me up? Kreed’s staying another few days.”
“Can you stay that long?” Cody asked, shocked at how his whole attitude just perked up.
“No, I gotta go back in the morning. If you’d rather me fly out today, I can,” Mitch offered, the excitement of a few seconds ago faded.
“I’ll come get you and take you back in the morning.” Cody’s doorbell rang. “Hang on, somebody’s here.”
Cody dropped his phone inside his front shirt pocket. He went for the door, looking out the peephole. A guy in a suit stood outside his door. Okay, not something he saw every day. Cody opened the door and had a badge shoved in his face.
“Agent Peter Langley with the Central Intelligence Agency. Are you Officer Cody Turner?” a tall, thin middle-aged man asked.
“I am,” Cody responded, looking over the badge. It was genuine, but what in the hell? If this was work-related, he’d have been called to the office.
“I need you to come with me, sir,” Agent Langley advised.
“What’s going on?” Cody asked, not budging.
“Sir, we’ll explain that to you when we get downtown,” Agent Langley said.
“I need some information before I just go off with you, Agent Langley,” Cody felt around in his pockets. His keys were there. His cell was in his shirt pocket.
“It’s regarding your recent time spent with Deputy Marshal Mitch Knox.” Mitch’s name caught Cody’s attention. His heart jerked in his chest, and he stepped out the door, locking the deadbolt as he followed the agent downstairs.
“Has he done something?” Cody finally asked as he got on the elevator. Agent Langley remained stone-faced. The man never said another word.
~~~
Mitch ducked his head, moving quickly through the crowd of people, trying to find a quiet place. He shoved a finger in his ear and concentrated. He could hear all of Cody’s conversation and that voice talking to him was familiar.
Frustrated beyond belief, Mitch ducked into an airport gift shop and found the back door. He went through, even at the protest of the clerk, and listened closer to the conversation. When he realized what he was hearing, his heart slammed in his chest. He’d heard that fucking voice before.
Thinking quickly, he activated the recorder on his phone and ever so carefully dialed a three-way call to include Aaron, praying the man picked up. If he didn’t, at least the voice would be recorded.
Karma was on his side. Aaron picked up on the third ring. Mitch started talking before he said hello.
“I’m recording this call. Can you detect the voice?” Mitch asked quickly and efficiently.
“Give me a second,” Aaron said.
He palmed his wallet and waited as he listened. The clerk or security would be through that door any minute. He needed them to remain quiet and step away, so he held open his wallet, showing his badge, ready for when they walked in.
“I’m hooked up. Can you narrow the voice down? Have you heard it before?” Aaron asked.
“Its recent, and he said he was CIA.” Mitch specified, trying to listen and talk at the same time.
“Did he use a name?” Aaron asked.
“I didn’t catch it. He hasn’t said it again. They’ve gone silent,” Mitch whispered. He concentrated hard on keeping his cool as the panic began to set in. He could think of no reason the CIA would need to talk to Cody about him. Fuck if the panic didn’t accelerate.
“All right, I need the recording from your phone. I didn’t get enough,” Aaron said.
“He’ll speak again. Can you trace the call?” Mitch asked.
“Sure,” Aaron answered. Mitch could hear typing as well as Cody walking. He was leaving the apartment. Everything in his heart didn’t want Cody leaving that building with the guy.
“He’s in downtown Austin. It looks like an apartment building,” Aaron said.
“It’s his place.” As Mitch had expected, security entered the small room. He kept his arm held out with the badge for them all to see. There were three or four of them, but Mitch kept his head down, listening to anything said, but still watching the guards. After a second, he lifted his finger to his lips and shooed them from the room.
~~~
Cody stepped out of his building and the brightness of the sun blinded him. He shaded his eyes and looked around the parking lot. Only then did he realize he still wore Mitch’s suit jacket. He felt a little bit like a fool as he followed the agent to a car backed into the farthest parking space in the lot. The car had federal-issued written all of it. He assumed the vehicle was probably an old Buick, something along those lines.
“You’ll need to ride in the back,” the agent instructed.
“What’s this about, now?” Cody asked again, because he couldn’t get past the fact that something about this whole scene didn’t feel right.
“You know the drill. We’ll talk downtown,” he said, opening the back door.
The agent extended a hand, stepping back after opening the door. Cody stood there, staring at him and finally followed directions only because if he’d been on this assignment, he’d hate getting shit from the guy he had to bring in.
Cody ducked his head and angled his big body into the cramped backseat. After both legs were inside, the agent shut the door after him.
“Good, faggot,” Agent Langley hissed loud enough for him to hear through the closed door. Cody’s nagging doubt turned to full-fledged panic as he tried to bolt. His reactions were quick, but the door couldn’t be opened from the inside. He slammed against the door and searched outside for the guy, trying to keep his eyes on the agent. Glass separated the front and the back seats virtually making a quick escape impossible. He couldn’t give up, he needed to find a way out of this car.