Chapter 7

"It wasn't hard to piece together that the cockamamie story you made up on the fly was to protect your cover. I just want to be sure that none of the flack will come back to harm Francesca," AJ told Clay.

"There's no reason it should. I just needed to make sure my cover wasn't blown."

From the tense tone in Webb's voice, AJ knew that he wasn't getting the whole story. Testing his theory, he asked, "So there was a danger while she was in there today?"

Wondering how in the hell Chegwidden knew that, Clay tried to bluff is way through, "Nah, I just didn't want anyone there to know I was working under an assumed name."

"Working?! You're actually posing as a laborer?" AJ asked, having a hard time concealing the laughter in his voice at that thought.

"We have reason to believe that the bakery is the exchange place for the information flow. So I'm posted there to watch for the exchanges to take place."

"And one was going down while Francesca was in there today?! That's why you reacted the way you did!"

"Actually, one had just taken place. In fact, the only one I've seen to date, and I was about to follow one of the men when she walked in. The story I came up with was the first thing that popped into my head. You can apologize to her for me if I embarrassed her in any way," Clay offered.

"I'll tell her what you said, however rather than embarrassed I think she sort of got a kick out of it. However, that doesn't mean I want her involved in any of your nonsense! What did you find out when you tailed the guy, and do you know where the other one went?"

"On, I can't say for sure where he went, but he's the bakery owner's son so I made my choice of which to follow figuring she could tell me where her son lives."

"Why don't you have back up on this, Webb?"

"Because I'm the one that uncovered the leak and the concern is that someone at the Agency could very well be involved considering the level of the information being passed. I'm working alone because we aren't sure at this point who can be trusted."

"How do your bosses know you can be trusted?" AJ taunted.

"Well considering that I was the one that brought the info to them, they are going on the fact that I didn't have to…" Clay snipped.

"Could have just been a ruse on your part to throw them off the scent…But be that as it may, did you get anything today when you followed the other guy?"

"Just a name, a meeting time, and place."

"Do you have any idea how many people will be at this meeting?"

"No, none," Clay replied.

"When is the meeting taking place?"

"The day after tomorrow. Why?" Clay asked suspiciously.

"Because I'm going to be in town the rest of the week and it sounds like you could use some back up that you can trust."

"What makes you think I trust you?!" he taunted with a cocky attitude.

"Well, you know I'm not selling Agency secrets, and how many other choices do you have?"

"And what will your daughter think of you spending your vacation time helping me?"

"Francesca understands when I have a job to do," AJ answered.

"Yes, but this isn't your job!" Clay protested.

"Fine, if you don't want my help, you go in there alone and get your head blown off and I will be sure to tell your mother what a fool you were, at your funeral."

"Hey! I didn't say I wouldn't accept your help…just that your daughter might not like it."

"Tell me where and when to meet you. Francesca and I are just about to leave for the theatre," AJ instructed, and after getting the information from Webb, hung up to tell his daughter that he was ready to go.

"So you are going to help Mr. Webb with his undercover work, Papa?" she questioned.

"It would seem so. He had a meeting to cover in two days and could use some back up."

"Wouldn't three pairs of eyes be better than two then?"

AJ looked at the interested look on her face and firmly assured her, "No! Absolutely not!"

To be continued…