-Don't go easy on her just because she is a girl, chief told them, interrupting Thompson's line of thoughts.
Peggy shot an angry look at him, but still she said nothing as he walked out.
-Let's get started, Agent Sousa said to her.
-You've got this all wrong, Peggy answered.
- I know right? , the sarcasm in Agent Sousa's voice was obvious. What could possibly lead us to the assumption that you work for Stark? Oh wait! We have photos of you in disguise in La Maritnique, where Ramon Spider was found dead, Sheldon McFee places you in New Jersey, the night that two more people were found dead and a lake disappeared from the face of the earth. We still don't know your involvement with Agent Li's death- but we'll get there, I'm sure-and of course, you were with Stark's butler when we tried to take you into custody.
-You tried…, said Peggy mockingly.
-And we finally succeeded. You are here now, am I wrong? , answered Sousa.
-I am not here because of you….Can't you see? You've got this all wrong!
-So tell us Peggy! Thompson tried very hard not to scream at her. What the hell is going on here? Why were you at Club Martinique? What were you doing in New Jersey? And why on earth would you work with Howard Stark against us?
- Because he is innocent! Peggy yelled. Thompson watched her collect herself. She continued in a steady voice:
-After everything we saw at Russia do you still believe he is involved in all this? This is so much bigger than Howard Stark being a thoughtless idiot! I was not working against you; I was just doing my job and trying to find the person who stole Stark's weapons… I was so close, she finally whispered.
- You actually believe that someone stole Stark's weapons? I thought you were smart! But it seems Stark has you wrapped around his finger! Agent Sousa voiced Thompson's previous thoughts. You are having an affair with him aren't you? , he finally stated.
- Howard Stark is my friend, not my lover, said Peggy calmly.
Thompson felt like a weight lifted from his shoulders. I really want to believe you Peggy, he thought. God, I really do.
- Carter, from our point of view it looks that way, Thompson said to her.
She turned to look at him, and for the first time since her arrest their eyes met.
- Howard is a friend of mine. Nothing more and nothing less. He turned to me, asking for my help. I was the only person to believe he was innocent and the only person able and willing to prove it. I started my own investigation. Howard gave me a clue to start- he heard that one of his inventions, his formula for molecular nitramene, was being sold. I went to the club in order to retrieve it…..
A knock on the door interrupted Peggy. He and Agent Sousa exchanged a worried glance. What now? , he thought and went outside, while Sousa followed him.
- That sphere we found in Agen...emm, Carter's bag… We found one just like that in the lab, among Stark's inventions, only the one we have is hollow, empty. We believe that Carter at some point switched them.
God dammit Peggy! How am I supposed to get you out of this mess? Thompson tried to hide his troubled thoughts and asked calmly the Agent in front of him:
- Do we know its purpose?
- We don't, said the Agent resignedly.
Thompson turned to Sousa, whose face was now brightly red with anger.
- We need to be calm and you are in no condition to conduct the interrogation. Let me handle this.
Thompson didn't wait for Agent Sousa's answer. He didn't care. He would find the truth, and God help him, he would do his best to protect Carter from her actions.
He entered the room. Peggy raised her gaze, a question forming in her lips.
- What is this box Peggy? ,he asked her before she could say anything.