'Keen, you are still an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and I suggest you start acting like one '

'Sir excuse me, but I was more or less fired all of three months ago on charges that were completely unfounded or backed with any evidence and I am called in all of a sudden because you want me as an extra body on this manhunt ,and not because I am an agent who has excelled at this job since starting but simply because Red has an infatuation with me'

'you are bordering on insubordinatio-

'so excuse me for being a bit snippy but at this point I am becoming a bit tired of being used like a punching bag for the FBI and called upon whenever suited to you Sir'

Cooper fell back into his seat dumbfounded by Liz's tirade. She knew she had him when he fell silent and now she was on the higher ground, literally.

'now this file is filled with details about a person you will want to find because she could become a potential threat, at the moment she is a kind of sleeper agent for an unknown organisation intent on collecting intel on American economy but she could become something else move onto bigger things'

'Agent Keen we don't deal with the economy, we are not Wall street here we deal with threats to national security'

'Sir with all due respect if you think about the recession we are currently in and how we are an international competitive market, what if theses people are here to bring about another collapse? it would ruin this country we wouldn't be able to survive in the stock climates'

He opened the file and immediately saw Ressler's face staring up at him.

'Where did you get this information and why bring it to me?'

'I think we both know how I came by this information and as is his style he has one condition of his own on this'

'you are telling me this came from Reddington?'

'yes and he has expressed you not keep this search up, he said you'll find nothing'

'yes we've seen his work firsthand and how through it is'

She laid her hands on the table as in the old days when talking strategies.

'he said you should concentrate on this and Sir I think it's a good deal if he wants to stay in the dark it's a good trade for the names on the Blacklist'

'Keen I know you may have not been here for a while but you may recall he killed one of our own'

'may I remind you, she was involved with the group that broke into the Blacksite you have the files yourself you've seen her signature on that order'

Cooper stood to accost her clearly at his breaking point.

'that's enough Agent Keen'

He lowered his voice and scratched his chin as if in thought.

'look I don't know what this file holds but if its good intel I will follow it, as for Reddington I cant promise this search will stop'

'Sir this was his only condition-

'I don't think you hear me, I'm not the one in charge of this anymore it is in the hands of those above me'

His look told her he too had his hands tied when it came to this, perhaps he was in the same situation as her, being in fear of losing his job.

Puppets are only mouthpieces

Reds words floated back to her. She made her way to the door as Cooper moved to sit and open the file.

'and what do you get out of this Keen?'

She turned back to face him her hand still on the door

'Sir?'

'I suppose you'll be wanting full reinstatement?'

'yes Sir I think that would be in both our interests if we want to continue catching the names on the Blacklist'

Her words suggested she was valuable to Cooper and the Agency and she knew it, she was only now beginning to see it and she would have her own set of rules when working with them from now on.

'then I will put your attitude down to the rough couple of months you've had'

She caught the wink he gave her as she walked from his office.

Perhaps there was more to him than just mere puppetry.