Jane was contemplating how to get them both back to where he could contact the team, and also what to do if the phony ambulance driver caught up to them before they could get back.

Before he really had a chance to do anything, though, the door of the cabin banged open and they were greeted with a number of angry faces staring back at them. Angry faces and guns.

Lisbon stood in the middle, and slightly forward of the others. Cho stood behind her and to her right. They had the ambulance driver between them, and another woman, whom Jane did not recognize, one with a military bearing, stood off to the side.

Lisbon took in the situation for a moment, and then said, "I thought I told you not to leave the hospital without telling someone."

"Agent Lisbon, I suspect your Mister Jane never actually made it to the hospital. I would wager that that was not his fault, though," she said, studying the fake ambulance driver with a look that said she knew exactly what was going on—had known since she walked in the door. After a moment, she continued. "My proposition is that we each take our own people and be on our way."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. We have reason to believe that the woman with Mister Jane was witness to a murder, or perhaps, the perpetrator. I cannot release her until we've had the chance to question her."

"Then I suggest we make our way back to your offices. We'll need to talk. I trust Agent Hightower is still in charge there?"

Lisbon nodded, wondering who this woman was and how she knew Agent Hightower.

(0o0)

Agent Hightower's office was full to overflowing with people. Lisbon and the woman they had found in the house sat in the chairs in front of Hightower's desk. Jane stood behind Lisbon's chair. The 'ambulance driver' and Agent Cho sat on the sofa. The military officer stood at parade rest next to Jane, and she was talking to Hightower.

"Agent Hightower, I'm afraid I cannot allow the woman your team found to be questioned. It could be detrimental to her, both personally and professionally."

"Why?"

"I can't tell you that. It's classified. Mister Jane had no right to take her to the cabin, and if it turns out that he spoke to her about specific subjects, which I cannot discuss, he will be facing some penalties of his own."

Everyone in the room started talking at once, except for Jane, who was studying the woman in question, and the woman herself, who had sat silently until this point. After a moment, the voice of authority cut through the chatter.

"Enough."

Everyone fell silent at once and sat staring at her in shocked surprise. She took a deep breath and spoke again, looking directly at the military woman addressing Agent Hightower.

"I need to talk to Mister Jane privately."

"That's not a good idea."

"Why not?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Then with due respect, I'll ask you to excuse us."

"I can't do that. We work for the same organization. I'm your doctor." She looked around at all of the people gathered there and wondered if she'd said too much. "Can we talk for a moment, privately?"

The woman nodded once and rose to follow her. They moved on out to the hallway. Mister Jane moved out with them. The military woman moved to stop him and the woman who had asked to speak with him stepped between them.

"Leave it. Let him come."

"He can't hear what we discuss. He doesn't have top secret clearance."

"I don't think I have much choice. I need his help."

Jane spoke up. "Come on. Let me show you to somewhere a bit more private where you can discuss this."

With those words, he led them upstairs to his perch. When he got them inside and settled, he said, "I'll wait outside."

"No. Please stay here." She looked at the woman with her, who was looking like she wanted to protest again, and she said, "I want the truth—no hiding behind classified information. Why are you here?"

"To protect you."

"And what made you think I needed to be protected?"

"I got word that you were in danger and needed a rescue, and then Geoffrey told me he was going after you, but might need some backup, so I came as soon as I could."

"Do you know why I was where the CBI found me?"

"No. Nor did I know the details of your mission. All I knew was that you were on a mission and needed a rescue."

The woman asking the questions nodded. "Okay. You said the rescue mission wasn't exactly did you mean?"

"Obviously, Geoffrey wasn't able to get you away before the CBI caught up with you. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Frankly, I'm glad he didn't get me away. If I'm going to finish my mission, I will need Mister Jane's help."

"How do you figure that?"

"I'm going to have to ask you to trust me on that one, for the moment. As soon as I am able, I will tell you everything."

"Okay. I do trust you, and that's enough, for now. If you have not presented yourself to me within 72 hours for a full physical and psychological workup, I will have no choice but to report it to…" here she paused and then after a moment of thought, continued, "our superiors, and when they track you down, we will be having a different conversation."

"Understood."

With that, the military woman moved toward the door. She stopped before she got there, and looked back. "Take some advice from a friend?" The woman nodded, and she continued. "Let Mister Jane go into this with his eyes open. No one deserves to be blindsided in that way."

The woman nodded and watched the military doctor as she walked out. When she was gone, Jane slid the door closed and asked, "What did she mean?"

"I'll explain what I can, but not here. Is there somewhere we can go where we won't be overheard?"

"Yes, but I think we may need some help. Agent Lisbon is my partner, and she has the resources of the CBI at her disposal. I know you can't share your mission with her, but I think we need to talk to her anyway."

"On that basis, I'm willing to speak with her."

(0o0)

Jane escorted the woman with him down the stairs and into Agent Lisbon's office, locking the door behind him as they entered. Lisbon gave him a strange look.

"Lisbon, our friend here has agreed to give us the answers we need, but we're going to need some help, and I'm going to need you to trust me. I know what I'm about to say will sound a bit strange."

Lisbon's eyes grew wide. "I'm listening," she said.

"She has agreed to let me question her, but because of the nature of her occupation, she doesn't want anyone else listening in."

"She's a suspect in a murder investigation. I can't promise tha—".

The woman cut her off. "Agent Lisbon, before you decide what you can and cannot do, I would encourage you to make use of this." With that, she handed Lisbon the card she had shown Jane earlier.

Lisbon touched the button to put the call on speaker, and then she dialed the number. A somewhat raspy voice on the other end answered, and said, "Code please."

Lisbon read out the numbers of the code, and the voice on the other end said, "Standby."

After a moment, the voice came back and said, "The individual who gave you that card is involved in a top secret mission at the highest levels of National Security. Mister Jane and Agent Lisbon, you are hereby ordered to render any and all aid and assistance she may require, whether or not she is able to tell you why she is making the request. Failure to do so could result in adverse action, up to and including Federal charges of treason and espionage being leveled against you. Do you understand?"

Lisbon was confused. She didn't know how the person on the other end could have known who was making the call. Nevertheless, she said, "Understood."

Without any further words between them, the line went dead. Lisbon looked at the woman and asked, "What is it that you need?"

"For the moment, I need to speak to Mister Jane privately—somewhere where we won't be overheard. After that, I'll have to let you know."

Lisbon looked at Jane and said, "Just be careful."

Jane nodded and escorted the woman out.