"So, this 'Collaborative'," Alex asked as the two agents headed back toward the house from their walk.

"Yes?"

"What is it?"

"Exactly what it sounds like, Agent. A group. A group of politicians, military leaders and businessmen. They move merchandise, they remove liabilities and place a.s.sets."

"Who?" Alex asked.

"I suspect the list is much longer than we have time to cover. The Russians, French, British....it's grown even in the time that I have been in the CIA."

"ASA?" He confirmed her question with a nod. "And?"

"Technologie Appliquee, Source System Innovations, among others," Krause offered.

"So, O'Brien was in France for some trade as a set up. And..."

Krause chuckled. "Brackett changed that course."

"Krause, how deep does this go? If the president..." He just offered a c.o.c.keyed smile and sighed. "Jesus Christ," she shook her head. "And what if we do find out who is pulling the strings? What then?"

"We start pulling some of our own, Agent. We are not alone in this."

"You mean Matt?"

"Yes, but there are others across multiple agencies. The Admiral's decision to a.s.sa.s.sinate John, his trust in his daughter, it has fractured trust in him. Now is the opportunity, before he has a chance to repair the cracks." Alex stopped their movement and the taller man smiled. "I don't expect you to trust me, Agent Toles."

"But you trust me?" Alex tipped her head.

"He did," Krause looked toward the house. "She does." He turned back to Alex and she firmly held his gaze. "Whatever you think, Agent....There are only two people I have ever trusted completely. They both trust you. That's enough for me."

"You love her?"

Krause laughed. "Agent Toles..."

"Nah, don't even bother," Alex said as she began moving again. "She's easy to love."

"Yeah..."

Ca.s.sidy and Jane were sitting in the living room sipping wine when the two agents entered. Alex raised an eyebrow and looked at Krause who chuckled. "Something wrong with my coffee?" she asked trying to lighten the mood.

The teacher sipped from her gla.s.s. "Unless you would like to peel me from the ceiling," Ca.s.sidy looked at Jane who tried to suppress a giggle, "I think my beverage choice is the most advisable."

"I see," Alex answered as the doorbell rang. "Jesus, who could that be now?" Ca.s.sidy shrugged, antic.i.p.ating her mother or some friend of Dylan's and took another sip of her wine. "I'll get it," Alex offered somewhat playfully. "You just relax." The agent's mind was rolling through a million scenarios and she was relieved to see that Jane had successfully eased some of Ca.s.sidy's anxiety. This was their reality now. Alex had feared that whatever her friend the colonel had been involved in, it was connected to much of her work at the NSA. Her biggest concern now was how all of it connected to Ca.s.sidy and Dylan. She was still unsure about Krause, but something told her she needed to follow him. She would, she told herself, remain guarded where his motives were concerned. She let out a breath as the doorbell rang again. "G.o.d, these kids are impatient," she laughed as she opened the door, expecting one of Dylan's friends.

"Agent Toles," the c.o.c.ky voice greeted.

"What the h.e.l.l are you doing here?" Alex's voice dropped to a low hum.

"On your feet I see?" The agent stared at the man, pressing down her rising temper.

"Alex, who is it?" Ca.s.sidy made her way into the hall and saw the congressman in the doorway.

"Get out," Alex warned him harshly as her hands began to push toward him.

"Alex, no," Ca.s.sidy pulled the agent back. Alex complied but left her stare to bore into the man still outside the door. "What do you want, Chris?" Ca.s.sidy asked dryly.

"I want to see my son, of course," he answered smugly.

Ca.s.sidy nodded. "You are not welcome here."

"Like it or not, Ca.s.sie...Dylan is my son too."

Ca.s.sidy let out a sarcastic chuckle. She had not intended to have this conversation now, nor had she antic.i.p.ated it would be here. Looking at the man before her she could not recognize him. He was a stranger. He was a fraud. He was the person who nearly cost her the family she had just found. The contempt she felt for him was profound. "What you are Chris, is a lying, manipulative, opportunist."

"I'm his father, Ca.s.sie." He looked at the agent and smirked. "I don't think the agent here can make that claim."

"No?" Ca.s.sidy stepped directly in front of her ex-husband. "You shot Alex," she whispered with venom.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Ca.s.sie. See, this is what I was afraid of. You are delusional. Dylan needs to be with..."

Alex moved in quickly and grabbed the congressman by the shirt. "I will end you, O'Brien."

Ca.s.sidy pulled the agent back again. "Alex," she whispered, "he's not worth it."

"Well," he said, brushing the wrinkles from his shirt. "A court might not agree with that, Ca.s.sie."

"Mm. Is that a threat?" the teacher asked. He raised an eyebrow. She moved in again and whispered directly in his ear. "You are not the only one who can keep secrets, Christopher."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

She shook her head. "You think you're the only one who had any affairs?" His face dropped slightly and Ca.s.sidy suddenly felt a sense of empowerment. "Dylan had a father, it was never you...not even when I wanted it to be."

"You have lost your mind, Ca.s.sie."

"Have I?" She nodded and looked at Alex whose gaze remained fixed on the congressman, ready to intervene at any second. "I don't think so, Congressman. I think you should leave....now."

"This isn't over, Ca.s.sie." He looked at the agent and felt his temper boil. "You, b.i.t.c.h," he muttered as he leaned toward her.

"I wouldn't do that," a voice beckoned from behind the teacher. A strong hand took hold of the congressman's, squeezing with a force just shy of breaking every bone in the hand it held. "You should leave."

The congressman looked up. "You're a fool, Krause. When the admiral...."

Jon Krause laughed. "You're nothing, Chris. Smug, stupid and small."

"So, what? I suppose you are Dylan's father? I should have known that....All that..."

Krause shook his head. "Unlike you, O'Brien, if Dylan was my son, I can promise you, nothing would keep me from them...."

The congressman snickered and looked at Ca.s.sidy. "I never took you for a s.l.u.t."

Alex's fist flew and met immediately with the congressman's face, dropping him where he stood. She stood over him ready to continue the a.s.sault when Ca.s.sidy pulled her off. "Enough!" Ca.s.sidy yelled at them all.

The congressman reached his feet and stroked his jaw. "Fine. I will ruin you," he said to the group.

Krause shook his head. "a.s.shole," he slammed the door.

Ca.s.sidy grabbed hold of Alex. The agent had raised her fist without thinking and the pain coursing through her made her unsteady. The teacher smiled slightly and shook her head, "Alex..."

"He deserved it."

"I guess he did," Ca.s.sidy admitted. "Come on, let's get that back in the sling where it is supposed to be, huh?" Alex reluctantly nodded. Ca.s.sidy looked up at the CIA agent and smiled sadly. "Pip, I...."

He gently touched her on the shoulder. "It's all right, Ca.s.sie."

"Krause, you should have stayed out of sight," Alex said with a hint of genuine concern in her voice.

"I hate that guy," he muttered.

"Well, I guess we have more than one thing in common then," Alex smiled, looking to Ca.s.sidy with a raised eyebrow.

"What the h.e.l.l was that?" Jane asked emerging from the downstairs. "I heard the commotion. I thought I should keep Dylan out of the...."

"Yeah," Ca.s.sidy looked at the former first lady.

"Cat's outta the bag, Jane," Alex said.

"What?" she asked.

Krause continued the thought for the agent as Ca.s.sidy gently replaced Alex's sling. "That was...o...b..ien. He knows...Dylan isn't his."

"Does he know?" Jane asked fearfully.

"No," Krause laughed. "He thinks Dylan's mine."

Jane looked at Alex and then at Krause. It was clear to Ca.s.sidy that a singular thought was pa.s.sing between all three. "What?" the teacher asked. "I had to..."

"It could be advantageous," Jane said, receiving a nod from Krause.

"Am I missing something?" Ca.s.sidy asked.

Alex reached for the teacher's hand. "He thinks Krause is Dylan's father."

"But Pip told him..."

Alex smiled. "He thinks it's Krause."

"But, Alex...what are you saying?" Krause looked at Alex and smiled knowingly. He gestured to Jane and the two left the room silently. "Alex?"

"We let him think that, Ca.s.s."

"No. Alex, we agreed...."

"I know that. Listen to me, it gives Krause a reason for being here. He's exposed. We need him as much as he needs me," Alex offered an explanation.

"And tell Dylan what?"

"I don't think we need to tell Dylan anything just yet. I don't think O'Brien will make a public case. He's too concerned with..."

"His image? Yeah, I know," Ca.s.sidy said. "Alex, this is crazy."

"I know it is."

"I thought you were going to kill him," Ca.s.sidy said.

"I probably could have."

"Did I put Dylan in more danger?" Ca.s.sidy asked nervously.

The agent shook her head and pulled Ca.s.sidy to her. "No, in fact I think he might be a bit safer now. Krause is...well, he has a reputation."

Ca.s.sidy shook her head in disbelief. "G.o.d, Alex...How did I end up here? I should have left him so long ago. None of this..."

"None of this is your fault, Ca.s.sidy; none of it. Do you hear me?" Ca.s.sidy nodded and sighed. "If you had, I might never have found you." Ca.s.sidy looked up at the agent and offered the first hint of a smile. "We'll get through this."

"I know."

"Ca.s.s?" Alex asked as the pair began the short trek back to the kitchen.

"Yeah?"

"Why do you call Krause, Pip?"

Ca.s.sidy laughed. "Later, Alex."

hat?" "Claire Brackett asked.

"You heard me," O'Brien answered.

The female agent laughed heartily. "Oh, now this is rich."

"I'm glad you are so amused, Claire."

"Oh, come on. The perfect little school teacher isn't so perfect after all," she laughed again. "Krause? Really? Can't say I would have imagined that." He glared at her. "Oh, Chris; are you actually hurt?" she mocked.

"Claire, Dylan is not...."

"So what?" He shook his head. "You know what I think?"