Backlash

with Layla had ended so badly. They’d only crossed paths a couple of times since law school graduation, and those instances had barely been a quick and awkward hello.
But now his main concern was making sure she was all right. Had terrorists targeted the Old Town restaurant? Or was this something else entirely?
He wasn’t law enforcement, but as someone who had a law degree and had been a PI for five years, working high-stakes cases, he couldn’t help but want to get answers. Especially considering that whoever was behind this atrocity had hurt Layla. His Layla, even though he had zero right to think of her like that. He’d given that up a long time ago.
He had to push aside his fear and the past and get down to the hospital. If something happened to her and he didn’t have the chance to try to make things right, he would never forgive himself.
A knock on the door of her hospital room awakened Layla from a light doze. Her boss, Brett King, stood in the hallway.
“Brett.” She shifted in the bed.
“I came to check on you as soon as I got word that you were on the list of victims.” He walked into the room and sat down beside her bed. “How’re you feeling?”
“Been better, but I’m alive. Not everyone at the restaurant was so fortunate.” She still couldn’t believe there had been a bombing. Her brain wasn’t processing everything quickly enough, but a nagging voice in her head told her something was really off. “Has there been any chatter about it?”
He moved closer to her and shook his head. “No. Given that one of our own was injured, though, we will monitor the investigation closely. Did the Feds come to talk to you yet?”
“No, but I’m sure they will.”
“I assume you’ll keep your cover intact?”
“Of course.” She couldn’t believe he would even ask that.
Brett’s shoulders slumped. “This is really bad timing, considering all you’ve gone through today, but there’s something else I have to talk to you about, and unfortunately it can’t wait.”
Her heartbeat thumped. She didn’t need more bad news. “What?”
Brett squinted his light blue eyes. “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just come out and say it. Effective immediately, you’re put on administrative leave.”
“What?” she said loudly. “Why?” She never would have expected those words to come out of Brett’s mouth. “You can’t sideline me because of this. It wasn’t my fault.”
“The Inspector General’s office is conducting a confidential investigation. I’m not privy to the details of the investigation, but I was ordered to put you on leave.”
She felt like she’d just been pushed off a cliff. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either. All I can tell you is that it definitely didn’t come from me, but the direction was clear.”
“Wait a minute. You’re saying I’m the subject of an IG investigation?”
Brett shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yes.”
“And it has nothing to do with the bombing.”
“That’s right.”
None of this made sense, but she was now certain of one thing: All of these events couldn’t be coincidences. But because of that, she couldn’t trust a word Brett was saying either. And she couldn’t talk to him about Cass yet. “I don’t know how to respond.”
“You don’t have to say anything. And like I said, I hate that it had to come about during this episode. But, Layla, my hands are tied.”
“The IG’s office gave you the order?”
“Yes. It didn’t come up through operational command.”
She had to put something out there for Brett to consider. “Don’t you find it a little odd, the timing of all this?”
“I was just given the order at the end of the day yesterday. I was going to wait until Monday morning when you came into the office, but then this happened, and it was better just to tell you. Your building access has been revoked pending the investigation, but you will continue to be paid. I guess that’s the only silver lining.” He paused. “Layla, if you’ve gotten into some type of trouble, it would be better to talk about it now.”
It stung that Brett was truly concerned she could have done something wrong. “There’s nothing to talk about, Brett. I’m clean.”
He gave her a slight smile. “Good. Then hopefully this can be sorted out quickly, and we can get you back to work. You should hear from someone in the IG’s office for an interview, but I’m not sure on timing. And the Agency requests that you don’t leave the greater DC area until this gets sorted out and that you surrender your passport.”
“What do they think, I’m some sort of flight risk?”
Brett lifted his hands. “I was told it was procedure.”
That sounded crazy to her.
He patted the edge of the bed. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’ll get out of here. Hope you start feeling better soon.”
“Thanks.” What else was she supposed to say? She watched him walk out of the room.
Someone had to be coming after her. She tried to rest as much as she could, but her brain was spinning.
When another knock came on her room door a couple of hours later, she hoped it would be a friendly face—and it was.
Scarlett Bell, her friend and mentor, walked into the room with a vase of bright pink tulips in hand. Scarlett knew her well. Layla loved everything pink.
Scarlett placed the vase on the table beside the bed. “Layla, what happened? Bailey called me and told me you were in the Old Town Grille when the bomb went off.”
“I was there with Viv.”
“Yes, Bailey mentioned that, but she said Viv was stable.”
Layla nodded. “Yeah. She’ll be fine. We were both very fortunate.”
Scarlett tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear. “I’ll stop by and see Viv on my way out.”
“Listen, Scarlett, I know you may think this is crazy, but I believe the bombing could be linked to the Honduras op.” Layla was free to confide in Scarlett since she had been read