“Have we found ourselves caught back in the middle of a Russia-versus-the Volkovs duel two-point-oh?” Dean asked. “Maybe the SVR is hunting the Volkov crime family again in hopes they don’t have the . . .” His voice trailed off in deference to Winters, but the word ledger was out there nonetheless.
“Intel would suggest Russian Foreign Intelligence was responsible for the hit placed on Katya, but we didn’t get a name on who was hired to handle the matter.” Kyle’s gaze darted to Winters to see if he’d disagree with this theory as well.
“I’m not prepared to make that assumption, especially given the fact two other completely unrelated sources have also vanished,” Winters challenged. “But I’m relying on you all to get to the bottom of everything.”
“Is someone at the Bureau selling names of our sources to the highest bidder? Is this an internal issue?” Griff lifted his dark eyes toward Winters, and Ana saw the look of worry crossing Winters’s face at the idea.
Did Winters not know how to answer? Did he think someone in the room was guilty?
“No one outside this unit accessed any case files related to all three sources. Not with their code, at least. We’ve already had the Bureau do an internal review. That doesn’t rule out the possibility someone went around the normal means of obtaining information, though,” Gray answered when Winters had refrained from doing so.
“Are you looking at us?” Halle asked what had to be on everyone’s mind.
“You work for CI. You’re already under one of the most closely monitored divisions in the Bureau.” Was Winters’s answer really an answer, though? “If someone in this room betrayed the FBI, we would’ve already known about it,” he added, and Dean’s shoulders slouched a touch with relief. “So, I’m counting on everyone here to come up with a how, why, and a way to stop any other sources from disappearing. I want answers.” Winters turned to the side, his gaze moving back and forth between Ana and Kyle. “Will working together be a problem? A conflict of interest?”
“Not for me,” Kyle answered immediately, smoothing a palm over his purple tie.
“Same, sir,” Ana managed the response.
“We won’t let you down.” Kyle offered a reaffirming nod toward Winters, then to Gray. But his body had remained tense ever since the two men had rejected any talk of the Daylight Ledger.
Winters left a moment later, then at the sound of a knock, Gray stood and opened the door.
“Sorry to interrupt,” one of the analysts who often worked for their unit announced, “but I have news.”
Ana flicked her finger in Kyle’s direction after Gray stepped outside to speak to the analyst. “Ex-husband.”
“Ah.” Dean slumped back down into his chair, but Ana kept her focus on the table, not sure what to make of this entire situation.
She startled when the door opened a minute later and Gray returned. “We have a possible hitman, and it’s not good.”
Ana’s eyes widened as she waited. “Who?” Who in the hell had actually gotten to her source before Ana’s plan had fallen into place as designed?
“Ivan Smirnoff,” Gray announced.
What? She blinked in surprise at the name.
“Dubbed The Huntsman because of his ability to track anyone anywhere,” Kyle added, clearly familiar with the name. “Famous for kidnapping and killing without leaving a trace behind. He’s Russian, but . . .” He smoothed a hand over the few weeks’ worth of beard he’d grown. In all their years of marriage, the man had never even tolerated a five o’clock shadow. “Well, shit.”
“What is it?” Ana asked, recognizing Kyle’s distressed look.
“The hit couldn’t have been ordered by the SVR as chatter suggested,” Kyle began, a look of confusion on his face that Ana felt down to her core, “because Ivan would never take the job. He hates the SVR.”
“Because?” Dean asked.
“Before Ivan left Russia in his twenties, the government had his brother killed,” Kyle explained. “The only way the Russian government is behind these hits is if Ivan’s either not responsible or they went through a middleman—had someone else hire Ivan for them.”
“Well, our people confirmed Ivan was in New York City last week. Got him on camera at the airport the day before Katya vanished.” Gray paused. “He was flagged in Boston as well. So, it’s looking like he’s our guy.”
“If someone is handing out source names and locations, what’s the need for a hitman like The Huntsman?” Griff asked.
Ana’s stomach lurched, and her hand dipped to her abdomen as