The Dragons Of The Cuyahoga by S. Andrew Swann

Author:S. Andrew Swann
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-01-17T19:33:59+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

IT didn't surprise me much when they weren't immediately forthcoming about their investigation. "What prompted you to start investigating the dragon Aloeus?" Dr.

Blackstone asked me in answer to my question.

"Funny thing," I said. "Last I checked, my copy of the Bill of Rights said I don't have to talk to you."

"Son, you better—"

Agent Ts'ao raised his hand and said, "Mr. Maxwell is quite right. He doesn't have to say anything." He reached down, picked up a briefcase, and set it on the table between us. "We both respect the Constitution, don't we, Mr. Maxwell?"

I wasn't quite sure where he was going with this. "Goes along with my job."

Agent Ts'ao nodded. "And despite certain impediments to law enforcement, it goes along with ours." He opened the briefcase and started removing folders. "The doctor and I agree, our current job is the protection of that document. He was not engaging in hyper-bole when he mentioned a threat to national security."

I shook my head. "I've worked a political beat for a decade. I might not work in D.C., but I know that 'national security' is in the eye of the beholder."

Agent Ts'ao handed a stack of folders to the doctor and closed the briefcase. "It's fair to reserve judgment."

I watched Ts'ao's expression grow grave and the smell of incense in the air was heavy and stifling. "You weren't brought here to be hassled, Mr. Maxwell. You are here because I believe that we need each other."

"Interesting premise," I said. "Care to elaborate?"

"You've been close to the people we've been investigating," Blackstone told me.

"You're going to help bring them down."

"I see," I said slowly. I looked from Ts'ao to Blackstone. "What exactly do I get for my civic mindedness?"

Blackstone gave Ts'ao a look that said, I told you this was a bad idea.

"You get two things, Maxwell," Ts'ao said. "The first is a federal shield against anything that comes out of your unfortunate meeting with Mr. Cutler." He leaned toward me. "You also get your heart's desire, Mr. Maxwell."

"Which is?"

He nodded slightly to the folders in Blackstone's hands. "Information."

The air in the meeting room was so still, it was almost stagnant. There was little or no air-conditioning, and if there was any ventilation, it was hidden so well I couldn't tell.

I raised my hand to loosen the button on my collar, wincing as my injured hands fumbled with the button.

To be honest, I was stalling. The wheels in my brain had shifted gears so many times in the past seventy-two hours that I felt like my mental transmission had been stripped. Objectively, I shouldn't be hesitating; I had been on my way to the cops when they hauled me into the van. If anything, I should prefer the Feds, since no way in hell would they be tied up with a bunch of corrupt elven cops. All these guys had going against them were a traditional Clevelander's bias against Feds, and the strong-arm method they'd used to pick me up.

"What kind of information?"

"You asked about our investigation.

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