Normal by Francine Pascal Read Free Book Online

“Maybe we could just . . . reschedule this interview for a little later. I do have some appointments I should really—”
    â€œMr. Moore, this isn’t a social visit. We don’t reschedule at your convenience.” Rowan challenged Oliver with his eyes. And Oliver didn’t like it. He didn’t like it one bit. He felt his hand forming a fist and quickly focused all his energy on stretching the fingers apart. He turned to Agent Morrow and smiled.
    â€œAgent Morrow, please,” Oliver said sweetly. “You can understand how difficult for me this is, can’t you? Don’t you think you might be able to speak with your partner here about relaxing his attitude—?”
    â€œMoore,” Rowan snapped. He shot up out of his chair and stepped much closer to Oliver’s face. “Are we having a communication problem here, Moore? I think we’re having a communication problem. Because I just need you to answer the questions. That’s it. That is all.The equation could not be simpler. You tell us where the missing files on Gaia are, and we leave. Do you understand? Simple. Cut-and-dried. Where are those files?” Rowan thrust his hand forward and stuck his digital recorder back into Oliver’s face.
    Suddenly Oliver found himself reexamining Rowan’s deeply frustrated eyes. And his slightly wrinkled suit. And his slightly loosened tie.
    Because Oliver Moore had been with the CIA for many years in another life. And “Agent” Rowan had just broken Agency protocol with almost every word he’d said. “Agent” Rowan had suddenly seemed much less like an agent and much more like a man who was hungry for information. Information that the CIA should have given him already—if he was in fact with the Agency. . . .
    â€œI’m sorry—who are you again?” Oliver uttered suspiciously. He faced down “Agent” Rowan as he pushed the recorder out of his face.
    There was the slightest delay in Rowan’s reply. “ Excuse me?” he asked indignantly.
    â€œI said, who are you? ” Oliver repeated, his eyes beginning to narrow. “If you have a badge, I’d like to see it. Because I’ll tell you one thing: You’re not CIA.” Now he wasn’t working quite so hard to keep his fist from clenching. In fact, he wasn’t working at all.
    Rowan glanced back to Morrow momentarily, who seemed unsure how to react. “Mr. Moore . . . I’m not surewhat exactly you are trying to pull here, but I suggest you stop it right now. We really don’t want to have to—”
    â€œTo what? ” Oliver spat. “To take me down to headquarters? Where are headquarters, ‘Agent’ Rowan? Do you know? Can you tell me?”
    â€œMr. Moore, I think you’re acting a bit unstable here.”
    â€œDo you?”
    â€œYes, I do.”
    â€œThen why don’t you take me in?” Oliver presented his wrists to Rowan. “I suggest you take me in right now, Agent Rowan, before I turn any more unstable.”
    Rowan began to back away slowly from Oliver. “Mr. Moore, I am warning you. Stay calm. I believe you’re becoming paranoid right now, and it is important that you remain calm. Peter . . . ” Rowan was signaling for Morrow to get involved, but Morrow didn’t seem any more confident about what to do, either.
    â€œWho are you working for?” Oliver demanded. “Who the hell are you working for? Who are you?” Suddenly Oliver had grabbed hold of Rowan’s shirt and tugged him much closer. Hs fist was clenched so tightly now, he could feel his own fingernails digging into the skin of his palm. “What do you want from Gaia? I swear, if you go anywhere near her, if you touch a hair on her head, I will—”
    â€œAll right, enough! ” Rowan shouted. “That’s enough.”
    Oliver felt something jab at his