Convicted
Page 77
Understandably, neither Liz nor Harry ever anticipated his undercover assignment occurring right under Liz’s nose. The evening the SiJo plane arrived with Claire Nichols on board, Harry relocated Liz from their condominium to an apartment of her own. He told her what he’d said a million times—when faced with the ultimatum—he’d always choose his job. He also told her that Claire Nichols was just another assignment—a job. It was what he believed at the time. Initially, Liz remained supportive.
As Harry got to know Claire, her definition changed. With that change, came a change in Liz’s understanding. From Harry’s perspective he was never unfaithful. He’d told her that—while on assignment—they were no longer a couple. It wasn’t Harry’s fault that when faced with seeing him every day she didn’t understand.
For a brief moment in time—when Harry believed that he could be a father once again —Harry told Amber something he never thought he’d say. He told his sister that he wanted the job at SiJo; instead of pretending, he wanted to be the President of Security Operations and planned to resign from the FBI. Harry wanted to give this child the father he hadn’t provided for his own daughter. At that moment, sitting with his sister alone in the hospital cafeteria, Harry decided the only part of the undercover case he cared about was keeping Claire and their child safe from Anthony Rawlings.
Again, life happened. This time, the damn cards were definitely against him. Claire informed him that he wasn’t the father of her baby. In retrospect, Harry didn’t know for sure if his decisions that afternoon in the hospital cafeteria were based on Claire or the baby. Now that he and Liz were reconciling, he leaned more toward the later; nonetheless, he still wanted to keep Claire and her child safe.
SAC Williams reviewed the case and Harry’s actions. He decided Agent Harrison Baldwin needed a break from the bureau; he wasn’t fired or demoted; instead, the FBI put him on temporary medical leave and required him to attend counseling sessions. These sessions with a bureau psychologist were supposed to determine why he overstepped his professional bounds with Claire Nichols. While he did as they said, it made Harry laugh. This was the first time he’d ever gotten personally involved with an informant; however, he’d been around the bureau long enough to know that it wasn’t a unique situation.
In addition to personal counseling sessions, he was required to attend sexual harassment seminars. Apparently, if Claire Nichols were so inclined, she could press charges against Harry. In actuality, six months ago, he’d jeopardized the case and sullied the bureau. Now, by showing Rawlings the picture of Claire and him holding hands, Harry had done it again.
He’d located and lost both of his assignments—Claire Nichols and Anthony Rawlings were missing in action. If Harry ignored the FBI’s text messages any longer, they would consider him MIA!
Pacing around his hotel room, Harry contemplated the case. He didn’t want to be taken off of it again. He knew he shouldn’t have shown Rawlings the picture of him holding Claire’s hand—he knew that before he did it. It was unprofessional. Harry could argue that his intentions were honorable. He’d hoped that by creating a rouse—making Rawlings believe that he and Claire were together—it would keep Rawlings away from her. The bureau would never approve of his actions or even his motivation. They’d remind Harry that Claire never pressed charges against Rawlings—in fact, she explicitly said that Rawlings wasn’t the one she feared.
It wasn’t just the connection with Claire. Harry didn’t want to be relieved of the case because even before he’d been officially assigned, he’d been researching it. With each passing day and new nugget of evidence, Harry knew that Rawlings was exactly the person Claire Nichols should fear. It was his goal to make the powers that be realize that Anthony Rawlings was connected—not only to the death of Agent Nichols—but multiple others. Some of the deaths, like Claire’s parents and Simon Johnson’s, had been classified accidents—car crashes—airplane crashes...
That didn’t matter. Claire had told Harry about Rawlings and accidents—Harry had a gut feeling that there was more to this case. He was on the hunt for hard evidence, but in the meantime, he had his gut feeling. To an FBI agent, that was significant. At one time, even Claire had told Harry that she believed Tony may have been involved with these accidents. Harry figured that if he could prove to her that her previous suspicions were correct—then maybe she’d see the light.
Not only had Harry messed up the case, he’d messed up any possible reconciliation with Claire as well. No longer could he or the bureau rely on her feelings of familiarity with him for insight. In Harry’s opinion, the only feelings Claire currently had for Harry were anger and betrayal. The way Harry saw it—he hadn’t betrayed Claire. In fact, the truth was the exact opposite. He’d been placed with her to protect her and learn from her. Without a doubt, in Harry’s mind, the protecting was paramount. Besides, he reasoned that if Claire could forgive Rawlings for his plethora of recognized sins, once she learned the whole truth of Rawlings’ doings, then Harry’s considerably shorter list of transgressions could also be forgiven.
As Harry got to know Claire, her definition changed. With that change, came a change in Liz’s understanding. From Harry’s perspective he was never unfaithful. He’d told her that—while on assignment—they were no longer a couple. It wasn’t Harry’s fault that when faced with seeing him every day she didn’t understand.
For a brief moment in time—when Harry believed that he could be a father once again —Harry told Amber something he never thought he’d say. He told his sister that he wanted the job at SiJo; instead of pretending, he wanted to be the President of Security Operations and planned to resign from the FBI. Harry wanted to give this child the father he hadn’t provided for his own daughter. At that moment, sitting with his sister alone in the hospital cafeteria, Harry decided the only part of the undercover case he cared about was keeping Claire and their child safe from Anthony Rawlings.
Again, life happened. This time, the damn cards were definitely against him. Claire informed him that he wasn’t the father of her baby. In retrospect, Harry didn’t know for sure if his decisions that afternoon in the hospital cafeteria were based on Claire or the baby. Now that he and Liz were reconciling, he leaned more toward the later; nonetheless, he still wanted to keep Claire and her child safe.
SAC Williams reviewed the case and Harry’s actions. He decided Agent Harrison Baldwin needed a break from the bureau; he wasn’t fired or demoted; instead, the FBI put him on temporary medical leave and required him to attend counseling sessions. These sessions with a bureau psychologist were supposed to determine why he overstepped his professional bounds with Claire Nichols. While he did as they said, it made Harry laugh. This was the first time he’d ever gotten personally involved with an informant; however, he’d been around the bureau long enough to know that it wasn’t a unique situation.
In addition to personal counseling sessions, he was required to attend sexual harassment seminars. Apparently, if Claire Nichols were so inclined, she could press charges against Harry. In actuality, six months ago, he’d jeopardized the case and sullied the bureau. Now, by showing Rawlings the picture of Claire and him holding hands, Harry had done it again.
He’d located and lost both of his assignments—Claire Nichols and Anthony Rawlings were missing in action. If Harry ignored the FBI’s text messages any longer, they would consider him MIA!
Pacing around his hotel room, Harry contemplated the case. He didn’t want to be taken off of it again. He knew he shouldn’t have shown Rawlings the picture of him holding Claire’s hand—he knew that before he did it. It was unprofessional. Harry could argue that his intentions were honorable. He’d hoped that by creating a rouse—making Rawlings believe that he and Claire were together—it would keep Rawlings away from her. The bureau would never approve of his actions or even his motivation. They’d remind Harry that Claire never pressed charges against Rawlings—in fact, she explicitly said that Rawlings wasn’t the one she feared.
It wasn’t just the connection with Claire. Harry didn’t want to be relieved of the case because even before he’d been officially assigned, he’d been researching it. With each passing day and new nugget of evidence, Harry knew that Rawlings was exactly the person Claire Nichols should fear. It was his goal to make the powers that be realize that Anthony Rawlings was connected—not only to the death of Agent Nichols—but multiple others. Some of the deaths, like Claire’s parents and Simon Johnson’s, had been classified accidents—car crashes—airplane crashes...
That didn’t matter. Claire had told Harry about Rawlings and accidents—Harry had a gut feeling that there was more to this case. He was on the hunt for hard evidence, but in the meantime, he had his gut feeling. To an FBI agent, that was significant. At one time, even Claire had told Harry that she believed Tony may have been involved with these accidents. Harry figured that if he could prove to her that her previous suspicions were correct—then maybe she’d see the light.
Not only had Harry messed up the case, he’d messed up any possible reconciliation with Claire as well. No longer could he or the bureau rely on her feelings of familiarity with him for insight. In Harry’s opinion, the only feelings Claire currently had for Harry were anger and betrayal. The way Harry saw it—he hadn’t betrayed Claire. In fact, the truth was the exact opposite. He’d been placed with her to protect her and learn from her. Without a doubt, in Harry’s mind, the protecting was paramount. Besides, he reasoned that if Claire could forgive Rawlings for his plethora of recognized sins, once she learned the whole truth of Rawlings’ doings, then Harry’s considerably shorter list of transgressions could also be forgiven.
