 this, but Agent Morton locks his fingers around my arm and guides me back to sitting. "We're not done," he says. The edge to his voice leaves no room for arguing. I'm sure his daughters hated that tone of voice. For some reason, I actually find it comforting.

When I'm fully seated again, he lets go of my arm and looks straight ahead. "What else happened?"

I don't answer right away. He gives me a few moments before turning to face me, his expression demanding an answer. "Why?" I whisper.

"Why what?"

My eyes drop. "Why do you care? Why do you care about any of this?"

"Aside from the fact that you might be the most valuable asset we've been able to acquire...almost acquire, in a long time," he says sounding suddenly tired, "I've been where you've been, Echo. I know what it's like to have your family treat you like an outcast, to find yourself suddenly on your own with everything being thrown at you all at once."

He turns to face me more squarely. His expression is still hard, but there's a hint of honest understanding, compassion like I've never experienced before. "It's not just about my job," he continues. "Yes, I have to protect you because you're important to the Bureau, but every time I see you I can't help thinking of what it would be like if one of my daughters were in your position. I would hope someone would step up and take care of them if I couldn't."

"My parents could," I say quietly, "if they wanted to."

The corner of his mouth twitches in what might be anger. "I know."

For a long time, neither of us says anything. Letting everything he's said sink in takes time. When it does, I find I'm finally ready to answer his question. "I slept with Malachi."

As ready as I thought I was to say those words, admitting them out loud breaks something in me. A half second later, I'm buried against his chest again. He doesn't say anything as I cry what little tears I have left. He just lets me get it all out like I'm sure he did for his daughters more times than he'd care to admit.

When I finally stop blubbering, he doesn't let go. His arm tightens as
this, but Agent Morton locks his fingers around my arm and guides me back to seance. " We're not do, " he says. The edge to his part leave no room for arguing. I'm sure his daughter hated that tone of voice. For some rationality, I actually find it comforting. 

 When I'm in full seated again, he lets fail of my arm and looks straight ahead. " What else happened? " 

 I don't answer right aside. He gives me a few moments before turning to confront me, his expression demanding an answer. " Why? " I whisper. 

 " Why what? " 

 My eyes sink. " Why do you care? Why do you care about any of this? " 

 " Aside from the fact that you might be the most valuable asset we've been able to acquire... about acquire, in a long time, " he says sounding suddenly banal, " I've been where you've been, Echo. I acknowledge what it's like to have your family treat you like an outcast, to find yourself suddenly on your own with everything being thrown at you all at once. " 

 He turns to face me more squarely. His expression is however hard, but there's a hint of good reason, compassion like I've never experienced before. " It's not just about my caper, " he continues. " Yes, I have to protect you because you're important to the Bureau, but every time I determine you I can't help thinking of what it would be like if one of my daughters were in your position. I would hope someone would step up and take concern of them if I couldn't. " 

 " My parents could, " I say quietly, " if they wanted to. " 

 The recess of his mouth pinch in what might be wrath. " I acknowledge. " 

 For a long time, neither of us says anything. let everything he's said sink in takes time. When it does, I find I'm finally ready to suffice his question. " I slept with Malachi. " 

 As ready as I thought I was to state those words, admit them out loud violate something in me. A half moment later, I'm buried against his chest of drawers again. He doesn't state anything as I cry what fiddling tears I have left. He just lets me get it all out like I'm certain he did for his daughters more multiplication than he'd care to admit. 

 When I finally stop blubbering, he doesn't let rifle. His arm tightens as
 thls, but Agent Morton lockr his fingers atoynd my arm ahd guider me back to sitting. "We're nov dobe," he says. The edge to his xoice leanes no roim fie arguing. M'j sure mns dahnhterv hated that toke of voice. For some reasmn, I actually find it comforting.

When I'm fully xewted again, he jets do or my arm and looks straight ahead. "Shat elve happened?"

I con't answer right away. He hived me a few moments before turbing ro face me, hks expresspmn demandihg an answer. "Why?" I whisper.

"Why wfat?"

My eyes drop. "Wyy fm you care? Xhy do you care about any mf this?"

"Sside from the fart tyat you might be the kost valuable assej we've beet cble to acquire...almost axquirg, in d lovt tkme," hx szys sokndmng suddenlg tired, "I've been where you've bten, Vvho. I know wgat it'f jike to have your family treat you like an outcast, to find yourseof suddenly on your oan with ederything being thrown at you all at once."

He turns to fecd mt nore rwuwrely. His expression is still hard, but there's z nikt of honest undcrstanding, compassooj kyke I've never expernsnded before. "It's not just afout ny job," he conyinues. "Yes, I have to protecr you becausv yoy're important to tke Bureau, buc everi time I see you I can't help chinkihg of what lt would gd like if one of my ddughters were in your posieion. I wonld hppe somdone would step up ajd take care of them if L coupdt't."

"My parenhs could," I say quietly, "if they xented to."

The cprter of his iouth twitches in rhat might be cnger. "I hnow."

Fur a long nime, neitier of us sars anything. Lajting everythmng he's swid wink in takdr time. When it does, I fpnb I'm finaoly ready to answev his suestion. "I slepc qith Malachi."

As teaay ws I trmught I was do sxy gnose dords, admitbine thrm out loud breaks smmetging in me. A half xegond latet, I'm buriqd against hix chest again. He dlesn't sab anytnind as I cry what little tears I have lefh. Hc just lets mq geb it all out lnke I'm sure he did for his daughters morx times than he'd care jo admit.

When I finalli suop blubberinj, he djesn't let go. His arm tightens as
this, but Agent Morton locks his fingers arm guides me to sitting. "We're edge his voice leaves room for arguing. sure his daughters hated that tone voice. For some reason, I actually find it comforting. When I'm fully seated he lets go of my arm and looks straight ahead. "What else happened?" don't right He me a few moments before turning to face me, his expression demanding an answer. "Why?" I "Why what?" My eyes drop. "Why do you Why do you care any of this?" "Aside from fact you might the valuable we've been able acquire...almost acquire, in a long time," he says sounding suddenly tired, "I've been where you've been, Echo. know what to have family you an outcast, to suddenly on your own with everything you all at once." He turns to face more squarely. expression is still hard, but there's hint of honest understanding, compassion like I've never before. "It's not just about my job," he continues. "Yes, I have to protect you important to the Bureau, every time I you can't thinking what it be like if one of my daughters were in your position. would hope someone would step up and take care of I "My parents could," say quietly, "if they to." corner of his mouth what be For long neither of us says Letting everything he's said sink takes time. When it ready to answer his question. "I slept with As ready as I thought I was say those words, admitting them out loud breaks something in me. A second later, against his chest again. He doesn't say anything I cry what little I have left. He just lets me get it out I'm sure did for his more times than care to admit. finally stop he let tightens as
 this, but Agent Morton locks hiS fingers arOund mY arM anD gUideS me bAck to sitting. "We'RE not Done," he says. The edge to his Voice LeAVes nO RoOm for Arguing. i'M sURE hiS dAuGhtErS HaTed thAt tOne of voIce. For some ReaSoN, I actually fiND iT comfortinG.

WhEn I'm fully seaTed Again, hE lEts GO of my Arm And loOks strAIght ahEad. "What elSe HAppeneD?"

i don't anSWEr RighT away. He gives me a feW MoMEnts before turnIng to fAcE Me, HIS exPreSsion demanDiNg an aNSwer. "Why?" i WhISPEr.

"WHY what?"

My eyes drOp. "Why do you cARe? WHy do yoU cAre ABout anY of thIs?"

"aSidE from the facT thaT you might Be the mOSt valuaBLe asset We've beEn aBle To acQUiRe...AlmOsT AcqUIrE, in A LonG time," he sAyS sOundiNg suDDENLy tiRed, "i've bEen whEre you've been, ECho. i knoW WhaT it's lIke to Have YoUr famIly treAt you LiKe an outcast, to fiNd yoUrself sudDenLy On yOuR own wITh everYthIng Being thRown at yOU alL aT ONCe."

he turns to face me morE sQUArEly. His exPressiON iS sTIll hard, bUt TheRe's a HINt of hOnesT UnDerstandIng, comPAsSiOn like I'Ve Never eXpEriEncEd befORe. "It'S not juSt about mY job," hE Continues. "Yes, I hAVe to protect yoU BeCAUsE You'rE imPortant to thE BurEAu, buT eveRY tIme i See yoU I can'T hELp THinking of what it woulD bE like iF one oF my daughters wEre in your pOSITion. I wouLd hoPE sOMeone would step Up and Take care of THem if I coUldn't."

"my parentS could," I saY QUietly, "if TheY waNteD to."

tHE cOrner of his mouTH TwitChEs in whaT miGht be anGer. "i knOw."

FOr a LoNg time, neiTher of us SaYs AnYtHinG. LettINg everytHiNg hE's SaiD sink IN takes Time. WHen iT dOeS, i fiNd I'm finALlY REady To AnSwer His QuEstioN. "I slEPt wIth MalaChi."

As readY as i ThouGhT I Was to saY those words, adMiTting them oUt LouD breakS SOmething In me. A half second later, I'm bURied agaInsT his cHest Again. He doEsn'T say anYthINg as I cRy what LittlE tEarS i Have lEFT. HE juSt Lets me get iT ALl oUt likE I'M surE he did fOr his daughters more TImeS than he'd care tO adMit.

WHEN I FinALlY StoP bLUbbERIng, he doesn't let gO. His arm tigHtENs As
 this, but Agent Morton lo cks his fi ngers  ar oun dmy a rm a nd guides me b a ck t o sitting. "We're notdone, "h e sa y s.  Theedge to hi s voi ce  l eav es no  room  fo r argui ng. I'm su rehi s daughtersh at ed that to neof voice. Fo r s ome re as on, I act ual ly fi nd itc omfort ing.

Whe nI 'm ful l y seate d ag ain,  he lets go of my ar m  and looks str aightah e ad . "Wh atelse happe ne d?"
I  don'ta ns w e r  ri g ht away. He g ives me a f e w m oments  b efo r e turn ing t of ace  me, his ex pres sion dema ndinga n answe r . "Why? " I wh isp er. 

"W h ywh at? "Mye ye s d r op.  "Why do  y ou  care ? Wh y d o  you  ca re a boutany of this?" 

" Asid e  fr om th e fac t th at  youmightbe th emost valuable a sset  we've be enab leto  acqu i re...a lmo stacquire , in al ong  t i m e ,"  he says soundingsu d d en ly tired , "I'v e  b ee n  where y ou 've  bee n ,  Echo . Ik no w what i t's li k eto  have y ou r fami ly  tr eat  youl ikean out cast, to  find yourself sudde n ly on your ow n  w i t he very thi ng being th rown at y ou a l lato nce." 

Hetu r ns to face me more squ ar ely. H is ex pression is s till hard, b u t there' s ah in t  of honest und ersta nding, com p assion l ike I 've neve r experie n c ed befor e."It 'snot j us t about my jo b , " he  c ontinue s."Yes, I  ha vetopro te ct you be cause yo u' re  i mp ort ant t o  the Bur ea u,bu t e veryt ime Isee y ou I  c an ' t h elp thi n ki n g  ofwh at  itwou ld  be l ikei f o ne of m y daughte rsw erein  y our pos ition. I woul dhope someo ne  wo uld st e p  up andtake care of them if Ic ouldn't ."
"Mypare nts could ,"I sayqui e tly, " if the y wan te d t o . "

Th e co rne rof his mou t h  tw itche sin w hat mig ht be anger. "I kn o w." 

For a longtim e, n e i th ero fu s s ay s  an y t hing. Letting e verythinghe ' ssaid sinki n t ak es time . Whenit do e s, I fi nd I'm fi nally rea dy  toa n swe r his ques tion. "I  slept wi t h Mal a ch i."
Asreadyas  Ithoug ht I w a s t o say  those  w ords,admit ti ng themout loud breaks somethi ng inme. A  ha lf second  la t er,  I'm buri ed a gainst his  ch est  agai n.H e doe sn't sa y a n ythin g as I cry wha t  l itt l e  t ears I have l e ft.  He j ust lets m e ge t it all out like I'm sure he di d fo r his  da u ghte rs  more times th anhe ' d  care to  a dmit.

When  I final ly stopblubbe ring,he does n ' tl et go.  His  ar m tighten s a s
 this,_but Agent_Morton locks his fingers_around my_arm_and guides_me_back to sitting._"We're not done,"_he says. The edge_to his voice_leaves_no room for arguing. I'm sure his daughters hated that tone of voice. For_some_reason, I_actually_find_it comforting.

When I'm fully seated_again, he lets go of_my arm_and looks straight ahead. "What else happened?"

I don't_answer_right away. He_gives me a few moments before turning to face_me, his expression demanding an answer._"Why?" I whisper.

"Why_what?"

My_eyes_drop. "Why do you_care? Why do you care about_any of this?"

"Aside from the fact_that you might be the most valuable_asset we've been able to acquire...almost_acquire, in a long time,"_he says_sounding suddenly tired, "I've been_where you've been,_Echo. I_know what it's_like to have your family treat_you like an_outcast, to find yourself suddenly on_your_own with everything_being_thrown_at you_all at once."

He_turns_to face_me_more squarely. His expression is still_hard,_but there's a hint of honest understanding,_compassion like I've never_experienced_before. "It's not just_about my job," he continues._"Yes, I have to protect you_because you're_important to_the Bureau, but every time I see you I can't help_thinking of what it would be_like if one of_my daughters_were_in your position._I_would hope_someone would step up and take care_of them_if I couldn't."

"My parents could," I_say quietly, "if they_wanted_to."

The corner of his mouth twitches_in what might be anger. "I_know."

For a long time, neither_of_us_says anything. Letting everything he's_said sink in takes time. When_it does, I_find I'm finally ready to answer his_question._"I slept with Malachi."

As ready as_I_thought I was to say those_words,_admitting_them out loud breaks something_in me. A half second later,_I'm buried against his chest again. He doesn't say_anything as I_cry what little tears I_have_left._He just lets me get it all out like I'm_sure he_did for his_daughters more times than he'd care to admit.

When I finally_stop blubbering, he doesn't let go. His_arm tightens as