[Quinn 01] - The Cleaner

He waited until they were only a few feet away, then opened the door and got out.

'All right, Captain,' Burroughs began. 'I understand you have something for –' Burroughs stopped and stared at Quinn. 'Who the hell are you?' He turned and looked at Murray. 'What's going on here?'

'We've met before,' Quinn said.

Burroughs stiffened. 'We have?' Burroughs's eyes narrowed. 'I do know you, don't I?' he asked. 'Manila?'

'No. Montevideo,' Quinn said.

Burroughs began to nod. 'Ramos.'

'That's right.'

'You're Quinn.'

'Right again.'

'What do you want?'

'Why don't you get in the car? We'll have a little

more privacy in there.' Burroughs took a step backward, his eyes narrowing. 'I don't think so.' Quinn pulled his gun out of his pocket. 'It may have sounded like it, but it wasn't actually a request.' ** *

Murray drove around Brussels, while Quinn sat in back with Burroughs. 'They're going to come looking for me soon,' Burroughs said. 'You'll both be in deep shit.'

Quinn looked at him. 'Does it look like I care?'

'What do you want?'

'An exchange of information.'

'I don't deal.'

'Tell me about Robert Taggert.'

Burroughs looked at Quinn with contempt, but there had also been a flicker of what-the-fuck in the spook's eyes. 'Is that name supposed to mean something to me?'

'Try this one then. Henry Jansen?'

This time it was a twitch, just above Burroughs's left eye.

'It's a little confusing,' Quinn said. 'I mean, since they're the same person.'

Burroughs shrugged. 'Okay. If you say so. So what?'

'Jansen was supposed to give you some information,' he said. 'About an operation run by Borko.'

Burroughs stared hard at Quinn, then turned to Murray. 'Stop the car,' he commanded.

Murray, surprised, slammed on the brakes. Burroughs started to reach for the door. 'Hold on,' Quinn said calmly as he raised the gun. 'Ken, just keep driving.'

The car lurched forward as Murray pressed down on the accelerator.

'Stop the fucking car!' Burroughs snapped. Turning to Quinn, he said, 'I don't know what you're playing, but I'm getting out now.'

'Keep driving,' Quinn said. He raised his gun, aiming it at Burroughs's chest. 'If you think I'm kidding around, you're wrong. Some people I care about are in a lot of trouble because of whatever's going on. My personal rules of engagement aren't as strict as they used to be.'

Burroughs clenched his jaw. His fingers were still on the handle of the door. Quinn waited. It was obvious that Burroughs knew something he didn't want to share.

Finally, Burroughs let go of the handle and leaned back into the seat.

'Jansen. Taggert. You're right, okay? They're the same guy,' Burroughs said.

Quinn remained silent.

'And yes. He said he had come into some information that he wanted to pass on to us.'

'Who's us?' Quinn asked, moving the barrel of the gun a fraction of an inch to remind Burroughs it was there.

'The Agency. Who did you think?'

'What did he want to tell you?'

'If we knew that, he wouldn't have had to tell us, would he?'

'So, he never said anything about a biological sample he might have for you?'

'He wasn't specific about what he had.'

'That's all you knew?'

Burroughs hesitated, then said, 'He told us it was something tailored.'

Quinn furrowed his brow. 'What does that mean?'

'That's all he would say. We were meeting so he could give me the details.'

'Tell me about the meeting,' Quinn said. 'We were supposed to meet in Vail. On the slopes.' 'When?' 'The same day as the fire. I was in Vail, but

Taggert didn't show up.' 'Didn't you know where he was staying?' 'No. He insisted on making those plans himself.

The only thing he allowed us to do was arrange

for someone to drive him around.' 'Protection?' 'We insisted.' 'And this chauffeur didn't tell you where he was?' 'She was instructed not to. Taggert was very nervous.

We didn't want anything messing up the meet.' She? 'Jills,' Quinn said. 'That's right. You were the one who found her,

weren't you?' Quinn stared at Burroughs for a moment, eyes narrowing. 'What's the Office's role in this?'

Burroughs seemed to gauge how much he wanted to say. 'I tell you this, and you have to tell me everything you know.'

'I did say this was an exchange, didn't I?' Burroughs nodded. 'But you haven't shared

anything with me yet.' 'You're right,' Quinn said. 'I haven't.' 'Quinn?' Murray said from the front seat. 'What?' Quinn asked. 'You told me to keep a lookout for anything

unusual.' 'What is it?' 'I think we're being followed.' Quinn swiveled around in his seat to look out the back window. There were several cars behind

them. 'Which one?' he asked. 'The sedan. Directly behind us.' A dark Ford was two car lengths back. 'You're

sure?' Quinn asked. 'I've made a couple of turns. He's staying right with us.' 'Do it again,' Quinn said. 'A quick turn at the next block. No signal.'

Quinn watched out the back window as Murray executed his instructions. The Ford continued to follow them.

'Again,' Quinn ordered. 'Left at the next street.'