After collecting a dossier about it, she’d again made discrete inquiries, this time with Diane and Niall.

“Let me put you in touch with Congressman Ryan, Bette.  He’s in one of those committees that are concerned with tightening up things along the borders, and everything,” Niall had said.

A week later she was sitting across some investigators, who had promised her anonymity and protection.

“We need you to pretend to get into business with them, Bette.  We’ll give you a cover, and set you up with false credentials.  The information you’ll be able to get from a deal with them would be really critical in understanding more about those kinds of networks,” one of them had said.

She had wavered about doing it, however.

“Look, later on, at some point, you may need our help.  And we’ll be there to help.”

“Besides… do it for the art, Bette.  Do it for all those people who lost some of their most prized possessions. Art that needs to be restored to rightful owners, right?,” was their last pitch.

Of course they were right, Bette thought, as she reluctantly agreed.

So months later, here she was, waiting in a non-descript room in Crystal City, the glittering office complex just outside Washington, DC.  Waiting for the government to do what was right.

She’d carried out her end of the bargain.  It was time they carried out theirs.

She had asked for continued anonymity, immunity from any possible inadvertent prosecution, and a guarantee that any association to her of the whole affair would be wiped out from records.  She didn’t want any links to it, and wanted an iron-clad agreement her role would never be revealed.

She knew she had given them information that didn’t require sharing of details about who or how it was obtained. She had handed them their case, on a silver platter.  And now, she wanted to be left alone; she wanted to go back to her life. To Tina.

“Okay, you’ll get everything you asked,” one of the investigators said at last, as he returned to the room.

“But you’re going to have to lay low for the next few months.  And this truly is for your safety,” he paused, as she pursed her lips.

“As well as the safety of those you love,” he said, gently.