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“It seems like a lifetime ago,” Evie said. “Sebastian, what you have to understand is that someone in the situation I was in is desperate. They’re lucky if they find someone who can help them disappear and set them up with a new identity and a new place to live. To walk away from your life with what you can carry is emotionally devastating. And it’s not cheap for someone to do it either. Not everyone can liquidate assets with little notice and have money to live on while they establish themselves in a new place. Rose was in a horrible marriage where her husband controlled nearly everything, even their money. It took her a long time to hide enough money to get away.”
“So, Briana and her brother are a godsend to the women they help,” Roth said.
“Yes,” Evie agreed. “If you’re still in touch with her, let her know I could use an assistant at my office, and we still have Brody’s old condo that we are looking for a new tenant for. I can help someone in the short-term.”
“Evie?” BT asked. “We can’t get involved in their operation.”
“Someone needs to, Brody. And I feel I need to pay it forward. Someone helped me when I needed it. Now it’s my turn to do the same for someone else.”
Roth’s gaze went back and forth between them, waiting for BT to argue with her. He didn’t. He merely nodded.
“Thanks, I may let her know that. Not exactly the legal solution I was looking for, but maybe that’ll come too.”
“You ready to go back to the PGP Project?” BT asked, changing the subject.
“Honestly, no. I’ve enjoyed the other cases for the last month, but I know it was just a rotation. I’m still wondering what Bravo Team, being back, does to our chances of working the other cases.”
“They’re all good guys,” BT said. “You didn’t get the chance to talk with them too much since they’ve been back. But when you do, you’ll find they want to stay close to home for a while. They’ve been on the road nonstop for a few years now and are tired of it. All of them have their sights set on retirement and retiring in one piece. So, any of the dangerous missions they want no part of.”
Roth laughed. “I can’t see Shepherd receiving that news well. I seriously doubt he wants to be told by his assets what kind of work they want and don’t want to do.”
“I was told by one member of Bravo team that he thinks Shepherd has mellowed with age and marriage,” BT said with a chuckle. “He said Shepherd took it better than he thought he would. But the alternative was for one or all of them to give their resignation and collect their pensions.”
“So, do you think they’ll be assigned to HQ most of the time manning Ops?” Roth asked.
“Could be,” BT said with a shrug. “I’d think they’d be traveling at least fifty percent of the time; same arrangement Shepherd has made with the men who have children.”
“Do you think Shepherd would have any of them on the PGP Project?” Roth asked.
BT laughed. “You’re looking for anyone to take your place so you can work traditional cases.”
“I know what I want. Look, I was hired for the PGP Project with the prospect of working on some other cases a year out. And that has materialized. I’m very happy with it. I understand the importance of the PGP Project and I committed to work it, but if there is the possibility of working traditional cases more often, then yeah, I’m all over that.”
BT nodded. “I get it.” He held his wrist up and the dark blue cast that held his broken wrist straight from his hand up to his elbow. “I won’t lie. I’m not devastated to be assigned to HQ for the next six weeks while this heals. It’s going to be hard for me to go back on the road when I’m released to full duty. I love being here with Evie and Ollie.”
“Sometimes I think more with Ollie,” Evie said with a laugh.
“Well, she is a total sweetheart,” Roth said, stroking her head.
“She likes you,” Evie said. “Dogs are good judges of character, you know.”
Quebec
At five a.m. on New Year’s Day, Briana began the long drive north. She drove twelve hours as planned, arriving at the home of Nikki Stokes in Cranbury, New Jersey, where she’d spend the night and leave Miss Mittens for a few days. From there, it would be an additional six hours to make it to Winthrop, Maine, and her next client.
Nikki Stokes and her son, Dale, lived in a modest townhouse in a quiet neighborhood. She worked as a manager in a customer service call center. It was a much different life than they had when she was an MP in the Army and went by the name Lisa O’Conner. She’d altered her appearance as well and now sported black hair which was cut in choppy layers around her face.
Nikki’s house was always a layover point for Briana when her work took her anywhere near her friend. And Nikki would provide shelter to any of Briana’s clients who needed a place to hide out for a few weeks, too. Briana had taken her up on the offer several times in the past.
When Briana pulled her van into Nikki’s driveway, she text messaged her to let her know she’d arrived. Nikki opened the front door as Briana reached it with Miss Mittens in her arms. After an embrace, Nikki took the cat so Briana could return to the van and retrieve Miss Mittens’ supplies and her own backpack.
“Something smells amazing in this house. Is that your homemade spaghetti sauce I smell?” She gave Nikki another hug. “I’ve missed you so much!”
“I’ve missed you too and yes, it is made just for you.”
“Aw, thanks. Where’s Dale?”
“Up in his room,” Nikki answered. “I had to ground him from his video games, so he’s punishing me by staying in his room.” She laughed and shook her head. “But go on up and surprise him. He’ll get in a much better mood just by seeing you.”
