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Chapter Twenty-Two
Emily
“We’re pulling him off the case, Straton.” I saw red and my body vibrated with anger as I sat in my brown leather office chair in the home that Alex and I share with our children.
I was logged on ten minutes early for our video conference with Director Alan Reynolds, douchebag of the first order, and guess who was already waiting for me.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s a decent guy. We’ve been working together for over a decade, but he’s lost the plot if he thinks he’s pulling Reid from this case without some serious push back and one hell of a tantrum.
My fingers twitched as I gripped the arms of the chair with the need to shoot someone. I’m fucking pissed.
“I’m sorry, is there an issue with our connection, director? Did I misunderstand what you just said? You want to pull Reid from his own case? The case he’s been building for years. He’s more than qualified, and you knew he was compromised because of his father going into it.” My voice shook with frustration, but I did my best to speak calmly. Blowing up isn’t going to buy us any favors today.
I felt Alex’s presence to my back, as he continued to pace.
Back and forth. Back and forth.
The pacing used to drive me insane, but after all these years, there is something calming about it. Just knowing he’s there is enough to help me keep my anger on lock. Sort of.
“We offered him the case knowing his father was involved, yes. He assured us that there was no reason to believe he was involved with Holly Adkins, but Bennett presented some disturbing video footage from that night at the restaurant that proved otherwise.” Fucking A, Bennett. I cut my eyes over to Alex who was headed straight to his wall of computer monitors that made my measly office setup on the opposite side of the room look like a child’s pretend play office.
“Director, why exactly was Bennett at the restaurant that night? Why did he have access to this case? He should have never had access to Adkins to begin with.” I tried to buy Alex time, as he searched our database for the footage that the director was referring to.
If the video has been uploaded to the system, Alex can find it, and he can get rid of it. The damage is done, but we can keep it from going further and posing a threat to Reid’s career or the future of whatever is happening between he and Holly. I’ve waited too damn long to see that man settle down with a woman, I’m not going to let some low-def cellphone camera footage in an elevator go public and jeopardize my chances of becoming an aunt sometime before I’m eighty.
“This isn’t up for discussion, Agent Straton. A decision has already been made, now let me finish. We are pulling Chapman, but he is to remain undercover. He’s distracted, but now he’s a player in our game that we can’t afford lose. Our sources indicate a shipment coming in, in forty-eight hours. The shipment is set to arrive at Anderson House at zero two hundred hours on that day. This is a trial run for the new property and the tunnel system. We understand Wilks and Adkins will both be there; this is our one shot. Bennett was never supposed to be at that restaurant, we have reason to believe he’s no longer working for us, so I need you to be careful. Alex will continue to liaison between you and Chapman. Reid Chapman is one of our best men, Emily, you and I and the whole damn Bureau know that. We don’t believe Holly is involved in this case, but as it stands, she’s a liability, and she’s in danger. Make certain she stays with Chapman. The clock is ticking, and it’s up to you to finish this. This agency, as well as the lives of countless women and children are depending on you; your entire career has led up to this moment. Don’t let us down, Straton.” I sat shocked as I watched the director hit end on the call and my screen went black.
“Alex.” I needed my touchstone. I felt him as he stood up and walked over to where I was sitting. I felt his lean body kneel beside my chair, but my eyes remained locked on the screen as I processed the mission that was just laid out before me.
“Emily.” I felt his lips brush the side of my face, and I heard the laughter of one of our children as they ran by the open office door.
“Let’s end this.”
“That’s my girl.”
