by Erin R Flynn
“You might fuck her but that—”
“Treat her with more respect in my presence,” Eugene growled, his tone deadly. “I’m still courting her and I wasn’t speaking of myself. She is mated to a noble fairy. She—”
I moved my hand to his chest to stop him. “It’s not worth it. I didn’t tell you but his… His memories aren’t accurate. He sees a twisted version of the past where I’m sobbing and broken. It didn’t happen like that. It’s all in his head.” I nodded and switched to Russian. “You cannot speak logic to someone with this degree of narcissistic personality disorder. He believes he is smarter and better than all of us.”
Eugene snorted. “Only an idiot doesn’t believe there is always someone smarter and better. Someone always is.”
“On that he may be stupid, but he is not dumb. That’s what makes him a problem. But not one for now. Head back and handle training. I want to get a jump on this lead. I don’t want any more bombs because they might become more and more sophisticated and then we’ll have more problems.”
“I understand. Be safe.” He gave me a quick kiss and headed off.
I turned and left, ignoring Murray when he called after me. Fuck him. He was just going to try and start more shit and he couldn’t even for a few days or weeks pretend to be professional and use my real title. He knew I wouldn’t report him because he’d turn it all around.
He always did.
I spent the ride to the office on the phone with the Coast Guard contact, thanking them for getting all over the idea, glad it didn’t come to that. Then I called the Archdiocese of Chicago. After being transferred around for a while I ended up talking to one very rude deacon who clearly wasn’t going to help me.
“We don’t give out that information, especially to—”
“Yeah, yeah, soulless beings,” I drawled, rolling my eyes. “I’m only partially clairvoyant and from what I hear, from people who were alive then, that’s how the Spanish Inquisition happened so you’ve had some in your own ranks. Don’t get judgy with me when I’m trying to save lives. Someone left a bomb at a church and I’d like to not have it happen again. Do you?”
“No, of course not,” he snapped.
“Then help me find out who did this. I’m not a reporter. This is confidential. I’ll come there with a team and we won’t take the files out of the place. Bring them to the office and they’re secure there. However we have to do this but I need this information. There was a damn message on the bomb that the church failed people. Now DCFS. I need to see this if there’s any crossover of names.”
He was silent for several moments. “Would a list of names who have filed complaints be enough without the full reports?”
“I would take that over nothing, yes. If I find names that match then I need the reports.” I sighed when he didn’t answer. “If I get a court order then things get on the record but to stop bombs appearing in Chicago we both know I’ll get it.”
“Yes, you would. I’ll start compiling lists of names and have it sent to your office. By year would be best?”
“Yes.” I decided to push a bit so he knew I wasn’t just going to accept anything and be grateful. “Let me be clear that if you screw with me now you will be arrested for impeding a federal investigation. I’m not trying to embarrass the Catholic Church. I’m looking for a bomber so no leaving names off that list for any reason. If they don’t match the list I get from DCFS they will be forgotten.”
“I understand,” he bit out.
“I also need the list notated with any complaints filed through that church. It might be that it’s such a big and notable one downtown or it could be that it happened there. We don’t know, but that information is important.”
“Fine, I will see it done,” he seethed.
“Glad to hear it.” I gave him the office fax number and he hung up without even saying goodbye. “And again, I’m the soulless demon? How am I always the asshole or bitch to people?”
“You are not the only one, Sera,” Nikos comforted. “Idiots and assholes find people to hate without valid reasons all the time.” He met my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Speaking of assholes. You need to think on what Murray’s counterattack will be. He wasn’t happy Oswalt didn’t side with him and the digs you got in in front of people. Carter having that blocking charm worked as well.”
“I figured that’s what it was. We need a more permanent solution.”
“We’re working on that,” he promised.
“Good.” I looked up the number I needed for DCFS to get the list of complaints and filings I needed as well, mulling over what he said as I waited. Yeah, Murray was going to lash back and fast.
And I had a few guesses as to how. Fortunately he wasn’t the only one who was smart.
The fax was pumping out pages by the time we got to the office with lunch and I brought it all to my office. Just as I finished stuffing my face, SAiC Rodriguez knocked on the door with a look that told me he had bad news.
Interesting since he had his hands loaded with pages from the fax.
“The director’s on line one for you.”
Fuck.
I accepted the papers and thanked him, asking him to close the door on his way back out. It wouldn’t keep everyone from overhearing my end of the call, but it would at least keep some semblance of professionalism.
I let out a slow breath and picked up the handset, hitting the right button as I put it to my ear. “Thomas.”
“Nice job handling the situation today,” Deputy Director Galvin greeted.
“Nice job?” Director Ferguson mocked. “It was a circus from what I heard and she was totally unprofessional again.”
“Not according to CPD, the ranking Bomb Squad officer, and the mayor,” Chief Monroe defended. “Though I got an earful that your guy Murray was once again disrespectful to her and CPD so that makes us look stupid.”
I bit back a sigh, realizing this was just going to be the three bosses whipping it out and comparing sizes as they bitched at each other. And women were hens always squawking? I never understood that.
“I would be incredibly open to any valid feedback as this is my first bomb case, Director. Murray’s style of pointing out anything he thinks is a flaw at the moment to undermine me isn’t helpful, but I do take feedback and guidance well. Which is why I listened to Lieutenant Oswalt as much as I did, despite Murray’s protest it made me look weak.
“Lieutenant Oswalt is highly decorated with a long bomb squad career and my experience in this area is lacking. I understand Murray doesn’t know CPD as I do, but Chief Havers also worked with Lieutenant Oswalt and SWAT longer than I have and always trusted their guidance. I saw no reason to not follow that lead when I didn’t disagree with what was being suggested.”
“No, listening to Oswalt was the right call,” the director conceded. “But this letting civilians help has to stop. And now that you’re a prime suspect you’re off the—”
“Prime suspect my—” Monroe cut in.
“With all due respect, Director—” Galvin objected at the same time.
I sighed and sent the email I had ready. “I’ve sent the three of you an email with attachments that are for your eyes only. I don’t answer to Andrew Murray and his outlandish accusations. There are millions of people who have problems with the Catholic Church and DCFS. He is not my boss no matter what he thinks. If my actual bosses find that a valid concern, I will address it.
“But let’s be real that it doesn’t make me a prime suspect. It makes my being in charge of the case maybe conflicted. I can fix that and I just did. If you please open the attachment, you’ll see that. If you need more proof, you’re more than welcome to speak with Dain Morton, who handled the transactions as my attorney. You can confirm with the recipients that the money was received though it was anonymous.”
“What is this?” Galvin muttered.
“Holy shit, Thomas,” Monroe whispered. “You donated this?”
“I did,” I confirmed,
swallowing loudly when no one said anything, realizing they wanted me to continue. “The Catholic Church might have a problem with me and label me a soulless demon because I have some clairvoyant tendencies, but they do some good work. My file is full of valid reasons I think DCFS doesn’t do as good of a job as it should but it does save kids from living on the streets.
“I have other donations I can show you going back years and years if you need it but they’re more personal and honestly, not your business. This wasn’t personal. This was one Catholic Church group home that works with DCFS that desperately needs funding that I checked out personally and is run well. It’s clean of anything shady, doesn’t allow abuse, and protects the kids.”
“So you donated six million dollars to keep it open?” Galvin asked, his tone holding a twinge of awe.
“Yes, last year. This year I donated another six million so they could expand the home and hire more staff to help more kids. I pledged another six million for next year if they promised to keep running a good place and didn’t teach the anti-supe stuff of the Catholic Church even if I wanted to stay anonymous. So, you see, Director, I’m not trying to blow up anything. I’m always, always trying to help save as many as I can.”
20
“Why not just tell Murray this?” the director finally asked after several quiet moments.
I sighed. “Because I don’t answer to him, sir. I answer to you. Murray isn’t even promoted yet and is acting like my boss and we’ll be the same rank. Hell, I’ll be the senior division chief.” I was tired and tired of this conversation already. I glanced up and met Enzo’s gaze, shocked he was there listening in.
He gave me a slow nod, mischief dancing in his eyes. I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to do but then he tapped his head and I had a feeling he was listening in. Or maybe he could just tell what I was plotting. Either way, he was on board with the plan.
Time to sow some dissention in the ranks.
“Sir, with all due respect, let’s cut through the crap,” I said quietly. “This isn’t about my job performance. You probably don’t think I’d ever really bomb anything. This about how you feel about supes. I don’t know if you have a valid reason to hate us or if you just fear us because you haven’t gotten a chance to know any of us.”
“That is an outlandish thing—”
“Sir, you have not been as quiet on your opinions as you think,” I argued. “Most of the non-human office in DC knows you loathe them and have asked for a transfer so they’re out of your view.” He didn’t reply right away so when Enzo nodded again I went further. “And whatever you’re plotting with Murray, let me tell you that Andrew Murray is not on your side.”
“He told me you always kept on your ring,” he snapped but then cleared his throat.
“The fact you told him about my ring is a huge breach in protocol and honestly, HR would have a field day with it,” I said, having a hard time keeping the snarl out of my voice. “But it was cold and when my hand was my pocket, yes, I took it off a few times. I didn’t get much, but… Please hear me. He is not on your side, sir.”
“Of course you would say that.”
“It doesn’t make it not the truth.”
He snorted. “And why would you tell me that then?”
I shrugged even if he couldn’t see it. “One former Naval officer to another? I don’t hate you? I don’t agree with your politics but I think you’re a pretty damn good Director of the FBI even if the sexism is worse than other agencies. I think someday your mind could be changed about supes.”
“What do you mean Murray isn’t on his side?” Galvin cut in as if he didn’t know this already. “He’s betraying the FBI?”
I snorted. “Murray would betray anyone. The only side Andrew Murray is on is his own. I’ve always known that. I didn’t get much but that the director plans to retire and mess up your confirmation hearing to be the next director. But Murray doesn’t really want that so he’s got something on the director to screw him over. I don’t know what but he’s planning to use it to get in with me.
“Because that’s his true end goal. Me. He wants me who was the only woman who saw through his bull and turned him down. Now I have money and power and he wants it. He doesn’t want division chief of the FBI. He wants prince of Greece and liaison to Iran and whatever else he thinks I’ll just hand over to him because women are stupid and weak to him.
“And before you say I’m making all of this up, sir? Check into the guy you’re betting on after Galvin as the new director. Even I know he’s got so many skeletons in his closet it will embarrass you to back him. Every female in the FBI knows not to be alone with him in an office. Not for any reason. He is the sexual harasser. You would have people coming out of the woodwork to testify to that.”
“You speak from experience?” Monroe asked.
“Absolutely,” I confirmed. “I was undercover and my handler was ‘unavailable’ so he showed up to make a drop of information. Instead of at the bar like arranged, he showed up in my hotel room while I was in the shower and I had to fight him off. Not only did he sexually assault me, but he risked our lives pulling that on a deep cover op.”
“I’ve never heard of this,” the director muttered.
“Oh, I bet you’ve not heard of a lot of such reports,” I drawled. “I filed it in my report and was questioned by IA after the assignment was over. It never went anywhere. The instances never did with him from what I’ve heard. If I know Chief Havers, he has a copy of the complaint and report. So does the Chicago office IA if I know those guys. Call them.”
The director cleared his throat. “I will look into that but we’re getting off topic. I agree that you’re not a prime suspect but going forward, no more civilians on crime scenes. We can’t risk the liability and—”
“Teachers were clearing the schools and city hall employees helping evacuate city hall today,” I interjected. “None of them are CPD or FBI. I’m missing the jump here, sir. I had trusted volunteers working with someone CPD or FBI for more boots on the ground knocking on doors and listening for heartbeats to get people out faster. No one was breaking down doors or doing anything other volunteers wouldn’t.”
“You had them speaking to the media and working with the bomb,” he said.
“The fuck I did,” I snapped, but then cleared my throat. “Sir, I did not. Only FBI or CPD told the media anything. Only FBI or CPD went near either bomb. Murray doesn’t know the players and clearly was misinformed.”
Yeah, right, and I couldn’t even hide it in my tone I didn’t think that the case.
“According to CPD her volunteers only helped them clear the area,” Galvin confirmed. “And held the two-block perimeter all around the sites, handing out coffee to CPD. There’s no breach in protocol on any of that.”
“I’ll let Murray know he was wrong,” the director grumbled.
Uh-huh, that almost sounded like an apology for me. Assholes.
“What is this lead Murray gave you that will catch this guy?” the director asked.
I rolled my eyes and flopped back in my chair. “He gave me no lead, sir.”
“He said you had a lead and he gave it to you.”
“I have a lead but it did not come from Murray.”
“Thomas, taking credit for—” he started but Galvin cut in.
“Sir, does Murray strike you as the type to not brag on what lead he would have found? He simply told you there was a lead he found and ask Thomas what it was? That sounds…”
“Like he was trying to save face after making an ass of himself at the scene today?” Monroe drawled. “Did you mention a lead and Murray asked you what it was, Thomas?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why didn’t you tell him?” Galvin pushed.
“So he couldn’t take credit for it just like he always does. It’s his MO. I’ve never known anyone who does it more often. Hell, he would take credit for cracking something in transcripts in languages he didn’t speak during training and peopl
e never questioned it. It’s why I asked if he was a supe. Next thing I knew he told everyone I was psychic and that was the rumor the rest of training.”
“Is he psychic? Can you tell now that you’re a supe?” Galvin asked.
“No, psychics, clairvoyants, and gifted humans smell the same,” I hedged, wondering if I should confess what we knew or how to handle the situation next.
But apparently Monroe knew as he pushed me. I glanced up to see Enzo on the phone and realized he was getting guidance, Enzo pushing us around the board like chess pieces.
“We’re asking your opinion on this, Thomas,” Monroe said gently. “We need to know this things. You’re not making outlandish accusations. If you had to guess, is there something going on with Murray?”
“Yes, but I don’t know what,” I sighed, glad when Enzo nodded I was doing the right thing. It wasn’t like anyone could tell I was lying over the phone. “I mean, we know there are magic charms or spells. Now that I understand it more, his confidence on how he can just get people to agree with him no matter what’s right in front of them seems… Fishy. I’ve always thought so but it never worked on me.”
“Then he’s not using anything,” the director defended angrily.
“Except it wouldn’t have worked on me if I could get images from him,” I argued. “That’s this obsession with me. I never caved to him. Now I think he’s… It’s like he’s not used to being around powerful supes who his tricks won’t work on. Or Oswalt is a null someone said and completely not swayed by Murray.”
“Sounds like an influence or perception charm,” Monroe muttered. “Makes sense. I’ve read over some of your reports and filings from training and even Jerome Curtis admits looking back he has no idea why they didn’t take them more seriously when you were their ace recruit. Do you have anything we can see of it not working?”