"Hell yeah, but I wouldn't have a clue where to start with something like that, and I don't imagine I could push it through Colonel Fenton."
"Ah, well, the good thing about it is it doesn't come from this unit, so you don't need to worry about Atilla." The nickname they'd given the colonel fit. He fought everything the team tried to accomplish yet took all the glory for their successes. The asshole who wanted his dad's job was a total prick.
"Who requests it?"
"That would come from the Commissioner over the Finance Department, and since the Chief Financial Officer's position is vacant, the Financial Services Director is responsible for up channeling all forfeiture spending requests." Brody crossed his arms and waited for shit to sink in.
The man leaned back and leveled a laser sharp glare his way. "Debbie McGuire. You used to date her. For a couple years, right?"
"I did."
"Did it end amicably?"
"I believe so. It ran its course." Busy people with busy lives. The sex had been good, and they got along well together, but they'd both realized they wanted different things. She wanted career advancement and really got off on the status of dating the commissioner's son. He wanted... hell, he didn't want anything except the status quo. A routine partner who was there when it was convenient for both of them. Debbie was a wonderful woman, but not once had he envisioned a lifetime with her. They drifted apart a long time before they officially called it quits. He didn't lose any sleep over the breakup, nor did she.
"I guess it doesn't hurt to ask, but I don't want you to get your ass in a crack between Debbie in finance and the woman out there." He nodded toward the window.
Brody's eyes followed the nod. Amber chose that second to throw back her head and laugh at something Rayburn had said. She was absolutely beautiful. "There isn't any concern there. We share a past, among other things, but there can never be anything between us again."
"Never, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Fucking long time, never."
Brody glanced through the window again and sighed, "Yeah."
Out of the corner of her eye, Amber caught Brody going to his office, just as Terrell's voice shattered the low thrum of conversation in the bullpen. "Swanson, when you're free."
Rayburn leaned over. "That's code for getcha ass in here."
She gave him the stink eye. "I deduced that all by myself."
"See, I told you she was smart." Watson shot a rubber band at Rayburn, who ducked quickly. The band flew behind him and hit one of the other team members in the back. The guy saluted them with his middle finger but didn't stop the conversation he was having on the phone. Both Watson and Rayburn laughed like loons.
"You two have the combined mental capacity of a Shih Tzu." She grabbed her phone and pocketed it as she headed to the captain's office.
"Hey, I heard those were really smart animals!" Rayburn yelled after her.
She shook her head, a smile spreading across her face as she knocked on the door bearing his name, Captain Ryker J. Terrell. She ignored the man inside the office next door. Lieutenant Anderson was a non-person as far as she was concerned.
Terrell looked up and motioned to the chair in front of his desk. "Swanson. Shut the door and take a seat."
She did what he asked and laced her fingers together over her knee, waiting for the reason she was summoned.
"Thank you for the statement. The situation is being looked into, and I want to assure you it will be impartial."
"Ah, he's still denying it." Captain Terrell didn't respond, but it was all right. She was certain Lieutenant Anderson was professing his innocence.
"I'm continuing with my investigation. From this point forward you will report directly to me."
"Yes, sir." She was good with it.
"Do you have any problem working with Sergeant King?"
She snapped backward. "No. Why?"
"I need to make sure there is nothing from the past which can interfere with an ongoing investigation. Should I need the two of you to work in close proximity, there wouldn't be any reason for concern?"
Her head moved side to side. "No sir. None that I'm aware of."
"All right. Your current assignment is with Sergeant King and Detectives Rayburn and Watson. Please do not contact Lieutenant Anderson unless absolutely necessary and then only if witnesses are available."
She snorted. "I'll have no problem following that order."
"Good. I look forward to working with you, Agent Swanson."
"And I you, sir." She stood and headed from the office.
"Swanson, leave the door open."
She nodded and did as he asked before she headed to the break room. She grabbed a soda and a bag of chips and returned to her desk. She was waiting for calls from several agents in the Jacksonville area. She needed to make contact, determine what they knew about Gray Death production in Jacksonville, and ascertain if they knew how the product was being transported. From what she'd read online, there had been numerous deaths from the drug. One of the fatalities was a police officer. The patrolman had worn gloves but inhaled the fine powder which had escaped when the wrapping was opened. The shit was worse than pure heroin. It was so deadly, she wondered why the suppliers were pushing it. The product could kill a large portion of their clientele.
Her phone vibrated. She palmed it. "Agent Swanson."
"Hey Amber, got a message you called?" Terry Goldsmith's voice made her smile.
"Hey Terry, how are you doing?"
"Busy. You?"
"Same, but I've been permanently assigned to a Joint Task Force up here in Hope City."
"Demotion?" The man's concern was immediate.
"No actually, I asked for it. I needed to be home more."
"Ah, yeah I get it. I missed so damn much of my kids growing up, but you gotta pay bills, you know what I mean?"
"I do. Speaking of which, what do you know about Grey Death production in the Jacksonville area?"
He sighed in her ear. "That shit is insane. Whatever you do, get your first responders gloves and access to masks. They're using elephant tranquilizers in the shit."
"I heard that, too. Where the hell are they getting the tranqs?" She glanced up as Brody strode to the break room while talking with two of the other detectives.
"Rumor has it a big shipment for an elephant refuge in Tennessee was nipped."
"Excuse me, where?"
"You heard me. A huge preserve for the African and Asian elephants that are rescued in North America."
"Dang. Didn't know anything like that existed."
"Well, neither did I until we started tracking this shit. Anyway, this is all rumor, of course..."
Amber chuckled. "I got you. Not a soul will know where I'm pulling my info."
"Smart girl. Anyway, we've been watching. We know it's being cooked here, but no idea where it's made or how it’s transported."
"How do you know it's being made down there?"
"Ah, three dead bodies, two executed and one OD'd after Jax PD arrived. There was a small amount of the shit found underneath a ransacked workbench. It was unwrapped and uncut. The equipment was missing, but you could tell where it had been located. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to get any information from our CIs on who's running the kitchen or where it went. We've got no idea where it’s going or how it’s getting there, so yeah, a whole lot of nada."
"I might have that end of the problem figured out. Would you be averse to sharing a bust? We can give you partial credit."
"At what point do you think I'd say no to that?" Terry chuckled.
"Well then, may I interest you in taking down the Florida based portion of a potential interstate trafficking ring?"
"I think I could handle it. Is the Agency involved?"
"No more than you and I."
"I'd have to bring them in."
Amber cautioned, "When we get ready to move and not before. You know the glory mongers will swoop in if you give them a whisper of this i
nformation."
"Deal. How much off the books work am I going to be doing?"
"Right now, not much. I need you to examine smaller airports in the area. Probably with easy access to the city."
"They're flying the shit out."
"We believe so, but we are a long way from knowing for sure. You'll get a couple hours notification, and then it will be up to you to try to find where the planes are landing."
"Why don't you get a warrant and have the FAA get you the flight plans?"
"You need this thing called probable cause. When we get to that point, I'm sure the team will execute one, but this is in the roughest of planning stages."
"Okay, I get it, and I'm glad I'll have some time. I have a rookie who I need to kick out on his ass. It's sink or swim time for him."
"Not doing well?"
"Oh, according to him he is. He's one of these know-it-alls who doesn't need any help from a trainer." Terry snorted.
"You are the best training agent in the DEA. He's a schmuck if he doesn't realize it." Amber loved Terry and his wife. Since she’d joined the agency, they had taken her under their wing and treated her like family.
"Compliments will get you everywhere. How's my boy?"
"Gage is fine. What about your grandkids?"
"I have six now! I'm overrun in ankle biters." Terry laughed indulgently. "But damn it's nice to get them all hyped up on sugar and send them home with their parents. Truly a perk of being a grandparent."
"You are evil!" She laughed as he scoffed.
Terry's laughter settled down. "Give me as much heads up as you can. I'll do my best down here."
"I will. Hug Marla for me?"
"You got it. Take care of yourself."
"You, too." She disconnected the phone and shoved her fist into the air. Wow, what a coup! Terry was one of the sharpest agents she'd ever met. Before he transferred to Florida to be closer to his daughters, he'd taught her the ropes and so much more. She owed the man a bust like this, and he'd work his ass off in Florida. She could take it to the bank.
"Good call?"
"Real good." She glanced at Watson who was typing as he looked at her. "How do you do that?"
"Years of practice." He smiled and kept typing.
"What he isn't telling you is he is making a million mistakes." Rayburn flipped through a document he was reading.
"Bite me." Watson shot back
Rayburn pointed to the computer. "Bet you just typed that."
"Shit." Watson hit the delete key and Rayburn snickered.
"You two, I swear. I'm going to go brief Brody. We have trustworthy assistance in Florida."
"Fucking-A. About time we got a break. I'm reading up on Gray Death. This shit can be compressed into pills, too."
"I thought it was sold in rocks?" Watson stopped typing and glanced at Rayburn.
"Powder, rocks and pills." Rayburn reiterated.
"Pills would mean not only a cooking site but a processing point. A big operation." Watson started typing again.
"Don't think Peña knows the meaning of the word small." Rayburn's nose stayed buried in the information he was reading.
"I agree. I'll be back in a minute, going to tell Brody about our help in Florida." She headed across the bullpen and veered away from the line of sight of Anderson's office. Avoidance was her new mantra where that man was concerned. She lifted her hand to knock on Brody's door when she heard him chuckle, low and soft. "Yeah, okay. Dinner tonight. No, you're right it's been too long. Yeah, I've missed you, too." He turned around and shock sent his eyebrows north as he finished. "See you soon."
Her gut dropped. He was going on a date. Tonight. She blinked and then swallowed hard. The knowledge... hurt. But why should it? They weren't involved. She didn't have a claim on him, even though they had a child together. But a kernel of hope had already blossomed hadn't it?
Brody placed his phone on the desk, and he leaned forward. "What's up?"
"Ah..." God, get a grip. "I've recruited an agent in Florida to help us, off the books for now. He's damn good, and he'll keep this under wraps until the last moment."
"Good. I'm glad we have your resources available.” He glanced at the clock and then back at her. "Let's call it for the day. We should have some answers on the house by tomorrow, and then we'll be able to work the particulars of the surveillance with the captain and get this case rolling."
She nodded and stepped back. "Okay. Night."
"Amber?" Brody's voice called her back to the office.
"She's a friend. Nothing more." His voice was low and quiet, and he didn't glance up from his computer.
She leaned against the door. "Okay." She glanced over her shoulder. Anderson's door was open. "May I come in and close the door?"
He glanced up at her from his desk and nodded. She pushed the door shut behind her and leaned against it. The shades on the windows were open so everyone in the pen could see them. "I'm sorry I overheard your conversation. It kind of threw me for a loop." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her shoes for a moment to collect her thoughts before she continued, "I know I don't have any claim on you. I want to assure you I'm not going to pull the jealousy card. The only thing I ask is if you do get involved with someone, please make sure it is serious before you introduce her to Gage."
"Noted and understood. I assume the same would apply to you?" He swiveled in his chair to face her.
"What?"
"You only introduce the men you're serious with to Gage, correct?"
With a very unladylike snort she replied, "I've never introduced anyone I've dated to Gage." There was a hope for a while, but the thought of a kid didn't thrill Darnell, and the relationship died quickly.
"Never?"
She shook her head. "Why?"
"I'm curious." He glanced past her and groaned. "Damn it."
"What?" She moved away from the door and turned.
"That damn tux. God, I'm going to owe more than the damn thing's worth if I don't return it soon."
She chuckled and opened the door. "Maybe you should wear it to dinner. Get your money's worth from it."
Brody threw back his head and laughed. "Brianna's restaurant is nice, but not that nice."
"Then take it back before dinner."
"The store is on the other side of town." He glanced at the clock. "I'd never make it in time. Hey, you live over––"
"Oh, hell no, Sergeant King, I'm not your minion. Take it back on your own time." She laughed as she spun away, damn near colliding with Lieutenant Anderson as he exited his office. She stopped and stepped away immediately. Anderson glared at her and strode past. She glanced back at Brody. His eyes followed Anderson. She drew a fortifying breath and headed back to her six square feet of office space to retrieve her purse, phone and say good night to Watson and Rayburn. It had been one hell of a crazy day.
Chapter 10
Brody leaned back in the chair, replete from a fantastic meal and easy conversation.
"This restaurant gets better and better." Debbie took a small sip of wine.
"Brie has worked hard."
The decor, the food, the waitstaff, everything had improved since she bought it four years ago.
"I haven't seen her in ages. Is she here tonight?"
"She said if we lingered over drinks, she might get back in time. For some reason she's going to the City Council meeting tonight."
"Really? I wonder why?" Debbie took another bite of her dinner.
"I have no idea. Knowing Brie, she's championing some cause or another."
Debbie put down her fork and eyed the half-eaten portions on her plate. "I tried, but it's too much food. It beat me. So, let’s talk about what brought us here." She lifted her wine glass and leaned back in her chair. "I can get you the paperwork to fill out. There are several units that need the money, but your unit is the single largest contributor to the forfeiture program. I can spin it and submit it. I'm pretty damn sure it will fly through the next departme
nt head meeting."
"Without Fenton's knowledge?"
"He's not a department head. He won't be notified until it is approved and your coffers start to get the trickle-down effect."
"Can he subvert the money, give it to other units under his control?"
She smiled and shook her head. "Nope. I'm in control of the allocations. If he attempts to move money, he has to go through me."
Brody leaned forward. "Deb, I don't want you to get into any trouble from this. Fenton is a vindictive asshole."
"Ha! As if. I have four Deputy Commissioners, a Chief of Staff and Legal Affairs Director on my side. Hell, I used to date the Commissioner's son. If he tries to stir up shit, he's going to find I have a lot more friends than he does. Doesn't he realize he'll never be more than what he is now? Everyone sees what he's doing. He's a worm."
And that is why he and Deb got along so well. They both called it like they saw it. "Thank you, then, for taking on our cause. We aren't asking for the moon, but perhaps the ability to upgrade equipment and pay for the hours we have to put in."
"Understandable." She leaned forward, put her wine glass down, and covered his hand with hers. "The night is still early. If we don't linger over drinks, we could have dessert back at my place." Her low sexy purr stretched across the short distance between them.
The proposition was expected. They'd hooked up from time to time after they went their separate ways. His smile slid from his face. "Normally I'd say yes, but there have been some developments in my life I need to work through."
Her hand slid from his. "Oh." Deb sat back and cleared her throat. "Is it serious, this development you need to work through?"
He shrugged. "I don't know, and I don't know if I'm being stupid for turning you down..."
"Oh, believe me, you're being stupid for turning me down." Deb smiled impishly at him.
"Okay, true, I am, but I need to make sure I'm not hurting anyone."
"Especially yourself. Regardless if we have sex or not, you're my friend. If you find someone to take the sadness inside of you away, go for it. Even if it means leaving our friendship in the dust." Deb slid her hand back on top of his. "Nice guys are hard to find. Good looking nice guys, who are demi-gods in bed? They're almost non-existent. Everyone has heard about them, but no one has ever caught one. I was fortunate enough to have one on the line for a short time, but you never belonged to me."
Brody (Hope City Book 3) Page 9