The look she sent him over her shoulder made himtense. Whatever the story was, it was huge. It had affected hercareer. Her life. Made her into this independent—and not really ina good way—woman who only wanted to work alone. Someone who skirtedthe line of legality, and got the result her way.
He nodded to a few of his coworkers and got a coupleof pointed looks in return. Yes, he was back. No, he hadn’t foundZimmerman. They probably needed a full meeting, so he could getupdated and let them know what he’d learned.
Megan stopped at his boss’s office. Adrian rapped hisknuckles on the door twice. Adrian reached for the handle,expecting the usual, “Come in.” But itnever came.
Instead, the door opened. “That you, Meggie?”
Her face softened, and her mouth curled up into agenuine smile. “Hank.”
Adrian stared while his hard-nosed boss hugged Megan.Like she was his long-lost daughter. Or granddaughter, given boththeir ages.
“It’s so good to see you.”
Hank leaned back. “Sure about that?”
She laughed. “Yes, I’m telling the truth.”
“You always were a good liar. Got you out of troubleplenty of times.” He stepped back.
She shook her head, but Adrian caught the look on herface when Hank turned away to his desk. “Got me in troubleplenty of times, too.”
“Still does, by the sound of it.” Hank waved to thechairs. “Sit. And shut the door would you, Agent Walker?”
“Yes sir.” Adrian sat in the chair by Megan.
Hank’s attention was all onher. A soft, fatherly gaze Adrian had never seen before. He couldhardly believe he was seeing it now. And then his boss said, “Itreally is good to see you, Meg.”
She pressed her lips together and smiled. “It’s goodto be seen.”
Adrian figured that was the truth, despite herapparent ability to lie. Nothing about this woman made sense. Shewas an FBI agent. She didn’t have a service weapon. In the weekshe’d known her, it was clear she worked for Double Down. Not theFBI. He wanted to ask what was going on, but was that toodemanding? They seemed to be having some kind of moment. Adriandidn’t want to intrude, or ruin it.
For the first time since he’d met her, only weeksago, Megan actually looked relaxed. Not completely at ease. Hedidn’t even know if that was possible. Still, she seemedcomfortable. He didn’t think it was the FBI office, so it had to bethis man. His boss. She knew him, that much was clear. Had theyworked together before?
His email hadn’t been the first time he’d mentionedher in communications with his boss. It was, however, the firsttime he’d discovered her connection to the FBI. That was thecatalyst for his boss asking them both to come in.
So was Hank going to explain?
Maybe he was going to tell Megan she should work withAdrian. That would help speed this along. Having her on his teamand not out in front doing her own thing—with him feeling like hehad to watch her back every step of the way.
“So.” His boss startedeverything that way. Speech. Explanation. Didn’t matter. Then hesaid, “We’ve gone over every inch ofZimmerman’s computer. Work and home. Allhis online accounts, social media. Emails. Found some instantmessages you’re going to want to look through, Walker.”
Adrian accepted the file his boss handed him acrossthe desk.
“Speaks to his state of mind. And his sympathiestoward a group of domestic extremists.”
“Islamic?”
Hank shook his head. “Home grown, backwoods guys.Guns, Bibles, and freedom.” He paused, his opinion of that clear.“They hate the government, no matter which side it’s leaning towardright now.”
Adrian didn’t view the federal government as any kindof enemy of the American people. Some felt that way. And while heknew there were many flaws in the system, along with selfish peoplemaking important decisions for their own gain, he’d chosen to bepart of it. To work every day to try and make it better. To not letmen like Zimmerman take their anger out on innocent people.
Adrian said, “Any indication of where he might strikewith the sonic weapon?”
“There’s been chatter about the Republican conventionin Denver next week. And a symposium of defense contractors in acouple of days, the location of which was supposed to besecret.” Hank mashed his lips together, making his mustache twitch.“I’ll keep you posted on both of those.”
Megan said, “We’ll know ifhe tries to fly the weapon into a city, right?”
Hank nodded. “It’d fit in a duffel, or largesuitcase. But he’ll know every avenue we’re watching. He’s beentrained the same way we’ve been trained.” Hank paused, hisattention on Megan. “That’s why we need someone who thinks outsideof the FBI box.”
“Me?” It was less of a question and more of arealization.
Hank nodded. “But there’s another reason I thinkyou’re going to want to be all-in on this with us.”
Adrian looked up from the papers he’d been studyingover.
Megan’s body had stilled. “What reason?”
Hank swallowed, looking unsure for the first timeever. “We found a link. Between Daniel Zimmerman and El Cuervo.”
The Crow? Adrian’s knowledge of Spanish wasn’t muchto speak of, but he thought he had that right. El Cuervo was reportedly a hitman for aVenezuelan drug cartel, an up-and-coming player, and he was high onthe FBI’s most wanted list. What did he have to do with—
Megan shoved her chair back and headed for the door,breathing hard.
“Sit down, Meggie.”
Chapter 4
She turned back from the door, breathing hard.“Don’t give this to me if it’snothing.”
Hank’s gaze softened theway her father’s would have done. And it made all of this harderthan it already should have been. Her dad had been gone for morethan fifteen years, killed on the job as an FBI agent. A bust gonewrong, her dad had caught a bullet to the neck. Her mom had beenused to living a single-parent life already, with Megan’s dad beingaway so much. Still, losing her husband had hit her.
Being here in this office with Hank brought it allback. What she’d lost. What she would have had, as a legacyagent—her father being a special agent as well. He’d have supportedher. And yet, without his death in the
