“Griffin, there are other cases that need attention right now,” Creagan says. “I don't have the time or energy to take this on. And even if I did, I don't have the manpower. They're all on the domestic terrorists and that cyber-crime ring.”
“This happened in a national park. That makes it our business. Not to mention the fact that it's gone unsolved this long and is still active. You can't just ignore it. And you do have the manpower. You have me. And I have all the backup I need. At least to get started.”
“You're talking about your ragtag group of crime-fighting avengers?” he grumbles.
“That ragtag group of crime-fighting avengers is why you know what happened to Lakyn Monroe. Why the mastermind of Leviathan is in prison, along with his disturbing legacy. Why there isn't a serial killer still in Feathered Nest stuffing people like animals and using them as props in his own museum of temporary derangement. Should I keep going?” I ask.
“You give them a lot of credit, Griffin,” he says. “You know you're the one who's solved all of those. Maybe with some help from Eric and Bellamy, both of whom are off duty on family leave now.”
“Then let me be the one who does this,” I say.
Now isn't the time for me to fight him to recognize Sam, Dean, and Xavier. I need him to authorize reactivating the Bureau investigation into Arrow Lake.
“You're supposed to be involved in the investigation of the assassination attempt,” he says.
“And I am,” I say. “I have met every deadline you've asked, and I have given you every bit of information I have been able to find. I can continue to work on that while I do this. You can't just ignore it. If you do, more people are going to die.”
“Even if I say no, you're going to do it anyway, aren't you?” he sighs.
“It would make it much easier if I could have access to the files and authorization to go to the closed areas of the park,” I say.
“Can’t you just let this one go?” he asks, letting out another heavy sigh. He could have at least had the decency to pretend.
“No,” I snap. “I can’t. This is important. Barely six months ago, I was in a different part of that park looking for a woman who was taken. She spent thirteen years of her life imprisoned because nobody would look for her. Children are dead. More are missing. Adults are missing. Now there's another. Don't let it happen again.”
“I swear to Hades, Griffin, you are going to be the death of me one of these days,” he mutters.
“Thank you, Creagan.”
“I really appreciate your doing this,” I say. “I know you guys are already on leave and the last thing you want to talk about is work.”
“Don't worry about it,” Eric says. “I can't believe somebody else went missing up at that campground. I want to know what happened, too.”
“I'm going to do my best to figure it out,” I say.
“If there's anybody who can, it's you,” he says. “I got all the files from when the Bureau was involved in the case thirteen years ago. If there's anything else you need and think I can get for you, just let me know.”
“I don't want to take up too much of your time,” I say. “Do you need to be with B right now?”
“Don't worry about it,” Bellamy calls over, waddling her way into the room with a plate of sliced tomatoes with fresh mozzarella cheese and a bottle of Italian dressing. “At this point I'm spending the vast majority of my time getting the nursery ready, eating, and sleeping. He would probably like the break from it.”
"That's all you should be doing," I say. I go over to her and give her a hug, then kiss her belly. "All right, I should probably get going. It was so good seeing you guys. I miss you so much."
"We miss you, too," Eric says, hugging me.
"You're still coming up to stay at your Dad's house for a little while after the baby comes, right?" Bellamy asks.
"Absolutely. And Sam is working on his schedule so he can sneak a couple of weekends in, too."
Eric helps me carry the case files out to the car. They fill the trunk and back seat, and a couple end up on the passenger seat beside me. I'm glad Sam decided to stay home in Sherwood while I came up here today. I wouldn’t have been able to fit everything in the car if he’d come along.
As soon as Creagan agreed to let me pick up the investigation of the Arrow Lake Campground disappearances and murders, I jumped on it before he could change his mind or decide there was another case he wanted me to work. That meant getting Eric to gather up every bit of information he could for me while Sam works extra hours so he can take more time off later, o be able to help.
Hopefully, he'll be home by the time I get there, and we can dive into the cartons of papers now weighing down my car.
A couple of hours after leaving Eric’s and Bellamy's house, I'm happy to see Sam's car in the driveway at home. But I'm a little confused about the car sitting beside it. I pull in, making sure I park behind Sam rather than the white Jeep Wrangler beside it. I call Sam on the phone as I climb out.
"Hey, babe, can you come out here and help with these cartons?" I ask.
"Yep. Be right there."
He opens my trunk a few seconds later and gives me a kiss before taking the stack of cartons out of my arms and holding them in place so
