“Where’s Becca?” he said as soon as Sin entered the room.
“Daddy?”
Sin turned to see Becca rubbing her eyes, standing in the hall between the parlor and the family room. Becca ran to her dad and wrapped her arms around him as he bent to hug her. He picked her up and squeezed her in his arms. Sin could see the stress drain from his face as he looked into her eyes.
Sin watched the reunion with sadness, knowing that Carmelita—the woman she loved like a mother—was scared, hurt, alone. Her thoughts were broken when she heard the doorbell.
Sin left the reunion and went to answer the front door and was surprised to see Frank on the other side. “Director, what are you doing here?”
“May I come in?”
“Of course.”
She led Frank into the house and into the parlor. Lancaster was talking privately to Becca who was crying and rattling off everything that happened to her since the night on Duval Street. The president glanced in their direction, nodded, and went back to listening to his daughter.
Sin looked around the room but didn’t spot Agent Smith. “Where’s Smitty?”
“His phone rang,” Lancaster said. “He didn’t want to disturb us, so he went outside to answer it.”
Sin walked over to the French doors but didn’t see him on the porch. Stepping outside, she spotted him down on the beach. She watched his posture stiffen and his arm movements become exaggerated as he continued his phone conversation. As soon as he placed the phone back in his pocket, Sin went back inside and joined Frank in the kitchen.
“You remember Troy?” she said.
“Stubbs, nice to see you,” Frank said, shaking his hand. He looked at the petite blond sitting at the table and said, “This must be Ms. Swenson?”
“It’s nice to meet you, Director Graham,” Tiffany said.
“And you as well. You certainly do show up when you are most needed, young lady.”
Tiffany blushed and thanked him.
“And who is this?” Frank said, looking at Danny.
“Director Graham, I’d like to introduce you to Danny Moesly. Danny is an old friend from high school. Ex-Team 6. He was instrumental in finding Pia and in saving my ass in the Glades.”
“Young man,” Frank said, shaking his hand, “thank you for your service and for your assistance.”
“Just helping an old friend,” Danny said, shaking Frank’s hand.
“So,” Sin said after everyone was acquainted, “why are you here, Frank?”
“When you told me about Carmelita, I didn’t want you going off half-cocked, so I called in reinforcements.”
“If I ever do anything cocked,” Sin said, “I do it fully-cocked or not at all, and I already told you, I don’t need your help.”
Frank opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by another. “Christ, I’ve been traveling all night, where the hell is the welcoming committee?” came a heavy Aussi accent. “Do you Yanks happen to have a cup of coffee or a shot of bourbon?”
Sin turned and threw her arms around Fletcher. “Fletch, damn, I’m glad to see you.”
“You too, Sinclair. Now how about that drink?”
Sin poured Fletch an espresso and a shot of bourbon. He tossed down the shooter and sipped the dark brew. “That’s better.”
“Where’s the rest of the team?” Sin asked. “Are they on their way?”
“Nah,” Fletch said. “I’ve been trying all night to reach them, but I haven’t been able to get a hold of anyone. Not even Garcia.”
Sin heard the sound of knocking at the front door. “I’m not expecting anyone else,” she said, drawing her revolver.
“Relax, Sin. I’m expecting your reinforcements,” Frank said. “I’ll get the door.”
“Send them back to wherever you called them in from, Frank. I don’t want the Bureau’s help.”
“Whatever you say,” Frank said, as he walked out of the kitchen and out of sight.
“Try Garcia again,” Sin said after Frank left the kitchen.
Fletch pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Garcia’s number. Sin heard a phone ring and spun around to find Garcia standing next to Frank. Behind them were five more members of her old team: Baxter, Wilson, Holmes, Marcus, and Johnson. Sin hugged them all and thanked them for coming.
“Fletcher said he wasn’t able to reach any of you; how did you know to come?” Sin said.
They all turned and looked at Frank.
“I figured if Carmelita was in trouble, you needed help you could trust,” Frank said.
“Thank you,” Sin mouthed.
Frank nodded. “What’s the plan?”
“I’m still waiting on Onyx. His last text message stated he would send more info about the ransom drop,” Sin explained. She paused and held up a finger. “I might have a way to help us get a step ahead of him.”
“What’cha thinking, Sinclair?” Fletcher said.
“I’m thinking of Sergeant Maurice Glenn of the Palm Beach Sherriff’s Department.”
“He was a big help in the Delray Beach end of things during the Painted Beauty case,” Fletcher said. “Good thinkin’.”
Sin held up a fist to quiet the room when she heard the someone answer the phone. “Sergeant Glenn, this is Sinclair O’Malley.” she said. “Nice to hear your voice, too,” she added after a few seconds.
“Listen, I’m here in South Florida and I have a question for you. The case I’m working involves the Black 6 gang. I know they’re predominately in the West Palm Beach area, but I was wondering—”
“Is that so,” Sin said after listening for a few minutes. “Listen, would you be able to meet with me and my team later today and fill us in on all the details? You can. I appreciate that. I’ll call you when we reach Delray. Figure late afternoon, early evening.
“Wait, before you hang up,” Sin said, “We’re going to need a diversion of some kind, any way you could help us would be appreciated.”
After listening to Glenn had to say, she hung up. Everyone was looking and waiting, but it was Garcia who spoke. “Spill it, Boss Lady.”
“It seems
