The aftermath left Harlan bloody and reeling. And we still don’t have all the answers. Creagan didn’t even want to get involved. When Lakyn disappeared and things started to unravel, he pushed back against letting me investigate as an agent. But then he realized just how big the situation was, and suddenly it became about his reputation. He wanted to be able to bask in the attention, holding press conferences and doing interviews to talk about justice and the world being a little safer.
There isn’t anywhere near as much glory in having to talk about a case that’s still ongoing. Or to admit we still don’t have all the pieces. It frustrates the hell out of me that I can’t figure out why some of the players were involved or how some of the crimes were committed. I hate that we can’t find The Order or the Dragon. But I’m really not in the mood to get lectured about it. Especially considering there’s literally nothing he could say that I haven’t thought of myself or that will make a difference.
“We are still actively investigating those cases. My father’s undercover work wrapped recently, and we are going over the information he collected. We’re doing everything we can.”
“I know you are. It’s a complicated case and there’s a lot to be done on it. Which is why I think this is the perfect opportunity,” he says.
It feels as if I missed something. As if he told me something important and I didn’t process it all the way through. Or maybe he thinks he told me something and just skimmed past, hoping I won’t realize I don’t have all the details.
“You think what is the perfect opportunity?” I ask.
“The new agent,” he says with a hint of false confusion in his voice.
Yep. That is exactly what he thought he did. He tried to slide this into the conversation so I would think I just missed his saying it and wouldn’t ask. Which certainly won’t be happening.
“Which new agent?” I ask.
“Agent James. She recently finished her training and will be entering the field. She’s located in the Harlan area and has expressed a tremendous amount of interest in you and your work. She could be helpful to you and you could mentor her.”
It’s all I can do to prevent myself from rolling my eyes. “Creagan,” I start, but he cuts me off with a look.
“You ain’t getting out of this one, Griffin.”
Three
“What the hell does he mean, ‘mentor her’?” I ask Sam over speakerphone as I drive away from the headquarters a few minutes later. “How old does he think I am? I am not at mentor age.”
Sam laughs. “You don’t have to be old to be a mentor, honey. You just have to be good at what you do. And you’re the best of the best. He just wants to have more like you. Or as close to you as possible, since he’s not going to get another Emma Griffin.”
“I’m an FBI agent. Not a kindergarten teacher. I don’t need to be responsible for some baby agent who doesn’t know what she’s doing. And I definitely don’t need her getting in my way in one of the biggest and most complicated investigations of my career,” I argue. “Obvious exceptions excluded.”
“I know. But he could be right. She could be helpful. Especially while you’re handling other investigations. You’re still working the Arrow Lake case, and it isn’t easy for you to juggle cases that far apart. She could do some of the groundwork for you.”
“How am I supposed to trust her with something that important? I don’t even know her,” I say.
“Immediately after meeting him, you trusted Dean with helping to investigate your mother’s murder. While a serial killer was stalking you,” he points out flatly.
“Dean is my cousin,” I protest.
“You didn’t know that at the time,” Sam counters. “You just saw that he had skill and was able to help you figure things out. Maybe this woman will prove herself to be useful. And you know how hard it can be for a woman in the Bureau. Your presence could make a huge difference in her career.”
“Are you pulling the ‘sisters are doing it for themselves’ card on me?” I ask.
“I’m just saying maybe you should give her a chance. See what she’s made of. If she’s got the skills, utilize them. If she can’t hack it, she’ll figure it out quickly enough. At least you will have done your part to help and be a good role model,” he says.
He’s right. Of course, he is. Sam is too good for my own good sometimes. A lot of the time. It doesn’t mean I like it. And I guess she’s made it this far. There has to be something in her to get her through training. That isn’t easy.
“Alright,” I say with a sigh. “I’m pretty well done with the ‘feeling old’ portion of the day. Let’s talk about something else. How is everything in Sherwood?”
I’ve come back to Quantico to stay at my father’s house while Bellamy and Eric are on baby watch. I want to be here when their daughter is born, and this is a good opportunity for me to spend some time with Dad. He’s been undercover trying to flush out the missing members of The Order from other chapters. It was an incredible shock when I found out he, my grandfather, and my great-grandfather were all a part of the very same mysterious and deadly organization.
That was before I realized the chapter in Harlan had gone rogue, engaging in activities and rituals that have absolutely nothing to do with the ideals of the true Order of Prometheus. The organization is intended to lift up promising members of society.
Just as the
