Chapter 4

"And how isthis case in our jurisdiction?" SAC Kwan asked from her seat at the head of the conference table. She'd missed the festivities in San Francisco, holding down the fort here in SD while her ASAC was gone.

"It's not," Marsh admitted. With two SACs in the room, no use beating around the bush. "But the sheriff's department isn't paying attention."

"Which is why we're going to tread carefully," Levi said. "Try not to draw it."

"Neither of you are even supposed to be here," Kwan said, sounding five-o'clock exasperated with them when it was barely noon. "You're supposed to be off this week getting ready for your re-wedding."

Marsh smirked at his old Army buddy turned boss. "Aww, come on, Eagle, you know me better than that."

"And we all know your husband is a workaholic," Farmer said as he cruised into the conference room, suitcase rolling at his side.

"Hey, now," Levi feigned offense. "You're the one who came straight here from the airport."

"Hey, now," the cyber agent parroted back with a grin as he flopped into the open seat beside Aidan. "Maybe if someone"—he jostled the Irishman's side—"had a bigger private jet."

Laughter echoed around the table until Levi cleared his throat, drawing them all to relative order again. "As I was saying, we tread carefully."

"We can still put protection on Press," Brax said. "I know he said he didn't need any, but I also didn't like what I saw at the house."

"Me neither," Aidan agreed. "That burglar was hunting for something when Press interrupted him. He'll be back."

"Wait, what?" All humor gone, Farmer lurched to the edge of his seat, his entire frame vibrating with military-ready energy, how Marsh imagined the former paratrooper must have felt standing at the aircraft door before each jump. "Are you talking about Presley Jackson? The professional basketball player? That's why y'all left so early this morning?"

Marsh nodded. "Break-in at his place in Cardiff on Saturday night. He called Jamie yesterday after the local cops blew him off."

"He played for me at Charlotte University," Jamie explained. "As coaches, we're not supposed to have favorites, but we all do. Press is one of mine. I want to help him out and help keep him safe."

"Press says he's covered. His boyfriend's former military," Levi told Kwan, then cut a glance at Marsh, Farmer, and Brax, all of them vets too. "But I agree with the team. I'd like to get additional protection on him."

"I've got him," Farmer volunteered.

"We need you hacking," Marsh countered. Farmer was the second-best cyber agent in the San Diego field office, behind him, and he had a knack for finding the needle in a haystack. "You, Jamie, and I are gonna dig through all the real estate records for the house Press bought. See who else might have an interest in it. And if that search turns up nothing, we dig into Press."

To his credit, Jamie didn't object, the former agent understanding and accepting the investigative protocol. "I'm in."

"Me too," Farmer said. "And I can do protection detail." When he still didn't get the approval he needed from Kwan and Levi, he pitched harder. "Look, not gonna lie, I'm a fan, but more importantly, if his boyfriend is former military, he may take more kindly to another vet on guard duty versus someone he considers less qualified." When all the nonvets around the table opened their mouths to object, Farmer beat them to it. "Wrong, of course, but ask Marsh or Brax or the SAC how military folk think."

"He's not wrong," Kwan said, then to Levi, "Write up the detail with Farmer."

Levi nodded, then turned his attention to Aidan. "Which leaves us going back to the house with a crime scene unit, if you're game?"

Aidan nodded. "Top to bottom since it sounds like local only eyeballed it."

"I can help too," Brax said. "Talk to some neighbors while you're inside."

"Nuh-uh-uh," Marsh said. "I've got a special job for my best man."

Brax hung back his head on a heavy sigh, as beleaguered as ever. "Do I even want to know?"

Marsh slung an arm over his friend's shoulders, grinning. "Moms are due at the airport in an hour. I'm sure Irina can't wait to ogle the best man's ass."

The room erupted with laughter again, including Levi, and after a very early, very long morning, Marsh counted it a win.