Chapter 7

Jep stood at the elevator bay with his leather jacket hanging from one hand and his helmet from the other while he watched the numbers change.

"Hold the elevator!" someone shouted as the doors opened.

Jep turned to see Pearce jogging over and leaned against the frame until he got on.

"Welcome officially to the team," Pearce said as they rode up.

Jep had taken several days to study the files as well as make arrangements for his shop to continue operating before returning today.

He'd remained in contact with Pearce, who had filled in the gaps, but a lot of questions were still unanswered. There was no doubt that the case was an unusual one. It felt an awful lot like they were being fed exactly what the enemy wanted them to hear. If they were going to get ahead of these guys, whoever they were, they'd have to start looking from a different perspective. That wouldn't be easy for most of these guys.

" Back to the team," Jep said as the doors slid shut.

"Right. Back. I hope I was able to answer all of your questions satisfactorily."

"You did your best." When Jep saw the wary look on Pearce's face, he added, "I mean, it's a tricky case. There's not a lot of information to go on."

"That's true. Usually we're sifting through piles of details, trying to figure out what's relevant and what's not." The elevator doors opened, and Pearce followed Jep to his desk. "Do you have any initial thoughts?"

Jep deposited his helmet under his desk and draped his jacket across the back of his chair before pulling the paperwork out of his backpack.

"My main concerns," he said as he tossed the files onto his desk, "are the gaps."

"What gaps?"

"The wide gaping holes in the reports."

"We've put in everything we have."

"That's disappointing."

"If you're concerned about the data in the reports, Sylvia Gardener is the one to see. She's head of analytics. She can answer any questions you have."

"Gardener?"

Pearce pointed toward her office. "Straight through there. She can be prickly, but she'll help you if she can. Would you like to speak to her now?"

"Actually, no. I'd like to have a look at the site of each of the incidents from the past several months. The last one was the only one in which any agents were injured?"

"Yes. And most of our leads are dead ends."

"Dead ends or dead agents. Not a great starting place."

"That's the reason you're here."

Jep sifted through the files and pulled one out, handing it to Pearce. "What about this one?"

"What about it?" Pearce thumbed through the pages.

"No survivors."

"Them not us. That's where we got our biggest lead."

"The one that led our agents to their doom."

Pearce's eyes lifted to him. "Yes."

"The autopsies suggested some of them were dead for a few days already."

"That's correct."

"I couldn't find any follow up on that."

"There was nothing to follow up."

"Dead people with no explanation gave you nothing to follow up?"

"Like I said. We've had a lot of dead ends."

"Then that's where I'll start, but I should get my partner sorted first. Also, I'll need a vehicle. I only have my bike here."

"No problem. I'll organize the car, and all you have to do is let Lawson know who you're taking with you. Who's the lucky guy?"

"Emery Chapman."

"Emery?"

"Yeah."

"She's not a field agent, she's an analyst."

"I know."

"You need to choose an agent."

"That wasn't the deal. You heard Lawson. He said I could choose whoever I wanted."

Pearce slowly placed the file on Jep's desk. "I don't think that's what he meant. There are plenty of very experienced agents to choose from."

"I know. I still want Emery."

"I can't say how she'll feel about that."

"You haven't even asked her," Jep said.

"You really want to start things off this way?"

"What way? Being unconventional?"

Pearce waited a beat before he said, "That's not what this is."

"Why don't you tell me what you think it is?"

"I can't say for certain. You're either looking for a partner who won't be able to stand up to you, or you're being difficult to see how we'll all react."

"I won't give Emery any reason to need to stand up to me, and I'm not being difficult. I'm making the best call for this investigation."

"You'll have to give me a minute to consult with Lawson."

"You do what you need to do."

"I'll be right back."

Jep glanced across the room at Emery. She was focused on her computer. If she'd noticed him come in, she hadn't given any hint of it.

He drummed his fingers on the desk, then looked at his watch before checking Lawson's door.

He didn't have to wait long before Lawson marched out of his office with Pearce following. "What's this I hear about your choice of partner?"

"You said I could choose, and I did," Jep said. "I don't understand why there's a problem." He remained composed, a look of confusion rather than anger on his face to keep things civil.

Lawson's already pink face reddened. "And I told Agent Pearce that he must have misunderstood. There's no way you asked for Miss Chapman as a partner." Lawson's voice boomed. "That would be absurd."

"You may want to choose your words more carefully," Jep said as he glanced at Emery. She was staring at them. He nodded in her direction, then looked back at Lawson. "I think she heard you. And unless you have more than one Emery Chapman in the office, she's the one."

"I'm sorry," Lawson said, "but that's out of the question. She's not trained for the field. Are you trying to make a mockery of this organization?"

"Miss Chapman is very professional. I highly doubt she would be an embarrassment."

"You know what I mean."

"She's had no training whatsoever?"

"She's had no experience in the field."

"I don't need her to do any acrobatics."

"What's the point of having her for a partner if you have to babysit?"

Jep pushed his tongue into his cheek. He hoped Emery hadn't heard that.

"What about Pearce?" Lawson said. "You two seem to get along well. Or at least better than the others. Miss Chapman will be uncomfortable with this arrangement."

"Why don't we ask her?" Jep had no way to know how she'd react. She'd probably refuse, but as far as he could see, she was the best person for the job even if they couldn't see it.

"Miss Chapman?" Lawson called her over with a wave of the hand. People in this office liked to wave at her to give orders. If it bothered her, she didn't act like it.

Emery hurried over but remained as far from Jep as possible. "Yes, sir?" She clasped her hands behind her back.

"Mr. Booth?—"

"Agent," Jep said with a smile.

"Agent Booth was given permission to choose his partner."

"Yes," Emery said. "I remember him asking."

"He's chosen you."

Jep didn't know how she managed it, but her expression remained unchanged besides the color of her cheeks tinging with pink.

She looked at him. "While I appreciate the offer, unfortunately, I am not a field agent and must therefore decline."

"Need I say more?" Lawson said.

"You told me I could have whatever partner I wanted," Jep said. If he budged on this, they'd expect him to fold on everything else.

"Whatever agent you chose," Lawson said.

"That's not what we agreed."

"I'm sorry, but there's no way around it."

Jep pulled his helmet from under his desk and stood. "Thank you for this opportunity, but if you can't keep your word, I can't help you."

He skirted around Pearce, but Emery tripped forward, blocking his way. "I'll do it," she said before clearing her throat. "If that's the only way to get you to stay, then I'll do it. But only for the good of the agency. I'd like my objection noted and that Agent Booth acknowledges that I am not trained to perform the duties required of an agent."

"Noted," Jep said. "And yes, I acknowledge you have not been trained as a field agent and further add that I do not require your skills as such."

"Em, you don't have to do this," Pearce said low.

"I know." She shifted stiffly.

Lawson's sigh rumbled into a low growl. "Fine, but you watch yourself with him, Miss Chapman. And let Gardener know she'll be down an analyst."

He gave one last scowl to Jep, his eyebrows merging into one, before returning to his office.

"There's time to back out if you want to." Pearce said to her. "No one's forcing you to do this."

She looked at Jep. "We all have to make sacrifices."

"Excellent," Jep said. "I'm glad we're finally all in agreement. Pearce, weren't you going to see about organizing a car for me?"

"Yeah." He looked more miserable about this arrangement than anyone. "I'll get right on that." He glanced at Emery before walking away.

"So," she said to Jep. "What now?"

He looked down at her outfit. "I don't suppose you have a change of clothes?"

"What for? We're not riding on your motorcycle."

"We could if you want."

"No, thanks."

"Still, you might be more comfortable in something a little more casual."

"I'm a professional. I like to dress like one."

If her barbs hadn't all been fired in his direction, he would have been impressed. He just wished she'd stand up for herself to the others like she did to him. He was secure enough to let her practice on him if it gave her confidence.

"Okay," he said. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Thank you for your concern. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to inform my supervisor that she'll be short staffed for the foreseeable future."

"Don't worry. It'll be worth it. I promise."

"I won't hold my breath." She turned on her heel and walked away with her back straight.

Jep was sure she'd stopped breathing. And now that he was on his own again, he began second guessing his choice. He had his reasons for singling her out, and they were good ones, but they would all be for nothing if she didn't trust him.

It was clear Pearce had expected to be the chosen one, and he wouldn't have been a bad pick. In fact, he was the obvious choice. But obvious wouldn't cut it in this investigation. Pearce was on the team that had been hunting these guys, and they'd made no headway. He needed a play from left field. If the enemy was reading them, he needed to change the language.

He continued to watch Emery until she reached Gardener's office and turned to look at him.

He lifted his eyebrows in question, and she lowered hers into a frown before turning back.

This would be an interesting experiment.