Chapter Nine

Four days

Rafael

Wheeler’s men are on maintenance and training. Some of the equipment they check has never been used, but Waters thinks the routine needs to be established. It’s good to have that routine but while they’re split and checking equipment, we have fewer agents in the field. I’m getting impatient with the time it’s taking to follow threat leads for Cassidy’s case.

Looking at the hologram then the glass board with the main case displayed, I reign that in. We have more work than I ever saw in Special Forces and Ford is in transport now for another.

Perez appears at my side. “They’re close with that one, we just need to put the suspect with the last victim. When they find the tie, they’ll send it off.”

“It’s the same MO. He’s tied to the other four with that proof.”

He nods. “Without the proof on the last, we could be handing a jury reasonable doubt. We don’t have conviction stats yet, but we will. When we do, that has to be high, or we lose credibility with the agencies requesting help.”

I wipe my hand down my face. “You’re right. I’m glad you’re being thorough and giving them everything they need to convict. If the locals could have figured it out, we wouldn’t be working. I just have this feeling like we’re running out of time.”

He turns, so I do. “Marks does too. He’s been working the threats and has two from the list that he’s concentrating on. We’ve held it so he could get enough proof to bring them or at least one of them in.”

What the fuck? “Why is it held?” Men turn from their seats, but I ignore the looks. Once we have them, we can get information right from them.

“In the hall, sir.” He walks and I want to yank him back by the throat.

I follow fucking pissed. Who the fuck is he to tell me where to stand?

He turns with his hands up. “This is the reason. You have a reputation of being the best but also getting your man at any cost. That cost could lose us a case. Here, you can’t waterboard, you can’t shoot suspects, you can’t beat the shit out of them for information.” His hands go down. I want to waterboard him right now. “Military runs different types of Ops and international has different rules. In America, you can’t infringe on a suspect’s rights to prove he’s the guy committing the crimes. Innocent until proven guilty means just that. We don’t even have the facilities to interrogate here. We hand that information to the agency requesting help. In this case, it’s the Providence PD through the State Attorney because help wasn’t requested. I’m not handing a beaten suspect with a story about wartime interrogation techniques because no one here would step in and stop you. They’re all fucking military too and would probably cheer you on.”

Fuck. “The fucking bill of rights you’re following could get her killed!” I turn before I hit him and hit the wall. “Jesus fucking Christ.” I stop pacing and breathe. “We can interrogate without leaving a mark on him. Where does he go to be interrogated?”

“We made arrangements with Providence to use a room.”

Fucking great. “Who is asking the questions?” If he says them, I’m done.

“Marks and me. He’s PD and I’m a lawyer.”

Not fucking likely. “No. You’d stop anything Marks says for the fucking bill of rights.”

He looks shocked. “Commander, I’ve been FBI for years. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t prove performance. The legal background I add helps getting convictions with airtight cases, but it’s not all I have to offer here. ”

Jesus. I pace and replay his words. Fuck. “Ops is so much easier than this bullshit. We could already have him.”

He watches me warily then nods. “Your way he’d already be in jail, but he’d be out in a New York minute. She’ll never be safe then.”

Suspects in a bombing shouldn’t have fucking rights. I nod. “I have to get into Ops. When you get him, you and Marks go. You make it stick, or I’ll deal with him my way. Justice will be served either way and Cassidy’s right to live her life won’t be infringed.”

He smiles and I freeze. “You ever ride a motorcycle?”

What? “Yeah, on base.”

“MC-Baxter’s take only the best. Of course, they run guns, kill indiscriminately and shoot their own regularly.”

I hit his shoulder and smile. “Fuck off, Perez. I fight for that stupid bill of rights.”

His smile turns serious. “Just making sure you remember, sir.” He walks away and I watch.

Fuck. It would be so easy to forget that, especially when it’s Cassidy at stake. “Perez!”

He stills and I see his body tense before he turns around. “Thanks. You’re right. I was trained different. I need you to keep throwing the Constitution at me and I know it.”

What the fuck is with him smiling? “I’m just glad you hit the wall.”

I walk to Ops smiling. Waite looks up. “They get something?”

“No, but I did. We can’t interrogate here. Even if we could, we can’t touch the suspect at all .”

His face screws up like he tasted bad food. “We serve coffee and wait until they feel like talking?”

Benavides laughs. “We have a bunch of agents that did behavioral science. Then PD with the best records. They know how to ask questions to get answers.” As he’s saying it, I feel like shit for getting pissed at Perez.

“Then there’s Perez.”I throw in.

“He has more convictions than any other SAC and he wasn’t even SAC. The only reason he was assistant was because the SAC he ran under was a piece of shit. Springer said he wouldn’t approve the pay grade on the chance that he’d lose his stats when Perez headed his own office.” Benavides turns back to the monitor.

Fuck. I’m glad I sent the supervisor pay grade through. He deserves the Commander pay. He stood up to me when I know the others wouldn’t have. Ford would have helped me, but Wheeler wouldn’t have said a word. Military is ingrained in him. He would have followed orders. Fuck. I need to cover them the right way. I jeopardize my men, my Commanders even, by not paying attention to the details. I guess I’m reading the fucking bill of rights again. I close my eyes and clear my head.

“Where are we, Waite?”

* * *

Cassidy

Humming the tune to Manic Monday, I walk into the bathroom. It’s right outside the courtroom I’m in next, so it’s really not that manic, but it has been a day. Washing my hands, I go over the cases in my head. This should be quick and easy, arraignments usually are.

The handicapped stall door opens and I freeze. Oh my God, no! I scream moving toward the door. Hale is right outside. If I could just get there. I feel hands on my waist and scream louder, the sound bounces and is making it the only thing I hear before I’m on the floor with no wind to scream.

Hale yells and I’m trying to pull air in. I can’t breathe. He lifts me so I’m sitting and keeps talking but my hands are reaching for my purse. I need my purse. This isn’t happening. I can’t find it. I can’t catch my breath and I’m panicking. “Purse,” I cough out. Closing my eyes, I try to calm down. He touches my hand. My purse! I pull out the pump and fight to get the damn little cap off. He tries to take it, but I need it. Dammit! I fight him, but he pulls the cap off and hands it to me.

“Breathe, Cassidy, calm down and breathe.” He points at the side and talks to someone.

Good idea. I cough out the first blast and take another. Breathe. Slow. Breathe. I keep repeating it and finally get enough air that clears some of the blurry edges of my vision. People are everywhere. Someone holds a mask to my face. Turning my head, I see it’s Hale. “Stew Haddad. Old case.” I start coughing again.

He puts his hand up. “Just breathe. Lecompte is on her way.”

I start shaking. “He’s the threat.” Dammit to hell with the friggin coughing.

He nods. “He got out the family bathroom door. I didn’t know it connected with this one, it’s not on the floor plan. Try to stay still, they need to check your leg and arm.”

He got out. Oh shit. They didn’t get him. An EMT kneels beside me. “Relax. Slow, shallow breaths until you can get deeper. You’re shaking like a leaf here. I’m putting the band around your head so the mask will stay in place.” He’s talking like I’m six.

I realize Hale is still holding the mask and I’m holding my arm. I turn away from it. When did I get hurt? I breathe slow and shallow trying to make it without coughing. Stew Haddad killed women and had sex with the corpses. He’s scary sick and the son of a bitch is loose. How the hell is he out? My whole body is shaking. I close my eyes and breathe. He’s going to kill me and rape my dead body.

“Cassidy, they need to check your arm.” That’s Hale. Hale is a good guy.I nod opening my eyes and give the EMT my arm. “Her leg is bleeding too.”

Harper runs in and stops. “Fuckin’ hell. I got her. Special Agent Lecompte, forensics, ME and her sister.” The EMT moves over still holding my arm. “I need your case.” She kneels looking at my arm then leg. “Let’s get you stitched up.”

“She needs to go to the hospital,” the EMT says.

“She needs to be stitched up and catch her breath. Get the fuck out of the way, or I’ll have the Agents remove you.”

Hale stands. “Give Agent Lecompte some room, buddy. She’s an ME for the FBI. That means a full-fledged doctor. She’d know what’s needed better than you.”

“Restricted airway is transported. We have rules.” The guy pushes Hale and is against the wall being cuffed. Shit, Hale is fast. I start coughing.

“Take the fucking pissing contest out of here! Breathe, Cassidy. You, EMT with a brain. Call it in. Tell them you have an FBI ME pilfering from your fucking case to get the patient treated. You do that outside of this room, or I’m using my FBI issued gun to shoot your ass. Capiche?” She’s not nice to work with. The other EMT doesn’t move.

“Don’t fuck with her, she’d be a Sniper if she wasn’t ME and forensics,” Hale tells him.The EMT nods walking out.

Harper looks through the case pulling shit out. “I’m stitching you right here, sis. It’s going to hurt.”

“Yeah. Stew Haddad is out. He did this.” I’m shaking again and she stops.

“Hale has the team looking for him. We’re stitching you and keeping you breathing, right?” She watches me, so I nod. “Let them do their job and we’ll do ours. Relax and breathe. I’m pouring alcohol on you so be ready.” She doesn’t give me time to be ready.I hold my breath. The sadistic bitch pours alcohol on me. Holy shit! “Breathe, Cassidy.”

“You fuckin’ breathe, that shit hurts,” I whine, then cough.

Hale laughs so I glare at him. He’s supposed to be finding Haddad. They won’t find him. It took almost six months to catch him last time. I close my eyes and breathe in my blue air. The stitches don’t hurt as bad as the alcohol, but my jaw is clamped shut. It still hurts.

“There’s no one to replace Cassidy in court. The judge gave thirty minutes,” Perez says from the doorway.

Harper stops rolling gauze on me and looks at him. “He couldn’t postpone? What kind of judge is he if he has no compassion? She was attacked in his courthouse! Fuckin’ judges.”

“He has full dockets. Dropping one case would be doable but not ten. I have arraignments.” I might as well be speaking Greek by the look on her face. “Just stitch me up. I need a shirt.”

“Let him see the fuckin’ blood all over this one. Maybe he’ll be a little more compassionate.”She’s so rude.

Rolling my eyes at her pisses her off and I’m covered in alcohol, but this time it’s my thigh burning off. “Bitch!”

She snaps the mask up on my mouth as I start coughing. “Keep it on until I’m done.”

I want to stab her with her damn needle.

* * *

Rafael

Ford approves the report and Waite stands. “Put your print on it and we’re out. Benavides, Wheeler will take over on Ops.”

What the hell? Fuck. “They got him?”

“Commander, we need to get to the courthouse. I’ll explain on the way.” His hand on my shoulder turns me.

The courthouse. I double-time it out of the building. “The SUV, sir. Perez is on scene,” he says from my side.

I veer to the right and jump in the SUV. I get the outline, but my heart is in my throat. She was cut by a rapist. He got close enough to cut her. That isn’t working in my head. I keep my mouth shut and read what he has in the report over again .

Walking into the bathroom, my heart stops. Lecompte is bandaging her leg. Her arm is covered in a bandage and her shirt is full of blood. There’s blood and wrappers all over the floor around her and a mask on her pale face.

When she looks up, tears form in her eyes. “I’m okay.”

I just nod. Lecompte takes the mask off her and stands. “She is, Commander. She’ll be sore, but she’s okay. Permission to join the search team, sir?”

“Check with Perez. I have no idea where anyone is. I just got out of Ops,” I’m fucking pissed and not in the mood to hide it.

“Yes, sir.” She cleans the trash on the floor.

“Cari?o.” I lift Cassidy and carry her to the counter setting her down gently.

“I need a shirt and skirt. I can’t go into court looking like this,” her voice is hoarse pissing me off more.

I smooth her hair down and pull her toward me kissing it. “I’m sure they called for another prosecutor. Let me take you home or to my office.” Anywhere I can see her and make sure another fucking thing doesn’t touch her body.

She pushes against my chest. “There’s no one else. I have ten minutes to change and show for court.”

“I got the clothes. I’ll be right back.” Lecompte runs out and I’m thinking there’s no way she’s going into court.

Perez walks in. “Commander, I know Waite gave you the report. Hale was at the door. The second exit isn’t on the floor plan, or he would have checked before she came in. I have a team working the video from here out. A team of four scouring and three in the building. I’ll go with Ms. Warner into court with one on the room. The judge and bailiff are aware. Wheeler and Ford are volunteering when Ford team lands.”

I’m relieved he’s in court with one on the door. “Thank you, Perez. I need an earpiece and a computer. Ford has Ops tonight, I need him ready for it.”

He spins around. “Roger, sir.”

I hug Cassidy and close my eyes. She’s here, he handled everything until I was clear and my men are volunteering to keep her safe. “I’m so glad you’re okay, mi amor. What can I do to help you right now?”

She looks up with her pale face and glassy eyes. “Catch him. He hid for more than six months last time.” The fear in her shaking voice has my jaw clamped tight.

Lecompte walks in. “They’re not designer, but they’ll do.” She hands an FBI polo and pair of black shorts to Cassidy. “Put the shorts under the skirt, so you’re not flashing the judge.”

I pull her to the big stall and help her dress watching her eyes and marking her breathing. “You have your inhaler?”

“Yes. My head and vision are clear. Harper had the mask on me the whole time.” She’s not crying, but she’s not shining her eyes on me either.

“Do you need something for pain?” I have no idea what to do. Locking her up isn’t going to work.

She opens the door and steps out. “I got something just before you got here, but I’m okay. It’s for stiffness she said.” She washes her face and puts makeup on her eyes. I want to pick her up and carry her away. “This is as good as it gets. Do the shorts cover the slit in my skirt?”

Any other time I’d want to see that slit. Right now, the shorts almost cover the bandage. “Yeah.”

She pulls my shirt and kisses my lips. “I’m running out of time. I’ll see you when I get out?” Her eyes tell me she wants that, so I nod and watch her walk out with a slight limp. Perez takes her arm and Lecompte follows them. I guess she’s on Security.

Hale steps in with a computer and earpiece. I turn and hit the wall.

* * *

More than two hours and we still have nothing. He fucking vanished, no person, no car, no fucking anything leaving the building, lot, or streets around the courthouse. Agents are seen, PD is seen, but no Stew Haddad. Marks calls in that the address on file is a laundromat. I want to hit another wall. Benavides calls in, he’s been out for sixteen days and hasn’t checked in with his parole officer. No alerts are thrown. All I can do is pace. The walls won’t be enough for me. When Ford tells me the prison paperwork was sent through as an early release by some fucked up switched paperwork in the file, I’m ready to kill someone.

People start coming out of the courtroom and I push through. Perez is standing by Cassidy at the table. Harper is facing the door right beside them. My sweet Cassidy looks done in.

I hand Perez the laptop so he can see the nothing we have and hold my hand out for her. “How was court?”

She smiles for the first time, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “It was just routine.” She stands and I see the pain pinch the edges of her eyes.

Perez actually laughs. “All but one was held or has high enough bail that they won’t be jeopardizing a house over. She should be working for the State Attorney.”

Cassidy is looking at me as he talks. Her breathing is even and she smiles again.

“Do they have threat files?” Lecompte asks, making me smile.

Turning I watch him frown. “Probably more than the DA.”

“Fuck that shit. She might as well stay. At least we can cover her here.” Lecompte walks away and Cassidy laughs then coughs.

I’m just about to ask where her inhaler is but she pulls out a candy. “I’m thirsty. I don’t know where my bottle went and they don’t put water out in here anymore.”

“There’s a store across the street. I’ll get you water before we leave,” I tell her, giving her my arm to hold. She leans heavily on it.

Once we’re outside Perez stops us. “Lecompte, get some water from across the street,” he says and she nods, then jogs across. Perez looks around then back at me motioning me to shut off my earpiece and mic. “I can get us an address if you don’t ask me how.”

Jesus fucking Christ. “Not if it means you jeopardize your job. Our orders are clear.”

His hands go up. “An old PD friend, he owes me and I’ll use a burner.” A burner means he can’t just call. Fuck.

I look at my feet playing the odds of this. We’ve got nothing. She was cut in two places. The sick fuck cuts a breast off while they’re alive then kills them and rapes their dead body. The longer he’s out, the higher the possibility of him killing more. Those dead bodies will fall on us. I look at Cassidy. She’s nervous. Not a normal look for her. He’s watching me. “Not a trace back to us.”

“Not a trace.” He turns. “We can use the office at your house tonight. I’ll need about a half an hour then meet you there?”

I know I should tell him to forget it, we’ll find another way, but I can’t. “Yeah, be careful.”

Seeing him smile and salute doesn’t make me happy right now. I nod and walk Cassidy to the SUV. “Are you okay with this?”

She’s walking slow, but I don’t know if it’s for the answer or she’s in pain. “My head is warring right now. Time could equal victims again. It was like the city was under siege before. Women didn’t go out alone, even in groups they weren’t safe, it was a nightmare. Almost weekly a new body was found heightening that fear. You could see it on everyone’s face and feel it holding us all hostage. He needs to be found. Perez’s way wins. Whatever it takes.”

Lecompte gets in and I turn my earpiece back on, then help Cassidy in. They talk in the back, but I’m listening to the men and thinking about Perez. He’s done this before, but I know it goes against everything he believes in. I can’t ask him, but it has to be the Baxters. An old PD friend.

“Commander, did they get anything?” Lecompte asks.

Not a fucking thing. “No. Video doesn’t show him leaving the building.” I say that again in my head. “Bella, prisoners are taken out below the building. Were they all taken to County today?”

“No, only inmates held over go back to County directly from court. The others are transported to the detention center to be processed, some make bail, the rest are transported all at once later.”

Two vans and a car left from below the building. “Commander Saber to Ops.”

“Wheeler on, Commander.” Wheeler? He’s in with the Investigators?

“Get the video of the car leaving the transport area from under the building. There should have been only the two vans.”

“Roger, Commander. Waite is checking now.” He makes me smile, Waite is still on. The man lives to work.

“Thanks, Wheeler.” I flip the mic, so I’m not broadcast to the whole team.

When I pull in I call Primos. “Sal, it’s Commander Saber. Can you make sandwiches for twelve?” He argues over the name. “Grinders will be fine. Italian, ham and turkey.” I get the whole menu. “Just a mix of those three. I’ll send someone to pick them up.” Jesus, he has to deliver them. “I’ll see you when you get here.”

Men are already here. They always park on the side which I find odd but nice. At least I’m not fighting to get in my own house.

Cassidy and Lecompte are laughing in the back. “I’m glad to hear you laugh but the man is easier if you just give him his way.”

“He really is,” Lecompte agrees .

Cassidy is moving slow. Taking her briefcase, I lift her up. “I can walk.” She’s not happy.

The men are working down here. I bring her to a couch setting her down gently. She must be getting sore. “You can, cari?o, but you don’t have to.”

I turn to Ford. “Sal from Primos is bringing subs that he calls grinders.”

He nods watching Cassidy. “I ordered pizza, too. The teams are working, mine when we get back from our Op.” He thinks pizza is good for days. Cold pizza only works if I’m starving.Right now he has pizza he ordered the last time he was here on the table. He’s nuts with the pizza but a good guy.

The support feels good. “You have Ops first thing. I need your head on the Ops. We have men for this.”

His eyes snap to mine. “You need more men. This isn’t someone that should be on the streets. A full manhunt would have him already.”

No shit. “I have close to twenty jobs being run on top of Ops on any given day. There are only sixty-two Agents including us.”

He cuts me off. “Why can’t we pull from the offices around us? They’re sending you all their work. I don’t know how you keep track of all the shit everyone is doing, but we need more men. We can pull some off the Ops teams?”

I’m not sure if I should be pissed that he interrupted me but he’s right. “I’m not leaving a team short, but you have a point. Running the program worked with what we had until we became the regional office too.” Shit. “I’ll call the Director.” He’ll either see it as poor leadership on my part or that we’re doing better than expected. “Perez is due here soon. I need to talk to all the team Commanders and get a number that’s reasonable for what we’re doing.” While I have them together, I’m going to switch our cycles. Three weeks of constant day and night Ops is going to wear them out.

Ford smiles. “This is going to be big. A whole platoon of Enhanced Special Agent whatever the fuck we are. ”

Cassidy laughs drawing my attention from work to her. Jesus. “Bella, do you need anything?” I sit beside her watching her smile with her eyes shining on me.

“I’m going upstairs. Not that I mind watching my GI Joe work, but I need a drink and to relax for a while. Like until my arm is healed.”

Everyone laughs. “Hale said Lecompte poured alcohol and stitched you up without numbing you first,” Ford says clearly impressed.

Cassidy turns that smile on him. “Yeah, she’s a sadistic bitch.”

A pounding has us all standing. Hale goes to the door and everyone turns watching on alert. Donna pushes by him looking around the lounge. “Cassidy! Are you alright? Dallas told me what happened.” She’s crying? Dallas? No one has ever said his name out loud. He’s always been just Perez. Interesting.

Cassidy and Lecompte walk toward her. “I’m okay. Hale was a minute away,” Cassidy tells her pulling her into a hug.

“Of all the threats it has to be him?” She goes on, but I can’t understand what the hell she’s saying.

I look at the men who are looking everywhere but at the women then at the door. Perez walks in smiling and shaking his head. He pulls Donna away talking to her in a low voice. We all watch, I think in stunned silence. Cassidy turns and shrugs at me getting my feet moving. I lift her up and carry her upstairs.

“This could be addictive, like chocolate.”

My mouth finds hers until I hit the table with my shin. Fucking chocolate is going to kill me. “Mi amor, not the time to tease the hell out of me. I’ll carry you to bed later.”

“Nananananananah,” Lecompte sing songs all the way up the stairs and through the living room. Since my Bella is smiling I let her.

Putting her on the couch, I move the pillows and get her legs up. “I’ll send up sandwiches,” I tell her going for a glass of wine, then think she may want something stronger. “Wine or whiskey?”

“Wine. Drunk Donna isn’t pretty,” Lecompte says. Cassidy nods.

Perez and Donna are at the couch when I walk back. I hand out the glasses and leave the bottle on the table. “Text if you need anything, cari?o.”

She pulls my belt then shirt for a kiss. Her hand on my belt gets a stir, but it’s not the time.

“Killing me, Bella.” I kiss the side of her lips.

Her eyes shine. “Harper will get me some chocolate from my cabinet. It will have to do.”

Jesus. I hold her jaw and kiss her lips hard. “Fucking killing me.” That got more than a stir.

* * *

Knowing the cost of men for what I’m asking, I go through the program costs with Perez. With Springer on video from her house, we nail it all down and she sends final costs right over. Perez pulls the money generated from the jobs so far and shows a huge profit. Since we don’t have profits, I think I have my answer before I make the call. At least he won’t think I’m mismanaging the teams. Of course, we just got up and running so he may shut me down altogether.

I pace thinking about the changes we need to make whether we get the approval or not. My Commanders are here, well Wheeler from the office, I need to do this now. “We need to make some changes. Running three weeks full out is going to drain the men and drop our stats. I thought a week on-cycle would work but we just started and Ops is sometimes running three jobs a day. Will one on, one off work if we don’t get the approval?”

Perez and Ford are shaking their heads. “Pilots, Sniper, Bomb, SWAT,” Ford says. They would be in an on-call hold constantly. We can work time off with all and Pilots a separate weekly cycle, but we don’t have time to hash it out right now .

Perez raises his hand. I nod hiding my smile. “We need the men, or we have to start turning away jobs. We can’t be the Field Office for us, lead Investigators for the territory and Special Ops for all of New England with sixty-two men.”

I can’t do anything but nod in agreement. I come up with the same thing. I pull my phone. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need luck, Commander, you have the numbers, it’s tough to argue with numbers,” Wheeler says as I walk into the back. I take a breath and hit speed dial.

“Give me a minute to get secure, Commander,” he says before I open my mouth. I pace watching the perimeter. “I’ve been expecting this call. With the re-enlistment numbers dropping I got a list of possible, eight already signed on and are awaiting your approval. I’ll have the names to you within the hour. Brice is reassigned to the efficiency in established offices. You contact me directly with reports, concerns and needs. With downsizing and focusing specialties in the Field Offices, I’ll get you another full team. I have a Commander joining you on Monday. I know you’ll approve Miguel and he’s looking forward to joining you. I need to get back in the situation room, Commander. I’ll get you the list, you’ll have to email any other issues tonight.”

I’m shocked. He doesn’t say anymore so I look at the phone. He hung up. He’s fucking pissed, but thankfully, that’s not at me. I start laughing. The relief I feel is incredible and it all comes out. Brice has been short and even sarcastic in responses to the reports and stats. I thought it was going to be a long year dealing with shit from him. Two minutes just wiped it away and I get the help I need to keep my teams running effectively.

I blow out a breath thinking this will get what I need to keep mi vida safe. Walking in I find my Commanders still sitting at the table. They’re waiting anxiously. Except for Perez, he looks calm.

“He’s sending Miguel to command another team and a list of men within the hour.”

Ford jumps up. “What did you say? Holy fuck, Miguel? ”

I’m watching Perez as I answer. “I never said a word and wonder how he knew the need before I called.” I don’t take my eyes off him, so he knows I expect something here.

He caves. “I might have forwarded the last response from Brice by accident. The one that you asked if we’re taking over duties for the Field Office or referring them to other offices.”

I laugh, he’s priceless. No wonder the Director is pissed. Brice told me I was showing incompetence and he could find a real Agent to do the job if I’m falling down already. It didn’t answer my question, but it stopped me from asking anymore.

He stops smiling and pulls a phone from his inside pocket reading the screen. “Your address.” He writes it down and hands me the paper.

“Wheeler, I need the teams readied. We have a last sighting location on Haddad. Perez, get the address to Waite, get confirmation and get me a warrant.”

Everything moves fast. Perez stays at the house with Ford to run the team. Marks is just pulling in and I jump in his SUV with a laptop. “Go.” He doesn’t need more motivation than that.

“Commander, a neighbor verifies she saw him go in,” Perez tells me.

I give everyone start locations and jump out as soon as Marks has his foot on the brake.

“Check-in on readied,” I tell the team. I have four moving at the back, two for the sides that will hold the post and me with Marks on the front.

“East readied, Commander.”

“Nelson, Petrov readied fifty from the rear, Commander.”

“West readied, Commander. ”

I feel like I’m waiting for fucking ever when the last team finally checks-in. “Brown and Carlson readied, Commander.”

“Front and back, move in together. Go, move, move, move!” At the door I kick it yelling, “FBI drop down on the floor!” We move in fast.

“Clear!” Marks says from behind me. I hear, “Clear” from up ahead as I move into the next room.

Seeing Nelson, I look for up. “Carlson, Brown, go down. Marks, I’m going up. Petrov, Nelson, secure the floor.”

I count rogers as I climb the stairs fast. The first room has trash bags. I check the closet. “Clear.” I hear Marks clear the bathroom.

The second door is locked. “FBI coming in, drop to the floor!” I kick it and swing back. As soon as my foot hits the floor, I’m pushing into the room. “Jesus.” I walk right to the window and pull it open. “Perez, get Lecompte here. We’ll need to transport a body to the lab. I need a body cam up here.”

“Nelson moving up, Commander.” I hear her running the stairs as Marks gives Perez a description of the woman. From the file I read earlier, it’s the same as all the rest. This one has dark hair and dark eyes. For some reason seeing the eyes dark is a relief.

“Commander, nothing in the basement but boxes. I have dynamite on the workbench with some electronics. The exit is blocked. Carlson and Brown moving up.”

“Commander, Lecompte is being transported in an SUV. I’ll see if we can get the vehicles from the old office,” Perez says.

“Roger.” I’m watching Nelson and motion her to stay away from the body. “Perez?”

“It’s up, Commander,” he says clipped. Everyone is quiet. Nelson moves so they can take in the whole room then comes back to the body. “Commander, Ford is moving back to the office for Ops. ”

“Roger, Perez. Petrov, Brown, go back to the firehouse. Attiquin, Mertz, hold your position.” I get roger’d. “Perez, Carlson and Nelson are clear here. Get them back on the search. When Lecompte gets here, I’ll add Attiquin and Mertz. Get me someone to log and transport evidence.”

I get a roger and pay attention to Marks. He’s talking on his phone about what he sees. Bruises to her wrists and feet are mentioned and I think about the others. It fits. He snaps a picture of her breasts, the right missing. Ineed to get out of here.Cassidy with the blood on her shirt, leg and the floor, pops into my head and I need air.

“Commander moving down.” I flip all the lights on and look around. He was staying here, this house is lived in.

Marks comes down and looks at the glasses in the sink, the refrigerator and cabinets. “He had plans of coming back here. A gallon of milk to replace the almost empty.” He looks at me. “The hell of it is, it looks like he just went for dinner.”

Son of a bitch. I should have waited. “Mertz, get back with the neighbor that put him here.”

“Roger, Commander. She’s the next house.”

The next house. “Attiquin go with him.” I have a bad feeling about this. “Commander moving out.” Lecompte pulls in as I’m walking down the stairs.

“The back door is open, Commander,” Mertz says and I see him running readied.

“Attiquin, enter readied!”

He rogers and is in yelling “FBI!” before I’m up the stairs.

Fuck! “I need another body bag.” Just at the doorway to the kitchen, an older woman is on the floor staring at the ceiling. “Marks, I need you here. Attiquin, help Lecompte carry gear and stay with her. Mertz, clear down.”

Everyone rogers and I move through the house clearing rooms I know are empty. He got out and it had to be between when Mertz confirmed with the neighbor and we pulled in. Perez is right. We need more men. We’re spread too fucking thin to act as the Field Office on top of our regular shit. Coming down the hall Marks is holding his phone out taking a video of the scene. I check the garage opening all the cabinets, her car is here, so he’s walking.

“Perez, he’s on foot.”

“Roger, Commander. I have two from Cyber on their way so Mertz and Attiquin can join the search.”

“Roger, Perez. More men sounds good right about now.”

* * *

It’s after three when I drag my ass upstairs. Cassidy and Donna were talking at ten when I got in. At twelve she was sound asleep with her laptop open and paper all over the bed. She doesn’t move when I slide in, so I pull her over to me. “Mi amor, mi vida,” I whisper kissing her head. Her arm tightens for a second. She’s back to sleep that fast, but at least it’s on me.

The Director got me the list and answered Perez giving us everything from the old Office. I can’t even imagine the conversation he had with Brice that pissed him off so much that he’s giving me everything. I’m just glad it happened. We all like the men he’s signed. Ford and Wheeler know most of them. Perez knows a lot of the Agents on the list of possibles and refused four of them right away. They look good on paper, but I’ll take his word for it. He wants to make some calls before he agrees on the others. Ford and Wheeler took six and I know three personally.

It makes me wonder what the hell Special Forces will look like with so many not willing to re-enlist. Ford and Wheeler aren’t re-upping again. We’re all on special assignment right now, but I won’t sign again either. The last few missions ran like shit. No clear orders, intel and supplies are going to get men killed. I like having a home and Cassidy every day. I never had a woman at home. I can’t say I ever wanted one. Cassidy changed me from being that cliché to wanting to be better, someone she can be proud of. I need to give her the ring and ask her to marry me. She needs to know I’m here for her too.

She moves and my arm holds her still. She’s got to be sore. I close my eyes and breathe pushing the thought of losing her to that sick bastard away.

Miguel is going to love her.