Chapter 1

“What doyou mean you’re shutting down the investigation?” Fists on her hips, Special Agent Avery Ellis glared at her supervisor. “That trucking company is dealing in stolen goods. Or counterfeits. Or both. We’re talking on an international level, Ryan. My contact was killed for giving me that lead.”

As usual, Avery’s SSA—Supervisory Special Agent—Ryan Goshiro, remained unperturbed. He eyed her placidly over the top of his computer monitor and shrugged. “Your contact had a heart attack. I’m sorry the timing was crummy, but that’s about the only sinister thing going on here.”

“Heart attacks can be induced.”

Ryan leaned on his elbows and rolled his eyes. “In spy novels. The Bureau likes to live in the real world. It doesn’t take a lot of explanation, Avery. You’re done. Orders from up top.”

“But—”

He raised a hand, stopping her. “I’m not saying there’s nothing to investigate with this trucking company. You can circle back to it later. For now, I’ve been ordered to redirect agency resources to more compelling cases. End of story.”

“What about the two other deaths? You can’t tell me three deaths in two months are a coincidence.”

Ryan pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “I have told you that. Several times.” He fixed her with a long look. “Give it up, Avery. I’m shutting this down. You don’t have to like it, but you do have to listen.”

No. She didn’t.

His eyes narrowed as if he could see her brain working. “You’re an excellent agent. If you’d just learn to be a team player, you could have a great career. Don’t blow this.”

Like your father did.

She heard the words as clearly as if Ryan had said them out loud.

Officially, Averson Ellis was a hero to the Bureau, an agent who gave his life to save fellow law enforcement officers. But the backstory was far more complicated. Her father was a hero to his fellow agents, but to the higher-ups, the men and women who rode desks, he was despised. Because he’d saved those officers by going rogue.

The instant she earned her badge, Avery had looked through his file.

Works outside the system.

Unwilling to adhere to standard protocols or commands.

Resistant to input from superiors.

The list ran on, using countless other ways to say the same thing: her father had been a burr in the system’s backside his entire career. And then he died in the line of duty.

She hadn’t planned on following so closely in her father’s footsteps, but five years into her own stint with the Bureau, she understood. Ryan could have written those words about her.

Sometimes rules interfered with seeking justice.

She’d prayed on it long and hard, but the answer kept coming up the same: she could do what was right, or she could be a “good” agent.

The answer didn’t require much thought, let alone prayer.

Ryan shoved his keyboard away and jumped to his feet. “Don’t do this, Avery.”

She raised her hands, palms out in a gesture of surrender. “If the case is closed, it’s closed. For now.”

Ryan seemed to be weighing her words. “Okay. I’m not saying it’s forever. Just for now. Priorities change. You know that. As our workflow changes, we can circle back to this. Okay?”

“No, it’s not okay. Three men are dead.”

Her supervisor wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and squeezed. A vein pulsed in his temple. She was pushing him hard, but at this point, she didn’t much care.

“Natural causes, Avery. All of them. Did you read the ME’s reports?”

She had. And her intuition was still screaming. But Ryan had read them too.

Arguing would get her exactly nowhere. She blew out a breath. There had to be options.

“You’ve got a zillion hours of vacation time,” Ryan pointed out. “Take some.”

“Soon,” she promised.

“Now.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared her down. “I’m serious. Get out of the office for a couple weeks. Things’ll look a lot better once you’ve toasted yourself on a tropical beach. You need the break.”

More like he and her fellow agents needed the break from her.

Fair enough.

But the thought of taking time off—doing nothing—when she knew more people could die …

Not. Gonna. Happen.

Her lips parted, but she caught herself before she could dig a hole she’d never be able to climb out of. Instead, she nodded. “You have a point.”

“Yeah, I do.”

Best to do this now, before she changed her mind. She tapped a finger on the edge of his desk. “You win. Let’s make it official. As of ten seconds ago, consider me on vacay.”

Ryan’s lithe frame sagged in relief. “You got it. I’ll even do the paperwork for you.” He made a shooing motion with his hands. “Get gone, Agent Ellis. I don’t want to see your face for at least two weeks. You hear me?”

Avery turned on her heel, waving at him from over her shoulder. “Loud and clear, sir.”

“Avery?”

His sharp tone stopped her in the doorway.

“Keep your head down. The owners of Rain Bay hang with some bad people. You and I know you’re off the case, but Rain Bay Trucking doesn’t. Do yourself a favor and pick a beach in another time zone.”

“Sure. I appreciate the warning.” She shut the door behind her on the way out, the gears already turning.