Page 54 of Operation: Reckless Angel

“Sebastian,” she answered. “Sorry, I didn’t call you back. The road conditions are horrible.”

“Did you make it to the interstate?”

“No, I had to stop. The Sheriff was in the ditch. He waited with me until the plow and tow truck came. He sat in my fucking van with me, Sebastian. Right next to me in my fucking van. And he was so calm. He just murdered his wife, and he sat there calm as can be, fucking psychopath!”

“Are you okay, Briana?” he asked. The concern in his voice was as unmistakable as the fact that she was rattled.

“I am now,” she said. “And the roads are closed. He said the interstate is even closed. There’s a bed-and-breakfast just ahead where I’m going to stay until the roads reopen. I’ve never seen snow come down this heavy.”

“I put a call into my boss. I have a video meeting with him in fifteen minutes and in the meantime, I passed the info on your client and her husband to our Digital Team, who are already looking into them.”

“You don’t let grass grow, do you?”

“If you mean we take things seriously and apply our resources to look into them, no, we don’t let grass grow.” There was a pause. “You do want my help, don’t you?”

“Yes,” she said emphatically. “He has to be held responsible for killing his wife, and that isn’t something I can do alone.”

“Okay, good. Just making sure,” Roth said. “Once I open this with my boss, there’s no turning back.”

“Good,” she agreed. “I don’t want to turn back. I want to see this bastard in handcuffs.”

Roth smiled. That was the cop in her coming out. Once a cop, always a cop. He’d known she was still one of the good guys, and this proved it. “I’m glad we’re going to be working together on this.”

“Me too,” she agreed with a smile spreading across her face. She was happy that she’d be seeing him again, and hopefully soon.

“I’m going to let you go so you can concentrate on driving. Send me a text when you get to the B and B so I know you made it. I’ll give you a call after I talk with my boss.”

“Okay, and thank you, Sebastian.”

Sierra

Roth sat in the front seat of one of the SUVs in the parking lot of their install site to have the call with Shepherd. He logged into the chat room on his tablet and sat it on the dashboard, waiting for Big Bear to join the chat. He was sure Shepherd wouldn’t decline the mission. But what would he do if he did?

The window opened and the conference table in Shepherd’s office displayed on Roth’s screen. Seated next to Shepherd was BT. He greeted them both. Then a second window opened, and Jackson joined the chat. Roth knew he was onsite for the next CIA Referral case in Connecticut with three other members of Alpha Team.

“Thank you for making the time for this call, Jax,” Shepherd said.

“Not a problem,” Jackson replied. “Roth, how’s the install going?”

“So far, we’re ahead of schedule and don’t anticipate any issues.”

“Good. So, if you do step away, the rest of the team should be able to complete it on time. Is that correct?” Shepherd asked.

“Yes, barring anything unforeseen,” Roth answered. This was a promising conversation.

“You believe the Woods woman saw what she reported to you?” Shepherd asked.

“For her to reach out to me, she had to feel she was in danger. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have. I’ve stayed in touch with her since the case in Iowa and she’s kept it short, kept her distance. She knows she promised to stop her illegal activities. So, for her to admit to me she was on a job and saw her client murdered by her husband, she knew the possible ramifications to herself with that admission. Yes, Shep, I believe she saw it and I believe that she wants to make sure the husband is held responsible for what he did. Once a cop, always a cop.”

“Agreed,” Shepherd said. “I’m approving this mission under the following parameters. You’ll fly commercial into Portland to meet the Woods woman. Jackson will meet you there. The two of you are all we can spare from our cases to look into this. BT and the Digital Team will back you up from here. The scope of your mission will be limited to three items. One, confirming Amanda Elsworth is missing. Two, you will get her husband to go on the record regarding her whereabouts, and three, as you both carry DEA creds, you’ll open an official inquiry to either interview a witness to drug trafficking, Amanda Elsworth, or to investigate her as that trafficker, whichever you decide is the best approach. That will give you legal standing to investigate her disappearance. If you confirm her death, you’ll then make contact with the local FBI office to hand the matter over to them with Miss Woods’ eyewitness testimony. I’ll loop the DEA and FBI in on our investigation. And keep Miss Woods out of your investigation as much as you can, though I have a feeling that may not be easy to do.”

Roth couldn’t help but smile. True, keeping her at arm’s length would not be easy, and Shepherd had never met her. “Thank you, Shepherd,”

“Touch bases with Angel. She’ll make your travel arrangements.”

“Is there a time limitation on our investigation, Shep?” Jackson asked.

“Get it done promptly, but get this bastard. If he killed his wife, he needs to be prosecuted.”

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