Page 79 of Hidden Depths

“Can you prove it?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Okay, this is what we’re going to do. You’re leaving town immediately. Bring the girl with you if you have to, but I want you off this case. I’ll contact the Florida office, and they can send a team down.”

“I’m here now. Why take me off?”

“Because you’re too close to this.”

“I’m close in proximity, sure, but Sara’s gone. I sent her off on a bus already.”

“That’s an order.”

“With all due respect, you have no reason for taking me off this.”

“I don’t trust you.”

“Sir?”

“After the stunt you pulled with Harrison, I don’t feel confident you can do the job by the books.”

“What if I promise I won’t break any rules? Let me stay here and finish this.”

“Why is it so important to you?”

“Because I’m here now. I don’t know when Balthazar is going to make his move. I need to act now. If we wait, we could lose him. Please.”

“Fine, but you are on a very tight leash here. You can do surveillance, but that’s it. Do not engage the suspect. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll let Florida know you’re down there already, but when their team arrives, they’re running the show. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Keep me informed.”

“I will, sir.”

Tom ended the call before making another. Armstrong should know that the last time Tom had disobeyed an order wouldn’t be his last.

“Peter, it’s Tom.”

“Everything okay?”

“You know how a job like mine goes. Nothing’s ever really okay, but you make the most of it.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Yeah, can you call that DEA friend of yours down here ASAP if she’s available?”

“I thought you might say that. She’s already on her way.”

“Good. I could use a hand.”

“Thanks for getting Sara away from there safely.”

“Just in time, too. They’ve come after me, so they know Dutch didn’t get the job done. But not before Sara got out.”

---