Page 52 of Building What's Meant to Be

“I’m ready to go full local. First, I need y’all to trust me. This thing with Stoll is a lot bigger than you think.”

“Obviously, Governor Pickering was involved,” Buck says.

Cassian looks at me the way he would a pro poker player, curious to see how I’ll play this hand. I have to come clean. Of course, I can’t give them the confidential details of the case, but I need their help. They have to know.

“Guys, I’ve been keeping something from you.”

“Yeah, that you’re criminally minded,” Bo says.

“You’ve taken this too far,” Nash adds.

I get to my feet. “Guys, listen. I’m an FBI agent.”

There’s silence. Then everyone except Cassian laughs.

Taylor comes over, pats me on the shoulder, and says, “That might be the best one yet. Do your sisters know? They’ll get a kick out of this joke. If we throw another Halloween party, instead of dressing up as a monster, you can go as a spy.”

“I’m not a spy and no one knows. Not Bess or Mae. They think I’m in finance or business. Those are relatively broad terms. Yeah, I’m in thebusinessof catching criminals. As for the finance piece, I mostly deal with criminals involved in financial schemes. At least that’s how this case started.”

The loose mood in the room tightens like a rubber band pulled tautly.

“You’re not kidding are you?” Nash says serious.

I loop my thumbs in my belt and shake my head.

“Sure he is. He’s kidding,” Taylor says.

I flash my badge.

Taylor frowns. “We’re like brothers. You know all of us. Everything about us, about me. But you didn’t tell me this? Harsh, man.”

“I can understand why you’d be upset, hurt. But I hope you understand that I kept it to myself for your protection and my sisters.” Ever since the original incident with the Kravens, I’ve wanted to protect the world. Now specifically Tinsley.

Taylor’s cheeks puff as he exhales. “Okay. Yeah. I guess in your position I may have done the same.”

Cassian rests his knuckles on his chin as he takes up the pacing as if this helps him think and gets right to business. “So where are we at?”

“Aggie affectionately calls the case Operation Pierate.”

“Is she an agent too?” Taylor asks.

“No, she despises the mayor, wants to save the town, and has been helping me with the cat. Trust me guys, this isn’t my first rodeo. I’m a trained professional.”

“But the mayor is missing. Any idea where he wandered off to?” Cassian asks.

“Last known whereabouts, other than on the road out of town, was a predawn visit to the town hall.” I tell them about the security cam footage.

Bo and Buck exchange a glance as if it hits them that I’m telling the truth.

Nash says, “Cassian, are you in on this?”

“Given my training, I can sometimes recognize federal employees. I had a hunch.” I appreciate him not sharing that I’d hinted at my status when he was about to storm the town hall not long ago.

“Whew, my mind is exploding,” Buck says.

“Don’t let it. Seriously, I need your help,” I say.

Taylor says. “Wait, does Tinsley know?”

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