Page 5 of Operation: Valiant Angel

“Whoa, I’m not sure I want to know who you guys are,” he said, not taking the slip of paper.

“Yes, you do,” Garcia said.

“And Briana wants you to know,” Wilson added.

Cameron Woods looked undecided for a few seconds. Then he took the form from Garcia and gave it merely a glance before signing it. “I know I’m going to regret this,” he murmured as he handed it back.

“I want to point out one section on this form that you didn’t bother to read,” Garcia said, his deep voice sounding foreboding. “This document is binding for your entire life and if you divulge any information whatsoever, you will face federal felony charges with a bench trial, which means no jury, just a judge.”

“Whatever,” Woods said. “I already regret this.”

Wilson watched the grin spread over Garcia’s face. Woods was entertaining.

“Your sister was in some real danger on this latest mission of hers,” Garcia said. “But our boss recognizes that what she’s doing is important. There’s no doubt she’s saved many women from being killed by an abusive partner. He also recognizes that she needs a team and resources to back her up.”

“And we have those resources and team members to assign to this project. Plus, we’ll give her protection by operating under our agency’s umbrella,” Wilson added.

“So, your boss offered her a job?” Cam asked skeptically. He knew his sister well. She wasn’t going to turn her operation over to someone else and then follow their rules to do what she felt was a calling.

“In a few words, yes,” Wilson said.

Cam Woods then listened to the two men lay out exactly who they and their organization were. When they concluded recounting the events of his sister retaking her military oath the previous day, he fully understood Briana’s motivation for joining forces with them. And the fact that she’d be working with Sebastian was the cherry on top for her, he was sure. He knew that Bree had it bad for Sebastian.

“I’m glad for her,” Cam said. “Even though I know my sister is tough and can handle herself, I’ve been worried about her out there alone. And since you were here in November, I’ve been telling her we need to dial it back, so we didn’t get caught again. I love Bree, but I don’t want to go to jail for her and this mission of hers.” He grinned a guilty smile.

“Our organization will be taking over this website and contact link you set up to source jobs for her,” Garcia said.

“Sure,” Woods agreed immediately.

“You’re good with a keyboard and at doing some investigative work,” Garcia said to him, watching him closely for a reaction.

“And let us be honest with you. We can’t find a viable income stream for you. Not a legit one, anyway,” Wilson added.

Woods groaned inside. “Oh shit, you are looking to bust me for something, aren’t you?”

“Relax,” Garcia said. “But your future hinges on the next thirty seconds.” He paused and smiled. “No pressure.”

“Ah, fuck,” Woods cursed.

“We’re not the IRS. We don’t care what you may be doing under the table. We just need to be sure it’s not illegal.”

“It’s not. I swear. Even what Bree and I were doing wasn’t really illegal. Well, quasi maybe with those IDs she was pulling,” he admitted. “Everything I do is for cash under the table.”

“There were no encrypted or protected files on your computer that contained financial data,” Garcia stated as fact. He’d looked over every file on his hard drive and in his cloud storage in November. “Do you keep records?”

“In a paper ledger,” Woods insisted. “Do you think I’m stupid? I wouldn’t put it on a computer. Every system can be hacked.”

The corners of Garcia’s lips tipped up again. “Do you have any hacks we should know about?”

“If you don’t know, I’m sure as hell not going to incriminate myself,” Woods replied.

“The question is, would you give up what you’re doing solo for a good paycheck and to help the good guys if you were still allowed to challenge the firewalls and dig into shit you’re not supposed to?” Garcia asked.

“What? Work for you guys?” Woods asked.

Both men nodded. The expressions on both their faces were serious.

“I’m not a military guy. Surely you recognize that,” he said.

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