Page 10 of Operation: Sharp Angel

“Where the fuck would Winston have heard that?” Tessman asked.

“Probably from Shepherd himself, or Flores,” Wilson said.

“With Bravo Team just looking to ride out their time until retirement, for the most part, I don’t doubt that Shepherd is looking for profitable ways to keep them working on reasonably safe missions as well as assignments that are close to home as they have said they want some time in one place for the most part,” Burke said. “I get it. We were doing the same thing they were doing for the last few years; in that we traveled nonstop. I’d say we had it better with the PGP Installs we were doing. At least we didn’t have to put up with entitled assholes like they did, protecting ungrateful and often uncooperative clients.”

“Yeah, and a contract at O’Hare will allow them to rotate in those with families too,” Tessman said. “Like you, Wilson.” His gaze shifted to Burke. “And maybe you, if you ever classify your relationship and move Donna and her kids here.”

“Really, it’s not like that,” Burke said. “And she has no intention of moving here.”

Tessman just shook his head. Burke’s relationship was none of his business, which was good because he didn’t understandit. “Anyway, we meet with the potential client soon and get this. She’s an attorney. Cooper thinks we should decline the case outright.”

“Because she’s an attorney?” Wilson asked.

Tessman shrugged. “He didn’t voice his thoughts until Brielle said she was an attorney.”

Wilson whistled. “I take back that I wish that case was mine. Good luck.”

“Thanks,” Tessman said with sarcasm. “Anyway, good luck with the Op. I have a feeling this case will be a no go and I’ll be heading to up-state New York to join the PGP Team later today.”

“It all pays the same,” Wilson said.

Tessman snickered and then left.

Delta

Tessman met Cooper, Jackson, and Brielle in the conference room on the fifth floor. Cooper directed him to sit beside Jackson on the far side of the table. Brielle was on Jackson’s other side.

Then Cooper sat beside Tessman. “I want you two in the center, as you are running primary on the case,” Cooper said. “Angel will bring her in when she arrives.”

They didn’t have to wait long. Just a few minutes later, Angel appeared at the door and then, stepping back, she ushered the client in. “Miss Becca Elliot,” Angel said.

Tessman watched her enter. Becca Elliot appeared to be in her mid-thirties. She was a beautiful woman with chestnut brown shoulder-length hair, vibrant green eyes, a flawless complexion, and a confident manner. She wore blue jeans and a dark green V-neck girlie T-shirt over her slim but strong-looking frame. He could just as easily envision her wearing a business suit and he believed she would look as comfortable in it as she did in blue jeans.

The four of them stood, and they each introduced themselves.

“Please, have a seat,” Jackson invited.

They sat after she did.

“Miss Elliot,” Jackson began.

“Please, it’s just Becca,” she said.

“To recap a few items, and please let me know if I have any of it incorrect,” Brielle said, “your sister and her entire family were found by a UPS driver making a delivery.”

“Yes, he looked through the side window on the front door and saw my brother-in-law lying in the hallway when no one answered the door when he rang. He called the police.”

“Neither your brother-in-law nor your sister had a FOID card or were known to you to own any weapons,” Brielle continued.

“Correct,” Becca said.

“I guess the best place to start is why you don’t think the police’s determination is correct,” Jackson said.

“There are several reasons. I know you’re not going to accept this at face value, but the fact is, my brother-in-law, Nick, was not a gun guy. He’d never fired one in his life. He was a science nerd. If he was going to kill his family and himself, it would have been with some chemical agent, a drug, or something else nonviolent. And I was very close to my sister. She told me everything. They had no problems beyond just the normal married life stuff like he left the toilet seat up or didn’t take the trash out when she asked him. Nick was sane, he wasn’t some crazy lunatic with bi-polar or depression. No one was a powder keg just waiting to explode in that house. They were a normal, happy family. I’m telling you; he didn’t do this.”

“If he didn’t, then who did?” Cooper asked.

“I don’t know. That’s what I’m hiring your agency to find out.”

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