Page 19 of Retribution
“No. Not necessarily. Have you ever come across Agent Buchanan?” she asks, her gaze watching me closely.
“The Director?”
“No,” she shakes her head. “Agent Daniella Buchanan.”
“I can’t say that I have,” I reply, wondering where this is going, and what it has to do with me. “Is she any relation to the Director?”
A smile stretches across her lips as she sits back. “His niece. And Vincenzo’s daughter.”
My eyes fly wide and I can’t stop myself from reacting to this. “Really? A mob princess is an FBI agent?”
Chuckling, Agent Manning nods. “She’s determined to take him down. She’s currently in Flagstaff, Arizona. There seems to be a serial killer on the loose there, and it looks like it’s connected to a local pedophile and sex trafficker. There’s a possibility that the operation there is connected to the Gianelli family. And Agent Gerhardt,” she states, her voice going serious, “there’s a possibility that Vincenzo is linked to the international ring.”
Resting my chin on the tips of my fingers, I go quiet for a moment, processing all of this information before asking, “What do you need of me?”
“We want you in Flagstaff. The Director has asked for you personally. I don’t need to tell you what an honor that is, coming to his attention and being chosen like this.”
Nodding, my mind still whirling, I wait for her to continue.
“Agent Buchanan can be, well, a bit of a hothead. There’s been whispers, very quiet ones, I might add, that she was responsible for allowing the serial killer Cruz Sandoval to escape.”
My eyebrows hit the top of my head at this. Well, well. Looks like Agent Buchanan and I have something in common.
“Really?” I ask, letting my incredulity show. “Are you worried that she’s secretly in cahoots with her father?”
“No, no, not at all. She’s a dedicated agent and has a bad past with Vincenzo. We’re not worried about her in that way. We need someone with your expertise in this area. Agent Gerhardt, you’re one of our brightest, smartest, most dedicated agents. We want you to help Agent Buchanan in any way possible. We want the killer apprehended, the trafficking shut down. There are possible victims to recover, and if we can find anything to tie Vincenzo to this, all the better.”
“Okay,” I agree. “When do I fly out?”
“In two days. Agent Buchanan has already flown out and is settling in. I’ll be arranging accommodation for you both. We have a house in Flagstaff that’s currently vacant and should do for the both of you to share.”
Standing, we shake hands, Agent Manning wishing me luck.
I’m going to need it.
Striding back towards my office, I stop at the desks of my newest interns, Ashley and Julianna Clark. Twin sisters, they usually have their heads together, giggling over the latest paranormal or reverse harem romance books.
Yeah. I could do with five dicks too sometimes. Seriously. I’ve been single way too long.
As I approach their desk, they jump apart guiltily, and I give them my best “get back to work” face. Julianna skips back to her desk, quickly making herself look busy, as Ashley grimaces up at me.
“Sorry, Susannah. We got caught up with a new book we’re reading,” she explains, closing her desk drawer to hide the evidence.
Quirking my lips up into a smile, I rest my hip against the side of her desk. “Which book is it this time?”
Grinning up at me, she pulls out the book, handing it over.Shadows Scorchby C. Rochelle. Hmm. Demons and angels? Looks interesting. I might just have to borrow it from her when she’s done.
“Listen up, everyone,” I call out, raising my voice to be heard over the noise of people pretending to work hard.
Ashley, Julianna, Stacy, and Jessica all look up from their desks, brows raised in curiosity. “I’m being transferred to the Flagstaff office temporarily to help out on a case. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone for, it could be a couple of weeks to a few months.”
Jessica and Stacy exchange glances while Ashley and Julianna stare at me with wide eyes.
“Ashley and Julianna, it has been a pleasure having you as interns, but while I’m away, you’ll be transferred to another team. I need you both to be learning, and want your education to continue, not stagnate, while I’m away.”
They both nod at me.
“Stacy and Jessica, I’m going to need you both to continue what you’re doing. I’m still going to need your assistance occasionally, but not full-time. I received permission for you two to job share, with full pay, while I’m away, to return to full-time when I come back. Does that work for both of you?”
