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“I already know Noah and Seth have excellent closure rates. Let’s muddy their records with reprimands for inappropriate conduct, intimidating witnesses, and suspicion of tampering with evidence.”
Seth and Noah exchanged grim looks. Great. Just great. What a way to mess up a clean record. Even when Murphy removed the reprimands and the news spread of their participation in an undercover assignment, their fellow cops would wonder what was true and what was false. How long would they have to watch their backs in case Ardmore cops decided on a little payback?
“Have any objections, Dixon?” Maddox asked.
“Plenty, but what choice do I have? It’s the only way this ruse will work.”
“Mann?”
“Same. Makes me sick, though,” Seth’s partner muttered. “I’m proud of our record and our closure rate. If this doesn’t get cleaned up, all our cases will be under suspicion.”
“We’ll take care of it,” Burnett said. “You have my word that you will be vindicated and your records returned to what they are right now. In fact, you can expect a commendation and perhaps a medal after this undercover operation is complete.”
Seth wanted to laugh. A commendation and a medal? Right. The only catch was he and Noah had to survive to receive both awards. And if they lost Teagan and Violet? No award was worth losing either of the women.
“Seth.” Burnett folded his hands on the table. “You’ll have to let this play out with no one knowing this is a ruse. Do you understand what I’m saying? You can’t tell your family the truth. Doing so would put their lives in jeopardy and your own. Their reaction must be natural. They won’t be able to pull it off if they know the truth.”
His eyes burned. This sucked so hard. “I know, sir.” Seth prayed he didn’t have to see his parents or his brothers before he went undercover. The last thing he wanted to do was lie to them in person. Seeing their anguish would kill him. It’s why he’d quit taking undercover assignments. He hated the lies and rolling in the filth in the world’s underbelly.
Under the table, Teagan laced their fingers together again and squeezed.
“Same goes for you, Noah,” Burnett said. “No telling anyone you’re anything but a dirty cop.”
“I get it, sir. I don’t have as much of a problem with it as Seth because I don’t have anyone I’m answerable to.”
“No significant other who will object to Violet’s presence in your life?” Maddox asked.
Noah’s cheeks flamed. “No, sir.”
“Seth?”
“It’s only been Teagan for me since the day I saw her.”
Her head whipped his direction, eyes wide.
If she was expecting him to refute those words, she’d be disappointed. They were the absolute truth.
Special Agent Walters nodded. “All right. If our undercover operatives are agreeable, we’ll set this in motion just after midnight, Maddox, if your tech people can create updated files for both detectives by that time.”
“The files will be updated at 12:01 a.m.” He turned to Iona. “Get your team ready. Pack heavy. If the operatives run into trouble, get them out by any means necessary. I’ll have another team on standby in case you need help.”
“Copy that, sir.”
Maddox’s attention shifted to Seth, Noah, Teagan, and Violet. “As soon as you cross into Ardmore’s city limits, you’re on stage every second. I suggest you get to know your partner well enough to convince Richardson and Peters you’re establishedcouples.” He stood. “Dismissed.” Maddox strode out of the conference room.
Burnett rose. “Dixon, Mann, I’ll call you into my office at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Be ready.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I hate to ask this of you both. For what it’s worth, I am sorry.”
Walters pushed back from the table. “Gentlemen, ladies, know that your government owes you a debt of gratitude for your service.” He followed Burnett from the room.
“A debt of gratitude?” Noah snorted. “That’s assuming The Brotherhood allows us into the militia, and that’s a big assumption. More likely, we’ll be rejected and all the drama and mud smearing will be for nothing.”
“By the time I get through with your personnel files, you’ll be a perfect fit for The Brotherhood,” Murphy said. “Getting Teagan and Violet along with the two of you will be icing on the cake as far as the militia will be concerned.”
“Know something we don’t, Z?” Rayne asked.