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Joe nodded to Hank and they made their exit into the neighboring chamber, closing the door behind them as Mason gave the okay for Lester’s arrival over the intercom.
“Thanks, Randy. Show the agents in, please.”
Joe was jazzed as she waited, and couldn’t get her body to behave long enough to take a seat. But in tune with her, Hank also stood.
“When this is over,” he said, conversationally. “I don’t suppose you’d contemplate coming to work in Portland?”
Joe blinked. After all the drama and schmitt that had followed her, he’d made the overture before she’d even had a chance to feel him out? And even with the Lester debacle, he still wanted to offer her a job?
“You don’t want to wait to see how this plays out with my current boss?” she asked cautiously. “I may still be implicated with wrongdoing if things go sideways.”
Hank laughed. “I think we have him right where we want him, Joe. Last night’s surveillance shows that he’s setting you up. And we have testimony from his underlings that they were following his orders not only to manufacture and distribute their product, but to kill you. An admittance of guilt from him would be nice, but we don’t need it. Besides…” he looked at her slyly. “I see how it is between you and Lieutenant Carlese. I’m pretty sure going back to Nevada isn’t on your agenda. Two-and-a-quarter hours away in Portland versus eight from the west coast sounds like a pretty good trade-off to me.”
Yup. Charming and smart.
Joe gave Hank a grin, going right into negotiation mode. “Can I work remotely unless I’m needed in the office? Maybe two days a week? Mike’s already told me that he wants me to eventually move in.”
Hank pondered for a moment. “Will he have a problem with you going off on assignment?”
“Nope,” Joe said with certainty.
Mike might want her to live with him, but he’d never, she knew, keep her from traveling for her vocation.
“Then I think we can?—”
At that moment, Lester and his dirty-workers blustered into the conference room, cutting Hank off.
“Chief Sothard.” Lester spoke first, as if this was his jurisdiction and he was in charge. “I’m so glad you could make time to help me out.”
Mason, instead of putting the loudmouth in his place, greeted the dipshift with diplomatic aplomb, and Joelle found that highly amusing.
“Anything for our friends at the DEA,” Mase said with just the right amount of deference in his voice. “Now where do things stand?”
“We’ve tracked Agent Piken’s phone,” Lester apprised him. “It’s stationary, and has been for some time. We have her location as west of here. That’s where we’ll head, now.”
Mason stroked his chin. “You haven’t told me much about this agent you’re following. Can you fill me in?”
“She’s…” Lester began, then pretended to choke up. “Well, she was one of my top field operatives, but in the past year she…”
Lester gave a huge, fake sigh, his face a picture of disappointment.
Joe snorted. The man’s acting skills were actually pretty good.
He continued. “Let’s just say I’ve had my suspicions she’s had her fingers in some illegal endeavors lately. But understand, I still hold out hope that what we discover here when we find Agent Pikens, will ease my worries and exonerate her.”
Flubbing masspipe, Joe fumed.
Hank put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. It almost brought tears to her eyes. Real ones. Hank’s gesture was the only display of solidarity she’d had from any DEA agent in a very long time.
“It’ll be over soon,” he assured her.
“I hope so,” Joe responded, a heartfelt breath hissing out from between her lips.
Her focus went back to the large room.
“How many officers do you have joining us?” Lester asked, sending his gaze dismissively over Mike, Cisco, and Welker as if they were simply fodder.
“Oh. Excuse me for not introducing my colleagues,” Mason deliberately disregarded the slight. “This is Lieutenant Carlese, officer Deluthe, and officer Vestore from Downeast SWAT. They’ll bring their squads of five with them to the designated site. Will that be enough for you, or would you like me to call in a few more units?”