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“I know I did. But … there has to be a better way than this.”
“Well, unless you’ve got a magic wand hidden in that FBI-issued pantsuit of yours, this is the best option we’ve got.”
Avery’s jaw clenched, her eyes flashing with frustration. For a moment, he thought she might actually stomp her foot. But then she took a deep breath and nodded.
“Fine. But if this blows up in our faces, I’m blaming you.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He turned and continued down the hallway, the weight of the boxes feeling lighter with each step. She could have stopped him at any moment, but she’d let him swipe those packages. Okay, so maybe he was pushing his luck with this one. But something told him that Avery was the kind of woman who appreciated a man who took risks. And if that risk just happened to involve a little bit of law breaking, well, that was just icing on the cake.
Paul looked up from his seat on the leather couch, a grin spreading across his face. “Look who’s a felon now. Never thought I’d see the day.”
Mason shot him a warning look, his jaw clenching tight. “Enough.”
He wasn’t in the mood for Paul’s jokes, not with Avery standing there, her face pale and drawn with worry.
The unspoken feelings made his stomach ache.
Setting the boxes down on the glass and chrome coffee table, he turned to face his brother, his expression stern. “Grabbing the deliveries wasn’t ideal, but we need the intel. And to be clear,” he added, his gaze locking with Paul’s, “I did it. Avery had nothing to do with this.”
Paul’s smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. He glanced over at Avery, taking in her stiff posture and the way she was worrying her lower lip between her teeth. “Hey,” he said softly, his tone apologetic. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be running my mouth.”
Mason grunted. “That’s one thing we can agree on.”
Avery gave Mason a tight smile, but the worry in her eyes didn’t fade. He could see the gears turning in her head, the way she was no doubt weighing the risks and consequences of what they’d just done.
“Whether this helps or not,” he said, “no way I want you taking the fall for my actions.”
Avery looked up at him, her eyes wide and vulnerable. “Mason, I––”
He cut her off with a shake of his head, his expression softening. “I’ll put the packages back as soon as I take a couple pills out of each to sample. We can test them alongside the sample Paul grabbed.”
Mason waited for the scolding, but to his surprise, all he saw was trust in her eyes. She was putting her faith in him despite the risks. It made him ache in a way he didn’t quite understand.
Turning his attention back to the boxes, he pulled his folding knife out of his pocket and slit the packing tape, revealing the pill bottles inside. He snapped a few quick photos with his phone, taking note of the same online pharmacy listed on all of the labels. The pills inside looked exactly like the samples Paul had gotten from the warehouse, small and white and innocuous. The labels on each individual container looked legit, containing the name of the patient, the prescribing doctor, the dosage, etc. A lot to research.
He fingered one amber bottle. “We need to bring my team in on this.”
Avery hesitated, pushing a hank of dark curls out of her eyes. He could see the conflict in her expression, the way she was torn between her desire to do things by the book and her need to get to the truth.
He lifted one of the containers, turning the label so she could read it. “We don’t have the time or the resources to trace all the leads here on our own. Even if you could use Bureau resources, my people are faster.”
Avery sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “You’re right,” she said, her voice soft and tired. “Let’s call them.”
Good. Excellent.
Within minutes, they had the team on a video chat, their faces filling the large screen on the far wall of Bridger’s living room. Bridger, Tai, Kate, Fenn, Paige, and Graham all looked serious and focused, their eyes sharp and alert as they listened to Mason and Avery’s report.
“We’re here to offer logistical support,” Bridger said, his deep voice calm and reassuring. “Until the Bureau jumps onboard, of course. We won’t proceed with anything without your say so, Agent Ellis.”
Avery looked touched by their deference, her eyes shining with gratitude. “Thank you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “And thank you, Mason, for making this all possible.”
He caught her eye, his lips quirking up in a small smile. “Anytime.”
Together, the group quickly hashed out a plan. Paige had found a discreet lab where they could have the samples tested without raising any red flags.
Tai, ever the practical one, asked the question on everyone’s mind. “What are these meds for, exactly?”