Page 38

“I’m coming.” I opened the door, and my jaw dropped. A nice-looking kid with neatly trimmed hair and blue coveralls stood there. “Jasper?”
He nodded.
“You’ve changed. A lot.”
Jasper grinned broadly. “Marie said to grow my business I needed to look more professional.”
“Marie?”
“My wife.”
“You got married? I exclaimed.
“I did.”
Julie said in my earpiece. “What is he? Sixteen?”
“Twenty,” Mom supplied.
“Congratulations.” I opened the door wider. “C’mon back and we’ll let you get to work.”
An FBI tactical officer was suddenly standing there. “Let me see some ID.”
I pushed Jasper behind me and studied the officer. Not particularly tall, but well-muscled and his high-pitched voice made me want to laugh. “No, but I’d like to see yours.”
“Show me your ID or I will arrest both of you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. It sounded like he had been snorting helium. “Not gonna happen.” I cocked my head. “Are all CIA agents as stupid as you are?”
The tactical officer bristled. “I’m an FBI agent.”
Julie was suddenly standing beside me. “How about we contact Agent Grimes and see if he knows you.”
“Your father is coming,” Mom advised in my ear.
The tactical officer’s hand dropped to his gun.
“I don’t care what you have been snorting, but if you pull that gun, you’re a dead man,” I warned.
The officer bared his teeth in a fierce grin. “You think you can outdraw me?”
Within the blink of the eye, I had my gun pointed at his face. “I know I can.”
“I heard you were a fast draw artist like your mother.” The officer slowly raised his hands.
Dad and Agent Grimes ran across the backyard.
“I don’t think he should be allowed to procreate,” Julie said. Her pistol was pointed at his groin. “Do you?”
I cocked my Glock. “Nope.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” the tactical officer squeaked.
Dad jabbed the muzzle of his gun against the tactical officer’s neck. “Yes, they would.”
“Stand down, Dodson,” Agent Grimes commanded, relieving him of his gun.
I lowered my weapon. “Please tell me he’s not one of your agents.”