Page 26 of Storm and Tempest

“Or something,” Jax said. “Listen, I just have a quick question. It’s been niggling at me. Special Agent Farlan came in to fill an open spot, right?”

“That’s right,” Browne said. “You were laid up in the hospital, so Hadley took care of the whole thing.”

Of course he had. “Who did Farlan replace?”

Ramon whispered, “And when did Hadley show up in town?”

“This young guy, Special Agent Elliot Adams,” Browne answered. “That’s who Farlan replaced.”

“First I’ve heard of him,” Jax said. “Did you work with him long?”

“Maybe a year. Something like that. He didn’t talk much, but he was a decent agent. Never hung out after work, or on the weekend. Didn’t come to any team stuff like barbecues. Kept to himself.”

“When’s the last time you saw him?”

“He was on the silo operation. Not sure if I saw him after that. Hadley said he had some kind of breakdown. Like he couldn’t hack what he saw, or something. I never saw him, so I dunno. Hadley said he transferred out and went to a different office.”

“So why has he been erased from the computer system?”

“Has he? Probably someone deleted him by accident or something. It happens.” Browne paused. “That all you need, Boss?”

“Who was in charge of the silo operation?”

“Special Agent Herron.”

“Thanks, Browne. I appreciate your help.”

The line went dead, and music came back on through the car speakers. A local Christian radio station playing worship music.Jax wanted to shut it off, to cut off what God might want to say through the music. So he left it on just to prove he could deal with all of it.

Whatever it took to get her back. Even if that meant God wanted to grow him in ways he didn’t want to grow.

Things were already uncomfortable enough.

“Herron?”

He glanced at Ramon. “I’d have told you she’s solid. I’d have banked on it.”

“Maybe not as much as you thought.”

Jax sighed. “Have Maizie look into her financials. See if there’s any evidence things aren’t as they seem.”

Ramon slid out his phone and started texting.

Jax drank his coffee, heading for the after-work spot most of the agents went to. At this time on a Friday, it wasn’t going to be busy yet. Just because he didn’t want it to be Special Agent Herron who was dirty didn’t mean he’d get his wish. After all, that’s all it was—a wish.

They checked out Herron’s house, but with her at work and no cars in the drive, there wasn’t much to see. Jax stopped at the drive-through of a chain restaurant he liked because they did protein grain bowls. Ramon didn’t seem impressed, but he ate what he ordered like he enjoyed it.

Jax parked across the street where he could see the back of the bar, and the parking area where the agents left their cars while they blew off some steam playing pool or darts after work. He shut off the engine and rolled the windows down enough they’d get some airflow, but even under a tree in the shade, it was going to get hot fast.

He took off his tie and unbuttoned the collar of his shirt, rolling up his sleeves to settle in for the long haul.

“I could go around front, see what I can see,” Ramon offered. “Or go inside.”

Jax shook his head. “We need to stick together with Bruce off doing whatever he’s doing. We need intel in a way that doesn’t let them know we’re onto them.”

“Pipe dream. Considering they’re constantly one step ahead of us.”

“Still.”