“It depends on what the situation is. If I have agents who bust their balls, close cases, and make me look damn good, I’m going to be incredibly grateful to have them on staff. I’m going to overlookPERSONALthings because honestly, that’s none of my fucking business. When people dig into shit like that, Deputy Director, it makes people not trust them or like them. People who don’t like a person are less loyal, and when you’re a Fed, you’re a team.”
Gabe got the hint.
And gave him one back.
“Here’s just a little advice, Greyson. Moving up the ladder isn’t about being liked. It’s being effective.”
Oh, hell, no.
“And here’s my response, Director. Being a decent human being and not fucking with people’s lives because you’re bored, and can, makes your people more effective, and it gets you the same outcome with less issues.”
His heart was racing, and he felt sick to his stomach. With Gabe, youNEVERknew how he’d react to you calling out his shit.
It could go well.
It could take you right to unemployment ville.
It was a crapshoot.
Only, Greyson had to do what he could to protect his friends. There was not a shadow of a doubt in his mind that they’d cover for him.
“Good point,” he stated. “Anyway, I went deeper into your question regarding the mob, and it seems I was wrong. There is some mob activity in that area. Recently, there was a turf war, and a mob family was executed at a restaurant. A new power player has moved in, but there’s no big intel on him.”
Oh, boy.
He’d thought they were in the clear.
“He hasn’t started anything big, or that the FBI is worried about, but he is there.”
Great.
“What can you tell me about him?” Greyson asked. “I already passed on the other intel. I need to tell Gene and Ethan otherwise.”
Gabe shared.
“His name is Rodrigo Cruz. He’s from Puerto Rico. He grew up poor, and made a killing in the sugar trade. He owns a few of the sugar cane mills on the island.”
Greyson was curious.
“And we are watching him, why?”
Gabe laughed.
“Well, we aren’t, but another agency might be. You didn’t hear that from me. Anyway, Feds are paranoid, first and foremost, but also because they think he’s been using his familyto get his start in Puerto Rico. We like to head things off before they cause problems.”
Greyson had to ask.
“Was the FBI using Jarod Shand to investigate?” he asked, covering his bases.
Gabe answered.
“No. Like I said, he’s new. We’ve just been watching, and that’s it. Another alphabet agency has been doing all of the heavy lifting, and that’s why we just got wind of it.”
Well, there were only so many.
The DEA.
The FBI.
