“It’s not easy to get into the FBI, as you’ve found out,” she said, repeating what Tora had said earlier. “This is your oneopportunity to get the golden ticket. If you do the job, and show me that you can work autonomously, without me babysitting, you can have that access. The bottom line is that my people are driven, smart, and very good at what they do.”
Tora was shocked.
“And you want to give us a shot?”
She nodded.
“It’s rare I take partners when I find that diamond in the rough. Agents Sophia Warner and Axl Thorn were the last two.”
Ethan let his wife talk.
“I usually only take one cop, when I hire someone, but if you two work as well as you appear to, that’s my advantage. You have skin in the game. The last thing I want is to carry the death of an agent on my shoulders. I’ve done that before, and it sucks.”
Ethan kissed her on the cheek.
His wife was a good person, and it wasn’t lost on him that she was also doing this for him. There was no way she didn’t notice that he and Gene had a fondness for Tora.
Elizabeth was a watcher, and she’d know it, instinctually too.
“I won’t be in Damascus forever—or I don’t think I will be. Who knows?” she admitted. “But I need people here who can do the job. I’m out of the office in DC, and I don’t even stress it. My people are good at what they do.”
They were both smiling.
“Now, show me what you have, and don’t get overly excited. This is a hands-on job interview. You aren’t on the team until you get the packet to fill out. Until then, you’re detectives and have to earn this. Doctor Blackhawk will be analyzing you, and seeing if you’re a good fit.”
Tora bounced.
Then, she hugged Mac.
Then, she hugged Ethan.
When she hugged Elizabeth, the woman patted her on the back.
“Okay there, we have a hugger. I’ve been warned,” she joked.
She laughed.
“We’re going to make you proud.”
Elizabeth was to the point.
“EJ, is she tough and capable?” she asked, since he knew her past.
“Yep. I’m proud of her already.”
She focused on Mac.
“Tell me about him.”
Ethan profiled the man and hadn’t even looked him up. Everyone had tells, and these cops absolutely did too.
“He’s single, loves his job to the point he’s married to it. He’s attached to Tora, and doesn’t like when men think she’s not a good cop. He’s loyal, and wouldn’t betray a friend. He’s a lefty, but he can use both hands with his gun, since he handled the pen at his desk the same way. He does the paperwork, and she handles the legwork. They’re a good team—like we were in our younger days.”
He had a point, and she’d not noticed it until now. They did remind her of her and Ethan fifteen years ago.
Huh.
The universe did funny, funny things.
