“Legit?” Tora asked.
She nodded.
“You don’t have to lie to me. I’ve been doing this long enough to read a room. Hell! My Marine knew you two were banging, and they eat crayons for shits and giggles to taste the colors.”
Ivan laughed.
“I like eating the blue ones,” he joked, knowing Elizabeth would get that his wife had the same name.
She just rolled her eyes.
“When you learn that I can be trusted, as your boss and a friend, you’ll work your way back to each other. For now, separate partners. What happens going forward is up to the two of you, and how you can prove that apart, you’re decent investigators, but together, you’re far superior. I only want superior on my team.”
That was all they had to hear.
Mac reached for Tora’s hand.
“Thank you, Director.”
She pulled out her card, and handed it to them.
“That’s my email. Send me yours, and I’ll send back packets for employment. Once you pass qualifying, which is hella physical, you will be on my team. I suggest you take the next couple of weeks to get in really good shape to pass qualifying. I expect you to be at my standard.”
Ivan cleared his throat.
“She runs ten miles for fun,” he muttered. “Good luck.”
Well, yeah.
Because lunatics could chase her through the woods on any given day, and she had to be able to stay ahead for the long distance.
To thank her, Tora hugged her, and Elizabeth patted her on the back.
“I’m not like your old boss. I’m not the enemy. In my division, we’re a family. When you can figure that out, it’ll all be so much easier. You will need to understand that relying on someone, other than your partner, isn’t the worst thing in the world.”
Tora set her free.
“Thank you, Ma’am, and I can see that.”
Elizabeth focused on Mac.
“Send me your files you created on the research you did. You’ll get full credit when I close this case, but I need to have access for my report.”
He nodded.
“On it, Director.”
Elizabeth glanced over at Ivan.
“Come on, Toady. Let’s meet up with our team,” she said, as she saw a big, blacked-out Navigator parking not far away in the parking lot.
It looked as if her husband was there.
That was some perfect timing.
As they walked, Ivan was curious.
“You’re cutting them free from work when you’re down two agents?”
