“I can work.”
Jacob continued to eye him. Luke had worked with him long enough to know that he would wait until Luke answered the original questions to his satisfaction.
“They had to put six stitches in the gash on my shoulder. And my arm is achy, but my mobility is good as long as I don’t try to lift it above my head. Everything is sore. My leg is on fire. I have stitches in one calf from falling debris. And that blasted bullet skinned me. There’s nothing to stitch or fix. I have to wait for the skin to regrow. It burns all the time. The nurse bandaged it with some waterproof stuff and gave me instructions on how to do it myself. I go back to the doctor in a few days for a recheck.”
“I heard you’re on medical leave until Monday.”
“I understood that to be more of a suggestion.”
Jacob set his reading glasses on the desk and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re a pain in my side, Powell.”
Luke considered saying something smart like, “Happy to help” or “You’re welcome,” but before he could decide on the best option, Jacob came around his desk and pulled him into a bear hug.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, man.” He pulled back and wiped his eyes. “We can’t lose any more agents. You hear me? You stay alive.”
Luke blinked back the moisture in his own eyes. “I’ll do my best.”
Jacob returned to his seat. “I’ve spoken to Dale Jefferson ten times since yesterday. He’s assigned Faith Malone to the case. Says she’s his best. You know her from the JTTF, right?”
“I do.” The JTTF as well as multiple fundraisers and interagency events over the past few years. “We spoke yesterday. Briefly.”
Jacob took a sip of coffee. “I know you don’t like having the FBI run the case, but guess what? I don’t care. Put it aside. At least she’s someone you already know. If you’re determined to be here, then you can be the official liaison between her and this office for the next week. Give her whatever she wants. Help her however you can. I don’t care if I see you or not, especially since you aren’t supposed to be here in the first place. But if I hear you’re giving her grief, I’ll send you home. Got it?”
There was no way he would sit out. “She’ll have my full cooperation.”
“I thought you’d see it that way.”
Luke walked past Marty’s desk on his way to his own. Without pausing, he rapped his knuckles on her filing cabinet. “No rush, Marty, but you owe me a cake.”
“What? No. I don’t—get back here, Luke Powell.” Marty’s shocked spluttering followed him down the hall. The momentary humor vanished as he stuttered to a stop in front of Jared’s cubicle. How was it possible that he wouldn’t be back? Who had told his ex-wife? Jared’s relationship with his ex had been a train wreck for as long as Luke had known Jared, but he didn’t think the ex wanted him dead.
Special Agent Gil Dixon stepped from the cubicle beside Jared’s. “What are you doing here, man?” Before Luke could answer, Gil had him in a hug that lasted a few seconds past comfortable. “You’re okay?” Gil stepped back, eyes narrowing as he scanned Luke from top to bottom.
“I’ll live. And right now, that’s cause for celebration.” Luke looked down the hall, where Michael’s office sat empty.
“True that.” Gil ran a hand through his spiky black hair, then over his day-old beard.
Luke pointed to the cubicle beside Gil’s. “Where’s Tessa?” Even as he asked the question, he couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be, if ever, before he would stop wanting to know where everyone was at all times.
“She was at Jared’s. Not sure what she was doing. She called Leslie and told her she was swinging by the hospital to check on Zane before she came back. She’s bringing coffee for everyone. If you want something, you’d better text her.”
Luke pulled his phone from his pocket and shot a quick text.
I’ll take an Americano. Quad. Thx.
Her response came seconds later.
What are you doing at work? Zane is ticked.
Before he could respond, his phone rang. Zane. “What’s up—?”
“I know they didn’t give you permission to go to work.” Zane sounded equal parts amused, annoyed, and impressed. “How’d you manage it?”
“Showed up. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. And it’s not like Jacob can tell me no. So he assigned me to work with Faith.”
Gil grinned. Zane whistled. Faith Malone had been the subject of more than a few conversations, usually involving Thad, Zane, and Gil trying to get Luke to ask her out.
“Not funny.” Luke spoke to Zane and glared at Gil.
