Jacob rarely arrived as early as the rest of them during the school year because he took carpool duty three or four days a week. This was something he pretended not to like but in fact loved because it gave him quality time with his kids, and he adored his kids. It was also a tangible way he could help his wife, and he was a happily married man who enjoyed doing things to make his wife’s life easier.
Zane and Luke arrived ten minutes later, and at 9:00 they convened in Jacob’s office for a morning meeting.
“Two things to cover this morning.” Jacob’s mouth quirked in a weird way and Gil braced for what was coming. “First, I got a phone call late yesterday from an agent in Tennessee. Gil, I’ve given him your info. Looks like that counterfeit currency is spreading around.”
Gil nodded. This was neither good nor bad news. It was simply news.
“Second.” Jacob hesitated, then looked straight at Zane. “We have received a request. An agent is rotating off the president’s protective detail, and he’s asked to be assigned to our office.”
Gil looked around the room. They all knew what this meant. They were down three agents at the moment. There was no way Zane was going to move to the protective detail until they got at least one agent, maybe two. A new agent was good news for Zane.
It also stunk. They all liked Zane, and while he was overdue for his shot at a protective detail, it was still going to be a wrench to have to say goodbye. Gil could tell Luke was thinking similar thoughts to his. Happy for his friend. Bummed for himself.
Tessa’s expression had gone completely blank. He didn’t think it was possible for Tessa to show no emotion. She was usually expressive, especially with her eyes. But at this moment? Nothing.
And that nothing spoke volumes.
Jacob kept talking. “In the request, he mentions he’s worked with us on a case, in a tangential fashion. His name is Benjamin North.”
At the name, Gil relaxed. So did Luke. Tessa was still blank. But Zane muttered, “I knew it.”
“I’m not surprised Benjamin wants a North Carolina office for his Phase 3,” Luke said. “He’s got it bad for Carrington’s medical examiner.”
“No kidding?” Jacob took a sip of his coffee.
“Already put a ring on her finger. If he doesn’t move in this direction, she’ll move wherever he goes. I thought he might go for Greensboro or Charlotte, especially with all our drama.”
Luke wasn’t wrong about that. Lately, no one wanted to work in the Raleigh office. After what happened earlier in the year, he couldn’t blame them much. But it kind of hurt to have a tarnished reputation that had nothing to do with their ability to solve cases and everything to do with the unfortunate fact that Raleigh agents had a bad habit of winding up dead, shot, or blown up.
“The Carrington guys like him a lot. We should get him down here for an interview. See if he’s a good fit. I’m thinking he will be.” Luke turned his attention to Zane. “Gonna miss you. Don’t want to see you leave, not at all. But wouldn’t want to hold you back. Not even for a second. We get Benjamin here, you’re closer to DC.”
Zane nodded. “I know.”
“Well,” Jacob said as he stood, “I’ll work on getting North in for a visit. I’ll let you know when he’s coming. In the meantime, I’m going to get cake. And then, Gil, I want an update on Hedera and Ivy Collins.”
“Yes, sir.”
Gil didn’t bother leaving Jacob’s office but instead settled in to wait for him to return. When Gil’s phone buzzed with a text from Faith telling him she was on her way to see Ivy, he relaxed into his seat, closed his eyes, and took the few minutes he had to redirect his thoughts.
Lord, please protect her. Help me make the connections I need to make to figure this out. To keep her safe. And, Lord, if she’s not the one for me, I may need a heart transplant, because I already can’t stand to be away from her for more than a few hours at a time.
He let his thoughts wander, something he frequently found tobe a useful technique. A lot could be said for concentrated effort. He hadn’t been a serious athlete in over a decade, but he knew how to focus his mind and body on one goal. He didn’t direct such energy at perfecting his fastball anymore, but that didn’t mean he didn’t call on that single-mindedness when he needed it.
But sometimes, giving his thoughts room to flow without forcing them into any preconceived path helped him see connections he might have missed otherwise. It was no surprise to him that given free rein, his mind turned to Ivy. He allowed himself a few moments to consider how beautiful she was, how soft her skin was, how perfect she felt in his arms, but when he did that, he remembered why she’d been in his arms in the first place. Then his brain tugged at snippets of conversations and random pieces of info he’d gleaned while researching Hedera and looking into Ivy’s friends and family.
Given what he knew her mom was capable of, he’d already initiated a search into records that went back to before Ivy was born. He’d also requested information on the new husband, Preston. Ivy didn’t like him. Why? Was it because she was never going to like anyone except the man she called her dad? Or because knowing what she knew about her mom, she suspected anyone who was attracted to her must not be all right?
And that’s when Gil had a thought he didn’t want to have, because Ivy adored Wade Collins. Loved him. Had not one bad thing to say about him. But what if...
Gil dropped his head in his hands and sat that way until he heard Jacob come in and settle into his chair.
“You okay?”
Gil lifted his face. “Have you ever had to investigate a dead guy?”
21
ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, Ivy woke praying the same prayer she’d been praying when she fell asleep.
