Daniel tried not to roll his eyes. He’d ask, but he knew he’d get turned down like the other half dozen times this month. He shot back a quick text saying they were starting a new case and wasn’t sure of their availability. As a cop’s wife, he knew blaming the job would be something his mom would understand, even if he wasn’t being honest. Maybe he should be relieved? Taking Eli home for supper would be a disaster. Eli was awkward at work. In social situations he clammed up, and for the hundredth time since he’d gotten the job he wondered what the hell Gregory had been thinking.
That isn’t fair.
His thoughts returned to what Sawyer had told him. He wasn’t surprised the guy was a recluse—if that was the right word. He knew Eli had to be signed off by the department shrink or he wouldn’t be cleared for work, but the whole thing made him uncomfortable. Then his thoughts registered, and shame heated his skin. Daniel knew he was privileged. From the color of his skin, to his background. He just hadn’t thought he was quite such a douchebag. His mom would be ashamed of him for writing Eli off so easily. He was ashamed of himself.
He looked up as the door opened and Talon walked back in followed by Finn, Gael, and Agents Lin and Wright. Jake and Sawyer were maybe a moment later. They all helped themselves to fresh coffee, and just as he wondered if Eli had changed his mind again, in walked Adam closely followed by Eli, each carrying quite a few water bottles which they passed around.
“Thanks,” Daniel said and held Eli’s gaze for a moment as he accepted his. Cool brown eyes regarded him for a second before Eli sat down next to him. Daniel carefully didn’t show his surprise.
“Right,” Talon said. “ASAC Cabrera has authorized both teams to work together under my direction and, none of either team acts independently.”
Daniel didn’t know whether to be impressed or irritated Talon was being such a hard-ass, but he knew Talon had hated every second of Vance being seconded with Sam, and when Vance had gotten injured Talon had felt responsible. He couldn’t fault the guy for being overprotective, and he had to remember that it had seemed like it was just them against the world for so long.
Talon sat down and looked expectantly at Lin, who carried on with the briefing, explaining in particular how Caffrey—security-wise—was behaving like a mafia boss. His personal protection was ridiculous. “He only hires ex-military, and—for some reason—only those within a month of discharge. We’re just trying to place someone in there now, but the background checks are brutal and we have been unsuccessful so far.”
“Surely that wouldn’t be too hard?” Daniel queried. They placed undercover agents all the time.
Lin shook his head. “I have no idea what software he uses, but he’s managed to find a picture proving our agents weren’t where their background said they were both times. I’m hesitant to try for a third as it would simply be unbelievable.”
“What do you know about the wife?” Finn asked.
Lin switched to a license picture of an attractive African American woman. “Denise Caffrey used to be Denise Alexander, thirty-one and twenty-two years Caffrey’s junior. She’s a nurse but is now a full-time mom to Kai.”
“Where did they meet?”
“The Shands Burns Unit at UF where Caffrey was a patient, and they married ten years ago.”
The team was silent for a few seconds. “Do we have any reason to believe she’s involved?” Jake asked.
Lin shook his head. “None at all.”
“What exactly are you wanting us to do?” Gael asked.
“We don’t know,” Lin responded honestly. “We have tried to track down the four other children that were placed with Caffrey but still have one unaccounted for. Callum Geary and Mark Haines are confirmed deceased. We have no record of Moses Samms since he aged out of the foster system, and Sarina Atkinson was only with Caffrey for a month before she was placed with adoptive parents. She was barely six at the time, and doesn’t remember Caffrey at all. Which leaves us Agent Stuart. We’ve got nothing except a tenuous connection and unsubstantiated rumors. Kai seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.”
Talon looked at Eli. “Well?”
Daniel watched as Eli nodded his consent.
But consent to what? This had to stop, and if he had to go over Talon’s head, he would do so.
Chapter Four
“Talon?” Daniel said as he followed him out of the conference room when Lin had finished telling them everything he knew, and Finn said he was ordering sandwiches for everyone. Lin and Wright had excused themselves after a phone call from one of Lin’s contacts he seemed excited about, which Daniel was glad of. Lin had sent copies of their files which would take a few hours to go through.
Talon paused, then knocked on an interview room, and when he opened it and saw it was empty, he beckoned Daniel in. “I’m pretty sure I know what you’re going to say.”
“Good, then I’m assuming you’re taking Eli off this case?”
Talon shook his head.
“Are you insane?” Daniel started, and Talon frowned.
“Be careful, Connelly. I’m still your team leader.”
Daniel swallowed his anger with difficulty, then tried a different approach, still completely stunned that Talon would put catching sleazebags over the mental health of his team. “Has Eli been passed by the doc?”
Talon nodded and perched back against the empty desk. “He gets the regular three-month check the same as everyone else.” Talon stared at Daniel for a moment. “I have no choice. Gregory told me that the Orlando office was authorized to approach Eli even if we said no. Apparently, going through Gregory was simply a matter of formality. Lin has big ambitious plans, so I understand, and isn’t about to share the limelight with anybody. This unit has managed to get a reputation of treading on other people’s toes after the last case, and it was the main reason why I pulled the stunt downstairs. I’m sorry this means you’re caught in the crosshairs—”
Daniel put a hand up. “Are you telling me they would have used Eli anyway? Even if Gregory didn’t give permission?” Daniel was incredulous.
Talon fixed him with a stare. “Don’t ever make the mistake that I wouldn’t put every one of them first. I’ve fought for my team for years and never assume you know them better than I do.” Talon was angry, but so was Daniel.
“And when the job gets blown because Eli goes rogue? How many kids will you lose then when Caffrey doesn’t get put away?”
Talon paled, and Daniel immediately felt like shit. That wasn’t fair, and he of all people should know that. “I’m sorry, that was a shit thing to say.”
Talon heaved out a long breath. “He’s never reported or made any sort of complaint about Caffrey. All I know is the same as what Sawyer does. I can make assumptions like the rest of us, but I’m worried what he would do if we weren’t there to keep an eye on him.”
“He would go after him anyway,” Daniel acknowledged and leaned against the wall crossing his arms. “And he’d have the resources of the FBI without the backing of this unit.”
Talon inclined his head.