Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
BECKETT
I knew the second I was escorted into the conference room that I wasn't going to like how this meeting was going to go.
"Take a seat, Special Agent Walsh." Deputy Director Charles Banger––yes, that was really his last name––motioned to a chair across the table from him and Supervisory Special Agent David Jones.
Neither man bothered to get up or even looked my way when the deputy director spoke. It didn't bode well for me.
I took the seat indicated and placed my folded hands on the table as I waited for them to begin.
"Tell us everything you have on Alexander Dunkin." Deputy Director Banger glanced up with a bored look on his face.
"Everything I have on him is listed in my case notes, sir." I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, but if his plan was to take over the case anyway, he would need to review all my notes. Having this conversation was a waste of both of our time and resources.
"Humor me."
If he insisted.
I spent the next thirty minutes droning on about everything I had learned about Alexander Dunkin, his sons, and their organization over the past eight years.
I kept it objective, factual, and devoid of my personal feelings.
The deputy director wouldn't care for those anyway.
There was a reason he was pulling me off the case, and until I knew that reason, I wasn't giving him any more ammunition to work with.
"Supervisory Special Agent Jones has informed you that you're no longer assigned to the case, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Now tell me what you know about Lex Dunkin's murder?"
That question threw me for a loop. Especially since it wasn't a federal case. "Nothing. The lead detective confirmed the body was Lex Dunkin, but other than that, I haven't been given any details."
"Good. From this moment forward, you're not to have anything to do with Alexander Dunkin, his family, or his organization."
What the hell?
"May I ask why, sir?" There wasn't a single thing about this meeting that was making sense.
"We received a complaint and are acting accordingly."
I was about to become a broken record in my head but What the hell?
"A complaint from who?"
The only member of the Dunkin family I'd spoken to was Mason. Considering he was now out of prison and not exactly a fan of his family, I doubted it was him.
"I'm not at liberty to tell you." The deputy director pushed back his chair. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have another meeting I'm late for."
I sat there stunned. I couldn't even begin to think about what I wanted to say or ask. Thankfully my supervisory special agent didn't kick me out. He sat with me in silence while the meeting played over in my head.
It was probably a solid five minutes before I looked across the table. "What just happened?"
"You were taken off the case but not put on paid leave. Take it as a win. I'll have a cold case file dropped off at your desk later today until a new case comes in."
"Am I dismissed?"
My supervisor nodded. Without a word, I stepped out of the conference room and walked back to my desk in a daze. I knew when I walked into the meeting that it wasn't going to be good, but I hadn’t expected that.
I thought back to my conversation with Callahan.
Maybe my old partner was onto something.
Maybe I wasn't cut out for the FBI, because my first thought after meeting the deputy director was, the man was shady.
I don't know why, but that was my first impression, and based on how he handled things, I probably wasn't far off.
"How'd it go with the boss?" Sylvia sat at her desk across from mine tapping a pen.
"Ah…not good actually. Apparently someone complained about me, and now I'm not allowed anywhere near the Dunkin case."
"Complained? Are you shitting me? Pretty sure getting a complaint is part of the job. Criminals rarely like that we're investigating them."
"I thought the same, but I guess the deputy director feels differently."
I settled into my chair. With my hands on the armrests, I tilted back as far as I could go.
"What are you going to do now?"
I focused all my attention on my desk. "A cold case apparently.
" I shouldn't be disappointed. Cold cases deserved just as much attention as active ones.
More so actually because the people involved in those had been waiting longer.
It was just the thought that all my hard work was taken from me without notice or cause. I hated the unknown.
"I know you hate when I jump subjects, but while you were in the meeting, I was thinking about the Anita problem and a possible line I could tug."
Anita's threat sat heavy on my mind. "You need to stop digging into her." I said it quietly, but the way Sylvia startled, you would assume I snapped at her.
"Why? I thought we wanted to find out who she really is?"
I used the first excuse that popped into my head. "She's part of the original Dunkin case, and I was told in no uncertain terms what would happen to my career if I didn't back off."
It was a bit of a stretch of the truth, but if it kept Sylvia safe, then so be it. I wouldn't have her getting hurt because of me.
"Damn. I was looking forward to solving the mystery, but I guess that makes sense. Maybe things will eventually blow over, and I can dig into her again. I'm fascinated at this point, and we both know it's hard to stop once I've started."
This was one time I wished I had a normal partner who didn't take the job home with them. It would make things so much easier.
Sylvia wasn't that kind of partner though, so it was up to me to keep her safe from herself. Preferably without her realizing it.