Chapter 21 #2
Mateo sucked in a mouthful of clean air once he was outside and his shoulders sagged.
He shook his head to clear it and thought over his other options.
There had to be another agent they could bring in, maybe someone Donovan could recommend.
Someone who fit the profile of an ideal recruit who also had the necessary experience.
“Boss.”
Mateo glanced up to find Jones standing at his side, hands in his pockets.
The kid was almost rail-thin, even though Mateo knew he was stronger than he looked.
There was still a boyishness about his face that might never go away, even with age.
He was simply one of those people who retained youth in their features.
“It’s out of the question,” Mateo snapped, looking away. “Don’t mention it again.”
Jones sighed. “I fit the necessary profile better than anyone else you could find. White, young, unattached. Wouldn’t take much to dress up a cover for me, and a lot of it can consist of the truth. I’m a foster kid with no parents or siblings. No wife, no kids. Just me. They won’t suspect a thing.”
Mateo ground his teeth. “You’re not trained for deep cover. You’ve been riding wiretaps, not playing double agent.”
Earnestness settled across his youthful features.
“I can do it. Put me on a short leash if you want. Limited objectives. I’ll follow your every order without question.
No heroics or improvising. But I’ve felt mostly useless this entire case, and this is my chance to do something.
The rest of you have had your chances. You’ve had long, exciting careers. Don’t take this away from me.”
Mateo swiveled on Jones and took him by the collar of his jacket.
“First of all, you are a valuable member of this team and have proven that throughout the duration of this case. Second, do you know what happens if you get made? If they suspect that even a sliver of your story isn’t true, or if they just decide they don’t trust you, even if they don’t understand why?
Do you have any idea what they would do to you? ”
Jones didn’t break his gaze or try to move out of his hold. He stared solemnly at Mateo and nodded slowly. “I know more than you think. But I trust you and the team to have my back, and more importantly, I trust myself. I’m ready.”
Mateo released his jacket and braced his hand on Jones’s shoulder. “You’re just a fucking kid.”
Jones laughed. “I’m a kid with tactical training and the ability to blend into his surroundings.
And you’ve been training me these last two years on interrogation resistance.
I know my tells. I know how to fly under the radar.
What, are you saying you don’t trust your own training? The great Garcia, a bad teacher?”
Instead of growing annoyed, Mateo laughed and shook his head. “I forgot I also taught you how to negotiate. I can’t really argue with any of that.”
Jones grinned like a kid who’d just been handed a new puppy. “Then you’ll let me do it?”
Mateo held up a finger. “Only if we get what we need from the Solstice wiretap and clearance from Carlisle. And only once me and Smith have prepped you and decided that you’re ready. Got it?”
Mateo’s parameters did nothing to dim Jones’s excitement. He practically bounced on his feet, hands spasmodically clenching and unclenching at his sides.
“You won’t regret this, Boss. I swear.”
Mateo steered him back toward the entrance, feeling settled again.
There was still a niggle of conscious telling him this was a terrible idea.
Putting anyone undercover would be a great risk, but with Jones, the danger was doubled.
His youth and inexperience could either prove to be an asset or a drawback, depending on the situations he ended up in.
With Smith’s help, Mateo would do everything within his power to ensure Jones was prepared for any eventuality.
Outside of that, he could only trust in the boy’s education and training to see him through.
They returned to the conference room to concerned looks from the others, but Mateo offered a reassuring half-smile.
“Jones is going in if we can make it happen. But first there’s the problem of finding a way in. Jones has no ties to Vestra and none to the dark web forums. How can we gain their notice?”
Darcy gestured toward the laptop that was now sitting open in front of her. “Caleb Morgan is your way in. Bring him in for questioning and make him crack. If Smith’s guess is right, he should know enough about the inner workings of The Veil to find us a way.”
“It wasn’t a guess,” Smith grumbled. “Guy’s a recruiter. You’ll see.”
Mateo turned to Williams. “Get on the phone with Carlisle and tell her we need to push through a material witness warrant. We have enough evidence to prove he’s a direct associate of individuals under federal investigation.
He’s also been seen at both Solstice and the mansion, where confirmed trafficking and cult activity have taken place.
Should be more than enough.” He then swiveled to Donovan.
“The second that warrant comes through, bring him in.”