Chapter 5 #3
For a moment, Dani imagined herself undercover, trying to ferret out a mole selling military technology to China or Russia, like she was the next Black Widow. “So they’re not having the Denver office run lead?” Maybe her time here wouldn’t be as dull as she’d thought.
Atkins shook his head. “We’re keeping it local. We know these businesses and contracts.”
And here she thought only in the big metro areas would she be able to take on cases like this. Being in a smaller office, she would have a better chance of showing what she was capable of and hopefully getting in on a case and moving up the ranks.
“I’d better finish our tour and get you settled.
” He moved away from the group. “The break room is across the way over there, bathrooms are down the hall at the back. And here we have our Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Caroline Kumar.” He knocked on a closed office door. “She’ll introduce you to everyone.”
“Enter,” a voice from the other side of the door called.
Atkins led her inside a small but pristine office.
“Dani Kim reporting, ma’am.”
Atkins stayed in the doorway while Dani stepped in.
The ASAC looked up from her tablet. “Please have a seat, Dani. Atkins, I’ve sent you some files to look over. I’d like your response by end of day.” She excused him with a pleasant expression—not quite a smile, but not a frown or scowl either.
“Sure thing.” Atkins closed the door behind him, leaving Dani under the scrutiny of her new boss.
Her new boss who wasn’t saying anything.
Dani rushed in to fill the silence. “I apologize for my tardiness this morning. I was a couple of minutes late due to car troubles.”
“I hope it won’t become a habit, but we can certainly understand some first day hiccups.”
“No, ma’am, it won’t be a habit at all. I intend to work diligently and be on time.”
“Glad to hear it.” She nodded at the tablet in hand. “I’ve been over your file. Your instructors at Quantico had a lot of good things to say. And Special Agent Macy in Baltimore highly recommended you. Looks like you were on the case that took down Norman Prince.”
Macy had recommended her? Even after she’d botched her assignment?
Dani cleared her throat. “It was a team effort, a lot of people behind the scenes doing the real work.”
ASAC Kumar’s eyes brightened. “Not a glory hog, then. Good. Because I have something for you right away.” She leaned forward and handed a folder to Dani.
“Normally I’d like to have you settle in for a couple weeks and get to know the lay of the land, but since you’re originally from Renegade and this case is rather time sensitive, I’d like you to start immediately.
This case needs your exact expertise. I’m sending you undercover. ”
Seriously? Already? Dani’s hopes soared. Maybe God really was listening. This was what she’d been waiting for. She wouldn’t be stuck behind a desk. She’d be out there, fighting the darkness and brokenness of this world. Her feet bounced under her chair.
With great effort, she kept her expression neutral. “I’m ready for whatever you need.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, so you’ll be hitting the ground running. You’re going to SL Trucking.”
“Uh, a trucking company?” Dani opened the file. The short write-up on SL Trucking didn’t say much. It certainly didn’t sound very dangerous. “What exactly am I investigating?”
“You’re going in as an accountant.”
“A-accountant?”
“We’ve had a credible tip that there’s embezzling going on. But our informant has suddenly gone missing. We’re investigating that part of it. You are going to make sure their trucks are following DOT guidelines and carrying the correct permits, and more importantly, try to find the missing money.”
Was this a form of hazing? Joking with the newcomer? Surely this wasn’t her first case. “Embezzling. At a trucking company. That’s what I’m investigating?”
“And the permits. Like I said, it fits right in with your financial expertise. Because the trucks are crossing state lines and are under federal DOT regulations, it comes under our jurisdiction to investigate. And I think you’re perfect for the job.”
Perfect for the job? What did that mean?
“I thought I’d be doing something undercover with counterterrorism or—”
Kumar looked like she was holding back a smile. “Did you?”
“Well, yes. I excelled at it in Quantico. I worked with—”
“Let me stop you right there.” Kumar’s expression was blank. “You’re new. Untested. And have a habit of being impulsive.”
Oh. Dani swallowed. Maybe Kumar had heard about Dani’s part in the Prince takedown.
Kumar continued. “Now, impulsivity can be an asset or a liability. I need to see what you’re capable of. This is your case. Read up on the file. You’ll go in this afternoon to get started. It might take a few months to gather the evidence, so we want you in there as soon as possible.”
Months of accounting work loomed ahead like a dark, empty tunnel.
God, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. This is not what I signed up for.
“Understood?” ASAC Kumar asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Maybe the conspiracy was real after all.