lucky you’re gimped-up. I thought we were dead three or four times with me driving here.”
“Sorry about that. We couldn’t call. Lots of tests and no phones. Besides, the boss wanted you here.”
Chloe hobbled to his side, her hand slipping into his, leaning her head on his shoulder. The way he felt as she touched him was the substance of answered prayers.
Letting out a deep breath, he located what was left of his composure. “We’ll talk about that in a minute. What happened up there?”
Josh turned his head and looked down, then his cobalt blues caught Manny straight on.
“That weather front went nuts, and the next thing we knew, we were dropping like a lead balloon. We bounced on the runway, but the plane hung in there, and for some unknown reason, Chloe and I woke up, side by side, in the snow at the end of the runway, virtually unhurt. She’s got a sprained ankle and a bruised shoulder. I got my brain rattled around, and my back’s sore as hell, but nothing too severe.”
“The pilots did a great job of keeping Josh and I alive, but . . .” said Chloe, her voice breaking.
“They were both hurt worse than us,” finished Josh.
The room grew quiet.
Manny again marveled at the mind’s ability to balance several simultaneous, gut-wrenching emotions into something that drew order out of chaos. Relief. Angst. Joy. Sadness. Frustration.
They were all grateful for Chloe’s and Josh’s survival, but at what price?
“They’re both in the other IC unit, hanging in there, but they won’t tell me anymore than that. Funny. I was on the pilot’s case for telling me how it was, instead of trying to make Chloe and I feel better. A few minutes later, he and the co-pilot were saving our bacon,” Josh whispered.
“He sounds like my kind of guy,” said Alex softly.
“Mine too,” said Manny.
“Okay. Enough of the trip down Guilty Lane. It can’t change anything, and I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had enough of the emotional rollercoaster ride for the day. Those guys are going to make it because it’s how it’s supposed to go. They did their jobs, and that means they won’t be checking out anytime soon.”
Running his hand through his hair, Manny smiled at Sophie. “Pretty profound for someone who thinks she’s not.”
“Hey. I have my moments.”
“And you’re also right,” said Josh.
“Changing gears from Agent Lee exhibiting more than a sixth-grade level of profoundness . . . Josh, you said the boss wanted Manny here, and I’m assuming us as well. So, why?” asked Alex.
Josh nodded and immediately winced. “Ouch. That’s not a good idea. Anyway, the assistant director has a case for us, your very first as FBI agents. It’s not exactly up our alley, but the DEA arrested three suspects in San Juan that they believe to be a part of one of the most prolific cocaine cartels in the Caribbean.”
“We get a road trip to San Juan in January? I’m already loving this gig,” said Sophie, clapping her hands together.
“Down girl. Josh is right. We really don’t have much experience in that world,” said Manny.
Sophie raised her hand. “Ooo. Ooo. Does experimenting with crack in college count as experience?”
“I’m going to ignore that, agent,” said Josh, grinning. He turned back to Manny. “What he’s hoping we can do is complete an in-depth profile and then apply that to the next step of interrogation. The DEA is desperate to get anything on this cartel. They think the head of this organization was responsible for getting over three hundred tons of coke in the US last year.”
Alex whistled. “Damn. That’s a lot of blown-up sinuses and septums.”
“Not to mention tax-free income,” added Chloe.
“So when will you two be able to leave?” asked Manny, moving closer to Chloe.
“The doc said I can fly in a few days, but Chloe could be ready to go, depending on the x-rays. You might have to go without me this trip. It’s you they really want
“Sorry about that. We couldn’t call. Lots of tests and no phones. Besides, the boss wanted you here.”
Chloe hobbled to his side, her hand slipping into his, leaning her head on his shoulder. The way he felt as she touched him was the substance of answered prayers.
Letting out a deep breath, he located what was left of his composure. “We’ll talk about that in a minute. What happened up there?”
Josh turned his head and looked down, then his cobalt blues caught Manny straight on.
“That weather front went nuts, and the next thing we knew, we were dropping like a lead balloon. We bounced on the runway, but the plane hung in there, and for some unknown reason, Chloe and I woke up, side by side, in the snow at the end of the runway, virtually unhurt. She’s got a sprained ankle and a bruised shoulder. I got my brain rattled around, and my back’s sore as hell, but nothing too severe.”
“The pilots did a great job of keeping Josh and I alive, but . . .” said Chloe, her voice breaking.
“They were both hurt worse than us,” finished Josh.
The room grew quiet.
Manny again marveled at the mind’s ability to balance several simultaneous, gut-wrenching emotions into something that drew order out of chaos. Relief. Angst. Joy. Sadness. Frustration.
They were all grateful for Chloe’s and Josh’s survival, but at what price?
“They’re both in the other IC unit, hanging in there, but they won’t tell me anymore than that. Funny. I was on the pilot’s case for telling me how it was, instead of trying to make Chloe and I feel better. A few minutes later, he and the co-pilot were saving our bacon,” Josh whispered.
“He sounds like my kind of guy,” said Alex softly.
“Mine too,” said Manny.
“Okay. Enough of the trip down Guilty Lane. It can’t change anything, and I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had enough of the emotional rollercoaster ride for the day. Those guys are going to make it because it’s how it’s supposed to go. They did their jobs, and that means they won’t be checking out anytime soon.”
Running his hand through his hair, Manny smiled at Sophie. “Pretty profound for someone who thinks she’s not.”
“Hey. I have my moments.”
“And you’re also right,” said Josh.
“Changing gears from Agent Lee exhibiting more than a sixth-grade level of profoundness . . . Josh, you said the boss wanted Manny here, and I’m assuming us as well. So, why?” asked Alex.
Josh nodded and immediately winced. “Ouch. That’s not a good idea. Anyway, the assistant director has a case for us, your very first as FBI agents. It’s not exactly up our alley, but the DEA arrested three suspects in San Juan that they believe to be a part of one of the most prolific cocaine cartels in the Caribbean.”
“We get a road trip to San Juan in January? I’m already loving this gig,” said Sophie, clapping her hands together.
“Down girl. Josh is right. We really don’t have much experience in that world,” said Manny.
Sophie raised her hand. “Ooo. Ooo. Does experimenting with crack in college count as experience?”
“I’m going to ignore that, agent,” said Josh, grinning. He turned back to Manny. “What he’s hoping we can do is complete an in-depth profile and then apply that to the next step of interrogation. The DEA is desperate to get anything on this cartel. They think the head of this organization was responsible for getting over three hundred tons of coke in the US last year.”
Alex whistled. “Damn. That’s a lot of blown-up sinuses and septums.”
“Not to mention tax-free income,” added Chloe.
“So when will you two be able to leave?” asked Manny, moving closer to Chloe.
“The doc said I can fly in a few days, but Chloe could be ready to go, depending on the x-rays. You might have to go without me this trip. It’s you they really want
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