Long Shadows (Amos Decker, #7)(127)

“Really?”

“We husky football guys have to stick together.”

Tyler slipped the card into his pocket. “My dad told me what you did for him. How you managed things for…me. So nobody would…the police…would leave me alone.”

“You didn’t ask for any of this. And what you did, or didn’t do, under those circumstances? Well, I don’t know that I would’ve handled it any differently, particularly at your age. So what right do I have to judge you?”

“Thanks for that, Mr. Decker.”

“Call me Amos. All my friends do.”

This drew a surprised look from White.

Decker put out his hand, but Tyler bypassed that and hugged him. Decker could feel the young man squeezing him with all his strength, even as he trembled like a frightened child. Like Decker was the only thing keeping him tethered to reality.

Decker closed his eyes, and in his mind he was holding his daughter after a bout of night terrors. Holding her tight, saying soothing things into her ear. Making her feel safe. And Decker felt himself starting to tremble, and then his eyes filled with tears as he hugged the young, frightened teenager as tightly as he could.

After Tyler left, Decker just stood there, while White, her gaze averted, waited with him.

Finally, Decker picked up his bag and lumbered off to the security gate, wiping at his face.

White followed silently.





Chapter 97



T?HEY BOARDED THE PLANE AND flew back to DC. Right before they landed White got an email.

“Uh-oh.”

“What?”

“SAC Talbott wants to see us as soon as we get in.”

“Okay, this is not looking good.”

“But we solved the case, Decker. What can he do?”

“He can do anything he wants.”

They landed and took a cab to the WFO.

Talbott was waiting in his office. He rose with a smile on his face and his hand held out. “Just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done.”

He shook Decker’s hand but did not acknowledge White. She managed a smile while Decker just stood there like a stone wall. He said, “You might have missed my partner standing right there. But for her, I’m lying on a morgue slab in Florida.”

Talbott changed color and glanced at White. “Yes, thank you too, Agent, um, White.”

He turned back to Decker. “Our sister intelligence agencies are very pleased with us. They had their suspicions of Senator Tanner for a long time, but could never prove anything. You solved that problem for them.”

“Yes, we did,” said White, but Talbott kept his gaze on Decker.

“We were thinking that a promotion was in order for you, Decker. Since you’re not an actual special agent, our options are somewhat limited. But you are a valuable asset to the Bureau and we will find a spot for you. You have my word on that. It won’t be in the DC area, but I know that you’re from the Midwest, so maybe Kansas or Nebraska?”

“Agent White has young kids in school on the East Coast. She can’t make that transfer.”

Talbott glanced at White and then back at Decker. “I was just speaking of you.”

“But you just made us partners. You pulled her down from Baltimore.”

“We’re actually promoting Agent White as well, for the exemplary work she did.”

White looked surprised but pleased. “Promoting?”

“Absolutely, and it’s well deserved. You will be the head agent overseeing a dozen other FBI special agents. It’s quite a career move up for you.”

“My God, sir, thank you. And where is it?”

Talbott smiled. “In Boise, Idaho. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”

“Idaho!” barked White, looking stunned.

“There is crime in Idaho,” said Talbott.

“My kids. I can’t—”

Talbott’s look turned stern. “Well…that’s your choice. But the Bureau is cutting back on field agents. Budget concerns and all. Everyone has to tighten their belts. So it’s either Idaho or…”

“She’s not going to Idaho,” said Decker.

“That really isn’t your concern,” said Talbott sharply.

“Well, considering that we’re partners, it’s very much my concern.”

“Decker,” interjected White. “It’s okay. I can work this—”

“No, it’s really not okay. So we’ll just stay here and remain partners and do our job.”

“That is not your call,” Talbott barked, the kid gloves now off. “You’ll do what you are ordered to do, or—”

“Or you’ll can my ass, which is what this whole bullshit thing is about. Fine. Do it. Like you said, I’m not a real agent or anything, which means I’m not bound by the same crap as real agents are.”

“What exactly do you mean by that?” exclaimed Talbott.

“What I mean by that is the media would love to hear our story.”

“What story?”

“Two heroic FBI agents who solved a major crime and a decades-old spy case get kicked to the curb because they won’t play the stupid reindeer games to suit the fucking stuffed shirts that run this place.”