Velocity (Karen Vail #3)(120)

“A roving bug,” Dixon said. “Very useful.”

“Very. No fancy hardware required. If need be, they can just call the phone and listen in to what’s being said by anyone in the vicinity.”

Clar held up LOWIS. “Who wants it?”

“I’ll take it,” Vail said.

“Take care of her,” Clar said. “We’ve grown attached.”

Vail took the device. “I think you need to get a life, Clar. But no worries. We’ll treat her just fine.”

Clar ignored Vail’s dig. “Keep in mind that even though she did well in our simulations, that’s far from being battle-tested. I can’t say for sure she’ll work like we want her to.” He looked hard at Vail and said, “You know how women can be sometimes.”

“But,” Mann said, “she—it—LOWIS has got a lock on that cell, and it’s tracking it. Right?”

“Affirmative.” Clar flung open a flap on his bag. He dug his hand inside and began pulling out black handhelds. “I’ve got two-ways for all of you. They’re set to channel 9. It’s encrypted.”

The task force stepped forward and took their radios—Turino included.

“The Huey’s still hot,” Ruth said. “Another of Agent Clar’s many talents is he’s a certified pilot. Since he’s the only one who knows the intimate workings of LOWIS, he’ll be your escort.”

Gifford waited a beat, then said, “Okay, let’s do it. Let’s bring our man home. And round up the bastards who took him.”

As Vail huddled with Clar, Mann, and DeSantos, Gifford cleared his throat and caught Vail’s attention. She moved over to the huddled suits, who were gathered at the back of the room.

“What’s going on?” Gifford asked.

“Sir?”

“Agent Vail, cut the crap. I know you better than your own father.” He winced, no doubt realizing the insensitivity of his comment and the reference to Vail’s sadistic parent. “Strike that. Point is, I saw the looks you and the task force were exchanging with Agent Turino during the briefing. So I’ll ask you again. What’s going on?”

Vail scanned the faces of Yardley, Ruth, and Gifford. She hesitated a long moment. She did not want to get into this—certainly not now. And she definitely didn’t want Turino leading them on this op. Still, she shook her head and said, “Nothing’s going on, sir.”

“You’re about to embark on a critically important op,” Ruth said. “What the hell is the problem?”

“That’s not a friendly request,” Gifford added. “It’s an order.”

Vail looked off at the wall. Realizing she was losing valuable time, she acquiesced. “Agent Turino.”

“What about him?”

Vail glanced over her shoulder. Sebastian and Turino were huddled in the far corner. Vail turned back and proceeded to outline what she knew. She stressed that they were unfamiliar with DEA policy, and that they were unsure whether or not his actions were above board. When she was done, Gifford, Yardley, and Ruth all wore variations of agitation and disgust.

“DEA policy,” Ruth said firmly, “is that a human life is always priority. Everything we do is based on officer safety. No operation’s worth a life—no amount of drugs is worth a life. It’s not written in any manual, but it’s built into everything we do, every op and takedown we plan.” She turned to Yardley.

Yardley threw a strained look across the room at Turino. “Agent Turino.”

Turino set his jaw and then walked over, gait confident, shoulders back, chin above level. “Yes sir?”

Yardley said, “We’ve been made aware of your actions as leader of the task force.”

Turino threw a hard, cold stare at Vail. “I’m sure you have.”

“Agent Vail was ordered to do so,” Gifford said. “And she did so reluctantly.”

Turino set both hands on his hips. “Whatever.”

Dixon called out from across the room. “Karen, let’s go. We’re ready to roll.”

“The issue,” Yardley said, “is you. Not her. I’m looking forward to sitting down and listening. You’re a decorated, veteran agent and you’ll be afforded all due process. And given the benefit of the doubt. But later. We’ve got a man out there depending on us and some really bad assholes ripe for arrest. That’s where our energies need to be focused. There’s no time to adequately evaluate this—and I don’t even have the authority to put you on administrative leave. But I do have the perfect assignment for you. I want you to rendezvous with SWAT and work out of their command post. I’ll radio the tactical commander and clear it.”

Through a clenched jaw, Turino said, “Yes sir.”

Yardley turned to Vail and said, “Even though this is a DEA task force, I’ve got no one who’s as fully briefed on all aspects of this operation as you are. I’m placing you in charge. Now get the hell out of here and find Hernandez.”

“Yes sir.” Vail stole a look at Gifford. He was uncommonly quiet. More than concerned, she decided. Worried. Not worried because she was now running the task force, but worried like a father who’s dealing with a son who’s gotten himself into a heap of trouble. Vail gave him a slight nod of assurance, then led her team back toward the Huey.