Cold & Deadly (Cold Justice: Crossfire #1)(50)

Dominic pressed his lips together. She’d come close to death that day and had still gone head-to-head with the top man in the FBI an hour later. If he could teach her how to talk to her superiors with tact then there’d be no stopping her in the Bureau. In ten years, she’d be running her own field office.

“So, we’ve basically got no progress on finding Calvin’s killer?” Dominic said.

“Basically.”

“The shoe prints I found outside Van’s window were a size seven.” Pretty small. Could have been a kid being nosey. “They are running DNA.”

“Which will take a few days,” said Savage leaning back in his chair. “I hear we have a new member of the team.” He smiled without it touching his eyes and stared out into the bullpen where Ava had set herself up to work. She was still trawling through cases from the NYFO, looking for something that screamed blood-thirsty vengeance.

“Lincoln Frazer suggested using Kanas to watch my back.”

“I’d prefer a team from HRT.” Savage’s black gaze was unwavering.

“She’s a good agent.” Dominic held his stare. “I am not wasting the time of an entire detail of folks from the Hostage Rescue Team.”

“That is part of HRT’s remit. Guarding FBI members and their families.” Savage’s expression was stern. “And you know it.”

“I’m not having a security detail,” Dominic spoke loudly. He liked and respected his Unit Chief but he wasn’t backing down on this.

“And here’s me thinking I was the boss.” Savage was testing him.

“We want to draw the UNSUB out. We won’t do that if I’m surrounded by men with MP-5s. They’ll just go to ground until we drop our guard.”

“You think Ava Kanas is up to the job of keeping you safe?”

“I’ve seen her in action. She’s a good agent.” Dominic shrugged. No one was taking a bullet for him anyway.

Savage exhaled loudly. “Just don’t go anywhere alone, not even a public restroom.”

“I don’t usually hang out in public toilets so it shouldn’t be a problem.” Dominic checked his watch, eager to escape his boss’s office and return to some semblance of normality. “I need to head back to work, unless there’s anything else…”

Savage glanced at his computer monitor and swore.

“What is it?” asked Dominic, getting that tingle between his shoulder blades that said something big was about to happen.

“Prison siege in New York State.”

“Send me—”

“No.”

“But—”

“No,” Savage said, exasperated. “You’re grounded until we catch this killer.”

“What the hell? You think this shooter is stupid enough to follow me into a siege area that probably has more SWAT and security than anywhere outside a war zone? That’s the safest spot I could be. Come on…” Dominic raised his good hand in the air.

“They were stupid enough to murder an FBI agent at an FBI agent’s funeral.” Savage mirrored his pose. “I’m sending Charlotte and Eban. HRT have been assigned too. I’m sure they can handle it.”

“You’re gonna need more negotiators there than that,” Dominic stated softly.

“You’re a liability.”

Dominic climbed to his feet. “Someone attacks me and I’m forced out of my job? I’m supposed to sit here arranging teaching timetables for training classes?”

“Someone has to do it. Why not you?” Savage gave him a look.

Dominic’s lips curved into a confident smile. “Because I’m one of your most experienced negotiators?”

“And?”

“And…my skills are better off being used in the field than being squandered in the office.”

“I’m not seeing it.” Savage deadpanned.

“If you were captured by terrorists who’d you want on the other end of the line?” Dominic was not going to sit here twiddling his thumbs because of some asshole.

“I’d prefer a team of negotiators over any one individual negotiator.”

“Well, obviously.” They always worked in teams. “But if some bad guy started chopping off your extremities, it’s me you’d want talking the guy down, right?” Dominic grinned when Savage crossed his legs.

“You had to go there.” Savage’s lips twitched.

“That’s right,” Dominic said.

“With my luck you’d dare my kidnapper to kill me just to get my job,” Savage grumbled.

“I didn’t think of that.” Dominic placed his palm on Savage’s desk. He knew he had him.

“I guess you’re probably safer up there than here. It wouldn’t surprise me if the UNSUB pays your house a visit trying to get to you.”

“I have great security. I’ll know if someone tries to break in.”

Savage followed him out of his office. “Don’t forget your bodyguard.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Grab your flak jacket, Agent Kanas,” Dominic shouted.

She sat at a desk apparently trying to vanish into the office carpet. Chances of Ava becoming invisible were next to zero.