Radiant Surrender (CSA Case Files Book 6) (34 page)

C
rest pushed his desk chair back and grabbed his black coffee mug for a refill. It wasn’t Kevin’s Vikings cup or any of the other mugs floating around that had sayings on them. His was a plain black ceramic one and that was the way he liked it. He filled it with the coffee that he’d made less than an hour ago on his own personal coffee maker. It prevented him from having to walk out into the bullpen and have his team shoot him questioning looks. They were all aware that he and Jessie had taken their relationship a step further, but he wasn’t about to discuss it with them. As he walked back to his desk, he glanced at his watch and saw that the majority of them would be leaving for the weekend anyway.

“Do you have a moment?”

Crest had just set his mug down on his desk when he heard the knock and feminine voice at the same time. Taryn tended to be the team member who barged in without waiting to see if he was busy. He’d told her numerous times that knocking and entering at the same time wasn’t actually true etiquette. It was an ongoing battle and one that she obviously enjoyed.

“I do now,” Crest replied as he smoothed a hand over his tie and took his seat.

“Good.” Taryn came deeper into his office with a file in her hand. He studied her features, a little surprised that she looked so well rested after a long week. She’d taken the responsibility of burying her half-sister once more—this time with finality. She’d had a lot to come to terms with in the last couple of years, but having Ethan by her side seemed to make all the difference in her outlook on life. “I have a couple things to go over.”

Crest’s thoughts slid to Jessie, who’d been staying with him this last week for the most part. She’d gone back to work and while he could see she wasn’t as happy with her job as she’d been here at CSA, she did appear content with their personal lives. Their evenings were spent together and he found himself looking forward to what each night would bring. It was an unusual sentiment and one that took adjusting to, especially considering that he hadn’t thought this would have gone on as long as it had. Jessie had surprised him with responding to the thresholds he’d been pushing. She actually seemed to look forward to where he would take her each and every time, but then again he wasn’t being as forceful as he’d been at the lake house. He had wanted to give her time to acclimate, but fuck if the stable and balanced weeknights hadn’t been more for him to get used to having Jessie in his life. Would she stay when he pressed for more and showed her once again his darker side?

“I’m not understanding why he doesn’t leave town,” Taryn said, finally pulling Crest back into the present. He reached for his mug and then brought it to his lips, taking a healthy drink to get his mind back on track. “It’s been almost a week.”

Crest figured out relatively quickly that she was referring to Ryland. The man had been treated at the hospital and then released two days later. Crest’s bullet had only damaged the muscle tissue. The wound on his shoulder had required a few stitches. All in all, Ryland had a clean bill of health, his wounds would heal and he would continue to live his immoral life to wreak havoc on others.

“Schultz wants him to stay in the immediate area.” Crest leaned back in his chair, knowing that his statement wouldn’t appease Taryn any. She wanted Ryland gone, far away from everyone. The pencil that was still positioned behind her right ear was dented on the metal eraser end, indicating her displeasure. He wouldn’t be able to ease her concerns either, but Crest wasn’t too worried about Ryland anymore. He’d been neutralized in more ways than one, although Crest wasn’t certain that Ryland was aware of that fact—at least not yet. “D.C. is a hotbed right now considering that Weaver is dead and whatever political agenda he’d been involved with is now put on hold. Someone will undoubtedly take the lead considering that nature abhors a vacuum, and that applies to politics twice as much. Schultz wants to eliminate any potential damages that may surface from the old cronies allied with the power structure involved in the coup attempt.”

“Schultz thinks that Ryland knows more than he’s letting on?”

“That surprises you how? Of course the man knows more and we’re all aware that unless it suits his agenda he’s not going to share anything with anyone.” Crest looked up and spotted Jax in the doorway with his yellow stress ball in hand. He must have driven straight here from his and Emily’s mini-vacation to get an update, although it wasn’t like the man hadn’t phoned in numerous times. Crest lifted his cup and waved him in. “Fallon Canna is working for Schultz and creating profiles on those who might have been in bed with Weaver. Ryland received a full pardon and since there will be no Senate hearings where he’ll be needed to testify, he’s free to walk once Canna feels she’s acquired what information she can from him.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Jax inquired, taking the second seat that was positioned next to Taryn. He held the yellow stress ball in his fingers and rested his chin on his fist. His blond hair was in need of a haircut, but then it always appeared that way. The frustration of not being able to seek out justice for his wife was evident in the firm way his jaw was set. “There’s got to be a way we can charge him with something that isn’t listed on that pardon.”

“He is no longer my concern and he is no longer yours either. Taryn will keep tabs on him and when he messes up, we’ll be there to see he gets what’s coming to him. Until that time, keep away from him,” Crest ordered, not willing to let bygones be bygones either. At this point it was useless to squander time and effort on something that would only be a waste of their time. “Schultz will give me the heads up on when Ryland is free to leave and I’ll communicate that to the team so everyone is aware of it. What have you got on the handler?”

Crest switched the discussion to something other than Ryland. As much as the man had been the focus of their investigations throughout the last couple of years, he didn’t want to spend another second on something they couldn’t change. They still had current cases and more on the horizon that needed their attention. One of them being Jessie’s parents’ situation.

“I informed you before that the facial recognition came through and identified the man as one John Smith.” Taryn pulled a face in disgust. “You would think he could have thought of something more original, but the name certainly blended him in with society. After you told me about his visit to Jessie’s sister, I tracked his steps. It wasn’t easy considering the man knows what he’s doing. The trail led to New York City. I had one of our contracted agents check out his apartment. He hasn’t been seen or heard from in over a week.”

“What about his finances?”

“There is no significant trail.” Taryn held up the folder in her hand and then handed it to him over his desk. “This is everything I could dig up on him. Surprisingly, he didn’t change his name and kept all identification the same from the moment he made his appearance here in the United States. He’s in with an unsavory crowd, dabbling with people who would more or less cut your head off if you blink at them wrong. He definitely has kept the connections to do what it is you’re thinking of doing. In fact, he may be involved in exporting white slaves to the Middle East among other despicable illegal activities.”

Crest allowed himself a small grin at Taryn’s statement, hearing Jax’s uncontained bark of laughter. He hadn’t told anyone what Jessie had wanted this handler to do for her parents and if Lou was worth the hourly rate he was charging, they wouldn’t need to go this route. Regardless, this handler needed to be dealt with and out of Jessie’s life.

“I don’t know what you’re referring to,” Crest responded, setting his coffee cup down as he opened the file. A rundown on the man’s life showed exactly what Taryn had already stated. He was the unsavory kind that was consumed by greed. Whatever finances he’d been given for his agents was long gone, but it was to the man’s benefit to get the Millers out of the country or eliminate them before they said something that would incriminate others…specifically him. “Lou is trying to get the Millers’ statement thrown out on the basis that they didn’t have proper representation upon being arrested. Jessie was able to visit them the other night, so we made the drive up to Oxford and then had dinner with Jessie’s sister. We met with Lou afterwards and he feels that he has enough evidence to prove that they never intended to fulfill their mission and only used it as an avenue to escape their forced enslavement in Russia. They didn’t do anything to compromise our national interests, but would fear for their lives if they were returned to Russia now.”

“Political asylum,” Jax said, nodding his head in agreement. “It works, but proving that they never acted against the interests of the United States isn’t going to be easy.”

“Not necessarily,” Crest said, holding up the folder. “If Lou can convince the Millers to give up their handler and he corroborates their story, it should nail the case shut.”

“That would mean John Smith’s other activities might come to light,” Taryn said, pointing out the obvious. Recognition of his concern came to the forefront. “That might not be such a good idea. If he feels threatened there’s no telling what he could do.”

“Which is why I want him found before he comes to that conclusion himself.” Crest handed the file over to Jax, who tossed his stress ball to Taryn before taking it and browsing through the contents. “Jessie took it upon herself to set this in motion and for now, this man is doing his best to get her parents out of the country. When he gets wind of the fact that they’re giving up his name, he’ll feel as if he’s been placed into a corner. The Millers know more than they are letting on and the numbers found on that piece of paper signify that. Where do we stand on that, by the way?”

“It’s not a locker combination and it’s not a code of any sort that I know of. My programs aren’t picking anything up from it, so it’s something that you’re going to have to ask Jessie’s parents about.”

“You’d think since they were the ones who led us to that piece of evidence, that would be the case. Unfortunately, they weren’t so forthcoming when I brought it up the other evening. I think they’re realizing what kind of position they are being placed in by giving up their handler and maybe even the names of those other agents that they know of who came over when they did.” Crest nodded towards Jax, giving him clear instructions. “Do what you can to find him. Get Kevin and Ethan on the case as well. I’m giving Connor some time off to spend with his father.”

“On it.”

Jax stood up and held a hand out, waiting for Taryn to toss him his ball. She threw it high in the air and he caught it before yelling out to Kevin and Ethan that their weekend plans just went to shit. Crest caught the flash of his smile as he rounded the corner. Sometimes it was easier to let them be assholes.

“Are you okay?” Crest asked, knowing that Taryn hated it when he thought she wasn’t strong enough to handle what was thrown her way. “I want the truth.”

“I came to terms with discovering who Yvette was a while ago. What happened doesn’t change that and only adds on to the sympathy I have for her.” Taryn shrugged, but there was acceptance in the gesture. “I wasn’t a part of her life when she was growing up and I wasn’t there to save her from the abuse she went through. I don’t even blame Ryland for what she became because I think she’d already become a shell of a person anyway. We can’t change the past or who we are.”

“No, we cant,” Crest agreed, wondering if he hadn’t been trying to do just that this past week with Jessie. He’d shown her pieces of the man he truly was at the lake house and had even shared things from his past that he hadn’t done with anyone before because he’d thought they’d run if they heard some of the things he’d done in the name of fighting for his country, but had reined himself back this past week sexually for a lot of different reasons. He wasn’t a man who ran and hid from reality and he wasn’t about to start now. His cell phone rang and after a quick look at the display he ended his meeting with Taryn. “I’ve got to take this. Keep me informed on any updates.”

“Will do.”

Crest waited for Taryn to close the office door behind her before taking the call. He’d known that Terry would be calling to see if Crest was available for dinner. It would delay the plans he’d had for Jessie by a few hours, but it was doable and would also give Jessie an opportunity to get to know Terry and Kenneth a little better. If she were going to be a part of his life, he needed to integrate her slowly. It wasn’t an easy thing for him to open up to someone, but he’d given her his word that he would give his every effort when it came to the two of them.

“Crest.”

“Are you up to having dinner tonight? Dad made it into town.”

“What time?” Crest raised his left arm and he glanced at his watch. He wanted to make sure that Jessie had ample time to change out of her business clothes. “And where?”

Details were given and Crest shut down for the night, knowing full well with everything going on that he would be here over the weekend. He walked to the coat rack in the corner of his office and took the time to put on his suit jacket. He’d call Jessie on the way home and let her know the plans for this evening. He had just enough time to stop by Lauren’s shop and pick up the items he’d ordered. It was time to push more of Jessie’s boundaries and give her more pleasure than she’d ever dreamed possible while he indulged in one or more of his personal fetishes.

Chapter Thirty-Two