“He gets results, Jim. I looked at his record. He has aone hundred percentsolve rate. Name me another agent who has that. He got an innocent guy off death row. And he saved a U.S. president’s life once, and got a medal for it.”
“The execs don’t care about that. They want people who will walk the walk and talk the talk on theBureau’sterms. And he never even wears a suit. I’ve seen him a few times at the WFO when I was over there. He looks like he’s homeless.”
“He’s not an official FBI agent. He’s a consultant.”
“Which makes it easier to cut him loose. I’m stunned he’s lasted this long.”
White had to bite back the comment she was about to make and calm her rising anger. “But that doesn’t explain why we got assigned to this case. Last time I looked Florida had lots of agents.”
“Federal judge and a private security guard, right?”
“Right. How did you know those details?”
“Grapevine. It looked to be a really complicated case where nuance was required.”
White did not like his gleeful tone. “Where exactly is this going, Jim?”
“I think the powers that be sent Decker down there to fall flat on his face. With his termination to come right after.”
“Why run the guy around by the nose like that? Why not just fire him?”
“He’s made some enemies here, Freddie. It’s payback time. They want to rub his face in it.”
“And I’m down here with him, so what happens to me if we don’t solve this sucker?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ve made enemies, too, but it’s mostly because some male agents don’t want me around.”
“Look, Freddie, what you need to do is make sure you stay far enough away from the fallout so thatyousurvive this intact.”
“What the hell are you talking about, ‘stay far away’? Not do my job? Sabotage the investigation?”
“Of course not. I’m just saying don’t go down with the ship.”
“But what about Decker?”
“What about him? Don’t tell me youlikethe guy?”
“I haven’t known him that long, but—”
He interrupted, “Well, hopefully, you won’t have toknowhim much longer. Hang in there. Gotta go, hear the boss coming. Bye.”
White slowly put her phone down.
Chapter79
SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND?” ASKEDDecker as he stared across the width of the table at White in the hotel restaurant.
“Why do you ask?”
“You seem off.”
White shrugged and drank from her glass of water. “It’s the case. It’s frustrating.”
Decker kept his gaze on her for a moment longer and then looked away. “Yeah.”
“So, you found out Dennis Langley is broke?”