“Her assignment was over. Copeland was behind bars. We had enough intel to take down the drug ring. The girl was sent to foster care. We had no recourse to interfere with that decision.”
“Good God, man. She was a kid,” Carter yelled.
Ghost’s fists were balled up, ready to land a punch. For the first time, he was thankful Ivy wasn’t with him. She would’ve killed Richards on the spot, no questions asked. He knew this because that was how he was feeling.
“Do you know what happened to Danielle?” Ghost asked as he tried to hold in his rage.
“No clue. Evans was ordered to not contact her.”
“You’re a real piece of work. You left a child thinking she’d been abandoned by her parents. You might have ordered her to stand down, but the child was the only innocent in this assignment,” Ghost replied.
“I don’t know how you sleep at night,” Carter growled.
“I had a job to do, as did Agent Evans. We aren’t able to break the rules whenever we feel like it. We have accountability.”
“You were accountable to the child.”
“Our accountability ended when the assignment did. Besides, I’m sure she was fine in foster care. It gets such a bad rap, but it’s really a wonderful provision for orphans.”
“Or abandoned children,” Carter muttered.
“Here are the files. Do with them what you want. We’re done here,” Ghost said as he pushed the files over and stood to exit.
“What about Agent Hines?” Richards asked.
“I pray to God she leaves the agency,” Ghost said as he yanked the door open. “It’s the only way she’s going to be able to live with herself for what you’ve put her through. We’ll be in touch when we clear her name.”
Ghost exited the office, stood outside the federal building, and took in a deep breath.
“If we hadn’t had to lock our weapons up, I think I would’ve shot him.”
“You and me both.”
“Thank goodness Ivy wasn’t here.” Carter chuckled.
Ghost smirked and wondered if she’d find a way of serving justice after he told her this story. Better yet, he wondered if he could stop her.
“My thoughts exactly,” Ghost replied. “Let’s get back to the office. I want to know everything about Skylar Hines. I honestly can’t say I’d blame her if she changed loyalties, not after meeting her supervisor.”
“I’m game.”
* * *
Seven satacross from the school, watching as the agent walked with her daughter’s hand in hers. There was a sense of urgency in her gait. What had changed from that morning when she’d dropped her daughter off? They’d been lucky they found her so quickly after she fled Galveston. For Rosemary to show up in Round Rock was a good sign, in Seven’s opinion. But something was wrong. What was he missing?
Then he saw what had prompted the early dismissal. Two hoodlums were smoking a cigarette by a tree, never taking their eyes off Rosemary or Darla.
He heard the men call out for the agent, telling her they needed to talk. However, Rosemary ignored them and pushed her daughter into the back seat. He saw her daughter quickly buckling her seat belt as her mother punched the gas, trying to make a quick retreat. Either the gang had followed her, or they contacted some in the area. He was betting on the former. There was no way a gang that invested would parcel out a hit.
Seven started the motor of his car and followed behind her, providing a buffer between her and the pimped-out car closing in quickly.
“Siri, call Ivy on mobile,” he instructed his Bluetooth.
“Calling Ivy on mobile,” she repeated.
“What’s going on?” Ivy asked when the call connected.
“I have two assailants following Rosemary. I can’t imagine she’s returning home. She checked her daughter out early. Best guess, she’s fleeing and relocating again.”