Returning her attention to the spy cam footage, Athena commented, “So Jack is really Bennie. We’re about to have them both. Ice?”
“We’re here,” he answered softly.
“Put on your CS gas masks, draw your weapons, and be ready to breach on my mark. SWAT’s shooting in a canister from across the street.”
“Copy that.”
She keyed her radio to SWAT. “On my mark. Three, two, one, go!”
All three monitors showed various views and sounds as the tear gas can rocketed into the office. Both kidnappers were occupied trying to secure the crypto account on Mr. Zhang’s laptop at the desk by the window and were caught completely off guard. Agents Hernandez and Ice burst through the door shouting, “FBI! Hands in the air!” and “Don’t make me shoot you!”
Both criminals bent over in coughing fits, unable to fight the agents even if they’d tried. No sooner had they been cuffed than a pair of EMTs wearing masks and pushing a gurney rushed in behind them to retrieve the victim.
“They didn’t get it, did they?” Mr. Zhang beseeched, bloodshot eyes wide. “They didn’t get my money, did they?”
“Mister, you almost died for that money,” remarked one of the first responders.
“Yeah, but I didn’t.” He burst into a coughing fit that turned into maniacal laughter.
“Exemplary work,” Athena praised over the coms. “Read those felons their rights and bring them in; then you can call it a day. I’ll handle it from there.”
“On our way, ma’am,” Ice confirmed in his pleasant East Texas drawl. “It’ll be like leading lambs to the slaughter.”
Athena raised a brow, though Agent Ice couldn’t see it; John Paulson snickered and shook his head. Pursing her lips, she straightened, raising her unblemished chin. Athena had worked hard to become known around headquarters as the ice bitch from hell, and she’d earned the moniker. Might as well be proud of it.
Chapter 4
The click of Athena’s heels echoed across the polished floors of the headquarters building’s main lobby at six-fifty that evening, accompanied by the barely audible roll of Paulson’s rubber-clad wheels. A security guard nodded respectfully to them while a janitor pushing a dust mop seemed oblivious. Although a few office lights shone from the floors above, most FBI personnel had gone home for the night to families, loved ones, and lives outside of the job. For years, Athena hadn’t considered a life beyond the bureau, and, even when she started to entertain the idea, she hadn’t taken action and probably wouldn’t have if she hadn’t butted heads with the stubborn, self-assured firefighter Flash Cash. It wasn’t just her perfectly muscled, lean body, attractive facial features, or winning personality that had swayed the long-time bachelorette. It was the protective grit and fierce dedication she’d shown when standing up for her little dog. Later, Flash had displayed equal tenacity in defending her.
But there would be no irresistibly hot younger firefighter waiting at home for Athena tonight. No, the heroic Amazon acted as if no fire department in the country could get along without her unique skills and bravery under pressure, and she’d taken off to California to help tackle a wildfire. Even though Flash had promised it was only because they’d asked for volunteers and she’d never worked a forest fire before, Athena had to wonder if her first girlfriend in over ten years was trying to avoid something … or someone.Me?She couldn’t think about that now.
Agent Hernandez met Athena and Paulson when they exited the elevator. “We’ve got them in two separate interview rooms,” he reported. “Assistant Special Agent in Charge McCulloch is in with one, and Travis is watching over the other.”
“Thanks,” Athena replied. “Head on home, now. You might as well too, John,” she directed Paulson. “No need for the entire office to stay late. Speaking of …” Glancing around the situation room, Athena noticed Agent Karen Shoops still at her desk, doing something on her computer.
“If you insist,” Paulson responded. “Come on, Sam. See you in the morning, boss.” He waved, and Agent Hernandez joined him.
“It was a good take down, ASAC Bouvier,” Hernandez commented with a satisfied smile. “If my wife wasn’t expecting me any minute, I’d stay and watch the fireworks.”
“Tell her hello for me,” Athena requested before the elevator doors closed.
Where’d that come from?she wondered, an unfamiliar feeling stirring in her chest. Athena had established herself as an untouchable authority figure, a professional who never allowed herself to become involved with agents’ families, who couldn’t tell you a personal thing about any of them. Losing dedicated, amiable Agent Cruz had given Athena pause regarding the distance she always put between herself and other agents, not to mention gregarious Flash inserting herself into her life.
“Agent Shoops,” she called with a chill of reprimand in her tone. “What are you still doing here?”
“Oh!” The petite young woman with mousy brown hair jumped in her seat, head jerking. She pushed her wire-rimmed glasses up on her nose and swallowed. “Just finishing some in-depth background runs on the two suspects Agent Ice put into interview rooms. I presumed you’d want as much information as possible before interrogating them.”
A discerning look settled on Athena as she paused at Shoops’ desk. “Good initiative. What have you found?”
“Benjamin Baylock, from Odessa, thirty-four, did time in Midland for robbery, before moving to Baytown, where he shares an apartment with suspect number two—Aleck Smith.” As she read the information on her screen, Shoops clicked her mouse, and Athena’s phone vibrated in her purse. “I just sent youa copy, by the way. So, Smith, originally from Monroe, Louisiana, has lived in Houston for six years, working as a water plant operator. He’s divorced, with arrests for drunk and disorderly and trespassing, but no time served.”
“Good to know,” Athena stated. “What did Baylock do before entering a life of crime?”
“Scattered things,” Shoops replied. “Worked for a cattle yard, drove a truck for a year, and engaged in seasonal farm labor. After being released from prison, he moved to Houston, where his cousin lives, and got a job as a bouncer at a bar in Baytown. I can’t discover how he and Smith met or moved in together.”
“It doesn’t really matter. These two are the muscle, not the mastermind of the operation. Thanks, Agent Shoops. You might as well head home now.”
At the thud of approaching boots, Athena glanced up at burly, bearded Travis Ice as he entered the main room. “McCulloch and one of his guys are interviewing the nervous one,” he reported. “Bennie Baylock is waiting for you in the room across from his. Taz is running the recordings. Do you want company? I don’t have anything pressing to do.”
