their parents. Truly a perk of being a grandparent."
"You are evil!" She laughed as he scoffed.
Terry's laughter settled down. "Give me as much heads up as you can. I'll do my best down here."
"I will. Hug Marla for me?"
"You got it. Take care of yourself."
"You, too." She disconnected the phone and shoved her fist into the air. Wow, what a coup! Terry was one of the sharpest agents she'd ever met. Before he transferred to Florida to be closer to his daughters, he'd taught her the ropes and so much more. She owed the man a bust like this, and he'd work his ass off in Florida. She could take it to the bank.
"Good call?"
"Real good." She glanced at Watson who was typing as he looked at her. "How do you do that?"
"Years of practice." He smiled and kept typing.
"What he isn't telling you is he is making a million mistakes." Rayburn flipped through a document he was reading.
"Bite me." Watson shot back
Rayburn pointed to the computer. "Bet you just typed that."
"Shit." Watson hit the delete key and Rayburn snickered.
"You two, I swear. I'm going to go brief Brody. We have trustworthy assistance in Florida."
"Fucking-A. About time we got a break. I'm reading up on Gray Death. This shit can be compressed into pills, too."
"I thought it was sold in rocks?" Watson stopped typing and glanced at Rayburn.
"Powder, rocks and pills." Rayburn reiterated.
"Pills would mean not only a cooking site but a processing point. A big operation." Watson started typing again.
"Don't think Peña knows the meaning of the word small." Rayburn's nose stayed buried in the information he was reading.
"I agree. I'll be back in a minute, going to tell Brody about our help in Florida." She headed across the bullpen and veered away from the line of sight of Anderson's office. Avoidance was her new mantra where that man was concerned. She lifted her hand to knock on Brody's door when she heard him chuckle, low and soft. "Yeah, okay. Dinner tonight. No, you're right it's been too long. Yeah, I've missed you, too." He turned around and shock sent his eyebrows north as he finished. "See you soon."
Her gut dropped. He was going on a date. Tonight. She blinked and then swallowed hard. The knowledge... hurt. But why should it? They weren't involved. She didn't have a claim on him, even though they had a child together. But a kernel of hope had already blossomed hadn't it?
Brody placed his phone on the desk, and he leaned forward. "What's up?"
"Ah..." God, get a grip. "I've recruited an agent in Florida to help us, off the books for now. He's damn good, and he'll keep this under wraps until the last moment."
"Good. I'm glad we have your resources available.” He glanced at the clock and then back at her. "Let's call it for the day. We should have some answers on the house by tomorrow, and then we'll be able to work the particulars of the surveillance with the captain and get this case rolling."
She nodded and stepped back. "Okay. Night."
"Amber?" Brody's voice called her back to the office.
"She's a friend. Nothing more." His voice was low and quiet, and he didn't glance up from his computer.
She leaned against the door. "Okay." She glanced over her shoulder. Anderson's door was open. "May I come in and close the door?"
He glanced up at her from his desk and nodded. She pushed the door shut behind her and leaned against it. The shades on the windows were open so everyone in the pen could see them. "I'm sorry I overheard your conversation. It kind of threw me for a loop." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her shoes for a moment to collect her thoughts before she continued, "I know I don't have any claim on you. I want to assure you I'm not going to pull the jealousy card. The only thing I ask is if you do get involved with someone, please make sure it is serious before you introduce her to Gage."
"Noted and understood. I assume the same would apply to you?" He swiveled in his chair to face her.
"What?"
"You only introduce the men you're serious with to Gage, correct?"
With a very unladylike snort she replied, "I've never introduced anyone I've dated to Gage." There was a hope for a while, but the thought of a kid didn't thrill Darnell, and the relationship died quickly.