Tony didn’t avert his gaze. “Time bomb defused,” he supplied. “Your informants did their jobs. Xiao Long is turning his attention away from Lo Ma and toward other rival gangs, and the patrons who frequent his brothels.”
“For now. We both know that unless Xiao Long finds his psycho, and fast, détente will be a thing of the past.”
“If that happens, I’ll have you back here with us in a heartbeat.” Tony paused a moment. “Look, if this were only about Dr. Truman’s connections, and his demands were baseless, I’d fight this decision. But if you put aside your anger long enough to be objective, you’ll have to admit that the Trumans have a point. We’re not just talking about a new lead here. We’re talking about confirmation that Penelope Truman didn’t just take off. She vanished from a college campus in broad daylight. Which not only points to foul play, but pinpoints a location for her disappearance. You were, and are, the case agent of record. You were initially assigned at the Trumans’ request, because they were told you were the best. For months, you were their lifeline. Do you blame them for insisting that you continue running things?”
“No. What’s more, I intended to—from here. But to set up shop in AC? How do you think Tom McGraw’s going to feel with me breathing down his neck?”
“He’s fine with it. We spoke ten minutes ago. He gets it that the Trumans feel a sense of security with you at the helm. He said you should check in to the Best Western tomorrow morning, then meet him at Richard Stockton at nine-thirty. Oh, and dinner at that pricey seafood place you liked last time. Your treat.”
“Great.” Derek felt as irked as he sounded. But McGraw wasn’t the reason. “I feel like a friggin’ marionette, with my strings being pulled.”
“I don’t think that’s how the Trumans see it.”
One dark brow rose. “I actually wasn’t referring to the Trumans. There’s another puppeteer in all this—a real master manipulator.”
Tony’s lips twitched. “Yeah, I see Sloane’s hand in this, too. Truthfully? If you two are in the middle of a battle of wits, I’d say this round goes to her. You must have really pissed her off.”
“That’s my MO.”
“Someday you’ll have to tell me the whole story behind you two.”
“Maybe. But first, I have to figure it out myself.” Derek rose.
“Going home to pack?”
“Nope. Going to make a phone call.”
Sloane jumped when her cell phone rang. She’d had two more hang-ups since she got home, and it was beginning to grate on her nerves.
Glancing at the caller ID, she was relieved, but not relaxed. This was one call she’d been expecting. And dealing with it would be a challenge of a different kind.
Steeling herself, she leaned back on her sofa, plumped a pillow behind her, and took a break from scratching Larry’s ears to punch on the phone.
“Hello, Special Agent Parker,” she said, propping her legs on the ottoman. “What can I do for you?”
“Smooth work,” Derek responded drily. “Fast, too. Not great for inspiring a positive working relationship between us, but hey, that wasn’t your intent. The important thing is, you got the job done.”
“I aim to please.”
“Now that, you didn’t. Then again, that’s standard operating procedure when it comes to us—except in bed. So why change now?”
That one stung. Sloane had expected Derek’s feathers to be ruffled, but she hadn’t expected such blatant hostility.
“You’re being a bastard,” she informed him, all banter vanishing in the blink of an eye.
“That’s how I get when I’m manipulated.”
“I didn’t manipulate you. I sidestepped the obstacles you were throwing in my path.”
“And the difference is?”
“This wasn’t a power play. Nor was it an attack. You were dodging my questions. I had no way of figuring out why. Whether it was to cut me out of the picture or to minimize your involvement in Penny’s case, the end result was unacceptable. So I found a way to keep you in the forefront and me in the loop.”
“You did more than that. I’m not only handling the case, I’m running the show from our RA in Atlantic City. I’ll be leaving before dawn and checked in to the Best Western by eight. I’m on my way home to pack. Wanna pick out my clothes for me? I wouldn’t want you to feel out of the loop.”
Sloane sat straight up. “They’re sending you down there? What about your other cases? You just finished your C-6 training.”
“Life’s a bitch. Until I solve this case, or Chinatown explodes into gang warfare, I’ll be handling my C-6 responsibilities long distance.”