“Very well—Rich. I’m sure Rich told you that my proposal has stipulations attached.”

“He did. So go ahead, shoot.”

“First, I want your word that neither my father nor any of his partners will be charged with a crime.”

Tony’s brows rose. “How can I do that without knowing what they’ve done?”

“Fair enough,” Sloane acknowledged, feeling her father shift nervously beside her. “Suffice it to say that if any crime was to have been committed, the alleged charges could be withholding evidence or, if you were feeling particularly vindictive, obstruction of justice. All of which would have been done out of fear for their lives and, in my father’s case, the lives of his family. Hypothetically speaking, of course.”

“Of course,” Tony concurred.

“The break-in was a threat?” Derek asked. “Why? For what purpose?”

Sloane pinned him with a cool, impersonal stare. “No comment. Not until and unless my conditions are agreed to.”

“I can live with this one,” Tony replied. “If what you’re saying is true, and if your father has information that could benefit us, no charges will be filed.”

“Good. On to my second stipulation. As you know, I’ve been arranging for private bodyguards up until now. I want FBI security assigned to my father. He, above all his partners, is in constant danger. I want that security to extend to my mother as well. Now more than ever. I’ll supply an explanation for that once we have an agreement.”

“You want us to put your parents in protective custody?”

“No.” Sloane shook her head. “That would be a glaring declaration to the wrong people that my father had spoken to you. I want them to go on staying in their apartment—with an FBI agent inside. And I want agents assigned to them when they go out.”

“That takes resources. But judging from the urgency of your tone—fine. It can be arranged.” Tony shot her a quizzical look. “How many other conditions are there?”

“Just one.” Sloane didn’t blink. “Give me an operational assignment. Make me a confidential human source. I want to be fully briefed on your investigation.”

Rich couldn’t help but chuckle at the magnitude of her request. At the same time, he noticed that neither Derek nor Tony was laughing. To the contrary, they didn’t appear the least bit taken aback.

“Am I to assume this is business as usual?” he inquired.

“We’re lucky she stopped there,” Tony responded drily. “I was half expecting her to ask that I order Derek to step down and make her the lead investigator.” He tapped his pen against his leg, mulling over Sloane’s request. “I can justify it,” he finally announced. “But only if you can explain how your involvement would benefit the Bureau.”

Sloane was prepared for the standard prerequisite. Her inclusion in the process had to be substantiated for the legal department. “Obviously, I have information that I believe you want. Further, I believe that I’m a potential target for one of the top brass, maybe even the leader, of the gang you’re pursuing.” She turned to Rich. “Who’s also a player in the art crime you’re investigating. By giving me an operational assignment, you just might wrap up both cases.”

“Forget it,” Derek stated flatly. “That’s not an operational assignment. That’s using you as bait. I’m not doing it.”

“No, you’re not. I am.” Sloane gazed steadily at Tony. “Well?”

“Well, for starters, if I were to agree, you wouldn’t be calling the shots. Derek would. So answers like the one you just gave him would be out.”

“Fine. But so would personal feelings,” Sloane countered. “If I’m unqualified for the job, that’s one thing. But if Agent Parker is reacting out of some unprofessional need to protect me, that’s discrimination. You and I have worked together many times, Tony. I doubt you’d evaluate me as being unqualified.”

Tony inclined his head in Derek’s direction. “She’s got you there. Is there some professional reason I should refuse Sloane’s request?”

A tense, prolonged silence.

“No,” Derek finally admitted, sounding as if the words were being dragged out of him. “I’m sure Sloane’s inside knowledge will benefit us, and her skills will contribute positively to the investigation. However,” he added in a no-nonsense tone, “I want it understood that I am the lead investigator on the organized crime case, and that professionally I make the decisions. Ditto for Rich on the Rothberg case.”

“Agreed,” Sloane said without hesitation.

“Then it looks like we’re in business.” Tony rose and shook Sloane’s hand. “Welcome aboard. By the time you rejoin the Bureau, no one will realize you were gone.” He turned his attention to Matthew, who, on Sloane’s advice, had stayed silent until now. “The floor’s yours, Mr. Burbank. Tell us what you know.”

Matthew glanced at his daughter, his forehead creased with worry.

With loving support, Sloane squeezed his arm, still facing Tony. “First, I need to tell you that my mother is hospitalized in the Bronx. She was kidnapped several hours ago with the intent to kill her. Her abductor was one of your Asian gang members. Evidently, he knew Rich was on his way over to see my father. This was retaliation.”

“Is she all right?” Derek asked instantly.

Tags: Andrea Kane Burbank and Parker Mystery
Source: readsnovelonline.net