by Margaret Kay
“Yes. I remember, and Brian told me about them too. He said I’d probably have one.”
Cooper was happy Brian had already told her. “That’s correct. All agency personnel do, as do all the wives. So, you have no problem with having one?”
“No,” Brielle said. “It’s part of the job, an expectation of employment, right?” At least that was how Brian had explained it.
“That’s correct. I’ll set the appointment up with Doc to inject it into you.”
“Sure,” Brielle agreed. “Just someone let me know when and where.”
Cooper knew he shouldn’t be surprised by her, but he was. Shepherd had asked a lot of questions about her throughout her involvement in the mission. He wasn’t surprised that Shepherd suggested the DEA offer her the position they did, nor that Shepherd wanted her to also work for the agency. Cooper agreed it would be a good fit and help alleviate a staffing shortage they had. Hell, he hoped Shepherd would shift over some of the administrative crap that was on him, monthly reports, mission report formatting and proofing, and the hundreds of other monthly reports he was responsible for.
Then, he took her to the seventh floor and showed her the office assigned to her. It was just down the hall from Brian’s. He called Garcia to be sure he was ready for her. He was in his workroom. Cooper brought her there and then left. As she stood awkwardly just within the door, she tried to remind herself he was just a normal guy, like Brian had said. She also reminded herself that his wife was pregnant with their first child, a son, and he had sounded genuinely thrilled about it.
“So, you need to authorize your existing phone number with your carrier to be ported over to us so you can keep that number. We’ll keep your agency phone set up as it is now, so you can get calls and text messages to both phone numbers, unless you’d rather notify all your contacts on your personal number of this new number.”
“No, I’d rather keep my old number too,” Brielle replied.
“I figured you would. Let’s take care of that call right now.”
She placed the call to her carrier’s customer service number, authorized them to speak with Garcia, and he took care of the rest. She stood there and waited while he was on the call. It only took five minutes, and it was done.
“What about the bill for my personal line?”
“There isn’t one. Shepherd’s budget takes care of all phones. Now, let’s talk about your agency issued laptop.”
Brielle took in all the information, the dos and don’ts regarding the laptop computer.
“And remember, never ever override the settings and access a Wi-Fi network. Never,” Garcia warned. “You have a satellite card. Use it.”
Brielle nodded. “Got it. Never.”
“Okay, you’re all set,” Garcia said.
“Thank you.” Brielle turned to leave.
“And Brielle,” Garcia said, stopping her after she’d stepped into the hallway. “Welcome to the team. As soon as possible, I want to introduce you to my wife, Sienna. She is excited to meet you. I know you can’t leave Sherman alone yet, but as soon as you can, the girls all want to have a lunch or a dinner with you.”
“That would be really nice.” Brielle’s smile was genuine. She was very excited about this new life she was starting.
“I pushed the phone numbers of all the wives to your phone, and yours to theirs this morning. Don’t be surprised if you get text messages from them.”
“I appreciate that. Thank you for everything.” She walked away feeling grateful and with a much different opinion of Garcia.
At eleven hundred, Brielle and Sherman entered Shepherd’s office. They were the first to arrive.
“During the briefing, I’m going to ask you not to ask any questions. Write them out and we’ll go over them after. And you do need to take notes for yourself regarding the mission,” Shepherd said to Brielle.
Brielle held her new agency issued laptop up. She was planning on it.
Brian was breathing easier, however, he still needed assistance to get up or down, and forget rolling over in bed. Brielle thought he was doing very well considering the trauma his body had suffered, but she also thought it was way too soon for him to be returning to work, even on limited duty. She’d feel better if he just laid in bed for a few more days. She suspected he was the one who insisted on returning to work. She’d have to talk with Gary about that.
The others came in and quickly took their seats.
“For those of you who don’t know,” Shepherd began, “Brielle has accepted a position with us. She will be writing news reports for the DEA to release regarding the arrests made around our DEA Partner Missions, amongst other things. What this means is she will be present during our mission briefings, watch mission feed in Ops and then submit her articles, which both I and Manning will edit prior to release. The DEA has been looking for someone to write these articles from their perspective for a while. Brielle will also write other reports for us as well as man the front desk whenever Angel or Elizabeth cannot be in.”
Congratulations and welcomes were offered from everyone around the table.
“As you all know as well, Sherman is on limited duty for probably the next month. With this mission he will begin training to man Ops,” Cooper said.
“The DEA hasn’t made much headway with the suspected meth lab in New York since we pulled out due to the priority mission in Louisiana. Pretty much expect to pick up where you left off, gentlemen. Lambchop, bring us up to speed on what transpired before your team was pulled,” Shepherd said.
Lambchop nodded. “We were only on the ground for two days. We didn’t get too far into it. We took over surveillance on the suspected meth lab and ran the people who we observed coming and going from the property through facial recognition if the DEA didn’t already have an ID on them. It was mostly low to mid-level dealers that were identified, which we didn’t expect. Normally, it’s the higher-level dealers who pick up product to then pass it to their mid or low-level street dealers. We observed a couple of guys on their corners selling after they left the suspected meth-lab.” His eyes shifted to Brielle. “Normally, only one or two guys know the location of where the meth is being cooked to protect the location. Where it’s cooked and distributed from are normally two separate locations. So, we have to wonder if this is just a distribution location and not where it’s being produced.”
Brielle typed her questions into her laptop. She had many, beginning with why these low-level dealers weren’t arrested. She found it very hard to remain quiet.
“The security they have on that house screams something illegal is going on,” Jackson said. “They have lookouts two blocks away in all directions. When a squad car rolls through, they phone ahead, and everyone moves. All the guards within a block of the house go into hiding, but they are all still nearby and watching with their guns drawn. The front and back doors appear to be heavily fortified; not sure a battering ram will even be able to crack them open. That too makes us wonder if this is just a distribution location. When we pulled out, we suggested to the DEA that they need to tail anyone coming to the location with bags or boxes large enough to transport product in.”
“Even if this is a meth lab, the raw material needs to be brought in. The source of the supplies needs to be an initial focus,” Lambchop added.
“Okay, that’s it. Pack up, gentlemen. You leave within the hour,” Shepherd said, dismissing them. “Brielle and Sherman, stay.”
After the team going on the mission except for Cooper left the room, Shepherd turned to Brielle. “I saw a lot of typing going on. Besides your notes on the mission, I’m assuming you have questions.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And once we’re done here, I’m getting you back to bed for a few hours rest,” Cooper said to Sherman.
“I thought I was going to begin training in Ops?”
“Later this afternoon. Doc and the Undertaker have ordered that for the next week you are up for no more than four hours, followed b
y at least three hours in bed,” Cooper said.
Sherman grumbled, but Brielle was relieved. Gary was going on the mission, but Doc would be here to change Brian’s bandages, check in on him, and make sure he rested. She was grateful for that.
She read her many questions off, and Shepherd, Cooper, or Brian answered them all to her satisfaction. She got a much better understanding of what they did and why. If the house they were watching was just a distribution center, they wanted to trace the drugs back to where it was produced. Close down the manufacturing facility first, then the distribution center. Then scoop up all the dealers they observed too.
“During this mission you’ll be on call to go into Ops whenever there is something to observe, since you’ll be staying in the apartment for the foreseeable future. We’ll figure it out after you’re no longer there,” Cooper said. “Maybe we’ll just have you watch taped mission feed.”
“And since you’re on the payroll as of today, I want you to start training with Angel for the front desk coverage,” Shepherd said. “I’ll also have her acquaint you with our standard report formats.”
“Should I report to her when we are done?”
The corner of Shepherd’s lip pulled up. He liked her enthusiasm and her willingness to do whatever job they asked of her. He was already considering what other reports she could help out with. “After lunch is fine.”
Cooper stood. “Let me help you up,” he said to Sherman.
Brielle’s eyes went back to Shepherd. “One more thing, sir. Do you have any news on Bobby’s release yet?”
“The DEA is waiting for a reply from the judge in Louisiana. He has to agree to dismiss the case and authorize Bobby’s release from the rehab facility. Then the order must be executed through official channels with the rehab staff. It shouldn’t take more than a week.”
Brielle frowned. A week? She wanted him out of there now. He didn’t belong there. In the very least, she wanted to go see Bobby at the facility. She and Brian spoke with him on the phone earlier that morning and told him it was over, arrests were made, and that they were working on his release. They didn’t tell him about Brian getting shot, though. Brian insisted that was something they would tell him only in person once he was released.
Brielle followed them to the elevator. Once in the apartment, Cooper got Brian settled in bed. Doc was in his office to call when Brian needed to get up. Brielle crawled onto the bed and sat beside Brian, facing him.
Sherman took in her beaming smile. “You look happy.”
“I am. I still can’t believe Mr. Shepherd and Director Manning offered me a job. I’ll get to write stories that matter, just like I’ve always wanted. And I get to be with you.” She leaned down and kissed him. It was passionate, lengthy, and left them both wanting more.
“I bet I could lay nearly still and not hurt my ribs if you were on top.” He unbuttoned his jeans. “Help me get my pants off.”
“No, Brian Sherman. Gary said no physical activity at all for you, and that includes sex. We need to wait a few more days till your ribs don’t hurt so bad.”
“Ugh! Brielle, come on.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her in for another of those electrifying kisses.
When Brian’s hand moved under her shirt and pushed her bra up, she pulled away. “I promise, as soon as you can get up and down by yourself, we’ll make love. I do need to get to a doctor before then and get some birth control. I plan to ask Angel who her doctor is.”
“Or we could go by your cycles and let God decide.”
“You know what they call people who use the rhythm method of birth control, don’t you? Parents!”
Sherman laughed, then he winced. Man, the ribs still hurt. He thought they had gotten better. Well, they had a little. Deep breathing didn’t hurt quite as bad as it had even the day before. “I know I have fallen in love with you, Brielle. And that’s not going to change.”
This was only the second time he’d said I love you. It felt just as exhilarating to hear those words as it did the first time. “I feel the same. There is no place I’d rather be, than here with you.”
“Would it be the worst thing in the world to have my kid?” Sherman chuckled. He could picture her pregnant and it was a mental image that, surprisingly, brought a smile to his face.
“I think we should wait more than a week to talk about that.”
“It feels like I’ve known you and loved you a lot longer than that,” Sherman said. He kissed her again. He couldn’t get enough of her lips on his.
After a lengthy kiss, Brielle sat back and smiled at him. “I love you Brian Sherman. I don’t want a kid yet though. So, I will be talking with Angel to get her doctor’s name.”
“But you do want to have kids, don’t you? I never really thought about it before, but it’s something now I want,” he confessed.
“Yes. I’ve always wanted to be a mom. I always thought I’d have kids, but just not yet.”
Sherman lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “When we’re both ready, or God decides.”
“Agreed.”
Uniform
Brielle received a text from Angel that lunch was set out in the kitchen, Italian. “I’ll text you what there is, and you can let me know what you want,” she said.
“I like just about everything. Just like yesterday, please get me a little of it all.” He gazed at her with appreciation. “And thank you for taking such good care of me.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” She gave him a kiss and then left.
As she took the stairs down to the fifth floor, it occurred to her how comfortable she was with Brian, with moving around this secure building, and with the others who worked here. She already felt like she belonged. And taking care of Brian felt perfectly natural. She recalled the days she spent with his momma. She talked about Brian often, the pride she had in her oldest son obvious. Of course, back then, Brielle still held a grudge against him for breaking Dahlia’s heart. She believed that Helene Sherman would be very happy that they were together.
She entered the kitchen. She greeted a few of the others who she knew, and Kaylee was there, sitting at the table with another woman she didn’t know. She was a beautiful woman. She had shoulder-length light brown hair, a warm smile, and soft blue eyes.
Kaylee got up from her chair. “Hi Brielle!” She wrapped her in a hug. “I was shocked about you and Brian, when Gary told me. I thought you had a thing going with Bobby.”
Brielle laughed. “Bobby and I are just good friends. Besides, Bobby’s gay.”
“Really? I didn’t catch that vibe at all,” Kaylee said. By this time the other woman stood beside her. “Brielle, this is Sienna, Anthony’s wife.”
“Hi Sienna, it’s nice to meet you,” Brielle greeted. She remembered the name Sienna and figured out that Anthony must be Garcia’s first name. Wow! She was not at all what Brielle had thought Garcia’s wife would look like. She looked very normal, sweet even, with her girl-next-door look. She’d expected maybe a biker chick, or a female WWF wrestler look-alike. She just assumed Garcia’s wife would look as rough as he did.
“It’s great to meet you too,” Sienna said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Brielle wondered from who and what she’d heard. “Aren’t you both teachers?”
The two ladies nodded.
“What are you doing here during the day? Was there no school today?”
Kaylee looked confused. “It’s Saturday.”
Brielle realized she hadn’t known what day it was for several days. She smiled an embarrassed smile. “Wow, we’ve been so busy, I guess I lost track of the days.”
“That’s perfectly normal,” Sienna said. “I don’t know what happened, but I know you were part of a case the team worked. I was too. I understand. You lose track of things like what day it is.”
Brielle stared at her and said nothing.
“I was too,” Kaylee added. “As was Elizabeth. We all under
stand. That’s why we’re here. To welcome you to our group and have lunch with you.”
Brielle wasn’t sure what to say. “Brian is in the room we’re staying in. I have to bring him lunch.”
“Anthony’s going to bring it to him and have lunch with him in the apartment,” Sienna said. “Make his plate and I’ll text Anthony.” She pulled her phone from her back pocket and typed out a text message.
Brielle recognized Sienna’s phone. It was the same as hers. Sienna had an agency phone too.
“And then we’ll stay here. Michaela and Angel are going to join us too,” Kaylee said.
“Who’s Michaela?” She hadn’t met her yet, wasn’t sure if she’d heard her name.
