Anderson turned toward Grace, who bit her tongue to keep from smiling.
“US Marshal McCarty also has credentials from FBI, and the CIA, Kate. He has extensive experience in combat situations. He has also consulted on numerous cases where his help led to the solution of terrorist and criminal threats, including the terrorist mole in the Department of Justice. Nick has the juice to put you on a street corner directing traffic. Please don’t force him to use it. Marshal Reinhold and I will assist him in this. We will not hamper anything your task force is in the process of doing. You will not discuss this with anyone. We needed to let you in on the details, so your task force doesn’t inadvertently sabotage Marshal McCarty’s operation. Is that clear enough?”
A much subdued Anderson studiously kept from looking at Nick. “Yes, I understand. What do you need?”
“Just an office where we can operate from,” Grace answered.
“Follow me,” Anderson said. “You can have my office. I’ll work out of the task force area. May I have a word with you in private after I get Marshals Reinhold and McCarty settled, Grace?”
“Sure.”
*
“Who the hell is this guy, Grace?” Anderson stood in an interrogation room with Grace. “When I heard he was coming, I tried accessing his records. My computer access was red flagged immediately with a warning. I have Top Secret clearance.”
“Not at Nick’s level you don’t. I can’t share anything with you about Nick other than he is a special troubleshooter the Department of Justice, FBI, and CIA call in under certain circumstances. He has credentials with all of them, but works as a special consultant so as not to be handicapped by restrictions put on CIA assets working within the United States. Look, Kate. I know we didn’t get along. I used to think like you that everything I did had to follow stated guidelines. Since working with Nick, I’ve come to understand he recognizes situations and solutions with a unique perspective. Give him a chance. He gets results.”
“And if I don’t? What then? When he breaks the law right under my nose, what do I do with him, look the other way, and pretend I’m not a federal law enforcement officer?”
Grace disliked nearly everything about Anderson, but she knew the sacrifices made by a woman to get as highly placed in the FBI as Anderson. Great Kate’s body language and facial features worried Grace the woman would do as Nick warned against: put his crew in danger. Knowing that would end badly, and it was her job here to prevent it happening, Grace adopted the same stance she had in Charleston with the police Lieutenant there, Irene Moragado.
“I’ll level with you about something you need to take to heart, Kate. Nick is the most dangerous man I have ever encountered. If you put him or his crew in danger, your job, the FBI Director, or even the Attorney General will be the least of your worries. Back off and forget any idea you may have about impeding or discrediting him.”
Anderson’s mouth tightened as Grace watched the woman’s hands clench and unclench. “Is that a threat, Grace?”
“No. It’s great advice, Kate. Nick doesn’t do this stuff for fame or name recognition. He has that. He’ll let your task force take all the credit, and will simply go away after he gets this Ripper guy without a word or a single press conference. Mess with his operation and there will be consequences you’ve never dreamed of.”
“And if he fails to get the Ripper?”
Grace smiled for the first time. “That, you won’t have to worry about.”
*
Nick waved at Grace as she walked into their assigned office. He and Tim worked at their respective computers investigating the list of prostitutes sent from Gus and John as likely candidates. They used the Seattle police department’s files for the women to narrow down their choices to pursue.
“How’d it go with Great Kate?”
“Fine, I think. It was good for me too. I don’t despise her as much as I did. The pettiness, and arrogant remarks are different than when I handled the Charleston woman detective. Lieutenant Moragado was frustrated with corruption she wished didn’t exist. Kate’s in so far over her head she can’t breathe. You were right. I’ll keep an eye on her. She may indeed be dumb enough to wreck this plan just to see it fail. I’m going to reach out to some of the task force members I’ve seen that showed as much disgust with Kate as I have. I’ll keep my concerns in general terms about letting me know if Kate starts undercutting us before we even get started.”