Dani noticed that the set of Wu’s shoulders was as tight as his jawline. The SAC had called an obligatory preop meeting before sending her on the undercover assignment. What made the briefing unprecedented was the inclusion of one of the highest-ranking officials in the Bureau and a paid assassin, two individuals she would never have pictured in the same room together.
Dani figured Assistant Director in Charge Scott Hargrave had decided to run the meeting personally because of its implications. The possibility of charging a sitting US senator with fraud, taking bribes, and conspiracy to commit murder took everything they did to a completely different level.
“Take a seat.” Hargrave made it a general comment for everyone in the room as he pulled out a chair at the head of the rectangular table.
Wu and Dani sat along one side while Toro lowered himself into the chair across from them. They were still at the off-site secure location, and the digital forensics unit had data-mined every part of Toro’s cell phone in what they termed a “phone dump” before implanting listening and tracking devices. Satisfied, they had returned it long enough for him to call the Colonel and report that he was still in the city and actively evading law enforcement—with the help of his girlfriend.
The team had listened in while Toro went on to push their carefully crafted background story about Dani, whose newly created fake identity was Nicola “Nikki” Corazón. In case the man calling himself “the Colonel” was in fact affiliated with the military in some way, the Bureau had gone to the trouble of manufacturing a fictitious military career that had ended with her dishonorable discharge for excessive violence in the field and using unauthorized weapons.
The Colonel agreed to use the VR exercise as a test drive for Nikki. He also promised to check out her background ahead of time but told Toro to bring her with him to the meeting spot on the following day. Nikki would get no pay unless she proved herself worthy. The first hurdle overcome, now she was prepared to hear what else the Bureau had in store for her.
“We’re here to establish protocols and ground rules,” Assistant Director Hargrave said after everyone settled. “This operation is extremely sensitive, with a high risk of violence or personal injury and required authorization at FBI HQ through the Undercover Review Committee. The FBI director himself and the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division have given their approval and want to be kept apprised.”
He paused, letting the gravity of the pronouncement sink in. She had never been involved in an assignment with so much high-level oversight. At least not since she’d left the military.
“That’s not going to work,” Toro said. “We can’t do this by committee. That’s no way to catch these guys.”
Hargrave narrowed his eyes. “And yet we managed to capture you in less than twenty-four hours,” he said. “More to the point, we conduct meticulous and thorough investigations before we bring a charge. That’s why we almost never lose a case in court. We’re methodical.”
Toro held up both hands in mock surrender. “I’m just saying that we’re not going to be able to run everything past Agent Vega’s chain of command. Things will happen fast.”
“Which is the only reason you’re here at all. I am going to make it perfectly clear where the lines are and what the penalty is for crossing them. For Agent Vega, it’s her career. For you, it’s your freedom.”
Hargrave’s dual-targeted comment put Dani on alert, as she was sure he had intended. The ADIC may have been looking at Toro when he spoke, but his words were clearly directed at her. Ultimately she bore responsibility for Toro’s actions as well as her own, and watchful eyes far above her pay grade would scrutinize their every move.
“SAC Wu will outline the ground rules,” Hargrave continued. “And they apply to both of you.” He looked at each of them in turn before his gaze rested on Wu.
“This is spelled out in the Attorney General’s guidelines for our undercover ops,” Wu said. “The following acts are prohibited: participation in violence, except in self-defense or preserving the life of another. Initiating criminal acts. Unlawful investigative techniques. Participation in criminal acts, except in emergency situations as set out in section four, subsection H, paragraphs one through five.”
Toro narrowed his eyes. “What the hell does that mean?”
Wu sighed. “It means you are authorized to do certain things that would be considered crimes if committed by someone outside of law enforcement.”
“Figures,” Toro said. “You guys commit crimes that you lock other people up for.”
“The rules about this are very clear,” Wu said. “You can’t just do whatever you want. Agent Vega will make sure you understand your limits.”
“Sometimes you have to establish yourself as a criminal,” Dani said to Toro. “Sometimes you have to make bribes or purchase contraband.” She turned to Wu. “By the way, what’s our budget, sir?”
“One million dollars,” he said. “Without additional approval.”
“Now you’re talking,” Toro said.
“That’s Agent Vega’s budget.” Hargrave pointed at him. “You spend nothing.”
“Since we have the protocols in place,” Wu said before Toro could make a rude comment, “let’s discuss how we’re getting Agent Vega inside the group.”
This was the part Dani had been dreading. She wondered how far things would have to go and how much time she would have to spend with Toro.
“So, Agent Vega—excuse me—Nikki Corazón and I are a couple,” Toro said to the room at large. “Now what?”
“We’ll show you the background we’ve constructed for her,” Hargrave said. “Make sure there are no red flags in it.” When Toro nodded, he continued. “We’ve put our best people on it. We scrubbed everything from her real life, including social media, and have given her an entire life story. She was charged with felony assault after knifing a biker in a bar, but got it busted down to a misdemeanor and put on probation. The Colonel can dig all the way back to her kindergarten, where she was noted for her constant disruptive behavior, by the way.”
“I’m a bad seed,” Dani said. “And I make poor choices.”
“You’ll have to do something about your look,” Toro said. “Right now, you scream government issue.”
“You just get me to that meeting tomorrow,” Dani said. “I’ll be sure to look the part.”
“Are you ready?” Wu asked Toro.
“Do I have a choice?” He glanced at Dani. “Either the Colonel will buy this, or we’ll both end up with a bullet to the head. The problem is, we won’t know which until we get there.”
CHAPTER 18
Dani had barely made it into the cramped Bronx apartment before her younger sister ran at her full tilt. Erica’s slender form was in stark contrast to Dani’s athletic build, and Dani barely had to brace herself for impact.
As Erica squeezed her tight, a rush of self-recrimination surged through Dani. She did not come to visit as often as she should, but the silent reproach that emanated from her tía Manuela kept her at bay.
As it was meant to do.
From the day Dani and her younger siblings, Erica and Axel, had come to live with their aunt and uncle nine years ago, Tía Manuela had made her feelings clear without uttering a word. Erica and Axel were the good kids. Dani was too much like her mother.
Message received.
She had tried to prove to her aunt—and everyone else—that although she might look like her mother, she was her father’s daughter at heart. He had been a Ranger, so that’s what she wanted to do, too, even as a young girl.
Her very soul ached at the memory of her father. She recalled how happy she’d been when his last tour of duty ended unexpectedly and he told the family he was coming home for good. In her childlike naivete, she’d thought it was because he wanted to be with them all the time. That he couldn’t stand to be away for months at a time on maneuvers or deployments.
Only later did she learn that he had suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him with debilitating migraines, tinnitus, and vertigo. After his medical discharge, the family had moved back to New York from Georgia so that Dani’s mother, who was battling demons of her own, would have help coping with the added burden.