LITMIR.BIZ

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his fault the thumb drive containing the evidence went missing while in our custody,” Josh shot back.

      “Yeah, well, if there was anything on it to begin with,” Burke stated. “Maybe McIntyre lifted it while we had our backs turned.”

      Josh’s fingers curled. “Dylan McIntyre was trying to do the right thing. He wouldn’t—”

      “Any leads on the missing Baby Kay or her mother?” Serena interjected. “That’s what we need to keep focused on.”

      Josh’s gut twisted. Leave it to Serena to use the one thing that would defuse the situation. A few months back a woman named Emma Bullock had been found beaten and unconscious in Minneapolis. When she awoke, she couldn’t remember who she was or who’d hurt her. However, she remembered being in possession of a baby at the time of the attack. But the baby was nowhere to be found.

      Apparently a young woman named Lonnie had asked Emma to safeguard her child while she ran an errand but had never returned. The marshals were called in because of the illegal adoption ring they were on the cusp of busting. Josh was sure the kidnapping of Baby Kay had something to do with Munders and the Perfect Family Adoption Agency. The police and the Marshals Service were still searching for the baby and the young mother.

      Burke shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. The Minneapolis P.D. is staying on top of the search and will keep us informed if anything develops.”

      Josh let out a frustrated grunt for a reply. He prayed the young mother and baby were still alive.

      “Burke, what do you hear from Hunter?” Serena asked. She rested her elbows on the desktop and steepled her hands as she waited for an answer.

      Hunter Davis had been their team leader until he’d taken an extended leave of absence. He’d fallen in love with a witness he’d been protecting. But he was still consulting on the baby-smuggling case via telephone from time to time.

      “He and Annie got married. Didn’t invite any of us.” The disgruntled note in Burke’s voice was understandable. He and Hunter had been roommates before Hunter met Annie. She’d entered the witness protection program to testify against the men who’d killed her husband and tried to kidnap her daughter.

      “Good for them,” Serena said.

      Josh stared at her. Had he just seen a flash of longing? She met his gaze and immediately her dark brown eyes cooled before she turned her attention to the file in front of her. Nah. He’d been dreaming. The only thing in her eyes was pure steel.

      “Good morning, children.” A booming voice echoed through the offices as recently retired U.S. marshal Bud Hollingsworth approached, bearing a box of treats from a local bakery. Tall with a potbelly, the sixty-something veteran was having a hard time adjusting to retirement, if his frequent appearances at the office were any indication. “I understand you two had some trouble over in Houston.”

      “Does everyone know?” Josh asked. “How did you hear?”

      Bud shrugged and lifted the lid on the box to offer Josh a pastry. “The chief. He asked me to come in and consult on this development. I’m going to liaison with the Houston P.D. to try to catch these guys. We can’t have our witness compromised.”

      Josh’s defenses rose. “He wasn’t. There were no labels on anything. No way anyone could find out where the McIntyre family has been relocated to.”

      “Josh. Serena,” Chief U.S. Marshal Wendell Harrison called from the doorway of his office. In his fifties, lean and wiry, Wendell exuded energy without trying. “A word, please.”

      Exchanging a curious glance with Serena, Josh pushed out of his chair and stood. He followed Serena into the chief’s office. The chief sat behind his desk. Another man wearing a gray pin-striped suit rose as they entered. About five foot five, muscular, with a chiseled jaw and swept-back blond hair, the man oozed fed.

      “Marshal McCall and Marshal Summers, you know FBI Special Agent Todd Bishop,” Harrison said.

      Bishop shook Josh’s hand, then Serena’s. “Marshals,” Bishop said. “You two have been doing good work.”

      “Thank you,” Serena said, looking pleased. She was a woman who liked to be praised for her work. Compliments about anything else were met with a silent stare.

      Without preamble, the chief said in a loud booming voice, “In light of last night’s development and close call, I’m taking you two off the Munders case and reassigning you to a new case. We’ll be coordinating with Agent Bishop.”

      The air rushed from Josh’s lungs as if he’d been socked in the stomach. Six months ago when he and Serena had been assigned to this special operation, he’d welcomed the chance to coordinate with the FBI in tracking down and apprehending criminals connected to the illegal adoption ring.

      Anything to distract himself from the anguish of his best friend’s murder. Though investigating wasn’t within the scope of the Marshals Service, Josh had done what he could to find Daniel’s killer as well as monitored the local police and federal investigation, but they, too, had hit dead ends at every turn.

      Now to be taken off the special operation they’d toiled at for so many months chafed.

      “What? No.” Serena’s protest drew the attention of everyone in the outer offices. “We’ve worked too hard on this case to be taken off now.”

      Harrison held up a hand. “Please. I understand you’re upset. But this is for your protection.”

      Josh tucked in his chin. “Our protection? We’re doing fine. We have each other’s back.”

      Harrison regarded them steadily with steely blue eyes. “Shut the door and take a seat.”

      Serena pushed the door closed. “I’d rather stand.”

      Josh took the seat opposite his boss. Special Agent Bishop moved to hitch a hip onto the edge of the desk.

      The chief’s expression was grim, but there was something else in his assessing eyes that made Josh guess there was more to this. “Sir? What’s really going on?”

      Harrison’s mouth twitched. “You are a perceptive man, McCall.”

      “I try, sir.”

      “Serena, close the blinds, please,” Harrison instructed.

      Once the blinds were closed, Serena stood behind the empty chair next to Josh, her hands gripping the back.

      Harrison leaned forward. “I’m not taking you off the Munders case,” he said, his voice low, intense. “That bit was for show. I don’t want whoever our leak is to know what you’re actually going to be doing.”

      “Which is?” Josh prompted, anxious.

      “You’re going undercover,” Agent Bishop stated.

      Surprise washed through Josh. “Isn’t that something the FBI should be doing?” A few months ago, FBI agent Lisette Sutton had gone undercover in a fertility clinic. The Marshals Service had provided support in the form of U.S. marshal Colton Phillips.

      “Normally, yes,” Bishop said. “But these are special circumstances that will require you to wear the mantle of investigator. We have every confidence in the two of you.”

      Josh wasn’t sure he shared Bishop’s certainty. They hadn’t been successful yet in plugging the department leak or apprehending the man known as “Mr. Big.”

      “We need hard evidence against Munders and the Perfect Family Adoption Agency to take to the state attorney general,” the chief said. “I want you two to get it.”

      “Where are we going undercover and as what?” Serena asked in a tone mixed with equal parts excitement and apprehension. Josh felt that same mix in his gut. He waited for the chief’s answer.

      Harrison sat back. “Before I go into the details,

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