Page 11 of Made of Steele
“That’s why we asked you here,” Gutierrez said, thankfully taking her attention. “We’d like to deputize you to help Agent Collier on his undercover assignment.”
“Help you?” She shot Collier a look that she was certain held surprise. Shock too. And suspicion mixed with residual anger. “Over my dead body.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that.” He grinned at her, his mouth crooking up on one side and dimples revealing themselves.
Devastatingly handsome. She couldn’t look away. She opened her mouth to fire off a smart retort, but stopped when Harris stood.
“We wouldn’t ask if this wasn’t urgent.” She peered down on Teagan, a power position for sure. “Agent Collier has finally gotten the Contis to trust him, and he’s close to finding the identity of their supplier. We have got to stop the route of stolen antiquities entering our country. The threat of angering Middle Eastern countries is great, and we don’t want to fuel retaliation in terrorist attacks.”
Now come on. Don’t put me on the spot like this. She wanted to be mad at this guy. For tying her up. Even more so for the ridiculous way she was responding to him. Here she was a professional thirty-three-year-old woman, and she was acting like a teenager. She swallowed away the angst and took stock of the request.
How could she refuse to help protect the country from terrorist retaliation over the theft of precious antiquities?
She looked at Harris. “I’ll do it.”
“You will?” Collier gaped at her.
“I’m a patriot too. I don’t want my fellow countrymen harmed by others. How could I refuse, even if it means partnering with the guy who tied me up?”
He held her gaze, his expression somber. “I hope you can let that go.”
She hoped so too. For her sake and for the sake of the investigation, but right now she couldn’t guarantee how she would react around this man.
4
Not staring at Teagan was about as difficult as not staring at a pink elephant in the middle of the room, but Drew tried. What had brought about her sudden change? She was spitting mad and then, boom. Ms. Agreeable. Not that she’d changed her mind about her anger with him. She was still mad. He got that. He’d be the same. He’d gotten the drop on her. Embarrassing enough, but he followed it up by threatening her and her guard. Gagged her, tied her, and left the building without giving her a way to get free.
Lieutenant Gutierrez looked at Harris. “Steele will report to me and will be on equal footing with your guy or this is a no go.”
“Fine.” Harris’s lip curled a fraction, but Drew recognized it as about the only sign she gave of her emotions.
Gutierrez nodded and after a lingering look Drew thought was meant to cement the lieutenant’s position, he turned to Teagan. “Let me swear you in and work out the details, then you can sit down in the conference room with these agents to formulate a plan.”
“Sounds good.” Teagan smiled at her former boss.
Drew had his work cut out for him if he was ever to receive such a smile. And oddly enough, when he should pin his entire attention on the investigation, he really wanted one directed his way. Had wanted one since he laid eyes on her at the Conti brothers’ business months ago. What would she think if she knew he’d watched her for some time? Probably add that to the creep factor of sneaking up on her and taking her down. So those thoughts weren’t coming out of his mouth if he could help it.
“Was good to meet you both.” Gutierrez held out his hand to Harris. “Conference room is the first door on the left.”
Obviously, the guy wanted some time alone with Teagan. To cover what, Drew didn’t know, but he would try to find out. And he would use the time while waiting for her to join them to figure out how to get on her good side.
Harris shook hands with Gutierrez. “I’ll be heading back to our office and leaving Collier to work out the details.”
Drew also shook the lieutenant’s hand and gave Teagan one last apologetic look. “See you in a few.”
She nodded, but her attention had already shifted to her former supervisor.
Thinking about her working in this office, Drew stepped into the hallway. He could easily see her as a deputy. She didn’t hesitate to slam him against the wall and show her authority. She regretted it. He could see that in her expression, but he also suspected it felt good. Would have for him if he were in her shoes.
Now visualizing her as a detective would have to wait until he witnessed her thought processes and logic in running an investigation. Undercover was different than finding a killer. It was live and fluid, and to do the job a person had to be quick-witted and have keen observation skills. She would’ve needed observation skills as a detective, but most of the time her life wouldn’t depend on it like it would have while on patrol, and if she ever went undercover.
Harris turned to him. “Let’s go as slow as you can on this. Read her in on the minimum she needs to know to not hinder the investigation.”
Drew didn’t answer. He didn’t like his boss’s tone and insinuation. Like they were using Teagan. Didn’t sit well with him, and he would do what he believed was right, despite Harris’s directions. Better to treat Teagan right whenever possible and ask for his supervisor’s forgiveness later.
“Your assessment earlier was right on the money,” Harris continued as if she assumed he would comply with her wishes. “The woman is good and mad at you. But turn on your charms and you should be fine.”
“Charms?” he asked, bothered by the second time she mentioned this.
