Page 55 of Shared By the Mountain Men Triplets

WREN

Despite best intentions, federal agencies often don’t run at the speed you might want them to.

When I finally hear back from my supervisor with an update, I’m alone in the cabin, but I’m not really alone. The men are nearby, like they always are, and that’s been a strange adjustment. I’m used to being capable on my own, and now I can’t even sit at a dining room table without being conscious of three men’s orbits around me.

After confirming I’m somewhere private, my supervisor tells me I’ll be hearing from a DEA field agent shortly. It turns out the agency’s been running an investigation into Harlan Turner for months, but it stalled due to lack of reliable intelligence.

They have financial pieces and suspected associates, but no one knew where the routes were.

“Your documentation is enough for them to move forward,” my supervisor says. “Everything is usable. More than usable.”

I listen, ask questions, and take notes, feeling proud of my contribution.

Shortly after that call ends, Agent Novak calls. In contrast to my supervisor’s excitement, Novak’s tone is blunt and tired.

He starts off by asking questions about my report to orient himself, tells me Turner is a priority target, but that they aren’t going to move right away.

“We want more than Turner. We want the shipment and all the men above him or beside him. We want to cut off enough of the pipeline that it can’t just grow a new head somewhere else in six months.”

I listen as he explains their next steps. Then he tells me what they want from me.

“We need you to continue your survey and feed ecological data through your supervisor on the secured channel I’m sending you. Keep mapping displacement and contamination. Map unusual human impact, but do not approach suspects. Don’t interfere with any activity going on, and don’t attempt surveillance outside of your professional scope.

“We’re not asking you to conduct law enforcement activity,” Novak says firmly. “Is that clear?”

“It’s clear.”

He also tells me to avoid alerting the Moon Ridge sheriff’s office. Though they don’t suspect the department is compromised, Turner’s operation has survived just outside the small town for at least eighteen months, and Novak isn’t willing to risk a leak.

When the call ends, I stand by the sink, looking out at Boone, who’s chopping wood. As if he can feel my gaze, he turns and looks my way, then starts toward the cabin. When he comes in, Rhett and Cade are right behind him.

“What happened?” Rhett says, because apparently, he can read my face like a book.

“I talked to my supervisor … and an agent from the DEA.”

The three of them gather around me with intense expressions, and I already feel like I’m the subject of an interrogation, but I square my shoulders and go on.

“They’ve been looking into Harlan Turner for a couple of months already.”

Rhett’s frown turns fierce. “Then why the hell did they send you out in the middle of it?”

“My supervisor didn’t know anything about it until now. Communication between different agencies isn’t always the best. Also, they knew Turner was running something, but they didn’t know where. My data will help them move forward.”

Cade and Boone look like they’re pleased or maybe proud, but Rhett is still fired up.

“When are they moving?” he demands. He sounds like he’s agitated they’re not already in the mountains ready to shut the whole thing down, and I hate having to tell him what’s going on.

“They aren’t. Not immediately. The agent, Novak’s his name, said they need to wait for the next majordelivery window. They don’t want to spook him and scatter the people involved.”

Boone drags a hand over his mouth and looks away as Rhett stares at me with a stillness that makes the hairs on my arms lift.

“They’re going to let him keep operating,” Rhett says, incredulous.

“For now.”

“What about you?” Boone asks. “Are they calling you back to the office, now that your work is done?”

He looks like he doesn’t want to know the answer. For selfish reasons, I’m glad my office isn’t calling me back, but I don’t think any of them are going to like the conditions that will keep me here with them for a while longer.