That’s when Rebel scaled back to a more manageable caseload. He entered the elevator with a few other employees and rode to his floor. There, he made his way to his boss’s office.
While he expected an earful about what went down in Texas, he wasn’t stressing over it. He’d roll with the fallout. He’d managed through worse. He would get through this as well.
He tapped on Calvin’s open office door.
“Hey, Joaquin, come on in.” Calvin rose and the two shook hands.
Rebel shut the door before getting comfortable in the guest chair.
“I read your report,” Calvin began. “We have no intel on who took out your contacts, but I’m thinking that might’ve been your guardian angel. Had the dealers found that wire, it would have been all over.”
“Last year, someone ripped apart my jacket, but they didn’t find the wire.”
“How’s that?”
“It’s sewn into the collar,” Rebel replied. “They don’t think to look there.”
“But if they had?—”
“Sir, you know I don’t play the what-if games. I just need to know if I’m getting my hand slapped or if I’m getting yanked from the case altogether.”
Calvin nodded. “Unfortunately, you’ve been yanked. It’s too risky. If anyone in the gang knew you were meeting with those guys, and you made it out alive, they’ll think you killed them.”
“I get that, but it makes no sense,” Rebel pushed back. “Why would I kill my payday? Without them, I got nothin’.”
“I don’t make the rules, I just play by them.” Calvin unlocked his computer. “Your HRT assessment results came back.”
That snagged Rebel’s attention. The FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team had been his ultimate goal from day one.
“Unfortunately, you weren’t accepted,” Calvin said.
The words hung in the air like black smog, smothering him in darkness. He broke eye contact, stared past Calvin out the window.
This stung.
“Did they give a reason?” Rebel asked. “It wasn’t my aptitude test or the physical tests. I nailed those.”
“On paper, you’re their top candidate.” Calvin swung the monitor around so Rebel could review his scores. He rocked every damn test they threw at him. Killed the physical endurance tests, including swimming and scuba. He scored in the top two percent for sniper fire. Not the best, but damn close, and easy to improve with practice.
Rebel slid his gaze to Calvin. There had to be a reason, and he had every right to know what it was.
“You’re not gonna like it,” Calvin said.
Rebel ran his hand down his beard while he braced for the news.
“You were rejected because of your reputation. You’re not a team player and they can’t take a risk on a loose cannon. Your independence cost you, this time. I’m sorry, Joaquin. On the upside, I’ve got three different teams looking for your help with their cases.”
Dammit.
Rebel squared his shoulders.
“If you work with your handlers, show HRT youarea team player, you can reapply in six months. That’s direct from the team lead. They want you, they just won’t bring in a lone wolf.”
Despite the frustration slithering down his spine, Rebel acknowledged his boss with a single nod.
“Anyway, I want you to sit tight for a few weeks?—”
“Meaning?”
