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Mason leaned forward and dropped his voice. "You're trying to push me out, Johnson. I've been here over a decade, and the higher ups want younger guys that they can pay less. But experience matters in this field. You need me out there."
Johnson stood and leaned on his hands on the desk, his eyes narrowing. "Exactly. So shut the fuck up and do your job. Keep your head down for the next six months and play ball. Then I'll work on getting you back in the field."
Simon knocked on the door and held up a file. "Actually, I have a better idea. How about sending him on sabbatical next month?"
Johnson stood and crossed his arms. "This doesn't concern you, Hargrave. Get lost."
Simon stepped aside and bowed mockingly. "Very well. Mason, come see me when you're done with Big Boss Man here. I've got a job for you."
Simon strode away while Johnson yelled, "He doesn't work for you, jackass."
Simon yelled back, "Not yet, asshole."
Johnson waited for the footsteps to recede then met Mason's gaze. "You could try, you know."
Mason frowned. "Try what?"
"Apply for the FBI again. It's been a few years since your application was updated, yeah? If the higher ups are trying to push you out, then you could move over to the FBI."
Mason wasn't so sure. If he physically wasn't capable of doing field work for the Rangers, what would make the FBI take a chance on him? Assuming he could even pass the academy training.
"Your vacation for three weeks in February was approved by the way. I just submitted all the paperwork." Johnson sat back down and asked, "Is there anything else you need?"
Mason shook his head and stood. "No, that's it. Thanks."
"No problem," Johnson said as Mason walked out. He really didn't want to do six months of paperwork. Day in and day out of the office. No fresh air, no change of scenery.
That was one of the biggest reasons he'd gone into this line of work. Working for Ray in Crimson Creek had been rather boring. With the Rangers, he had variety, especially when the FBI got involved.
He found Simon at the other end of the floor in his office. Simon grinned and waved him in.
"Shut the door and let's talk," he said.
Mason closed it and said, "Uh oh, this sounds serious. That can't be good."
Simon laughed and pushed a single folder across his pristine desk. Only a single laptop sat off to the side.
Mason took the folder and sat in the chair as he opened it.
"This is the preliminary report from the Denton drug bust last month?"
Simon nodded and leaned back in his chair. "This particular blend of heroin was laced with fentanyl and some other shit. It's a unique blend and we could trace it."
"Shit, not more fentanyl," Mason grumbled.
Simon pursed his lips and nodded. "It's more powerful too, roughly fifty times more so than just straight heroin. Look at the second page. We followed up with some leads and found a pattern of cruise ships out of Cali. The Cali office busted one over New Year's and found the same blend. Page three shows their preliminary report too. Some cruises are going down to Mexico and Central America."
Mason flipped the page and frowned. "But this says Hawaii?"
Simon rocked his chair. "Right. We think it's coming up from South America through to Cali, then heading over to Hawaii before jumping planes for Guam, the Philippines, and Asia. Our Hawaii offices are aware, but they don't have the manpower to follow up on leads right now. Not after the incident last year."
Simon took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead, both of them thinking of the deadly encounter.
"So this is where you come in," Simon said with a sigh.
Mason's brows rose as he glanced up from the file. "Me?"
Simon nodded. "Yeah, I saw your paperwork go through for a three-week vacation in Hawaii?"
