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Agent Franks drew up short and swallowed hard, making this Adam’s apple bob up and down in his throat. “I went to Hank Patterson for a reason. I was told he had an asset with an art background. Something that was disclosed to me in a rather… roundabout way by the C.F.O. of Highline Insurance. He explained that one of your people had authenticated a painting and was able to aid in verifying the provenance of the artwork as well.”
He pulled a small notebook from his breast pocket and flipped open the first few pages before he held it out in front of his face and leaned back to read it with a decided squint.
“Cygny Devoy.” His mouth twisted a bit before his shoulders rose in a little shrug. “Strange name, but that’s neither here nor there. I need her knowledge and experience, but not her name, especially not her name.”
Beck shook her head. “What kind of danger are we looking at with this assignment?”
“These sellers are crafty, but they’re purely white-collar crime. They want money and lots of it. They’ve gotten where they have because they don’t pose a threat to anything but art and art collectors. That’s how they keep out of the limelight on high profile lists.”
Roman shrugged. “There’s big money involved, or they wouldn’t do this.”
“Of course there’s money, but they don’t want to get their hands dirty.”
The agent’s words seemed to fall into the room like lead weights and before anyone else could say something, he added another.
“Besides, it would mean the difference between a cushy stay at a Federal Prison and some state-run prison. To men like them? It’s a fate worse than death. And it should only take a week, two at the most. Mister Patterson said that Miss Devoy isn’t currently on assignment, so she’s available.”
Roman turned to look at her and she nodded, understanding exactly what he was thinking.
“Cygny,” she repeated, and added on, “and Leo. Leo Chandler. They’re partners.”
Agent Franks shook his head and waved his hand back and forth. “No, no. I don’t need two of you. I just need Cygny to-”
“They’re partners, Agent Franks. Cygny is part of the Athena Project, and we are partnered with male agents for all of our assignments. Cygny’s partner is Leo and the two of them are assigned as a pair on their assignments.”
She could see that Agent Franks was ready to argue, but she could guarantee one thing. He wasn’t going to get his way.
“Miss Morissey-”
“Agent Franks,” she lifted a brow at him, “there is nothing to argue with. If you want Cygny to do this assignment she will be working with Leo. Or,” she said the word loud enough to speak over him as he started to argue back, “you can find someone else to do your undercover work. That’s all there is to say about it.”
When someone talks about an epic battle of wills, they couldn’t hold a candle to Beck Morrissey, especially when it came to her friends. She sat back in her chair and leveled a look at the FBI Agent that wouldn’t just peel paint, it would melt through steel.
And soon Agent Franks gave up trying to fight.
“Fine. Fine.” He got up from his chair and reached into his back pants pocket for his wallet. Reaching into it, he withdrew a business card and set it down on the table.
Roman gave the man a look as if to ask for a second card but the Agent just put his wallet back into his pants pocket.
“I’m staying at a hotel in Colorado Springs. Have Miss Devoy call me to set up a briefing.” He picked up his notebook, put it back into his suit pocket, and started for the door only to turn around and add one last word. “Tonight.”
The door had barely closed when Roman let out a long breath. “Wow.”
Beck sat back in her chair and nodded. “Yeah.”
Roman reached out his hand and Beck put her hand in his and gave him a smile. “What do you think?”
Roman shook his head. “I didn’t know Cygny had all that much in the way of art knowledge.”
Beck shrugged. “I’d like to say I knew that. And I feel like there’s something in the back of my head where it’s a part of my memory, but…”
He nodded. “I guess that’s par for the course when working undercover.”
She smiled at him, and he looked back at her warily.
“What?”
“I don’t know. I was waiting for you to say that it’s par for the course when working with women.”
“No.” Roman laughed and choked at the same time, holding up his hands in surrender. “No. And no. I would never say that.”
“Good to know.” She gave him a smile and a wink. “Smart man.”
He leaned closer. “I’m with you, aren’t I?”
Taking her hand from his with a pointed look, she picked up the business card from the table and gave it a good hard look. “A room in Colorado Springs, hmm?”
“Yeah.” He shook his head. “Even if he wanted to stay here in town, I doubt anyone would put up with him for long.”
Shaking her head, Beck slid the card over to him. “Yeah, I guess I should call Cygny and Leo and get them to call Agent Franks to set up a briefing.”
Roman looked up at her with a sly smile. “How long until Leo throttles the Special Agent?”
Beck hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“Hey.” Roman stood up and pulled her to her feet and loosely into his arms. “What’s up?”
“Cygny and Leo. What do you think about them?”
