Mike walked into the offices. They were sparsely furnished, mostly tables where boxes of evidence from the other sites was already being brought in. Several maps were pinned up on the rolling bulletin board, pins marking the locations of the mansion, the club, the boot camp and so on. Wires were running from the wall, waiting for the computers that would be arriving shortly.
He took a moment to appreciate the silence, knowing it wasn't going to last. Any minute the rest of the evidence was going to be delivered, from Havenport, from the lighthouse. Soon, Mitchell and Turner and a horde of agents and techs would be filling the area, combing through everything. Carroll was dead, it was just a matter of waiting for the ink to dry. But his followers were still out there.
And Mike Weston had just gone from the youngest member of the profiling division to the youngest agent ever put in charge of an investigation, a multi person manhunt no less. It was a bittersweet achievement gained only due to Donovan's injury and Parker's death.
Debra Parker. Mike's breath caught for a moment. She was the first agent death he'd ever experienced up close and personal. He felt numb with the thought that he was never going to see her again. Never talk to her, learn from her. Ryan would disappear with Claire and Joey into WitSec but there was always the shot that when this was over they would come back. Perhaps Ryan would even teach at the Academy. He'd be a perfect choice. He'd already talk Mike more in the few weeks they had worked together than the Academy had taught him in almost two years of training.
There was a small inner office, just a desk and an old couch. Seemed hardly fitting for an Acting Supervisory Special Agent. But Mike wasn't one to need much. He dropped his overnight bag on the couch and hung his jacket on the back of the desk chair.
The whole conversation still hung in his thoughts.
Ryan and Claire were barely away in the helicopter when his phone rang. He recognized the prefix as the Bureau's main exchange and wasn't surprised to find it was Director Franklin himself on the other end. This was after all a high press case and the Bureau would give it major priority and handling. Nor was he surprised that Nick Donovan was effectively benched for the next few weeks due to the injury to his eye. He'd be lucky if it wasn't permanent. So he wouldn't be returning anytime soon.
What did surprise Mike was that the Director wasn't calling to inform him of what senior agent was being put in Donovan's place. He was giving that task to Mike. It was unheard of. At least as far as Mike knew.
"I spoke to Nick Donovan and he tells me you are more than capable of overseeing the team in his stead. And Agent Parker had given you more than one excellent evaluation including one when you returned to duty after your attack."
It was in some respects a demotion since they were most certainly just going to be doing data analysis, pointing the Marshals service and locals where to find the remaining group members. But it meant Mike could see things through to the end. He could finish this, for Debra.
"I have a couple of requests, sir." Mike knew he was being a bit out of line but being around Ryan had rubbed off a touch. He hoped in a good way.
"Requests, Agent Weston?"
"Yes Sir. First I'd like to handle the arrangements for Claire and Joey Matthews myself. And I'd like clearance to offer Ryan Hardy protection as well."
"You think Hardy would take an offer?"
"I think Ryan Hardy won't trust Claire and Joey's safety to anyone other than himself."
"I suppose you think I should leave him deputized?"
"I hadn't thought about it but it wouldn't be a bad idea."
"You have your clearance. But I want these arrangements settled by the debriefing tomorrow. And then I want your full attention on wrapping this up."
"Of course sir."
"And the other request?"
"I'd like to be informed about who is going to be placed on this team before they show up. And I'd like permission to state objections."
"You hardly have the experience to demand staffing oversight."
"I'm not asking for it, Sir. I just want to feel free to state concerns and know that they will be listened to, even to make suggestions. The final vote will remain yours and if you overrule me then I'll deal with that. Even if the vote is to put someone else in charge. I just don't want any surprises. Not to mention the security concern of having someone turn up unannounced."
There was a pause. Mike swallowed, nervous. He was definitely pulling a Ryan Hardy and it may have backfired hard.
"I assume you have no objections to Diedre Mitchell or Scott Turner." The Director stated.
"No objections, Sir. If they want to remain I'd happy to have them."
"Good. I"m also putting Kate Roberts on the team."
"Roberts. I thought she was on a case with Interpol."
"Wrapped it. She's on a plane to DC as we speak. She'll met you at Quantico."