Chapter 2
"I had a wonderful time last night. Call you after work ~ Mike." Abby beamed after checking her text message as she walked from her car to the senator's office where she worked.
Serena hip bumped her. "Is that your Mike?"
"Uh um," Abby nodded only half listening. They continued walking into the office.
"Ready to deal with Trouble," Serena said. Abby sighed. 'Trouble' referred to their supervisor Jax Fleming. A good looking man. He had asked her out once or twice. Abby had meant it when she had told Jax she wasn't looking to get involved with anyone. She had still been trying to get her footing in the world and wanted to concentrate on work. Well, that and it had been one excuse she used. Jax also had a reputation as a womanizer. Abby was not going to subject herself to that drama. Besides she didn't go looking for Mike he found her.
They headed straight for their stations when they Abby typed up a quick reply and sent it before setting her phone down on her desk. She opened her laptop and typed in the password.
Jax came over to greet them, "Good morning, Ladies." He picked the phone up before it when dark. "Mike- Who is Mike?" Jax demanded.
"Abby's new boyfriend," Serena chimed in. Jax wrinkled up nose. He did not like the sound of that.
"He's not my boyfriend," Abby protested. She held out her hand for her phone, happy she had a passcode lock on it. Jax gave it back.
"Not yet," Serena predicted. Abby just chuckled. She actually hoped Serena was right.
"Did you send out the memo?" Jax tried to change the subject.
"Check your email," Abby nodded.
"Rachel is still waiting on those reports you were proofing," he reminded Abby.
"She'll have them within the hour," she assured him.
"Here comes the babe magnet," Piers heckled Mike.
"Haha," Mike mocked. He was on his way back from interrogating Liam Davis. Going for his desk Mike picked up his cell phone. His heart skipped a beat before turning the screen on. There was a new message from Abby like he hoped for- "Me too. I look forward to your call." Mike was grinning ear to ear. He sat in his chair with eyes locked on the phone.
"Abby, uh?" Piers lifted an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Mike replied softly. Reluctantly he put the phone into his pocket and opened up his laptop. There was work to do. A night stewing in a jail cell loosened Davis' lips. He had given them more people in the trafficking ring to run down. Soon they'd have this thing busted wide open.
"So you're when are you seeing her again?" Piers asked.
"Whenever she says I can," Mike said.
Both men sober when Vincent approached. "How is the briefing info coming?"
Mike looked up from his screen, "Ready in fifteen."
Satisfied Vincent turned to Piers, "Tell Raleigh we're on in conference room twenty." Piers nodded.
Mike stood up front next to a screen. Vincent, Piers, and Raleigh sat around the table watching him.
"Davis gave up these two possible associates," He clicked the button on the black remote, "Richard Hawke and Titus Young." Two pictures of the mentioned men displayed on the screen. Their names and info were listed beside them. "Hawkes own warehouses up and down the east coast," Mike continued, "Young is a high ranking banker with the 1st National Bank."
"What's their connection besides Davis' word?" Piers asked.
"That is what we're going to figure out," Vincent answered.
"Both of them are married- Hawkes has two kids with his wife," Mike added, "The only one with a prior is Hawkes and that's a speeding ticket."
"Squeaky clean," Raleigh remarked.
"Exactly," Vincent stood. He stood beside Mike. "The two of you are going to be getting a run down on Hawkes see if he is connected to either Young or Davis as Davis claims," " Vincent said, "Warren and I are going to have a chat with Young."
"To get a feel for him," Raleigh said.
Vincent nodded, "He's a money man and if he's handling the money he'll be the easiest to connect all of them to."
Vincent and Mike arrived at the bank headquarters where Titus worked about thirty minutes later. They went up to the receptionist desk. "Agents Rossabi and Warren," Vincent said. They flashed him their badges. "We're here to see Mr. Young." The receptionist showed them to Titus' office. He walked into the office a head and announced them. Titus was sitting behind his desk.
Titus stood and shook their hands, "What can I do for the FBI?"
"We just have a few questions for you," Titus motioned for them to sit in the
"Do you know a Liam Davis?" Vincent inquired.
"Davis- that name is familiar," Titus said, "Oh, Liam Davis, yes.- he's from…" He drummed his fingers on the top of his desk. "What was that company's name?" Titus questioned.
"Watchdog Security," Mike offered.
"Yes, that's it- I think I have his card around here somewhere," Titus looked over his desk. He pulled out his top drawers.
"How did you become acquainted with Mr. Davis?"
"His company needed a loan for a new project," Titus answered
"Socialize often?" Mike asked.
Titus shook his head, "No."
"When was the last time you spoke with Mr. Davis?" Vincent asked.
"About a month ago maybe two- I'm not really sure," Titus answered, "We have been playing phone tag for the past week."
"Who called who first?" Vincent questioned.
"Mr. Davis," Titus answered.
"Do you know what that was about?" Mike followed up.
"Sorry, no," Titus replied.
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Young," Mike said. Titus simply nodded. The three men stood. Titus saw the agents out of his office and closed the door.
Mike dropped his cold pizza on the paper plate. He checked his watch again. Mike had wanted to call Abby an hour ago. One thing or another kept popping up. Still at work, he hadn't even had time to go get supper so he was eating the pizza left over from lunch. Mike took out his phone. He pressed Abby's page in contacts and the phone dialed her number.
"FBI Mike," Abby answered.
"Lawyer Abby," Mike smiled, "I'm sorry it's late I got caught up at work."
She pushed back from her desk, "I'm still at work."
"If I'm interrupting something I can call back tomorrow," he offered.
"You called to ask me out," Abby relaxed back into her chair, "Let's do that."
"Ok, do you want to do dinner this Saturday?" Mike asked.
"Did you just say 'do dinner'?" she cringed playfully.
"I did," he admitted.
"In spite of that I would love to go out with you," Abby twirled the ends of her hair around her finger.
Mike tilted his head, "I was thinking of this seafood place: Oceana on 7th."
"I know the place- I'll meet you there," she said.
"How about around seven?" he suggested.
"Sounds lovely," Abby agreed.
"See you then," Mike replied.
