Chapter Twenty-Six

The three-hour drive to Norfolk passed mostly in silence. Each of the travelers lost in their own thoughts. The mind of the driver was in D.C with the blonde beauty he had left behind. The second occupant of the car was lost in his own dark thoughts, wondering how he could be such a bad judge of character.

"Special Agents Hudson and Manning." Jack flashed his badge at the security guard near the entrance of the FBI Norfolk office. "We're here to see Special Agent in Charge Alan Caldwell."
Moments later, much to the displeasure of an overprotective secretary, Jack and Bobby were sitting in the SAIC's office. "So, you're from the D.C office? I spent a great deal of time there." The older agent glanced at Bobby and his brow furrowed. "There's something about you that is familiar. What did you say your name is?"
"Manning."
Recognition dawned on the other man's face and he leaned back in his chair. "Little Bobby." He smiled. "You're not so little anymore."
"I hit a growth spurt when I was fifteen." Bobby's voice was cold.
Alan nodded. "I had wondered if you were still stationed in D.C."
He looked down at his desk. "Quinton was very proud of you. He tried to claim you as an adopted son. I told him he wasn't old enough to be your father, but…"
Alan shrugged and raised his head. His blue eyes were damp. "He was very proud of you."
Jack felt Bobby tense next to him and gave him a cautioning glance.
"Agent Caldwell…" Jack began.
Alan held up a hand. "Please, call me Alan."
Jack gave a small, resigned nod. "Alan. Our unit has recently been looking at some cold cases. The name of your former partner, the late Special Agent Ryan Quinton, came to our attention during the investigation. We were hoping that you could help us out with a few things."
The older man's shoulders slumped as he let out a heavy sigh. He stared at his desk. "I've been waiting for this day. Wondered how long it would take before someone uncovered something. I guess I should have known what you wanted when you said you were from D.C."
Bobby's hand clenched into a fist. "You knew he was involved in the kidnappings and you didn't say anything?" His voice shook with rage and pain.
Alan Caldwell's head snapped up in surprise. "Kidnappings? What kidnappings?"
Jack leaned forward in his chair. "Why don't you just tell us more about your partner and what you were afraid of someone finding?"
Alan Caldwell placed his elbows on his desk and covered his face with his hands. Jack shared a glance with Bobby. The man in front of them was the picture of guilt.
"I met Ryan at Quantico." The agent mumbled behind his hands before letting them slide down his face.
"If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't have passed the training. Everything we did came naturally to him. By the time we finished our training he had already developed a reputation as one of the best. He was assigned to D.C, one of the most coveted assignments."
Alan shrugged. "Because of his smooth talking and negotiation skills I got assigned as his partner."
The agent reached for the coffee cup on his desk with trembling hands. "There was only one chink in Quinton's armor. He was an addicted gambler."
Jack stiffened in his chair and slid a glance at Bobby. His friend's face had grown paler.
"He thought he had it under control and so did I. But six months after we became FBI agents Ryan's wife and two children, an adorable five-year old girl and one-year old boy, were killed by a drunk driver. Quinton fell apart. It wasn't long before he started gambling again. Somehow he was able to hide it from our superiors and coworkers. He even hid it from me. I had no idea for a long time. A year later he was given his first case as the lead agent."
Caldwell paused and glanced at Bobby. "The Manning kidnapping. It was the first time since the death of his family that I saw Quinton take a real interest in anything. I thought that his passion for solving the case and his interest in Bobby would be the things to pull him back from the edge. And in a way, I was right. After that case he still kept himself shut off from everyone, but he was able to work. And while some of his methods were a little unconventional he did solve many cases and kept his reputation in the bureau."
"What about the gambling?" Jack asked in a tight voice.
Alan's shoulders slumped further. "The gambling continued. I tried to help him. I went with him to Gamblers' Anonymous meetings. I gave him loans, bought him groceries, and put gas in his car. I even gave him credit cards issued in my name to help him stay afloat. I don't know how anyone else didn't notice, but he was a good agent so everyone kind of turned a blind eye to his methods. Maybe that's why no one noticed. They didn't want to look closely enough to see anything."
Jack glanced at Bobby to see how he was holding up. Not good.
"Do you remember any kidnapping cases your partner worked?"
Alan's brow furrowed at Jack's question. "Well, there was the Manning case. Our specialty was drug and gang-related cases. Quinton excelled at going undercover. And I was his contact person. I concentrated on the surveillance, backup, and paperwork involved in those cases. But after the Manning case I do remember him occasionally requesting to be brought in for kidnapping cases. But that was probably only a handful of times throughout his career."
Alan shrugged. "I would say, he probably worked a dozen or less kidnapping cases. I usually wasn't involved in those."
Jack leaned forward his dark eyes boring into the blue eyes of Alan Caldwell. "Did you ever find his interest in or his actions during those cases suspicious in any way?"
"No. I have always assumed that his interest in various kidnapping cases was because of his interest in Bobby and the Manning case."
"Did you ever suspect Agent Ryan Quinton of illegal activities other than his gambling?"
The older agent's shoulders slumped further and he hung his head. A defeated man. "There were times when he didn't turn in all of the money from drug busts. And I looked the other way."

The ride home was almost as quiet as the drive to Norfolk.
Jack glanced over at Bobby concern for his best friend showing in his dark eyes. "What are you thinking, Crash?"
Bobby remained silent.
"Bobby." Jack's tone took on a warning edge. "Don't renege on your promise. No lone wolf. Tell me what's going through that ugly head of yours."
"I'm thinking it's time I leave the bureau."
Jack gripped the steering wheel in frustration. "That has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard come out of your mouth."
Bobby ran a hand through his hair. "That could be us, Jack."
"What could be us?"
"Caldwell and Quinton. Ten years from now you could be facing losing your reputation, your job, everything you've worked your whole life for just because you chose to protect me. I can't take that risk."
Jack glanced in the rearview mirror and jerked the steering wheel pulling the car off the side of the road. He turned off the engine and let his head fall back against the headrest, letting out a breath of exasperation.
Finally Jack turned in his seat to face Bobby. "Okay, Bobby, I'm only going to say this once so you better listen up. You and I could never end up like Caldwell and Quinton because you are nothing like Quinton."
"He was a gambler, Jack." Bobby covered his eyes with his hand. "And I…"
"I know." Jack conceded. "But let me ask you this. How long were you clean before the Merino case?"
"Over five years." Bobby answered quietly.
"Have you gambled even once since that case?"
"No."
A small smile crossed Jack's face. "Don't you see, Crash? You're nothing like Ryan Quinton."
"I fell once, Jack. I could fall again."
"Yes, you could." Jack nodded. "But if you do you'll just get back up again. That's the difference between you and Quinton. He stayed down."
Jack turned his gaze outside the window. "Besides, you don't have to fight it alone. You have the whole team behind you and God is waiting to help you too. If you'll turn your life over to Him, He'll give you the strength to overcome any temptation."
"I don't need a sermon, Jack."
Jack sighed and turned back to face Bobby. "You remember what I told you after the Merino case? That unlike banks I think that loans should be made based on a man's character and that I was comfortable with what I saw?"
Bobby nodded.
"Well, that's even truer today."
Bobby lifted his head and met Jack's eyes. "Thanks, Spark."
"Anytime, Crash."