Chapter 29

"Lovers?"

"That's right."

"Are you telling me you came all the way here today, just to tell me you're worried that your agents would be distracted from their work because of an office…romance?"

"It's crossed my mind once or twice since their relationship started."

"What exactly are you trying to do here? Besides continuing to waste my time?

"One of them recently shutdown one of the biggest drug kingpin families in California and Mexico. While the other took down Bello not too long ago. You remember, one of the baddest Nigerian gun traders? Our streets are safer because of them. They both do good work. Their relationship is in a way, in the way already now."

"Out with it."

"What I mean is, that I've been calling him and he hasn't picked up. I'm guessing it's the same reason he hasn't been here to see you yet or answered your calls."

"Maybe you should go back to Graceland and question your subordinates instead of using me as your personal diary."

"Sir, with all due respect my team comes first before me being your Sin Eater. Just letting you know. In case something happens…We'll both know why."

"Anything else?"

"No sir. I'll be seeing you. Enjoy your... vacation?"

"The next time I see you, you better be when you're telling me that we've got Ari on everything a week from now when I get back from vacation. And as for Agent Warren, you tell him I'd better see him in my office next week. Bright and early."

"You got it sir."

"-With an explanation as to what was so important that hasn't been returning my calls. Someone as uptight as he is can't be letting some office fling get in the way of his work."

"I've just been taking some time catching up with Ari at a hotel. He's been real paranoid lately since the thing with Colby and finding out other members of my team were undercover. But don't worry."

"Oh, I'm not worried. The only emotion I have right now is annoyed, which I expect to turn into being pissed off soon the longer you and Agent Warren and apparently Agent Tuturro, whoever he is wasting my time."

"Will do," Briggs answers, while nodding a goodbye. As he rises from his seat he makes sure to keep the back handed compliment in his head at bay. He saunters out of Logan's office, passing by strangers and old acquaintances while making his way to the parking lot with many different things weighing on his mind.

It was unfortunate that he had to bring up Mike and Johnny being together to Logan. On the other hand, it was very necessary in terms of being a placeholder. Even with that in mind, Briggs did have to admit Mike was distracted via Johnny and vice versa.

All of which led to Mike not answering his phone or even visiting the bureau by Logan's command. Mike going off the grid was definitely a hiccup in his plan.

Every piece Briggs had in mind of using wasn't going to work out in one particular way now. However, he had other cards to play.

Speaking of missed calls and texts, Briggs realizes that he's gotten several from Charlie. Now Mike as well. Briggs had been keeping in touch with Jakes, in order to keep everyone back at home from freaking out, as his eyes and ears. Even calling a house meeting. Of which was unknown to his housemates if he'd ever show up or not. Calling a meeting through Jakes was supposed to keep everyone else from casting suspicion on him.

Apparently, all of that was done in vain because just as Briggs checks his phone a flurry of missed calls and texts notifications from Charlie and Mike, just as he saunters over to his car.

He sighs, swiping over the notifications to find a different number.

He sighs in mild annoyance, swiping over the notifications to instead view his contact list. As Briggs jogs back to his car, a clear memory of Logan's license plate number flashes across his mind.