Chris and Vin entered the Cafe' in Atlanta where they had agreed to meet Frank Horner and Greg Hickom, Standish's fellow officers and friends.
They noticed a man around Travis's age waving them over to his table.
Chris held out his hand when the pair got to the table. "Frank Horner?"
"Agent Larabee, I presume?" Horner chuckled grasping Chris's hand firmly.
"This is my sharpshooter, Vin Tanner," Chris indicated.
Horner shook Vin's hand in turn. "Pleased to meet you. Have a seat. Greg will be here shortly."
The duo seated themselves and ordered coffee.
"I have to say I'm glad you realized you need Ezra. He is the best there is."
Chris nodded, taking a swallow of his coffee. "I have to admit, I'm not quite sure about him. But I'm willing to give him a shot."
Horner sat up straight. Vin was reminded of a bristling wolf.
"I'll tell you one thing. Ezra is innocent. Brass just doesn't like him." He paused and looked at Vin, then Chris. Holding Larabee's gaze he continued. "Ezra's a threat to those that are on the take. He was getting too close to the truth."
"Travis trusts your judgment, so I believe you."
Horner smiled sadly. "Ez is a good kid," he began again. "All this shit is tearing away at his belief in the system. You're his last chance."
Vin opened his mouth to ask what would happen to Standish if they didn't take him, but Horner cut him off. "There's Greg," he announced, waving over a man who was Chris's senior by possibly ten years.
Chris stood when Greg Hickom arrived at the table. Vin glanced at Chris, and then followed his lead.
"Chris Larabee," he held out his hand in greeting. "And this is Vin Tanner."
They sat back down. "I gotta say," Hickom began, "I'm gonna miss that little bastard." He chuckled. "He has one wicked sense of humor."
Chris smiled. He understood what Hickom meant. All his men had their own unique, warped humor.
Hickom's smiled faded, giving way to sadness and a firm faith in his younger friend. "You're getting one hell of an agent."
"So I've heard."
TBC…