Three days later, Ezra P. Standish found himself ushered into the same Cafe around lunchtime. And Horner and Hickom were all smiles, which put him on his guard.
"You're gonna like them," Horner insisted. "Orin told me all about Larabee. Got nads of steel."
Ezra arched an eyebrow and stopped in his tracks. "That paints a picture I could do without."
"Come on Ez," Hickom insisted nudging the southerner forward. "They're waiting on us."
They arrived at the table Chris and Vin occupied. Horner reached out and shook their hands. "Good to see ya." Then he turned and elbowed Ezra in the ribs. He dutifully extended his hand. "Ezra Standish," he drawled out.
"Chris Larabee." Chris then released Ezra's hand so Vin could greet the young man.
"Vin Tanner."
Ezra gave the pair what he knew appeared to be a sincere smile. He was feeling a little like a poodle at a dog show - prancing and jumping through hoops to impress the judges.
A waitress strolled over to take orders. "A mineral water and a chicken salad sandwich," Ezra said. Ezra then glanced around the table. "Well, gentlemen. Let's get down to business." He knew he did not display any of the nervousness he felt. "I understand you're looking for an undercover agent, Mr. Larabee. And you are here to interview me for the job?"
"No," Larabee answered. Horner and Hickom glared at him with displeasure, while Standish betrayed nothing. "I'm offering you the position."
Tanner watched Standish's face for any reaction at Chris's statement, but could find none. Yep, the guy's good, he thought.
"And you don't believe you're being a little bit rash?" Ezra asked curiously.
"I know I need an undercover and I know you've got the best success record. And I also know you're a maverick, a word which has been used to describe my men and me. I'm willing to give you a shot."
"You won't mind if I consider your offer for a few days, do you Mr. Larabee? You understand this is a life altering decision."
Horner and Hickom, who had been smiling at Larabee's offer, both scowled at Ezra in confusion.
Larabee nodded. "I understand."
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Ezra was quite sure he'd heard all the ways a person could say, "you need to accept the job," until four days later when an irritated Greg Hickom informed him that if he didn't take "the gawd dammed job, I'll kick you ass all the way to Denver." So Standish felt a little more inclined to accept Larabee's offer.
He called Larabee with his answer and then went online to find a suitable dwelling place. Three days later he shipped his boxes - which had not been unpacked since college - to his new town house.
Ezra celebrated his thirtieth birthday with Horner, his wife Elizabeth, their daughter - and his ex-girlfriend for that matter - Zoë, Hickom and Greg's girlfriend Anna Beyers.
The next day he left for Denver.
Ezra allowed himself a week to settle into his new place – even though he didn't feel inclined to unpack. During that week he also drove his Jag – gift from his mother and one of her husbands several marriages ago – around the city to familiarize himself. He found Denver lacking some of the more civilized trappings of Atlanta, but he knew he would manage.
The thing that had him worried, although he would never admit it out loud, was going into work. He had always been shunned at the FBI, due to rumors of his corruption. Only Horner, Hickom and Phil Nichols had believed in him. And Nichols was dead because of it.
TBC…