The First part is chapter 36
This website is absolutely atrocious about fixing mistakes.
They 'say' up to 30 minutes, but I had added an intro to chapter one a day after posting, and it's still not there. So this is the best fix I can give you.
Chapter 38 starts after this.
Special agent Amanda Sims leaned against the door to her rented Chevy Suburban and took a drag of her cigarette, inhaling slowly and letting the hit take hold before blowing the smoke out. They'd been at it for five hours, and it was nearing the time that the searches would be called for the evening. They'd found nothing, not a single lead, in the city or any of their completed grids. She wasn't surprised, honestly, since she figured Bible would be too smart to have his operations in a busy part of the city, but the SAC insisted they work in a pattern starting in the center of the city and moving outwards. Part of the canvas was investigating suspicious vehicles and focusing on any black vans they came across. They only found a couple, and one of them she immediately recognized and took the lead to 'investigate' the license plate so as not to let it leak that Angel was in the city. When they'd meet later, she'd suggest he switch up his mode of transportation while in town, so he would not get pulled over at any point while they were actively searching. Checking her watch, she saw it was about a quarter to six. Taking one more hit of her cigarette, she dropped it, crushed the butt under her boot, and looked for Agent Tucker, who was leading her group. She saw him talking to another agent two cars down and whistled, catching his attention, and waved him over.
"Yes, Sims?" Tucker approached, adjusting the collar on his jacket. She looked him up and down, and his short, stout frame, thinning black hair, and scruffy beard made him look older than the young forties that he was.
"Since it's about time to call things off, I wanted to go check into my hotel. I never got a chance this morning and really would hate to lose my room due to a no-show."
Tucker checked his watch and confirmed how late it was: "Sure. I lost track of time, anyway. Late August in New Orleans always seems to drag on, especially in this heat. We'll wrap up for now. The next shift starts at 7 p.m., continuing south. I will be going back to the office to check in on any new information and plan tomorrow's search grid for our shift."
"You don't take many breaks, do you?" His older look made sense to her now.
"Not when lives are at stake. Go get your room and some rest, so you're fresh for tomorrow. We're going to be starting at about 8 a.m."
"Yes, Sir." Sims nodded and opened her car door. She had lied about the hotel, as she did have a chance to check in right after her flight. No, she fibbed because she only had ten minutes left to go meet Angel at their per-arranged spot, and she knew he would be itching to get back out to do his own scouting. She knew he'd go all night if he had too, and this was what she was counting on. Settling into the hot, sticky leather seat, she turned the ignition, rolled all four windows down, and turned the A/C on to full blast. Amanda grimaced as hot air blew out from the vents before it finally switched to cold Freon. Letting the car run for a couple of minutes, she pulled out her phone, clicked on the text icon and entered a short message: 'Be at the coffee shop in five.'
A moment later, she got a reply: 'Already on my way. See you soon.' Tucking the phone back in her pocket, she firmed up her feelings. This would be the first time in over six months she'd sit with Angel, and while it was all business, it didn't mean there weren't still feelings to keep in check. Putting the car in gear, she slowly pulled out into traffic and made her way to their meeting.
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Chapter 38
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Angel looked up from his coffee as Amanda entered the cafe. He raised his hand to catch her attention and she smiled as she saw him. Making her way past the tables to the booth he'd taken up in the corner, she took the seat opposite him. She shook her head with a single snort. "I still can't believe you were already in town when I called you."
"Cassie would tease it's the magics, but in truth, I came to visit her because I needed time to recharge. Did you hear about the murder-suicide of the father and daughter up in West Virginia?
"Yes." Amanda nodded solemnly, "Was that your last case?"
Nodding, Angel leaned back against the cushion of his bench seat, "I didn't get there in time. It just got to me more than usual, and I felt a little time to recharge would do me some good." Angel realized that twice now he almost said 'we' and not "I' because of Charlie. Changing subjects so she would do the talking, he asked, "Did you find anything today?"
"No, but we're quickly clearing grids. If they're in town, we'll find them. Tomorrow, we're going to be searching grids along the wharf and tracks leading south, I think, and a second group will head north and west. What I do know is that a black van was seen leaving a party with a girl and headed this way from Baton Rouge." Amanda picked out a couple packets of fake sugar from the little white holder and gave Angel a look, "Which reminds me, I saw yours today when my group canvassed around Cassie's shop. I had to take the lead to fake run your plate so I could cover for you." She set her elbow on the table, arm up with a packet in her hand and playfully shook it at him, "So, for the time being, don't drive it around, okay? It's off our list, but the local police will still pull every black van over while the search is active."
"Right. I'll see about borrowing Cassie's car for the time being." Angel snapped the packet out of her fingers, playfully, but had a contrite expression, "Sorry about that. I know how it looks, but it serves a good purpose as well."
"I know it does, but I remember telling you once before that it would give you trouble, so I'm glad I found it first, today." Amanda smirked as a waitress came over to take her order. Amanda asked for a simple black coffee so the waitress would move off quicker. Once they were alone again, Amanda shared the rest of what she knew. "Ironically, while we know what to look for, they've been pretty good at avoiding our searches."
"It means they are coming in from a different direction." Angel scratched his chin. "Probably taking back roads and holding up out of sight when traffic is busy, or they've switched transportation all together."
"That's what frustrated me with the SAC and the by-the-book procedures he had us run today. I had tried to get him to ask you to come on in an official capacity as well, but the damned pissing contest is in full swing out here."
"You? Complaining about by-the-book? After busting my balls so many times about FBI procedure?" Angel leaned back against the booth and shook his head; a small smile suggested he was teasing her.
"You get results, Angel. That is all that has ever mattered to me. I just have to follow those procedures. There's a lot I do for you that you don't know about. That's why I called you. Those kids need you. I need you."
"Then let me do things my way, okay?" Angel leaned forward, "My tricks have been getting results, and they work better when I'm alone."
"Look, Angel. I still don't get how those scare tactics work on these types of people, but so far you've only had to deal with one, maybe two individuals, and they've been amateurs and attacks of convenience, usually. This is different. I trust you and your amazing ability to think out all the options, but we don't know much about Bible, and this isn't some random pervert out to fuck a kid. You need to call me if you find anything. Please?"
Angel knew she was right, but with Charlie, the stakes were far too high, and he wasn't going to let her be discovered. But he had to lie to Amanda to do it, which he always hated. "Okay, I promise, whatever I discover, I will call you. If I don't need to act and the FBI can take credit, I am fine with it."
No, he wasn't, and she knew it, but she had to trust him for the sake of the kids. "Okay, good." She stopped as the waitress returned with her coffee. Amanda was short with a 'No' when asked if there was anything else she wanted, and thankfully the waitress got the hint and walked off. "Gonna have to tip extra." Amanda sighed, not intending to let her frustration bleed out like that.
Angel took a sip of his own coffee while Amanda fixed hers up with cream and sugar. "Amanda. Listen. Someday I want to tell you about everything. I really do. I have always trusted you, but for the moment, what's going on with me is something I need to resolve on my own, okay?"
"I don't need to know your tactics, but I want to know. I'll wait, and I won't push, but I hope it won't be long in coming." She took a careful sip of her coffee to let her words sink in, then resumed with an important reminder: "As long as you call me, okay? Don't go in on your own. If this is as big as we think it is, Bible has stepped up his game big time. He used to focus on weapons, drugs, and merchandise across the seas. Bringing his so-called business to the states is new. What's worse is how well-connected he is and how he's able to stay completely off the radar. He has power, and while you're capable—" She trailed off, a look of worry coloring her voice.
Angel picked up the conversation: "I've not had to deal with anything like this since the service. I know. We dealt with crime bosses during our tours, but it wasn't until the incident that I witnessed anything as cruel as what Tag did. What he tricked me into being a part of."
"Don't." Amanda reached her hand out and gripped his, "Don't think about that. Stay focused in the now."
"Don't worry, I am." Angel squeezed her hand back, grateful that she was still in his life in some way. Yes, he was taking advantage of her position in the FBI, and he had suspicions regarding what she said about her connections above. He knew she wasn't above using her womanly wiles to get what she wanted. He appreciated it and hoped someday he could repay her for standing with him through everything.
Amanda took a long drink of her hot coffee so she could let her mind think, and Angel took a sip of his while they both worked things out in their minds. Angel broke the silence, "You said the grids would be along the tracks tomorrow?"
"Both north and south of the quarter, yes. We have other units scouring other cities, but I'm certain we're in the right area. We're focusing along the river, and barges and ships move in and out all the time. If Bible is transporting girls across the sea, this is a good place to gather the girls."
"I will search those areas tonight, then. I will let you know what I clear so you can expedite those in the morning and cover more ground."
"Good idea. I'll take point and clear the buildings quicker that way, knowing you already did, and we'll get as much done as possible. We expect that Bible will want to move the girls soon, and we're only going to be able to stall only so many ships without any warrants."
"Understood." Angel checked his watch and saw it was half past six. Time had moved quickly with Amanda. It always seemed to. It also meant that Charlie was likely finishing up her grid search and would want to check in. She hadn't tried to call through the earpiece, likely avoiding it since she knew he was with Amanda. He needed to get her a phone so she could text him in a subtle manner. With a last swallow of coffee, Angel shuffled out of the booth, and Amanda raised her brow in question, to which he answered, "I need to get back to the shop. Gotta pull the van into the back, ask Cassie for her car, gather my equipment, and start my search. It's less than two hours before sundown, and that's when I will head out."
"Right." Amanda chided herself for losing the moment; her own monologue focused on getting to spend time with Angel, like in the old days, stole what little time she was actually having with him. She took a long drink of her hot coffee, wishing she'd asked for it in a to-go cup. Pulling out a twenty, she placed it under the cup and hoped the waitress would see it as an apology for her shortness a few minutes ago. "Let me walk you out, at least."
Together, they exited the shop. The humidity hit them both in the face, and they turned to stand under the awning for some shade, away from the entrance. Angel looked around at the crowds and said, "Your SAC's by-the-book wasted time, you know?"
"A lot of the shit that we have to follow isn't conducive to saving lives. Too much fucking bureaucracy."
Angel remembered what that was like. It was a part of the reason he took the path he was now on, "That's what I'm for."
Amanda smiled, leaned over, and kissed Angel on the cheek, "Go. Do your thing. Let's take this asshole down!"
Angel took Amanda's hand and gave it a last squeeze, "We will." He then took off in a sprint, leaving Amanda standing there, thinking suspiciously that the 'we' he said didn't mean her and him. Shaking her head, she headed to her car to go back to the hotel and take a much-needed shower.