SSA Juan Casilla.
“Juan will be out for the next few days,” Abigail said. “Nita, his wife, went into labor this morning.”
“Is everything okay?” Lucy liked Juan’s family, and regretted that she hadn’t spent time with them recently.
“Nita collapsed this morning. They may be performing an emergency C-section. Juan said he would let me know, but I don’t expect a call anytime soon. I’m supervising your unit until Barry returns. I left him a message this morning and asked him to call in. We need all hands this week.”
When Lucy first worked with Agent Barry Crawford, she thought he not only was too by-the-book, but clocked out at five without any thought to putting in extra time to solve cases and give victims peace. She’d learned that he led a very balanced life, and the time he did put into the job was focused and dedicated. They were certainly quite different in how they approached their jobs, but Lucy had grown to respect Barry’s methodology and sharp instincts. That said, they hadn’t spoken much since the Harper Worthington murder investigation ended. Lucy trusted Barry as a cop, but not as a friend after she learned he’d called agents in Washington, DC, to investigate her behind her back. She was trying to accept it, and move on, but it still bothered her.
Lucy was curious why Abigail was waiting for Barry when there were other senior agents who could take over temporarily. She didn’t say anything, however.
“When Juan and I spoke,” Abigail continued, “he said that Brad Donnelly asked for your assistance, a loan to the DEA for the duration. He wants both you and Ryan Quiroz.”
“Agent Donnelly has some trust issues right now.”
Abigail nodded. “Juan explained. I need you on another part of the task force and I’m not sure you can do both.”
Abigail opened a drawer and pulled out a thick folder. She slid it across the desk toward Lucy. “Nicole Rollins’s file,” Abigail said. “Her initial background check, psych exams, test scores, evaluations. Essentially, an expanded personnel record. Before the debriefing, I contacted headquarters to expedite a profile of Rollins. I spoke with Dr. Hans Vigo, an assistant director whom I understand you know well.”
“Dr. Vigo was my mentor at Quantico,” Lucy said. That was the simple version of the truth, which was that Lucy had known Hans for years and he’d been her mentor long before she’d been accepted into the FBI academy. “There’s no one better.”
“I’ve never met Dr. Vigo, but his reputation is outstanding, and I was very pleased when he informed me he would be coming here personally to assist. With budget cuts and priorities, headquarters rarely approves BSU going into the field.”
“Which was one reason I declined an offer to join the Behavioral Science Unit,” Lucy said. “Profiling isn’t as effective if criminologists are looking at photos and reports—they need to be in the field, interviewing individuals, viewing the evidence firsthand.”
Durant smiled. “That’s close to what Dr. Vigo said. He reminded me that you’re a criminal psychologist, told me about several cases where you assisted that aren’t part of your official record.”
Lucy had no idea what Hans had told Abigail, so she remained silent. Abigail waited a beat. Was she expecting Lucy to talk? Her heart raced, and didn’t slow even when Abigail did start speaking again.
“Dr. Vigo also has a copy of the Rollins file, but he asked that I bring you in on it as well so that when he arrives tomorrow morning, you’ll be up to speed. Will you be able to do that while also assisting Agent Donnelly?”
“I’ll make time,” Lucy said. “May I be blunt?”
“Please.”
“Agent Donnelly is a sharp agent. We both have an understanding of this case that goes beyond Nicole and her escape. This investigation connects to the murder of Congresswoman Reyes-Worthington, the drug runner Tobias, the murdered marines six months ago,
“Juan will be out for the next few days,” Abigail said. “Nita, his wife, went into labor this morning.”
“Is everything okay?” Lucy liked Juan’s family, and regretted that she hadn’t spent time with them recently.
“Nita collapsed this morning. They may be performing an emergency C-section. Juan said he would let me know, but I don’t expect a call anytime soon. I’m supervising your unit until Barry returns. I left him a message this morning and asked him to call in. We need all hands this week.”
When Lucy first worked with Agent Barry Crawford, she thought he not only was too by-the-book, but clocked out at five without any thought to putting in extra time to solve cases and give victims peace. She’d learned that he led a very balanced life, and the time he did put into the job was focused and dedicated. They were certainly quite different in how they approached their jobs, but Lucy had grown to respect Barry’s methodology and sharp instincts. That said, they hadn’t spoken much since the Harper Worthington murder investigation ended. Lucy trusted Barry as a cop, but not as a friend after she learned he’d called agents in Washington, DC, to investigate her behind her back. She was trying to accept it, and move on, but it still bothered her.
Lucy was curious why Abigail was waiting for Barry when there were other senior agents who could take over temporarily. She didn’t say anything, however.
“When Juan and I spoke,” Abigail continued, “he said that Brad Donnelly asked for your assistance, a loan to the DEA for the duration. He wants both you and Ryan Quiroz.”
“Agent Donnelly has some trust issues right now.”
Abigail nodded. “Juan explained. I need you on another part of the task force and I’m not sure you can do both.”
Abigail opened a drawer and pulled out a thick folder. She slid it across the desk toward Lucy. “Nicole Rollins’s file,” Abigail said. “Her initial background check, psych exams, test scores, evaluations. Essentially, an expanded personnel record. Before the debriefing, I contacted headquarters to expedite a profile of Rollins. I spoke with Dr. Hans Vigo, an assistant director whom I understand you know well.”
“Dr. Vigo was my mentor at Quantico,” Lucy said. That was the simple version of the truth, which was that Lucy had known Hans for years and he’d been her mentor long before she’d been accepted into the FBI academy. “There’s no one better.”
“I’ve never met Dr. Vigo, but his reputation is outstanding, and I was very pleased when he informed me he would be coming here personally to assist. With budget cuts and priorities, headquarters rarely approves BSU going into the field.”
“Which was one reason I declined an offer to join the Behavioral Science Unit,” Lucy said. “Profiling isn’t as effective if criminologists are looking at photos and reports—they need to be in the field, interviewing individuals, viewing the evidence firsthand.”
Durant smiled. “That’s close to what Dr. Vigo said. He reminded me that you’re a criminal psychologist, told me about several cases where you assisted that aren’t part of your official record.”
Lucy had no idea what Hans had told Abigail, so she remained silent. Abigail waited a beat. Was she expecting Lucy to talk? Her heart raced, and didn’t slow even when Abigail did start speaking again.
“Dr. Vigo also has a copy of the Rollins file, but he asked that I bring you in on it as well so that when he arrives tomorrow morning, you’ll be up to speed. Will you be able to do that while also assisting Agent Donnelly?”
“I’ll make time,” Lucy said. “May I be blunt?”
“Please.”
“Agent Donnelly is a sharp agent. We both have an understanding of this case that goes beyond Nicole and her escape. This investigation connects to the murder of Congresswoman Reyes-Worthington, the drug runner Tobias, the murdered marines six months ago,
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