a curious glance with Serena, Josh pushed out of his chair and stood. He followed Serena into the chief’s office. The chief sat behind his desk. Another man wearing a gray pin-striped suit rose as they entered. About five foot five, muscular, with a chiseled jaw and swept-back blond hair, the man oozed fed.
“Marshal McCall and Marshal Summers, you know FBI Special Agent Todd Bishop,” Harrison said.
Bishop shook Josh’s hand, then Serena’s. “Marshals,” Bishop said. “You two have been doing good work.”
“Thank you,” Serena said, looking pleased. She was a woman who liked to be praised for her work. Compliments about anything else were met with a silent stare.
Without preamble, the chief said in a loud booming voice, “In light of last night’s development and close call, I’m taking you two off the Munders case and reassigning you to a new case. We’ll be coordinating with Agent Bishop.”
The air rushed from Josh’s lungs as if he’d been socked in the stomach. Six months ago when he and Serena had been assigned to this special operation, he’d welcomed the chance to coordinate with the FBI in tracking down and apprehending criminals connected to the illegal adoption ring.
Anything to distract himself from the anguish of his best friend’s murder. Though investigating wasn’t within the scope of the Marshals Service, Josh had done what he could to find Daniel’s killer as well as monitored the local police and federal investigation, but they, too, had hit dead ends at every turn.
Now to be taken off the special operation they’d toiled at for so many months chafed.
“What? No.” Serena’s protest drew the attention of everyone in the outer offices. “We’ve worked too hard on this case to be taken off now.”
Harrison held up a hand. “Please. I understand you’re upset. But this is for your protection.”
Josh tucked in his chin. “Our protection? We’re doing fine. We have each other’s back.”
Harrison regarded them steadily with steely blue eyes. “Shut the door and take a seat.”
Serena pushed the door closed. “I’d rather stand.”
Josh took the seat opposite his boss. Special Agent Bishop moved to hitch a hip onto the edge of the desk.
The chief’s expression was grim, but there was something else in his assessing eyes that made Josh guess there was more to this. “Sir? What’s really going on?”
Harrison’s mouth twitched. “You are a perceptive man, McCall.”
“I try, sir.”
“Serena, close the blinds, please,” Harrison instructed.
Once the blinds were closed, Serena stood behind the empty chair next to Josh, her hands gripping the back.
Harrison leaned forward. “I’m not taking you off the Munders case,” he said, his voice low, intense. “That bit was for show. I don’t want whoever our leak is to know what you’re actually going to be doing.”
“Which is?” Josh prompted, anxious.
“You’re going undercover,” Agent Bishop stated.
Surprise washed through Josh. “Isn’t that something the FBI should be doing?” A few months ago, FBI agent Lisette Sutton had gone undercover in a fertility clinic. The Marshals Service had provided support in the form of U.S. marshal Colton Phillips.
“Normally, yes,” Bishop said. “But these are special circumstances that will require you to wear the mantle of investigator. We have every confidence in the two of you.”
Josh wasn’t sure he shared Bishop’s certainty. They hadn’t been successful yet in plugging the department leak or apprehending the man known as “Mr. Big.”
“We need hard evidence against Munders and the Perfect Family Adoption Agency to take to the state attorney general,” the chief said. “I want you two to get it.”
“Where are we going undercover and as what?” Serena asked in a tone mixed with equal parts excitement and apprehension. Josh felt that same mix in his gut. He waited for the chief’s answer.
Harrison sat back. “Before I go into the details, bring Agent Bishop up to speed on where we are in the investigation.”
“I’ve read the reports, but I’d like to hear your observations,” Agent Bishop said.
Josh looked to Serena. Her gaze slid to meet his. Her eyebrows inched up in question. Josh nodded, indicating for her to speak.
“Six months ago a routine court witness protection detail went south,” she said, addressing Agent Bishop. “We apprehended a suspect who had tried to take out the witness and offered him protection in exchange for information regarding human trafficking. Babies, to be exact. The thug was working for someone dubbed ‘Mr. Big.’ We have yet to find this man.
“However, following the lead the suspect provided, we ascertained that there is indeed an illegal ring of baby smugglers operating out of the U.S. We believe the headquarters are here in St. Louis. We discovered a connection between Mexico and a law firm here, Munders and Moore.
“We believe the law firm is arranging for infants to be brought across the border and sold to American families through an adoption agency.”
“The Perfect Family Adoption Agency,” Harrison murmured. “Why there?”
“The agency is owned and operated by Matilda Munders, wife of Fred Munders. Fred has been implicated in witness tampering, several kidnappings and murder.”
The chief stroked his chin. “It’s imperative we bring these criminals to justice. Are you two prepared to do what it takes?”
Josh blinked at the ominous words. He glanced at Special Agent Bishop. The man stared back at him with sharp eyes, reminding Josh of a shark.
“Yes, sir,” Serena answered quickly.
“Josh?” Harrison eyed him with an intensity that made Josh want to squirm.
But Josh held himself still. “Of course, sir.”
“Good.” Agent Bishop handed each of them a file folder. “Inside this dossier you will find everything you need for your cover. Publically you will be reassigned to work on a fugitive task force coordinating with the FBI.”
Josh opened the dossier and scanned the overview sheet. His heart beat in his throat. He slanted a glance at Serena. She stood frozen in place, her gaze trained on the papers in her hand. Slowly she lifted her gaze to meet his. Shock and denial swirled in the depths of her chocolate-brown eyes.
Swiftly she jerked her gaze away from Josh to address the chief. “No. I can’t. I won’t.”
Josh’s fingers tightened around the folder. He’d never known Serena to back away from a challenge. And this would be challenging.
The chief stared back at her unflinchingly. “This is too dangerous a task to give to a civilian.
