Slow Summer Burn: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance Read Online Free PDF

“In addition to interfacing with other federal and local authorities—specifically the Coast Guard and the Star Harbor Sheriff’s Department—our agents have conducted their own investigation, and have narrowed down the list of suspects to those who have both the connections and the financial means to run an operation of this size. At the top of our list is Congressman Edward Kirkland, not least of which because he has a home in Star Harbor.”
    “We have other evidence against him, too,” Val interjected. “Three weeks ago, Canadian Border Patrol stopped a man at the Route 81 crossing, south of Ottawa. Dogs were employed, and in a car tricked out with traps, they found $300,000 in U.S. currency and ninety thousand packets of laced bath salts. The guy’s passport was fake, and an administrative subpoena to check phone records revealed multiple outgoing phone calls to the congressman’s Boston domicile, clustered around the time of the crossing. The man is now awaiting trial in Canada, though we are considering a motion to extradite.”
    “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: we will use the utmost caution and discretion in dealing with the congressman,” Colin said. “No one outside of this room knows of our interest in Kirkland, except for our contact at the Attorney General’s office, and we will keep it that way. The potential for political and personal scandal is something we all want to avoid.” Colin cleared his throat. “Now, because Star Harbor is Agent Grayson’s hometown, and his brother is the local sheriff, he will lead the investigation, code-named ‘Operation Beach.’ Val, you’ll have an eight-person dedicated team at your disposal, including the agents here, and two additional specialists. You’ll also have any and all resources that you’ll need, including technology, undercover agents—you name it.”
    “McCreery told me about your interaction last night,” Lawler said. “Smart to use your connections to get closer.”
    Val simply nodded, relieved that they’d interpreted his dance with Cameron as a ploy to get closer to the congressman instead of what it really was: lust. Of course he’d known that she had ties to the congressman and his associates, but using her to get information on Kirkland could backfire on so many different levels, he couldn’t seriously consider that idea at this stage of the game. He cleared his throat. “As Colin mentioned, there’s heightened sensitivity in monitoring Congressman Kirkland, so we’ve been rotating that assignment. As soon as this meeting is over, we’ll loop in your agents.”
    “Good,” Lawler said. “The Star Harbor angle is worrisome, as is the high profile of our chief suspect. Although the FBI is all-in, we are relying on the DEA to coordinate the operation, including making the final calls on which tactics to use to take down the drug trafficking.”
    “Jack and I have worked together before,” Colin said. “We’re confident this collaboration will be a success. We know you’ll do a bang-up job on this one, Grayson. Make us proud.”
    “I’ll do my best, sir.” And he would. This was an investigation with potentially broad-reachingpolitical consequences and there was no way he was going to foul it up.
    “We have additional debriefings to attend. Agents, we’ll see you later.”
    After Colin and Lawler left, Val turned to his primary team.
    “We’re going to be working closely together over the next few months, so I thought we’d start out by doing detailed introductions. We’ll move on to logistics, specific assignments, and timelines. Ready?” Everyone nodded. “Let’s go.”
    The rest of the day was intense, the team breaking only for a quick lunch, and it was nearly eight in the evening before they were through. “All right, everyone. We’ll meet back here at zero nine hundred tomorrow for another planning session. Any questions?” Val asked as he powered down his laptop and folded it shut. No