The Double Eagle Read Online Free

years down in the Atlanta field office, afraid to breathe out too far in case the cubicle walls collapsed. She was glad to be back; this time she was planning on staying.

    There was a knock at the open door and Jennifer’s thoughts were interrupted. She looked up reproachfully but relaxed her frown when she saw that it was Phil Tucker, her section chief, right on time. He’d told her yesterday that he wanted her in early, that he needed to talk to her. Wouldn’t say why, though.
     
    “Hey there,” she called.

    “You okay?” He walked up to the desk and squinted down at her through frameless glasses in concern, his double chin flattening over the top of his tie. “Another late night?”

    “Is it that obvious?” Jennifer self-consciously smoothed down her hair and rubbed the sleep out of the corners of her eyes.

    “Nope.” He smiled. “Security told me you hadn’t gone home…. Just so you know, I appreciate it.”

    That was Tucker all over. He wasn’t one of these bosses who just expected everyone to stay late and then never noticed when they did. He kept track of his people and made sure they knew it. She liked that. It made her feel like she was part of something again, not just an embarrassment that had to be explained away.

    “No problem.”

    He scratched his copper-colored beard, then the top of his head, his scalp pink and raw where the hair was thinning.

    “By the way, I spoke to Flynt, and the Treasury boys are going to handle everything from here on in on the Hammon case. They were very grateful for your help. He says he owes you one. Good job.”

    “Thanks.” She gave an awkward shrug, never having been good at accepting compliments. She changed the subject. “So what’s all this about? Why the early start? Some congressman lose his dog?”

    Tucker levered himself into a chair, his hips grazing its molded plastic arms.

    “Something came up yesterday. I volunteered you.” He grinned. “Hope you don’t mind.”

    She laughed.

    “Would it make a difference if I did?”

    “Nope! Anyway, you won’t want to. It’s a good opportunity. Chance to get back on the inside track.” He paused and looked suddenly serious. “A second chance, maybe.” His eyes dipped to the floor.
     
    “You still trying to earn me my redemption?” With her dream still fresh in her thoughts, something bitter rose to the back of her mouth and made her swallow hard.

    “No. You’re doing that all on your own. But you and I both know that it’s hard to change people’s minds.”

    “I’m not looking for any handouts, Phil. I can make my own way back.” Her eyes shone with a fierce pride. Tucker nodded slowly.

    “I know. But everyone needs a break once in a while, even you. And I wouldn’t have suggested you if I didn’t think you’d earned it. Anyway, I told him to swing by here about now, so it’s too late to back out.”

    He checked his watch, shook his wrist, held it to his ear, and then checked it again.

    “Is that the right time?” he asked, pointing at Jennifer’s desk clock. She ignored the question.

    “Told who to swing by here?”

    There was a knock at the open door before he could answer and a man walked in. Tucker leapt up.
     
    “Jennifer, meet Bob Corbett; Bob, meet Jennifer Browne.” All three of them stood motionless for a few seconds and Tucker’s eyes flicked anxiously to Jennifer’s, as if he were worried she might do or say the wrong thing.

    They shook hands. Tucker breathed a sigh of relief.

    “Here, take my seat.” Tucker pointed eagerly at his chair before perching unsteadily on the edge of Jennifer’s desk. Corbett sat down. “Bob heads up the Major Theft and Transportation Crimes unit here.”

    “We were introduced in the elevator once.” Jennifer nodded with a curious smile. From the times she’d seen him around the building, she knew that Corbett always looked immaculate, from his smoothly shaved chin to his polished black shoes, thin laces neatly