Wife.
Pretend wife.
Daniel’s sister!
Get a grip, McCall. This was just his job. A part to be played for the sake of a lot of kids’ safety, on behalf of justice. Nothing more.
Giving himself a mental shake, he turned to the chief. “When do we start this charade?”
“Immediately,” the chief answered.
“I’ll have a house set up for you within the hour,” Bishop said.
“Where will the house be located?” Serena asked. “If we’re posing as a wealthy couple looking to adopt a child at any price, we’re going to need to be set up in one of the more affluent neighborhoods.”
“On it,” Bishop said. “I have an agent securing a home in the Compton Heights neighborhood. You will also need a high-end vehicle appropriate for your cover as a bank executive. Stop by the BMW dealership on South Hanley Road. Ask for Dirk. He’s expecting you.”
Josh whistled between his teeth. “Wow, we’ll get to see how the other half lives.”
A car and a home in Compton Heights. The posh neighborhood was located on the near south side of the city in the shadow of the great water tower of Reservoir Park. The nationally historic neighborhood sported gated and tree-lined streets and houses that were mostly of the Victorian era with lavish yards.
A world unto itself with the convenience of being ten minutes from everywhere. A lifestyle Josh would never be able to afford on a marshal’s salary. But he didn’t regret the choice he made to join the U.S. Marshals Service. He wouldn’t allow money to hold the same appeal to him as it had to his father. Josh had strived too hard in the course of his life to be the opposite of the man who’d broken not only his mother’s heart but also Josh’s.
“Will we have operational support?” Serena asked.
“You will,” the chief stated. “You both remember Linda Maitland?”
Serena shook her head. “I don’t.”
“I do.” Josh remembered Linda well. She’d served as the administrative officer when he’d joined the St. Louis district office. She’d retired not long after.
“She’ll be coming on board as your support. Her cover will be an aunt who’s living with you.” Harrison exchanged a glance with Bishop. “We wanted someone we were sure wasn’t the leak but who would be familiar with our protocols.”
“There will also be an agent posing as the groundskeeper to provide additional support,” Bishop said. His pocket beeped. He withdrew a cell phone. “Excuse me.” He moved to the corner of the room and stood with his back to them while he took his call.
“Will we be able to pack clothing from home?” Serena asked.
Harrison regarded her kindly. “As Mrs. Andrews, you’ll be expected to dress the part.”
Serena blinked. “I better go shopping.”
“Turn your receipts in to Linda and she’ll make sure you’re reimbursed.” Harrison turned to Josh. “Your suits should be fine, though you should try to change your appearance as much as you can. You’ll need to leave each morning like you’re going to work. Agent Bishop will arrange for an office in the bank headquarters on the executive floor where you can continue with your investigation into Munders and the adoption agency.”
Serena frowned. “What about me?”
“You’ll be the devoted stay-at-home wife waiting to adopt a child,” Harrison explained. “You will definitely need to change your appearance. Work with Linda on that.”
Serena’s mouth pressed tight. She didn’t like the idea, which didn’t surprise Josh. She wasn’t the stay-at-home type. She was one of the most ambitious women he knew. A trait that would take her far. Her work ethic was one of the qualities that he admired about her.
Bishop clicked off his call and rejoined them. “Actually, Marshal Summers, there is a family in the neighborhood with several adopted children. We don’t know if they’ve dealt with Perfect Family or not. We’d like you to establish a connection.”
“Okay, I can do that,” Serena said with certainty ringing in her tone.
This Josh had to see. Serena’s no-nonsense, practical and professional demeanor worked in the field, but would it work in an affluent suburban neighborhood?
“Good. That call was from my agent in the field. The house is ready.” Bishop wrote an address on a sheet of paper and handed it to Josh. “Ms. Maitland will meet you there.” He handed them each a business card. “If you need anything, my numbers are on here.” He shook hands with the chief before exiting out the door.
“Okay,” the chief said. “You have your marching orders. Do us proud and get the goods on Munders.”
“We will, sir,” Josh assured him and filed out of the chief’s office behind Serena.
Burke Trier was the first to pounce with curiosity. “So what was that about?”
“Are you two really being pulled off the Munders case?” Bud Hollingsworth asked. “That doesn’t make sense. You two have been the one constant.”
“Yep, we’re pulled,” Serena stated with an exaggerated sigh. “It’s not fair. We’ve worked so hard to be taken out now.”
Burke gave her a funny look.
Josh stifled a groan. If this overdone display was any indication of Serena’s acting abilities, they were in trouble.
“We’re being reassigned to a FBI task force here in town,” Josh said, offering the cover story.
“For what?” Bud asked.
Josh shrugged. “Don’t know yet. We’re leaving now.”
Bud clapped him on the back. “Tough break. That must be why Harrison called me in.”
“Must be.” Josh gathered his things. “You ready, partner?”
Serena met his gaze. “Yes, partner.”
They left the building. In the parking garage, they decided to take Josh’s sedan and leave Serena’s compact. Driving through downtown St. Louis traffic, Josh said, “We should discuss the Andrewses’ backstory. Where we met. Why we can’t have children. What lengths we’d go to for a child.”
Serena slanted him a glance. “According to this, we met in college.”
“Okay. Where?”
She opened the file folder. “This says you’re transferring to St. Louis from Alaska.” She wrinkled her nose. “I can’t imagine living in Alaska. But first we met in Seattle at the University of Washington. You went to work for the bank right out of college and then we were moved to Alaska and now St. Louis.”
“Okay. Once we get settled in the house, we contact the adoption agency and tell them we want a child right away.” Josh drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “What kind of person adopts a baby who seemingly appears overnight?”
“Desperate ones,” Serena said.
“If people want to adopt, they should use a reputable and legal agency that is regulated by the state they live in.”
“I would imagine the families that have adopted through Perfect Family Adoption Agency thought it was a legitimate agency. If the Munderses weren’t so good at hiding the illegal aspects of their agency, we’d have shut them down long before now,” she reminded him.
“True. But