Angel texted Michael, asking him to call them in the morning when he had a chance. She and Amber were eating breakfast when he did, and I put him on speaker. "I've been having a fun time with Amber," Angel told him.
"She texted me that you were getting her drunk and telling stories," Michael replied. "How much trouble am I in?"
"You're only in trouble if you don't make love to me before you go overseas," Amber told him. "Last weekend was great, but I need MORE."
Michael laughed. "And I'll be happy to give you that, but I'm only in town for a short time. I'll drive up Friday night around midnight, and I have to be at the airport by two on Sunday."
"You can sleep on the plane, love. I'm getting everything I can while you're here."
Angel was hoping she wasn't assuming too much. "Are you sure you're all right with this, Michael? I invited her to my home, and I don't know if you have something else planned."
"It works better for me, sis. I was going to ride up and see Amber after I got done packing, but this way, I can see her more."
"Oh, good. I'm going to ask Das D to stay with me, so if you two want to go off together, you don't have to worry about leaving me alone."
Amber chuckled. "Just don't leave ME alone with Das D, Michael. I might find out how he got his nickname."
"There's nothing he has that improves on what you've already gotten, Amber. I gotta go train, but I can't wait to see you again."
"I'll be the lonely, horny, naked one in the hot tub," Amber said seductively.
"Great, now I have to walk into the meeting room with a stiffy. Bye, ladies."
He hung up, and the two girls cracked up. "You're such a tease," Angel said.
"It keeps him thinking of me."
They finished their breakfast, and Angel waited until Amber drove away before she called her lawyer. "What should I do with the affidavits?"
"I'll be in court all morning, and you've already sent me scans. You can make copies and FedEx the forms in, or drop them off if you want," Carter Pederson replied.
"I'll bring them in. My boss can keep me from going to the office, but he can't stop me from eating at our favorite place to celebrate." Angel sent a text to Mark and Tyesha, inviting them to lunch at Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse, two blocks from the FBI building. She knew that when she said she was buying, they'd move their schedules around to be there. 'All you can eat meat' was an irresistible lure.
She had their confirmations moments later, with Tyesha asking how she was holding up and Mark apologizing for how he behaved earlier. "I'll see you at noon," she texted back.
Angel pulled into the office building's parking garage early, as the traffic was much lighter after morning rush hour. She was waiting at a table when Mark and Tyesha arrived and embraced both of them. Mark looked relieved. "I thought I might have lost you as a friend," he told her as he sat down.
"That wasn't going to happen," Angel said. "I'm going to need all the friends I can get in the Bureau."
Tyesha's eyes got wide. "You're worried about your hearing?"
"You never know with Human Resources, do you?" She took the manila envelope off the empty chair and slid it across to Mark. "I figured I'd get business out of the way early."
The waitress took their drink orders and told them they were welcome to use the salad bar as Mark opened the envelope and looked inside. "Affidavits?"
"Sworn statements from witnesses to my whereabouts and my brother's this past weekend. It should be enough to remove us from the task force suspect list," Angel said softly.
"We already removed you two based on other information," Mark replied. "I'll give these to the boss, but none of us believed you could have done that. You're not that kind of person."
They got their salads, and Angel told them what she was facing; if the review by Personnel of her application determined she had lied, they could fire her without recourse. Medical was more complicated; they had to agree her prior trauma didn't risk her performance as an agent. "You've been an agent for years, and you've always had that background," Tyesha said.
"I've worked with you for months, and I have no problem working with you again. I told them that," Mark said.
"Thanks." The lunch deal had eight different kinds of meat, barbecued Brazilian style, and brought out on swords to the table. You had a green/red card that told them if you wanted more, and the three took advantage of it. "What is the mood at the office about me?"
Tyesha moved her hand over to cover Angel's. "It was a big shock to find out what you had gone through," she replied. "Once we got past that, all of us were in awe that you've come so far since then. It's no wonder you work so hard trying to bring these men to justice."
"Do you think Dan will bring me back?"
Mark let out a breath. "I don't know, Angel. You were personally affected by two of the victims, and it's reasonable to think you might not want the Monster Hunter caught. If they ask me, I want you back because you're a professional, and you do your job to the best of your ability. If not on the Task Force, then I want you looking for these abusers."