Blood Lines by Mel Odom

think Jesse would have usurped Father’s Day from you if he could have?” Maggie asked finally.
    â€œYes.” Will answered without hesitation.
    â€œBut he didn’t.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhy do you think he didn’t?”
    â€œBecause it’s Father’s Day.”
    â€œIs the visitation written out in the divorce papers?”
    Will gave that consideration and shook his head. “No. But it only seems fair. Barbara gets them on Mother’s Day.”
    â€œBecause you allow it.”
    â€œYes.” Then Will understood. “And she allowed me to have them today.”
    â€œIn spite of the fact that Steven and Wren have a new father figure in the house. This was Jesse’s first Father’s Day with them as their stepdad. It was probably kind of a big thing to him.”
    â€œBecause it’s all about him. Only today wasn’t, because Barbara didn’t let that happen.”
    Maggie nodded.
    â€œMaybe I shouldn’t feel as angry at Barbara as I have been for not having Steven and Wren all day.”
    â€œYou’re going to feel the way you feel, Will,” Maggie said. “I just want you to understand that you had something good today—several hours of almost stress-free time with your kids—that could have been much harder.”
    â€œBarbara wanted me to be with Steven and Wren today.”
    â€œI think so. But that can’t have set well with her new husband.”
    â€œBecause it’s not all about him.”
    â€œExactly. But even if they’d been there, he wouldn’t have appreciated them as much as you did. The emotional ties and investments aren’t there.”
    Thinking back over the way Steven and Wren had reluctantly left him when he’d dropped them off, Will realized that what Maggie was saying was true. It helped a little.
    â€œFather’s Day has gotten complicated,” he said.
    â€œBut not impossible.”
    â€œNo.” And please, God, never let it be impossible. Will relaxed a little more and glanced at the clock on the wall. “Have you eaten?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    â€œNeither have I. I could order Chinese in.”
    â€œSure.”
    Even as Will reached for the phone on his desk, though, it rang. He lifted the handset and identified himself.
    â€œCommander,” a no-nonsense voice on the other end of the connection said, “I’m Special Agent-in-Charge Scott Urlacher of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If I may, I need a moment of your time.”

1 0

    >> NCIS Offices
    >> Camp Lejeune, north carolina
    >> 1923 Hours
    Will covered the mouthpiece and looked at Maggie. “FBI. SAC Urlacher?”
    Maggie shook her head, letting him know the name meant nothing to her.
    â€œWhat can I do for you, Agent Urlacher?” Will hit the speakerphone button, motioning for Maggie to stay quiet.
    â€œDo you know a man named Victor Gant?” Urlacher responded.
    Will didn’t hesitate about answering, but he was instantly wary. “I do.”
    â€œYou’ve got paper out on his son, Bobby Lee.”
    Will agreed to that as well, wondering why the FBI agent had called him.
    â€œI’ve got a situation I was hoping you could help me with,” Urlacher said.
    â€œIf I can,” Will replied. He wasn’t in the habit of making blind promises.
    â€œVictor Gant is in a bad bit of business out here in Charlotte,” Special Agent-in-Charge Urlacher said. “He runs with a local biker gang.”
    â€œThe Purple Royals,” Will replied as he gazed at the file Maggie had opened up on his computer in front of him. “He doesn’t just run with them. He leads it.”
    â€œYes, sir. Our intel suggests that the Purple Royals deal meth and weapons.”
    The notes in the folder agreed with that assessment. Will didn’t say anything.
    â€œWe’ve had an undercover officer on-site in Charlotte for months,” Urlacher said.