Page 75 of Operation: Valiant Angel

“Are you thirsty, Lilly?” Reina asked her. “Would you like a juice box?”

“Yes,” Lilly answered with a smile.

“And how about a little S-N-A-C-K? Is that okay?” Angel asked Reina. “I was just about to get Jo one.”

“Of course, thank you. Anything is fine. She has no food allergies,” Reina answered, appreciating that Angel was askingher permission first before offering anything to Lilly. This would take some getting used to, being consulted and acknowledged as Lilly’s mom. But that was the role she was taking on.

Angel got the kids set up with their snacks and then popped two mugs filled with water into the microwave. She offered Reina a chocolate chip cookie, what had been given to Lilly as her snack.

“Thank you. This is good, home baked, isn’t it?” Reina asked after taking a bite.

“Yes, with a lot less sugar,” Angel said. “I try to feed healthy food or at least healthier alternatives.”

“We had to take a nutrition class to work at the preschool. If you ate only like the experts recommended, you’d be starving,” Reina said.

Angel laughed. “I like more of a common-sense approach. And I like to eat.”

“Jimmy said we’ll have to stop by the grocery store on the way to his place. We’re staying there,” she said, not knowing if Angel knew or not.

“Jimmy Wilson’s a good guy,” Angel said. “Jackson told me that the team will be on standby to go after those they need to,” she said to not say too much in front of Lilly. “When they do, if you need anything, let me know.”

“Thanks,” Reina said. “I’ll have to get your phone number.”

“You’ll be issued an agency phone. Shepherd has already approved it. My phone number will already be programmed into it.”

Reina’s eyes flickered to the phone she had set on the table beside her. She recognized it as the same model Jimmy and all the others carried. The microwave dinged and Angel retrievedtheir steaming mugs. She set a tin with a selection of tea bags in front of Reina before she sat.

Angel’s eyes took in everything about Reina. She, of course, knew who she was and what she’d been through. “Do you prefer Rae or Reina?” Angel asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” Reina replied. “It’s the same. Jackson said you knew about me and my past.”

Angel saw the emotions wash over her face as she said it. This woman had a raw edge to her that Angel recognized. “Some, yes, and I understand going through something traumatic. I’ve been there, met Jackson and the team when they R-E-S-C-U-E-D me from something horrific. It gets better. I won’t tell you it completely goes away because it doesn’t, but it fades over time and with the proper trauma counseling. I’m sure they’ve already mentioned our Doctor Joe Lassiter to you. Take them up on that appointment. You won’t be sorry you did.”

Reina sat shocked, just staring at this woman. Then her eyes went to both Angel’s baby and then to Lilly. A lump formed in her throat, preventing her from speaking.

Angel’s heart broke, seeing the desperate expression that formed on Rae’s face. She reached over and took hold of her hand. “And you can talk to me anytime you’d like to. But seriously, don’t wait too long for that appointment with Joe. He helped me. He’s helped a lot of people.”

***

Inside Shepherd’s office, the six team members sat with Shepherd, Cooper, Doc, and Garcia at his conference table. “Good job on the recovery of Reina Ellis and Lilly Carona, team. But we’re not done yet.”

“The Digital Team is still combing through all the camera footage in a five-mile radius of that house to identify the vehicle Stella Adams and Blake Henning were in after they gave you the slip. The early hour of the morning will help with that. They’re also reviewing all the security camera footage from the two closest airports. From there, hopefully we can pick up their trail. We’ll find them,” Garcia guaranteed.

“Because our perps can identify all of Delta Team, we’re pulling you from the next part of the mission and inserting Alpha Team minus Miller,” Shepherd said. “Tommy Flores from Bravo will be your sixth. He’s currently asleep as he was on in Ops all night. He knows he’s slated for this mission and will respond when alerted. You can fill him in after you’re scrambled.”

Wilson was surprised by the inclusion of Flores. He wasn’t surprised Shepherd was rotating Delta Team out. Both Adams and Henning could identify them. From what they’d reported after getting Lilly, neither got a look at Jackson.

“Van Sloot decided to shut his mouth once he was in the custody of the authorities who Mirandized him,” Lambchop said with a laugh. “He wasn’t sure who the fuck we were, but was sure Wilson would kill him if he didn’t give us the info he did.”

“Good for you,” Garcia said to Wilson. “Now that he’s holding back, I want a piece of this asshole. He’s as responsible for Rae being thrown into that hole and left to die as Henning was.”

“Save it for Henning and Adams,” Shepherd said. “Obviously, Adams was holding back when she made the deal to turn evidence against the network.”

“I have to wonder how long they’ve been in communication,” Wilson said.

“You’ll find out as soon as we find them,” Shepherd said. “Get some answers for the Attorney General of New Jersey before youturn them over to the authorities when you do find them. You can let them think you’re whoever you want. Just get them and get that info.”

The team all smiled and nodded. They liked operating without their hands tied.

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