Introductions

This is my unit. I’m the man in charge. It’s my job to see that my guys make it home, in one piece at the end of the day. I’m responsible for their safety. And with this team, I have to admit, it isn’t easy. We’re all short tempered and can get hot real quick. Fortunately, there is always one of us who is able to defuse the situation. God only knows what would happen if we all four went haywire at the same time.

Oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. Name’s Bernard. Justice T. Bernard. I’ve been with the DEA for about fifteen years. I wasn’t sure where my life was going but I was messing around with some of the guys when I was young and for some reason, out of the blue, I decided to become a cop.

Went through the academy and spent five years driving a squad car. The opportunity for advancement came in like providence. I ended up at Quantico then, before you could blink, I was working DEA. It took me a few years but they finally gave me my own unit eight years ago.

My team? My partner Chase Willett. Great guy but he’s got a sarcastic streak wider than the Mississippi. Then there’s Mickey Flannery and his partner Bobby del Gado. I trust these guys with my life. I better, right?

We’ve got a hell of a mess on our hands right now. Ramiro Gonzalo Sancho Rivera. Bastard’s the biggest drug lord we’ve dealt with in our region—ever. The man is vicious, ruthless, and he’s got to be taken out. The problem is coming up with anything that connects him to the import line.
He’ll make a mistake and when he does I’m going to be right there just waiting to catch him. I’ll nail his ass so far into the wall he won’t see daylight again, ever.

Then there’s Cas. My Cas. She’s the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I can’t believe I’ve gotten so lucky that Callye Ann Simone fell in love with me. We met by accident, or so it would seem. But that’s another story. I’m proposing to Callye. I can’t believe I’m going to take the plunge. Well, if she’ll have me that is.

The ring has been ordered and as soon as it’s ready then I’ll do it. I’ve got it all planned. Her favorite place to eat is a little Italian place near The Landing. The Arch is all lit up at night, the Mississippi laps gentle like on the cobblestones that line the bank.

I know she’ll say yes. At least I think I know she will. Hang on…

Damn. Maybe this is the time we’ll finally get Rivera to slip up!