It was that easy, and that was the reason Wolfe had to keep this new team safe. “Can you reach out to any of your old contacts on the force who might have a line on the heroin drug trade out of Afghanistan? My guess would be southern route.” It was the only way Gary could’ve gotten the stolen drugs transported across the world.

Mal stared at the fire. “Off the books?”

“Yeah. For now.” Wolfe lowered his chin. “Keep it under the radar. No ties.”

Malcolm nodded. “I can do that. How much heroin and when?”

“A shit ton and it would’ve been transported between two and six months ago.” They sat in silence for a while, but tension still emanated from Mal. “What’s on your mind?” Wolfe asked.

Malcolm twirled his drink in his hand. “You think it’s odd that Force wants to hire a journalist to assist you with busywork?”

Wolfe rubbed his chin, scratching his palms. When had he last shaved? “Not really. Dana has worked with us before and is great at research, and with Brigid gone for the week, we need the help.” Brigid, their computer expert, could hack any system. “Why?”

“I don’t know.” Mal took another sip. “I think we’re all chess pieces and Force is moving us around. The guy almost seems like a matchmaker sometimes, you know? Deep down, the grumpy drunk is a romantic.”

Huh. “He didn’t want you with Pippa in the beginning. Well, until we figured out she was a good guy and not a bad one.” Wolfe took a deep drink, letting the expensive Scotch heat his stomach. He didn’t have the words to express himself, but these times drinking with Mal, just the two of them late at night, or rather early in the morning, made him feel human again. Like he was part of something and not a damaged leftover. He tried to communicate as best he could. “Dana and I are just friends.”

“I know, but you’ll be working with your friend a lot, and now she’s sleeping in your house.” Mal grinned, settling his muscled bulk farther into the chair. “Temptation.”

Not something Wolfe could give in to at this point. “She’s a nice girl, and she takes too many chances. If anything happens to me, promise you’ll look out for her.”

“I promise. What’s going to happen to you? Level with me.”

Now that was temptation. Wolfe had already lost too many friends in this fight, and he wasn’t putting this one in danger. “When I need help, I’ll ask.” Yeah, he was using Dana’s words. Hopefully they wouldn’t piss off Malcolm like they had Wolfe when she’d said them.

Mal reached over and poured them each more whiskey. “Doing any job without backup is a mistake. Keep that in mind.”