Anger filled Shane. He spoke through gritted teeth. “You have got to be kidding me.”

Novak ignored his protest. “According to the doc, eight weeks minimum from the date of the accident before you can start training again, which means you have some time left to go.”

Shane ground his teeth.

“So instead of you sitting here cleaning your weapon five hours a day, I found you a position as liaison with the Bureau task force hunting this motherfucker.”

Shane opened his mouth to argue but then his brain caught up. “Wait. What?”

Novak squeezed his shoulder. “Help the new guys settle in. They’ve worked hard to get here and earned their spots the same way you and I and Scotty did.”

Shane blinked as he looked away. Cleared his throat. “With Seth Hopper taking that temporary assignment with Border Patrol Gold assaulters will still be a man down without me.”

“Kurt Montana and Jordan Krychek are due back from overseas shortly. Jordan is going to step in until you’re back to full strength. Then he’ll swap out with you onto the task force. I want you to update both of us daily on any significant advances in the investigation.”

Shane licked his suddenly dry lips. This was a chance to know exactly what the FBI was doing to catch this UNSUB. The lack of information had been driving him nuts since they’d left Texas. No one would tell him a damn thing and the task force was keeping everything locked down tight—which was good, except he needed to know.

“Does that mean I have to move up to DC for a few weeks?”

Novak shook his head. “They decided to run it out of Quantico.”

Shane drew in a deep breath. This was a win-win. It felt almost too good to be true. He’d always been suspicious of that feeling.

“You think you can handle it, or shall I assign someone else?” Novak asked.

“I can handle it.” Shane stood straighter and angled his chin. Damn straight he could handle it.

Will Griffin, Hunt Kincaid and Meghan Donnelly edged to one side of the cage as their boss went to exit.

“I’ll leave you all to settle in. See you at eight sharp for the team briefing. Shane, you’re to report to Building 64 Room 3A at oh-nine hundred Monday.” Novak headed to the door and paused. “And, as tempting as it may be to go after this killer on your own, don’t. It will be grounds for dismissal from HRT and possibly the Bureau, understood?”

Shane stood to attention and saluted the way he’d been taught back when he’d been an idiot child who’d thought joining the Army sounded like a good idea. “Sir.”