Frank continues to put us in volatile situations with little to no regard for our safety. According to him, no risk is too great. Which is easy for him to say. He’s sitting all comfy behind a desk while we’re out sweating undercover in the field.

I call his number and he answers on the first ring.

“Hi Frank, it’s me,” I say. “Calling in with an update.”

“It had better be good,” he says in a gruff voice. “My boss is on my ass about blowing taxpayer’s money to shut down a group of small-town bikers.”

This is the first time I’ve heard him mention problems with his boss. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he got reassigned

I quickly fill him in on the progress I’ve made so far. A normal boss would be pleased by the fact that I made contact with Sam so quickly. Instead he starts pushing me to place the surveillance bugs.

“If you’re already hanging out with the guy, you shouldn’t have any problem placing the bug in his tattoo shop,” he says. “Don’t forget that’s the main reason you’re there. As long as the bugs are installed, we’ll get everything else we need.”

“That might be too suspicious,” I argue back. “I don’t have a reason to show up there uninvited yet. These things take time to gain trust. Do you want to get me killed? We just met.”

“Stop stalling and set up the bugs,” he says. “It should be simple. We only need them in three spots - the tattoo shop, his house, and the Steel Infidels clubhouse. Get them in place now. If you don’t have the balls to do the job, I’ll send somebody else who can. You got it?”

Frank knows how to get to me. Threatening to send another agent to take over my investigation is about the worst thing he can do. Even the thought of closely working with another person makes my skin crawl. Partners aren’t for me. Other agents only slow me down.

I always work alone.

And nobody else from the team knows the Steel Infidels like I do. There’s no way I’m letting someone else take over this investigation. I need to stay in place.

“I can handle it,” I say. “One bug at a time though. I’ll do the tattoo shop first and then I’ll have to work my way up to the other two. Sam isn’t going to invite a stranger to his house, especially since he lives with Jesse and his wife. I can’t imagine being able to gain access to the clubhouse ever. If I do, it will be a long shot, so don’t get your hopes up.”