Cut and Run 1 - Cut and Run

highest security. All our records and resources are open to you, although I will tell you right now cooperation from your new teammates will likely be at a minimum despite my orders to work with you,” he told them candidly, making no secret of the field office's bitter feelings toward anyone from outside being sent in to handle their cases. “Any questions?"
    "You provided the contact list, right?” Zane asked.
    "It's all in the file,” McCarty answered with a nod. “Anything you need during the course of your investigation is at your disposal, including the team Special Agents Reilly and Sanchez were using. Anything else?"
    "Have you found out how the killer knew where the agents were staying?” Ty asked as he turned in his seat and propped his feet up on the chair next to him.
    The Special Agent in Charge turned to one of the men at his side. “No,” Morrison answered as if obeying the silent cue. He was the shorter of the Hardy Boys, but wiry, with spiked blond hair and bright blue eyes. “We don't believe it was an inside thing, though. We speculate he may have tailed them from one of the scenes."
    "Is Serena Scott in town? I'd like her opinions on the crime scenes,” Zane asked in reference to New York's head profiler.
    "We've not brought her in on this one. Yet,” Henninger answered. Out of the truck, Zane could see the young agent was tall and lanky, and his short haircut couldn't restrain the dark curls that had to be natural. “Did you want to meet with her personally?” he asked with an indiscernible look at Ty.
    "Absolutely,” Zane answered firmly. “Her insight is invaluable, and some things just don't translate from paper."
    "We'll arrange the meeting ASAP,” the man assured him, looking again at Ty almost questioningly.
    Zane glanced at Ty to see if he had anything to add. His new partner was kicked back in his chair and staring up at the ceiling idly, a slight curl of distaste on his lip.
    "We won't need the driver. Thank you, sir,” Zane said as he closed his file and stood.
    "You need anything else, you just go through Agents Henninger or Morrison, here,” McCarty said with a gesture of his thumb over his shoulder at no one in particular. “They'll get you anything you need,” he assured them as the Hardy Boys nodded.
    There was a discreet knock on the boardroom door, and McCarty straightened up and called out a curt “Enter!"
    The receptionist stuck her head through the door. “Sir, the Assistant Director on line four for you and Special Agents Grady and Garrett. He says it's urgent."
    "Thank you, Denise,” McCarty grunted, and she withdrew silently.
    McCarty watched the door until it clicked closed, and then he leaned forward and pressed a button on one of the units in the middle of the large boardroom table. “Richard,” he greeted.
    "Good morning, George,” Dick Burns’ voice said clearly over the speakerphone. “I trust Grady and Garrett are there and already causing problems?"
    "You always did take the safe bet,” McCarty responded wryly. “I must repeat my disapproval of this little operation, Richard. I just don't believe one of my staff here is responsible for this madness."
    "I understand how difficult your position is, George,” Burns responded easily. “But unfortunately, Director Radshaw and I disagree."
    Behind McCarty, Henninger and Morrison both shifted uneasily and shared an indiscernible glance. Ty cocked his head, frowning slightly at the speakerphone. He wasn't liking the sound of this conversation, but he thought maybe he understood why they were here now. His sharp hazel eyes traveled up to observe McCarty curiously as the two men spoke over the phone.
    McCarty sighed and looked up at Ty and Zane with narrowed eyes. “They look slightly confused, Dick,” he told Burns with a hint of amusement.
    "Gentlemen,” Burns said loudly over the phone. “I do apologize for not filling you in more completely while you were here, but the finer points were still being ironed out."
    "Finer points?” Zane asked, a bit peevish at being left out of the loop.
    Ty rubbed his nose and squeezed his eyes closed. “Why do you always do this to me?” he asked plaintively.
    "Because I dislike you quite a lot,” Burns told him in amusement. “You will be working the Tri-State case,” he went on without waiting for a response. “You will appear, to the members of the New York team, to be inexperienced, inept, and lackadaisical. If you happen to stumble across any