“Good thing.”
Smiley shot Jericho a glare. “What does that mean?”
“We just had the bartender delivered to us. I thought you’d want to be present for that instead of tying Vanni to a bed to keep her safe. I would do that if she were my female.”
Fury laughed. “It does work.”
Justice growled low. “Don’t remind me.” He narrowed his gaze on Fury. “And I remember you having Ellie tied to your bed for a different reason.”
“I believe I was hired right after that,” Miles Eron muttered. “You needed a lot of help with your public image.”
Fury’s humor faded. “Who gets the pleasure of scaring the shit out of this human and making him talk?”
“I do,” Smiley volunteered.
Jericho stood. “No. I’ll do it.”
“He drugged me and Vanni.” Smiley faced him, ready to argue his case.
“Exactly. It’s personal. He can’t talk if you lose your temper and break his jaw. Take your feelings out of this by answering my question with complete honesty. Who will terrify the human more? Me or you?”
Smiley hated it but conceded to Jericho’s logic. “Fine but I get to be there.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Jericho nodded. “The sight of you will make him nervous.”
“I remember when I used to be in charge,” Justice mused. “I even have the nice office and desk.”
“Sorry.” Jericho didn’t look it though.
“I really don’t think this is a good idea,” Miles protested. “I think the task force team is doing a fine job.”
Justice stood. “Noted, Miles. We appreciate your input but this isn’t happening outside the walls of Homeland. Jericho has a good plan. Let’s go. They are holding the human in interview room two. We all want to see this.”
“Are we going to record it?” Fury arched an eyebrow questioningly.
Justice nodded. “We’ll leak it to the press.” He glanced between Smiley and Jericho. “Keep that in mind. Humans are squeamish about things they perceive as too violent or frightening.”
“That’s why I think the task force should handle this.” Miles stood too. “It will appear you terrified this man into a confession. You pay me to tell you what my people will think. There it is.”
“Give it up,” Cindy muttered. “No one else agrees with you.”
Miles spun and glared at her. “What did you say?”
She raised her voice. “We don’t want the NSO to seem as if they need us to handle their security matters. That’s worse than releasing a video of one of them interrogating this bartender. We want people to fear New Species enough not to fuck with them in the future.”
“The task force scares everyone.” Miles glared at her.
“I think Jericho is way more frightening.” She flashed the primate male a smile. “I have total faith in you.”
“Thank you.” Jericho grinned back.
“I still think it’s a mistake.” Miles faced Justice. “Why do you even pay us to handle your press if you refuse to listen to my advice?”
“It’s not for your winning personality,” Cindy muttered low enough that her boss couldn’t hear.
Justice chuckled. “We needed your help handling the shopping excursion. You’re the one who decided to stick around. We’ve got this.”
“I still think it’s a mistake.” Miles shook his head.
Cindy rolled her eyes. “He thinks that tie looks good. I rest my case.” She turned in her chair, drawing everyone’s attention. “Just don’t punch the living shit out of the jerk on camera before you get him to talk. That would be overkill. People might view that as a forced confession. We don’t want anyone screaming about his rights being violated.”
“As if that human gave a shit about that when he drugged us,” Smiley hissed.
“I agree,” Cindy acknowledged. “My heart isn’t bleeding for this dickhead but all I’m saying is, don’t inflict injures that are going to show. The bartender might not have been aware of the danger. It doesn’t excuse it but I’m just saying you must try to keep the camera in mind so we can use it in the media war the Woods Church has started.”
“They wanted someone tossed to their human authorities to be prosecuted. I think we have their pound of flesh,” Justice said as he rounded his desk.
Smiley was outraged. “You’re giving him to the humans?”
Justice stopped next to him. “I have a plan.”
“What would that be? Their justice system isn’t harsh enough. He deserves to be sent to Fuller Prison, not to some human jail cell with television and visitors.” Smiley fisted his hands, that angry.