3 weeks

Dean was sitting at his desk reviewing his field notes when Kent came up behind him.

"Carron? I need to talk to you."

"Sure, what's going on?" he asked.

"Not here."

Dean stood up and followed Kent towards his office.

"This isn't good news, is it?"

"No, this isn't good news, Dean," Kent said.

When he entered Kent's office, he saw Deputy Director Robbins seated in one of the chairs.

"Director," Dean said, acknowledging his boss.

"Dean, please sit down."

"Is something wrong?" he asked while taking a chair.

Kent spoke first. "No, actually, you have done a lot right."

"Okay... So, what is this about?" Dean asked.

"Dean, we have an assignment for you. You've been working really hard on the Cleveland serial killer case, and your team has been helping you do an excellent job."

"Okay, thank you for the compliment, Sir."

"Mike and I have been talking, and we have decided to take over the case completely," he said.

"Completely? When is this happening? Why? Have you talked to Lieutenant Curtis about this?

"We have a meeting with the chief and the commissioner. I am sure they will let him know. It won't be right away. It will be in three weeks. Maybe by some luck, we can catch him before with the aid of the locals."

"I don't think this is going to go over well with the detectives," he said.

"No. You don't think this will go well with your fiancé," Kent exhaled.

Dean said nothing.

"Look, it's not that they are doing a bad job." Kent said, "It's just the director, and I feel if we do everything in-house, we might be able to move faster. We have more resources and staff to work solely on it here."

"Is that all I am here for, so you can warn me? So I can buy a cup, so Allie kicks me in the balls when she gets home after being told I won't have to take medical leave?" he asked.

"No, it is not," the director said.

"Why three weeks?"

"Because, Agent Carron, you are being temporarily reassigned," Kent said.

"I'm sorry. I don't think I heard you correctly. It sounded like you said I was being reassigned."

"Yes, Dean," Kent said. "You are being temporarily reassigned. You are going to California to work with an undercover unit."

"We have an inside man already who is working with one of the biggest methamphetamine dealers in LA county, and he's moving in on territory in the adjacent counties. Our inside agent told us the boss is looking for an accountant. Someone to help cook the books. He believes the IRS is investigating him," Robbins said.

"Is it true that the IRS is investigating him?" Dean asked.

"Yes, they are, and they have been for a while. If you get into the inner circle and give us details on where and how he is making and distributing, we can go in and bust him under the guise of the IRS, not the DEA and FBI. Unless you find out something different, we can use something solid.

"Why me," Dean asked. "I have never done undercover work before. My experience in UC investigations is taking a two-week seminar in Quantico... three years ago."

"Well, we will give you a crash course over the next three weeks," Robbins said.

"Isn't there anyone else who can do this?" Dean asked, sounding as if he were begging.

"Dean, you are the perfect candidate, and the fact that you are built like a bomb shelter will help us get you in."

"Do I have to do this? Can I refuse?" he asked.

"I would highly recommend that you not refuse agent Carron. Unless you would like to start looking for new employment."

"How long will I have to be there?" he asked.

"You know how undercover OPS works. There is no set time limit we have to give you. You get in, you get as much Intel as possible, you get us a lead, and then we can extract you," the director said.

"It will take as long as it needs to; I cannot give you a time limit; it could be two months, six months, or two years."

"I'm just supposed to pick up and leave? When am I being reassigned?"

"You have three weeks to get your affairs in order, and then you are gone. Dean, you cannot have any contact with anybody. You don't want anyone in that organization knowing you have any life here or in Kentucky. You will not contact your sister, parents, friends, or coworkers, and unfortunately, you can not, in any capacity, contact Allie," Kent said.

"I can't contact Allie? Sir, you are aware that I am engaged to be married. What exactly am I supposed to tell her?"

"You tell her the truth. You are being temporarily reassigned to a unit in California, and you do not know when you can return. Other than that, you are to tell no one anything further."

"She's not going to take this well," he said.

"I wouldn't expect my wife to take it well either," Kent said.

"Agent Carron, I know this is hard. I had to do many undercover operations to get to where I am today." Robbins said. Yes, it put a strain on my marriage---"

"Are you still married?" Dean asked.

The director said nothing.

"I will take that as a no," he said.

"It got to be a little too much for her, and I had to let her go live her life. I had to do things I bent my morals for and regretted even though I was perfectly aware it was part of my job. I understand that we are completely upending your life here. But this needs to be done. This guy has millions and millions of dollars in meth out on the streets and is being moved across state lines. We need to shut him down. Do you understand the gravity of this situation?" Robbins said.

"Is there any workable way I can bring her with me? She is a cop she knows about being undercover. I'm sure we could devise something plausible for her to be there with me."

"Like what? A wife? or your sister? And what happens when someone catches you being intimate with her? Agent Carron, it doesn't matter if she is a cop. You will have to do things you do not want her to witness. So, we need you... unattached."

"What exactly do you mean? What kind of things?" he asked.

"Apart from murdering someone, you are to do everything you need to do to protect your cover. You need these people to trust you and ensure you do not give them a reason not to," Kent said, sitting on the edge of the desk.

"Again, do you understand your importance to this operation?" Robbins asked.

"I'm trying to understand. I do hope my new identity is a very bitter man because that's exactly how it will play out," Dean said, running his hands through his hair.

"You will get your dossier tomorrow, and you must make sure you have it memorized forwards and backward. We will supply you with your identification, background, criminal history, and financial statements," Kent said.

"Well, if there is nothing further, I would like to please be excused to go home and be with my fiancée for as long as I can."

"No problem, we can continue this briefing tomorrow. Remember, you have three weeks," Robbins said.

"How am I supposed to forget that?"

"Agent Carron, a word of advice. I suggest you tell your fiancé right away. She is going to need time to process this. You will need time to process this together as a couple," the director advised.

"Thanks for the tip," Dean said, trying his hardest not to sound indignant.

"Mike, could you give us the room, please?"

"No problem, sir."

"Shut the door."

"Dean, we will need you to alter your appearance slightly due to your family's status. I must say that your parents have done a fantastic job keeping you and your sister out of the press and separate from the Stapleton name."

"I've been a Carron for as long as I can remember. The only time I am a Stapleton is when I am home. Even when I won the Heisman, it was presented to Dean Carron."

"I found three photos of you, all at least 10 years old. You have no social media and have managed to maintain your aliases for most of your life."

"Well, you know, no social media."

Really? Wow. If the FBI couldn't find it, I guess it's a private account. "Sir, please discuss precisely how I am expected to change my appearance."

"We have done some mockups and found that dying your hair a light color will make a difference. How do you feel about growing a goatee?"

"Allie absolutely hates facial hair. She loves my black hair." She's going to suspect something is on.

"It would help if you had a haircut."

"A haircut, sir?"

"Yes, we can't have the attractive boy band cut. It would help if you had something a little more. How can I put this? Douch bagery."

"What kind of haircut would that be?"

"Shaved sides with the top slicked back."

"Oh, I see you have thought about that extensively," Dean said.

"It's the same cut that O'Bannon has. I found it to be very---"

"Douche bagery. Yeah. I agree with that one," Dean said.

"How long would it take you to grow the goatee?"

"I don't know. I get the five o'clock shadow around four-thirty. It shouldn't take too long. I have prominent levels of testosterone. That does make a difference."

"Ensure it is grown by the day you leave, along with dying and cutting your hair."

"Allie is going to hate this. We are supposed to get married in four months. Sir, exactly what am I going to be doing?"

"You're going to fit in with the people. You will be muscling your way into their social circle and business. Other than that, you will find a dossier on your desk," Robbins said

"Thank you for this opportunity. I'll be going now." Dean got up and walked out of Kent's office.

Kent ran after him. When they were out of earshot, Kent spoke. "Dean, man, I am so sorry."

"Sorry? How could you let this happen! Why does it have to be me out of everyone in the bureau?"

"Because you are the most qualified. Jesus, you are a forensic accountant---"

"You're telling me there isn't one other forensic accountant in the entire fucking bureau?" he asked.

"Not one who is 6"6 260 lbs. there isn't."

"Mike, you and I both know this will destroy my relationship. You know how fragile she is. I can tell her now. I could tell her two months ago, she has her mind programmed to believe that everyone would leave her. She has three friends. THREE, and one is Bruss. Why? Because there is less to lose when you have close to nothing. I am the first man to get lucky enough to be with her in seven years."

"Dean, I can't make this go away. The assistant director has already signed, sealed, and delivered the order to D.C. There is nothing I can do."

He went back to his desk and put his head in his hands. Many thoughts were running through his head. So many emotions coursing through his body.

He didn't know how to tell Allie he had to pick up and leave. What was he supposed to say? "Sorry. We were supposed to get married in a few months, but I have to go across the country and be completely radio silent on a job."

She couldn't know anything about it. He knew he was going deep undercover, and she would not take this well. He knew how she dealt with abandonment, and this is precisely how she is going to feel whether or not this is his job.

Undercover was never supposed to be his job. He knows exactly how she feels about losing people she loves. Even though he knows she is deeply in love and committed to him, he always feels like she is in love