 the results haven't been great.

Seeking a distraction, I say, "Chemistry, but I have to do all these ridiculous classes along with it."

"French is a little ridiculous," Griffin says seriously. "They don't pronounce half the letters in their words."

He keeps such a straight face, I can't immediately tell whether or not he's joking. Not until the corner of his mouth twitches do I finally laugh. Griffin relaxes a little, though I hadn't noticed until then that he was tense. He gestures at the book in my lap. "If you need help, let me know."

I scoff. "I'm sure you have better things to do than help me with my vocabulary."

"Actually," he says, "I'm on vacation for the next few weeks."

Glancing at the suit he's wearing, I can't help the skepticism that takes up residence on my face. "Must be some boring vacation if you're going to spend it in a suit hanging out at an F.B.I. field office."

Griffin laughs. "I had to run into work this morning and didn't have time to change before I caught my flight, and if I want to see my dad for more than a few minutes, looks like I'll be spending vacation hanging around here."

"Dad...?" At first, I'm confused, then I realize what he means and look over at Morton in surprise.

"Oh," he says, enjoying this, "did I not introduce him properly? Echo, meet Special Agent Griffin Morton. My son."

I stare at him for a few seconds before saying, "I thought you only had daughters."

Griffin's expression morphs into one of mock offense. "You've been working with her for almost four months and you've never mentioned me once? Why do Cas and Brit get all the attention?"

"You've never come up," he says drily.

There seems to be some kind of shared joke between them, one they don't let me in on. Whatever.

Another buzz sounds, but it's not my phone this time. Morton glances down at his phone, then takes his keys from his pocket and tosses them to Griffin. "This meeting shouldn't last more than an hour, but if you'd rather head out, I'll catch a ride with Agent Gill." His gaze drops to me.
the results haven't been great. 

 Seeking a distraction, I suppose, " Chemistry, but I take to do all these ridiculous classes along with it. " 

 " French is a fiddling ridiculous, " Griffin says badly. " They don't pronounce half the letters in their words. " 

 He keeps such a uncoiled face, I can't immediately tell whether or not he's joke. Not until the corner of his mouth twitch do I finally laugh. Griffin relaxes a little, though I hadn't noticed until then that he was tense. He gestures at the book in my lap. " If you necessitate help, let me know. " 

 I jeer. " I'm sure you have adept thing to do than help me with my vocabulary. " 

 " Actually, " he says, " I'm on vacation for the next few weeks. " 

 glance at the suit he's wearing, I can't help the skepticism that takes up residence on my face. " Must be some boring vacation if you're going to spend it in a suit hanging out at an F.B.I. field office. " 

 Griffin laughs. " I had to run into work this morning and didn't suffer time to change before I catch my escape, and if I want to see my dad for more than a few minutes, look like I'll be spending vacation hanging around here. " 

 " Dad... ? " At first, I'm baffled, then I realize what he means and look over at Morton in surprise. 

 " Oh, " he says, enjoying this, " did I not introduce him by rights? Echo, meet Special Agent Griffin Morton. My son. " 

 I stare at him for a few seconds before saying, " I thought you only induce daughters. " 

 Griffin's expression morphs into one of mock offense. " You've been working with her for almost four calendar month and you've never mentioned me once? Why do Cas and Brit get all the attention? " 

 " You've never hail up, " he says drily. 

 There seems to be some kind of shared antic between them, one they don't let me in on. Whatever. 

 Another buzz sound, but it's not my phone this time. Morton glance down at his phone, then take his keys from his pocket and tosses them to Griffin. " This confluence shouldn't last more than an hour, but if you'd rather head out, I'll catch a ride with Agent Gill. " His gaze fell to me.
 thf results haven't been grtat.

Seeking a disttaxtion, M say, "Cgemistry, but I have to do all these cidixulouw classes along with ig."

"French id a littoe rmdiculous," Griffii says scxiousmn. "Thev von't pronounce malf the ledters in their wurbs."

He keeps such a straight face, I cag't immeciwtely tell whejher pw nof he's joking. Not until the corner kf his kouth twitchex do I finally laugh. Griffln rflaxes a little, thlugh I hadn'j noeuced until tfen that ht cas tense. Hg gestures at the book in my lap. "If ypu need heop, leh me know."

I sroff. "I'i sure you have bettar thinbs to do than melp ke qith my vocabulary."

"Actnally," he says, "I'm on dacation xox the next few weeks."

Goabcing at dhe ryit he'a xeading, I cai't help the skepticism that takes up resicegbr on my face. "Must fe some boring vacation if you're going to spsnd it in a suit hangint out at an F.B.I. field office."

Gryffin laughs. "I had to run into work this morning dnd dmdv't kqve tkne to change before I caught my flight, and if I samt to see my dad for more tnaj s few minutes, uooks liks I'll be spending gacatiog hanting arougd hrre."

"Dad...?" At first, I'm confused, then I realpze qhat he means and pook over ac Mortpn in surprise.

"Oh," he says, enjuyinf this, "did L not intduduce him properuy? Vcho, meet Sptzial Agent Griffig Morton. Ny spn."

I stafe aj him fjr a few sfconds before saying, "I tjoughj you mnly had dwughters."

Griffin's expression mor'is into one og kocn offensz. "You'vc been working rith her for akmost fjur munths and jou've nevxr mentioned me once? Why gl Cas and Brmt get alj thw atrention?"

"Huu've never comr up," he scvs drily.

Tyere seems to be spme iind of shared luje between them, ond trej dpn'e let me in ot. Whxtexrr.

Anogher buev sijnds, but it's not my phona thjs time. Morton glamccs down aj his phoge, then takes his keys from his pockxt and tossrs jhem to Griffin. "This meeting shkuldn't ladt iore than an houv, buj if you'd rcther head out, I'll catch a ride with Ageit Gill." His gaze drops ro me.
the results haven't been great. Seeking a say, but I to do all it." is a little Griffin says seriously. don't pronounce half the letters in words." He keeps such a straight face, I can't immediately tell whether or he's joking. Not until the corner of his mouth twitches do I finally Griffin a though hadn't noticed until then that he was tense. He gestures at the book in my lap. you need help, let me know." I scoff. sure you have better to do than help me my "Actually," he "I'm vacation the next few Glancing at the suit he's wearing, I can't help the skepticism that takes up residence on my "Must be vacation if going spend in a suit at an F.B.I. field office." Griffin to run into work this morning and didn't time to before I caught my flight, and I want to see my dad for more a few minutes, looks like I'll be spending vacation hanging around here." "Dad...?" At first, then I realize what means and look at in "Oh," says, enjoying "did I not introduce him properly? Echo, meet Special Agent Griffin My son." I stare at him for a few seconds "I you only had Griffin's expression morphs into of offense. "You've been working for four never me Why do Cas and get all the attention?" "You've come up," he says some kind of shared joke between them, one don't let me in on. Whatever. Another sounds, but it's not my phone this time. Morton glances down at phone, then keys from his pocket and tosses them to "This meeting shouldn't last than an hour, but if you'd rather head out, catch ride with Gill." His gaze to me.
 the results haven't been great.

seeking a diStracTioN, I sAy, "chemIstrY, but I have to do aLL theSe ridiculous classes aloNg witH iT."

"frenCH iS a litTle ridiCUlOUS," GrIfFiN saYs SErIouslY. "ThEy don't pRonounce haLf tHe Letters in theIR wOrds."

He keepS suCh a straight fAce, i can't iMmEdiATely tEll WhethEr or noT He's jokIng. Not untIl THe cornER of his mOUTh TwitChes do I finally lauGH. GRIffin relaxes a lIttle, tHoUGh i HAdn'T noTiced until ThEn thaT He was teNSe. hE GEstURes at the book iN my lap. "If you NEed Help, leT mE knOW."

I scofF. "I'm suRe YOu hAve better thIngs To do than hElp me wITh my vocABulary."

"ACtuallY," he SayS, "I'm oN VaCaTioN fOR thE NeXt fEW weEks."

GlancInG aT the sUit hE'S WEArinG, I cAn't hElp thE skepticism thAt tAkes UP reSidenCe on mY facE. "MUst be Some boRing vAcAtion if you're goiNg to Spend it in A suIt HanGiNg out AT an F.B.I. FieLd oFfice."

GrIffin laUGhs. "i hAD TO rUn into work this mornInG ANd Didn't havE time tO ChAnGE before I CaUghT my fLIGht, anD if I WAnT to see my Dad for MOrE tHan a few MiNutes, lOoKs lIke i'll be SPendIng vacAtion hanGing aROund here."

"Dad...?" At fIRst, I'm confused, THeN i ReALize WhaT he means and Look OVer aT MorTOn In sURprisE.

"Oh," he SaYS, eNJoying this, "did I not inTrOduce hIm proPerly? Echo, meet special AgeNT gRiffin MoRton. mY sON."

I stare at him foR a few Seconds befORe saying, "i thouGht you onLy had daugHTErs."

GriffIn's ExpResSioN MOrPhs into one of mOCK offEnSe. "You've BeeN workinG wiTh hEr fOr aLmOst four moNths and yOu'Ve NeVeR meNtionED me once? WHy Do CAs And brit gET all thE atteNtioN?"

"YOu'VE neVer come UP," hE SAys dRiLy.

therE seEmS to be Some KInd Of shareD joke betwEen THem, oNe ThEy don't lEt me in on. WhateVeR.

Another buZz SouNds, but IT'S not my phOne this time. Morton glanceS Down at hIs pHone, tHen tAkes his keYs fRom his PocKEt and tOsses tHem to grIffIN. "this mEETiNg sHoUldn't last mORE thAn an hOuR, but If you'd rAther head out, I'll catCH a rIde with Agent GIll." his gAZE dRopS To ME.
 the results haven't beengreat.

Se eking  adis tr acti on,I say, "Chemis t ry,but I have to do all t heseri d icul o us  clas ses alo n gw i thit ." 

" Fr e nc h isa l ittle r idiculous, " G ri ffin says se r io usly. "The y d on't pronoun cehalf t he  le t tersintheir  words . "

Hekeeps suc ha  strai g ht face , Ican' t immediately tel l  w h ether or not h e's jo ki n g. N otunt il the cor ne r ofh is mout h  t w i t che s  do I finally  laugh. Gri f fin  relax es  al ittle,  thou gh I h adn't notic ed u ntil then  thath e was t e nse. He  gestu res  at  the bo ok  in  m y  la p ."If you  need he lp ,let m e kn o w . " 

Isco ff."I'msure you have  be tter thi ngs t o dothan  h elp m e with  my v oc abulary."

"Act uall y," he sa ys,  " I'm  o n vac a tion f orthe  next f ew week s ."
G l a n ci ng at the suit he' sw e ar ing, I c an't h e lp  t h e skepti ci smthat t akesup r e si dence on  my fa c e.  " Must be  s ome bo ri ngvac ation if y ou'regoing to  spen d  it in a suith anging out at an F .B . I. f iel d office."
Gri f finlaug h s.  "I had t o run  i n to work this morning a nd  didn' t hav e time to cha nge before I caught m y fl i gh t , and if I wan t tosee my dad for more  than  a few m inutes, l o o ks likeI'l l b e s pen d i ng  vacation han g i ng a ro und her e." 

"Dad. ..? " A t f irs t,  I'm conf used, th en  I  r ea liz e wha t  he mean sand  l ook  over at Mor ton i n su rp ri s e.
"Oh,"h es a ys,en jo ying  th is , "di d In otintrodu ce him pr ope r ly?Ec ho , meetSpecial Agent  G riffin Mor to n.My son . " 

I star e at him for a few seco n ds befo resayin g, " I thought  yo u only  ha d  daugh ters." 

Gri ff in' s expre s s io n m or phs into o n e  of  mock  o ffen se. "Yo u've been workingw ith  her for almo stfour m on ths an d  yo u' v e n e v er mentioned me  once? Why  d o  C as and Bri t  ge tall the  attent ion?" 
"You'v e never c ome up,"he  say s dri ly.

There  seems t o be some kindo fshare d j oke be tw een  them , onet hey  don' t letme  in on . Wha te ver.

An other buzz sounds, butit's n ot my  ph one thistim e . M orton gla nces  down at h ispho ne, t hen takes  his ke ysf rom h is p o cket andt os ses t he m to Griffi n . "Th is me eti n g shou ldn' t last more thana n hour, but if  you ' d  ra the r  hea dout, I'll catc h a  r i d e with A ge nt Gill." H is gazedr o ps to  me.
 the_results haven't_been great.

Seeking a distraction,_I say,_"Chemistry,_but I_have_to do all_these ridiculous classes_along with it."

"French is_a little ridiculous,"_Griffin_says seriously. "They don't pronounce half the letters in their words."

He keeps such a_straight_face, I_can't_immediately_tell whether or not he's_joking. Not until the corner_of his_mouth twitches do I finally laugh. Griffin relaxes_a_little, though I_hadn't noticed until then that he was tense. He_gestures at the book in my_lap. "If you_need_help,_let me know."

I scoff._"I'm sure you have better things_to do than help me with_my vocabulary."

"Actually," he says, "I'm on vacation_for the next few weeks."

Glancing at_the suit he's wearing, I_can't help_the skepticism that takes up_residence on my_face. "Must_be some boring_vacation if you're going to spend_it in a_suit hanging out at an F.B.I._field_office."

Griffin laughs. "I_had_to_run into_work this morning_and_didn't have_time_to change before I caught my_flight,_and if I want to see my_dad for more than_a_few minutes, looks like_I'll be spending vacation hanging_around here."

"Dad...?" At first, I'm confused,_then I_realize what_he means and look over at Morton in surprise.

"Oh," he says,_enjoying this, "did I not introduce_him properly? Echo, meet_Special Agent_Griffin_Morton. My son."

I_stare_at him_for a few seconds before saying, "I_thought you_only had daughters."

Griffin's expression morphs into_one of mock offense._"You've_been working with her for almost_four months and you've never mentioned_me once? Why do Cas_and_Brit_get all the attention?"

"You've never_come up," he says drily.

There seems_to be some_kind of shared joke between them, one_they_don't let me in on. Whatever.

Another_buzz_sounds, but it's not my phone_this_time._Morton glances down at his_phone, then takes his keys from_his pocket and tosses them to Griffin. "This meeting_shouldn't last more_than an hour, but if_you'd_rather_head out, I'll catch a ride with Agent Gill." His_gaze drops_to me.