Rafael (The Santiago Brothers Book One)

by K. Victoria Chase

RAFA pinched the space between his eyes. He had been on hold for the last five minutes, waiting for his contact in San Diego’s FBI White-Collar Crime Department to answer the line. It was almost five in the morning on the West Coast but Rafa knew the man got an early start to the day. Rafa clocked in around six, not wanting to be outdone by Genie, but when he arrived, her chair sat empty. As the minutes ticked by, cups of coffee added up and Rafa grew more and more irritated. Not so much at Genie for taking her sweet time to come in, but at the slow progress on the case. He dismissed the fact he had only been here a day.

  A whiff of sweet perfume drew his mind away from the dry music on the phone to a female figure passing his desk. Genie. She didn’t acknowledge him when she sat down until after carefully placing her purse underneath her desk, moving the mouse to wake the computer, and glancing around the top of the desk. She raised her eyes to his. The dark brown depths were strangely intense. Before he could mouth a hello, she smiled and her mouth formed the silent greeting.

  “Rafael? Rafa, are you there? Rafa, I can hear you breathing.”

  Rafa blinked, breaking the spell, and cradled the receiver closer to his ear. “Yeah, Jimmy, sorry about that. Hey, good morning. Sorry about the time.”

  “No worries, you know I’m always here. Where were you a second ago?”

  In la-la land. “Oh, ah, my partner just walked in. You have a minute to discuss the case?”

  “Absolutely. How’s it going out there, by the way?”

  “Four deaths so far, all with the marking.”

  “That’s not good.” Jimmy’s grim voice came through the phone. “You think it’s connected to the Snakes?”

  “It’s their MO. I know La Cocina Dulce isn’t a chain, but there’s a location out here in Springfield. My partner says their financial unit is looking into the restaurant's financials. I wanted to touch base to see if you have anything new.”

  “Two restaurants, hmm. They could be working in conjunction but more likely independent of each other.”

  “How do you figure?”

  Rafa heard the shuffling of papers before Jimmy responded. “Well, all of our research on the one out here in San Diego shows no ties to any other establishment. Granted, the owner of Springfield’s restaurant is the half-brother of the owner of ours out here in San Diego. Santoro is his name, I believe. Santoro hasn’t lived in California for years. Now, it’s absolutely possible we’ve missed something. If so, then we have our work cut out for ourselves.”

  Rafa let out a breath and raised his eyes. He caught Genie’s gaze and she gave him a concerned look. He shook his head at her to assure her there wasn’t cause for alarm — yet. “We’ll keep you posted on any new developments.”

  “Sounds good, Rafa. I’ll give the Bureau out there a call and see if I can get an agent you can trust to work with you on this.”

  Rafa smiled. “Thanks, Jimmy. You’re the best. I owe you.”

  “And you’ll pay up when you get back out here.”

  Rafa laughed stiffly. “Later.” He didn’t have plans to return. He hadn’t told the boys back at the station, but he had received an employment acceptance letter from the Bureau and he was to start training at Quantico in a couple of months. After training, he would report to his duty station in Virginia as a special agent. An equally capable detective will inherit the investigation of the Snakes and then he'd start a new chapter of serving the public as an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

  “Good news?” Genie kept her eyes on the papers in front of her.

  “Actually, yes. My guy at the Bureau is going to vet someone from the office out here for our investigation.”

  Genie’s head rose. “I already have the Bureau running a few checks for us. Are they involved in the investigation out in California?”

  “Absolutely. The restaurant is heavily implicated in a money-laundering ring. We are running a joint investigation with the Bureau.”

  “So there’s a link between the La Cocina Dulce in California and the one here in Virginia?”

  Rafa shrugged. “Anything other than a familial connection hasn’t been verified. If there is a link, my man Jimmy will find it.”

  Genie nodded. “That sounds promising.”

  Her tone hardly matched the stated opinion. Rafa took a moment to study her before responding. She tapped her fingers against her desk, and her eyes were focused on the computer screen. Rafa crossed his arms over his chest. Even if she didn’t appreciate his efforts to solve the case, the least she could do was pretend to be interested. “You came in late this morning.”

  Genie rotated in her chair until she sat straight across from him. Her eyes had darkened and narrowed.

  “Are you accusing me of slacking on the job?”

  “I’m sure your conscience will guide you concerning your work ethic.”

  Genie huffed. “I’ll have you know I’ve done a bit of research myself.” She smiled at him again, and this time he recognized the type. She hadn’t smiled at him this morning because she was being friendly; she'd smiled because she had something to tell. And he guessed he wouldn’t like what she had to say. “I’ve spoken with the gang unit this morning and—”

  Yup, he didn’t like it.

  “Wait a minute.” Rafa leaned forward, wondering whether he’d heard her correctly. He had asked to speak to the gang unit detectives the day before, but Genie wanted to postpone their meet-and-greet. She insisted on being with him for the meeting, but gave him some lame excuse about having to leave work early. Then she arrived at Bible study that night. “I thought you were going to introduce me to a few of the detectives.”

  “I couldn’t find you.”

  The innocent look in her eyes made him grind his teeth. She knew exactly where he was. “I’ve been here since six a.m.”

  “I was here at five. Like I was saying, they have confirmed through their sources that these killings were not committed by any members of the groups in this area.”

  Rafa rolled his eyes. “Of course none of the gangs here are involved. The MO is very specific.”

  Genie offered a stiff smile. “Look, Rafael, I shouldn’t have to explain basic investigative techniques to you.”

  Rafa reclined in his chair, anger suddenly vanishing into amusement. He wanted to laugh out loud but rolled in his lips to keep the sound in. If he had witnessed her behavior from anyone else, he'd have concluded they were immature and quite green in the profession. But Genie was a seasoned professional. Why she felt the need to one-up him he couldn’t fathom. He had no interest in obscuring her path to success. As soon as they wrapped the case here, he'd continue on to Quantico and a job with the FBI. “Believe me, Genie, you don’t.”

  “Yet, you seem to disregard the importance of eliminating certain potential subjects, namely the local gang members.”

  “I do not disregard—”

  “Furthermore, we can narrow our pool to those more likely.”

  “I agree.”

  She opened her mouth to say more but stopped at his concurrence. A single well-shaped brow lifted, as did the tip of her nose. “Well, I’m glad you see things my way.”

  Rafa couldn’t help snorting in response. “Eugenia, this isn’t a competition.”

  Her brows bushed in feigned miscomprehension. “Who said I was competing?”

  “Genie.” Rafa leaned forward, his gaze latching hold of hers. “Stop! I’m not your enemy.”

  Genie pressed her lips into a tight line. Her eyes stormed with both irritation and confusion. He could see her jaw flexing, her chest rising and falling with heavy breathing. Rafa’s curiosity was baited. What did she struggle against? Why was she being so stubborn?

  “Green, Santiago!”

  Both his and Genie’s head snapped in the direction of the sound of their names. Lieutenant Winters barreled toward their desks, the look of impatience in his eyes.

  “Sir, I was just coming to your office to give you an update,” Genie began placating.

&nbs
p; “Well, you didn’t quite make it there, did you, Green?”

  Genie shot Rafa a look of annoyance. Whether her aggravation was for her boss or him, he wasn’t sure, but Winters wasn’t a man to make excuses to. He wanted progress, and Rafa was prepared to offer him just that.

  “Actually, sir,” Rafa began, ignoring the growing look of anger on Genie’s face. If she thought he would share her findings with her own boss, he'd prove he wasn’t a back-stabbing jerk. “I’ve gotten in touch with my sources back in San Diego. They have given me the names of a couple of Snake members who haven’t been seen at their usual hangouts for the past several days.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning, it’s possible they have relocated here, and what we’re witnessing is a couple of planned assassinations.”

  “Do we know their names?”

  “We do, but I’m having my contacts verify through their sources that Huera and Montenegro have left the state.”

  Winters placed his fists on his hips and nodded once. “Now that’s progress.” He shot Genie a narrowed look. “Green, where would we be without Santiago? You still want to go it alone?” Rafa watched her swallow what looked like a lump of humiliation, but she remained silent, refusing to look at either man. “Good work, you two. Find this Huera and his Montenegro buddy and make some arrests.”

  “Yes, sir,” they responded in unison.

  Winters’ gaze spanned the room. “Franco, Duggard! Where’s that final draft I asked for an hour ago!” Winters barked.

  Rafa kept his eyes on his partner. She didn’t strike him as one who took criticism well ... or at all, for that matter. He recalled their first meeting in the lieutenant’s office the other day. Not only did she not take orders well, but she also had no qualms in telling her boss why. Yet, a moment ago, she acquiesced without a peep. “Genie?”

  “Conference room, now,” she snapped. Without meeting his gaze, she vaulted from her chair and stormed toward the room.

  Rafa remained seated for a moment, mulling the repercussions of not following her. Then he considered the opportunity he had to peel away some of her layers, and he jumped up. When he reached the door, he paused. Genie was pacing like a caged animal. He entered the room and closed the door.

  “How could you do that?”

  His brows bushed. He took in her rigid stance, hands on hips, and an accusatory stare. “What exactly did I do?”

  “What I can’t seem to figure out is how brownnosing my boss gets you ahead.”

  “Because I mentioned Huera and Montenegro?”

  She smirked. “You made me look bad in front of the lieutenant… on purpose!”

  Here he thought he did a good deed. He took a few steps forward until he stood within arm’s distance of her. Unblinking, she held his gaze, her nostrils flaring. “Who are you really mad at?”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “Someone did something to you." He could see it so clearly now — the need for absolute control, the lack of trust, and the bulldogged desire to work independently. Investigations were tough enough with multiple heads in the game but to go it alone? What did she have to prove? His eyes searched hers as if he'd find the answers to his questions in their dark chocolate depths. "Who was it? What did he do?”

  She took a step back, her gaze wavering. Before he could ask again, she moved around him and marched toward the door. “Don’t show me up like that again.”

  He kept his back to her. “I was only trying to save face in front of your boss. We hardly have any leads to go on.” The door slammed. Bingo. She had been hurt in the past. Rafa sighed. Whatever happened, she continued to take her frustration out on everything and everyone. Until she resolved her issue, he’d have to walk on eggshells around her. The silver lining? She wouldn’t rest until the case was resolved. And he respected her for it.

  “Santiago?”

  Rafa turned at the mention of his name. A uniform stood at the doorway.

  “Yeah?”

  “There’s a phone call for you, at your desk. Genie told me to come get you.”

  Rafa chuckled. “She couldn’t come get me herself, huh?” He started for the door.

  The officer shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face.

  “Rookie?” he asked when he approached the officer. The young man nodded. “Yeah, being a message boy is all part of the game.” Rafa slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, one day you’ll be ordering someone to go deliver a message. Thanks.” He moved past the officer and jogged to his desk.

  “Your phone was ringing off the hook,” Genie stated.

  “Should be my officer with some information.” He picked up the receiver. “Santiago.”

  “Hey, it’s Frank.”

  Rafa looked up and motioned to Genie. “Hey, Frank!” He mouthed the words “source handler” to her and she nodded.

  “Look, we’ve got two positive identifications on who’s left the area.”

  “Two from the Snakes?” His eyes held Genie’s.

  “That’s correct. Two men you should be familiar with. Jorge Huera and Nicolas Montenegro.”

  “Huera and Montenegro,” Rafa breathed. He had hoped his precinct was wrong on the identification. Confirmation brought a chill to his spine. He knew them personally.

  “They hopped on a plane about two weeks ago out of Los Angeles International Airport to Chicago, but after that, they didn’t use air. We’re still tracking rental car companies out of Chicago to see if anyone rented a vehicle with a lengthy time agreement. As far as we know, they could’ve had friends meet them there.”

  “Yeah, then it would be almost impossible to find them unless they show back up on the grid.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Alright, you let me know when you have anything more, okay?”

  “Of course, Rafael.”

  “Thanks, Frank.” Rafa replaced the receiver. He interlocked his fingers and thumped his hands to his forehead. Not every lead would be good news.

  “What is it?” Genie asked, her voice full of concern.

  Rafa took his time answering. He wished he didn’t know the two men Frank mentioned. They were close connections of Rafa’s when he moved to San Diego. At one time, he considered them mentors, but then he left the group. He hadn’t heard their names in a long time except when his cousin Enrique called years later to tell him about the death wish. When it became known Rafa joined the law-enforcement ranks, both wanted to see him dead. Rafa supposed he had his cousin to thank for that wish remaining unfulfilled. Enrique’s senior ranking in the Snakes provided Rafa with protection — at least, so he thought.

  “My man out in San Diego confirmed two men have left California. They flew to Chicago and from there the trail goes cold.”

  “How long has the trail been cold?”

  “Fourteen days.”

  Genie nodded. “That’s within the time frame of the first two murders.”

  Rafa blew out a breath, covering his face with his hands.

  “Huera and Montenegro, right?” When he nodded his answer, she continued. “Do you know them?”

  Rafa parted his fingers and their gazes locked. “Yes.”

  Genie’s mouth opened slightly but she said nothing for a few moments. “Who are they?” Before he could answer, her phone rang and she held up a finger. “Green.” He saw her eyes widen a bit before settling on his own. “Yes, we’ll be right there, thanks.” She slammed the phone down, reached underneath her desk for her purse, and slung it over her shoulder. She stood. “Come on. The unit at the boyfriend’s house said a woman just entered the residence. They’re going to keep her there until we arrive. Whoever she is, I want to talk to her.”