by Sheila Kell
AJ smiled at her. Actually smiled! He was enjoying this. “Look at the tracker again.”
She looked down and furrowed her eyebrows. “He’s stopped at the corner.”
Devon grabbed his thumb drive and stood. “Done.”
AJ grabbed her hand and rushed her to the front door. “Now it’s time to go.”
She looked at the tracker. “He’s still not moving.”
AJ turned and winked at her. The three of them filed out of the front door. He propelled her forward without his brother.
“Don’t look. Just keep walking. He’ll catch up,” he told her.
“Brad’s gone. What will we do?”
AJ stepped toward the gray car slowly approaching them. “Danny will give us a ride as Brad’s busy with a broken down car at the intersection.”
It took her a moment to process what he’d said. She’d wanted to applaud the brilliance of these men. “Do you think he’ll know we were in his house? What was the paper you hid in the office?”
He shook his head. “I doubt it. He didn’t have his deadbolt locked. That would’ve been our only giveaway since we wouldn’t have had time to lock it.”
“And, unless he’s computer savvy, which I doubt based on what I saw, he won’t know that I was there,” Devon added.
“Did anything identify the Magician?” Fingers crossed in her mind he had found something to help them.
“Not that I noticed, but I’ve quite a few files to review. Don’t count on his being named. Even Paul is smarter than that.”
A devilish grin stretched across AJ’s face. “We’ll find out. We still have plenty of cards up our sleeves.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“How will you do this? You didn’t even bring your cane to help you walk?” Worry reflected in the furrowing of Megan’s brow.
“Why do you think the twins are tagging along?” AJ smiled cheekily.
“We do have names,” Matt retorted.
“Yeah. The twins.” AJ chuckled. They’d picked on him his entire childhood. Not only had he been the youngest Hamilton brother, but he’d been born on the first of April. An April Fools’ baby. They had never let him forget it. That love of poking at him had bled over to the H.I.S. team. Even with the ribbing, he knew without a doubt they had his back. He and Megan were safe.
A grunt sounded from one of the twins in the back seat and Megan giggled. Ah, a smile looked much better on her.
They had to move to his Plan B to learn the date of the prison escape. This had a chance of tipping their hand, but they had to do something. They needed that bust. This group couldn’t slip through their fingers. They’d just set up elsewhere with their excessively large bank accounts.
They found a parking space across from Tony Mather’s house, a driver on the prison break team. AJ dialed a number on the secure cell phone. Before anyone could speak, he said, “I’m here,” and then hung up without waiting for a response.
The four of them cautiously approached the door. With a nod to his brothers, he confirmed they were ready.
His pulse rate increased as adrenaline shot through his body. He’d never tire of this.
Ignoring the doorbell, he pounded his fist on the door three times and then removed his weapon. He glanced back to witness the twins placing their hands on theirs, but leaving them holstered as they tightened their coverage around Megan.
He didn’t expect this to be dangerous, but one never knows how a suddenly caged animal would react. With his brothers protecting his little dove, he could keep his attention on the task at hand.
A tall man with shaggy, sandy brown hair opened the door and gasped when he saw AJ and the weapon pointed at him. After scanning his uninvited guests, the man straightened, changed his demeanor and acted as if someone held him at gunpoint daily.
“AJ,” Tony said with a nod.
“Inside,” AJ demanded, waving his Beretta.
Following his instructions, the man turned and walked into his house followed by their group.
“That’s far enough. Let’s go to your dining room.”
Tony was prodded to a red leather chair pulled back from his dining table.
“Have a seat. Matt, put the cuffs on him.”
AJ’s brother walked forward.
“Put your hands behind the back of the chair and don’t try anything. I’ve been shot and am not in the mood for any more shit.”
He breathed a silent sigh of relief when Matt returned to protect Megan.
Tony shot AJ a furious look. “There are a lot of people looking for you, especially now that they know you’re not who you said you were. You’re a Fed,” he spat out.
AJ holstered his Beretta, taking in Tony’s words. When had they found that out? And how did they find it out? At this point it truly didn’t matter if they knew. AJ wanted the leak, but one task at a time.
His cover being blown worked to his advantage right now.
“Good. Then you know that I’m about to bust you.” He turned a chair around and sat across from his prey.
A panicked look struck the man’s face. “W-What?”
“You heard me. I’m having you arrested. You’re the first of Paul’s team I’ve come to see, so I’m giving you an opportunity to help yourself. And, you will go to prison today unless you help me.”
Tony flattened his lips and shot a venomous glare at him. “Are you kidding me? I’m not telling you anything. I don’t want the Magician on me. I don’t have a death wish.”
AJ shook his head. “Tony, Tony. You don’t understand. Even the Magician will go down this time. Your entire team will soon be arrested. The first one to talk has a chance at protective custody and a new life. If you don’t want to be the first to talk, then I’ll go to someone else on the team. One of them will see the writing on the wall and spill their guts.”
The man blanched. “What do you mean the Magician is going down?”
“I’ll be arresting him too.”
Tony’s eyes bulged. “Do you know who he is?”
AJ allowed a cool, confident smile to curve his lips. “I will.”
His brothers had visited the night prior while Megan slept. They’d discussed the information gathered to date on the investigation being quietly conducted by the H.I.S. team. Putting together their facts, they created a short, solid list of possible suspects. Megan wouldn’t like any of them so he hadn’t shared the information with her. At some point the two of them would need to discuss it, but he didn’t want to see the pain it might cause.
“How?” Tony asked.
AJ stood and walked around the man. Without the cane to hold some of the weight off of his leg, pain pulsed through it with every step. “Don’t worry about that. Here’s what’s going to happen. We’ll arrest you for your part in the operation. Taking me with you on a mission was a mistake.” He stopped in front of him. “After I arrest you, I expect Paul will have you sprung. Unfortunately, the Magician will think you spilled the beans to either me or the police and will put a hit on you.”
Tony’s eyes widened again. “What?”
AJ assessed him. This could be easier than he thought it would be. He’d expected some fight from Tony and truthfully was disappointed not to get it. AJ needed to take his anger out on someone. They’d shot at him and Megan.
“The Magician won’t take the chance that you made a deal or talked. We can keep you alive with the Witness Protection Program if you become our source of information, testifying against Paul and your team.”
The man visibly trembled. “I don’t want prison, and I don’t want to die.”
“You really should’ve thought of that before you joined Magic Shop. I’m not in a position to promise you anything but the chance to live.”
He dropped his head and a loud, defeated sigh emanated from him. “Are you sure the Magician wi
ll put a hit out on me, or are you just saying that?”
AJ held in laughter at the question. Did Tony think it would be that easy? That he would get reassurance it was no joke? “I’m one hundred percent certain he will do it. He’s had people killed for less than that.”
Tony swallowed audibly. “Are you sure you can keep me alive?”
AJ contained his triumph. He had him, hook, line and sinker. “There’s a deputy U.S. marshal on the way here. He’ll take you to prison or into protective custody. That’s your choice, Tony. It’s a live or die decision. It should be an easy choice.”
“What about my girl? I don’t want to go without her.”
That was the reason AJ had chosen Tony first. The question had been expected, and AJ had cleared the way if the man asked. “Are you ready to marry her?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Then I think we can work something out.”
Relief shifted in the depth of Tony’s gaze. “Okay, I want protection.”
AJ smiled, returned to his seat and sat. “Good choice. Now, how about you give us some information?”
“What do you want to know?” The man’s voice broke betraying his nervousness.
“When is the next prison break?”
“Tomorrow.”
Shit. He’d know it was soon, but fuck, he’d have to work fast.
Tony answered all of the questions to AJ’s satisfaction. Another person’s life he’d saved.
A deputy U.S. marshal walked through the door and AJ stood to greet him. “Protective custody and no one knows except your protection detail.”
* * * * *
Megan covered the mouthpiece of the cell phone. “Victoria has all of the information on the brothels and prostitution ring. She wants to meet in person for us to review each other’s photos and information to pull everything together.”
AJ shook his head. “You two have talked daily. You ask me the same question every time. My answer hasn’t changed. You discuss with her only what you’re prepared to publish. You are not to…”
“I know,” Megan interrupted in a dejected voice. “Don’t share anything on future activities she has no need to know about.” Her face brightened. “But she has all of the names and locations, pictures of the pimps.”
The woman exasperated him. “Megan, the answer is still no. Get as much of the information as you can from her. We’ll add it to ours. We see no one outside of my brothers.”
She narrowed her eyes before she turned her back to him, returning to the call.
* * * * *
AJ paced the floor waiting for the secure cell phone to ring. He hated sitting on the sidelines. No longer would he wait like this. He’d be involved, injury or not. He had a slight gait, but nothing that would’ve prevented him from participating in a raid or arrest. Maybe he’d bust a stitch or two but who cared? That could be fixed. Hell, he’d already had a few stitched again after his and Megan’s escapades in bed.
“Calm down, baby brother. He’ll call.”
He gritted his teeth and swung around on Brad. AJ hated it when any of them called him ‘baby brother’. “Fuck you.”
Megan’s giggle lifted his spirit, sending a shot of happiness bouncing around inside, relaxing him. He needed that in his life. Fuck. No use thinking that way. It was almost time to tell her. She would fight him on it, but she’d lose. And, in the end, so would he.
He checked the phone to ensure he hadn’t missed a call. His head back into work, her laughter forgotten, his muscles tightened into knots worrying something had gone awry. They couldn’t afford that to happen. They’d selected the right people. He was sure of that.
Tomorrow would be the biggest day. Besides the prison escape, they’d add hitting the brothels at the same time. The team had quickly checked out Victoria’s information. Even though accurate, it hadn’t added anything to what they’d already known.
After today, hitting Carl and Erin’s business should be the final straw. And the final card in their deck. This had to be the right approach to capture the Magician. It had to be. Everything agents had done over the years to identify him had failed. This had been a gamble. Adding Megan’s articles to the plan had been his brilliant suggestion and strengthened it all.
He jumped at the ringing of the phone in his hand. He answered but remained silent.
“It’s all done,” Arthur stated gruffly.
AJ let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Any issues?”
“Nothing they couldn’t handle. No one expected them. You could’ve told me what the plan had been, soon to be ex-Special Agent Hamilton.”
He nodded his head even though the caller couldn’t see it. He’d deal with his job status later. “Yes. I could have.”
Arthur cleared his throat. “I’ve added the deputy marshals you requested for tomorrow. Dammit, AJ! Tell me about this one. I had to pull a lot of strings for you.”
“Can’t, Arthur. I don’t trust the phones anymore.”
“Yours is secure and so is mine. What’s the fucking problem?”
“There’s a leak, and I’m not willing to chance it. This is too important to me.”
His boss sighed. “I never should’ve allowed you so much leash on this one. When you come back, we’ll discuss your choice to keep the girl with you over your career and possible jail time.”
He could care less what happened to him after this ended. He’d go back to his lonely life tearing apart every potential lead he had to find Jake. His heart clenched. Where the fuck did you go, brother?
“AJ?”
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he stated, “I’m leading the team tomorrow.”
Silence. “Is that what you really want to do? You could blow your cover.”
“I found out my cover has already been blown, not that it mattered anymore since they attempted to kill me. I couldn’t have slid back in the organization. So I’m not sitting out tomorrow.”
“How’s the leg?”
He absently stopped pacing and rubbed the wound. “It won’t be a problem.”
“What about the girl? How do you plan to protect her when you’re playing federal agent?”
He had no choice in the matter. If he left her, she’d find a way to get into trouble. The team already had a weak spot for her. Her bubbly personality was contagious. They all wanted to be around her. Which pissed him the hell off. He’d kill any of them that touched her. He feared she’d somehow sweet talk one of their warriors into breaking protocol. If anyone could do it, it’d be her. So, no choice.
“She comes with me. H.I.S. will be there to keep her safe.”
“Maybe you can convince her to leave with the marshals.”
Arthur had no clue how adamant she was about that topic. ‘No’ was her only answer, never hesitating. She stayed with him, her faith unwavering. He didn’t deserve it. He still held important secrets from her. One was the secret that would rip them apart.
He ended the call and gave Megan the go-ahead.
“AJ, I forgot. When Alex held me captive, he used your real name. They’ve known for a while who you really are.”
He shrugged to assure her it was no big deal. The more he thought about it, the closer he came to the rat.
She moved to the desk, pulled her hair back in a clip, her face serious and began typing. Knowing at the end she’d stretch…Fuck. Brad would see her perfect breasts push out, asking to be suckled. AJ would have to distract him at the right moment. No way would he have his hound dog of a brother salivating over what was his.
Today had been a good day. They’d captured Jimmy and picked up twenty Magic Shop dealers. She had another front page article. It had to burn the Magician reading her articles when not only should she be dead, but she more or less flaunted his failures.
His eyes honed in on her
long, silky neck. Blood pulsed and began their flow to his groin. He looked away. He couldn’t get enough of her.
His burner phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Did you create this chaos?” Blade asked.
AJ smiled. “What makes you think that?”
“I’ve come to know you. You’re trying to seriously piss him off, aren’t you?”
He ignored his question. He’d protected Blade on the bust but the dealer didn’t need to be aware of that or any of his plans. “What’s the word on the street?”
“There’s talk the dealers arrested are on their own. That’s pissed off the ones who were lucky. They were hot after Jimmy until they heard he got arrested too. An escaped convict. Huh. The dealers want Carl now. They refuse to go on the street until he can provide them protection from DEA.”
“It’s very unfortunate things are as they are.” AJ wanted to fist pump. The dealers revolting made this all the better.
His informant chuckled. “You’re good.”
AJ’s smile broadened. He couldn’t be more pleased with the day’s results. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Okay, whatever you say. Thanks for getting Jimmy for me.”
“I told you a long time ago, you help me, and I help you. Stay off the streets for a few more days.”
“Gotcha. Keep it up.” Blade ended the call.
Carl was in a bigger shit storm than they’d planned. The dealers refusing to work helped their cause.
They’d made good progress. First had been Damian. He’d allowed them to live and Megan to publish her articles. The two of them had made Magic Shop lives hell. AJ couldn’t be prouder of the work she’d done. He couldn’t see the big boss appreciating his advisor’s failure.
Next had been Carl. Losing that shipment had been a big hit. Real big hit since the drivers freely shared the transportation routes. Then, he’d lost twenty dealers and quite a bit of money and product. The bonus was that he’d lost Jimmy which had to make him squirm since he also was an escaped convict. But he’d have to go on the streets to straighten out his problems. Problems he would have a hard time explaining.
