by Desiree Holt
“I’m going to ask you a question,” she said in a soft voice. “It in no way impacts on my belief in your story, but I am compelled by procedure to ask.”
“You want to know if I mistook what he did,” she guessed, in a defeated voice. ”Or if I gave him a come-on of any kind.”
“You have to understand.” Athena kept her voice low key. “This is a serious charge against a high profile individual. We want to make sure to cross all our Ts and dot our Is carefully.”
The girl looked up, eyes filled with tears. “You want proof? Start with this.” She pushed up the sleeve of her sweater to reveal ugly bruises along her forearm. “And this.” She pulled the scarf away from her neck, a scarf she had wound tightly despite the heat. A row of bruises that could only have come from fingers pressing hard dotted the slender column.
“Jodi,” Athena began.
“Would you like me to strip for you, too?” Tears spilled down her face. “I know in cases like this you’re supposed to go to the hospital for a rape kit, but I didn’t think anyone would believe me. I mean, because, you know….”
“Because of who he is,” Athena finished for her, the words bitter in her mouth.
She knew all about the clout local politicians wielded, some of them with statewide and even nationally based power. This particular one was especially evil. There were rumors he bought drugs from the cartels and sold them to purchase guns for terrorists, selling those at an inflated price. How many American fighters had died because of that? The thought turned her stomach.
Jodi nodded and blinked against her tears.
Anger seethed through her body and gripped her in a hard fist. She was so fucking tired of playing politics and letting assholes get away with whatever because of who or what they were.
“I believe you.” She reached out and took the girl’s hand in hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “You can count on that. Now. Let me get some information I need and then we’ll take a trip to the hospital. And rest assured, I will be with you every step of the way. Promise.”
“Th-Thank you.” Jodi gave her a weak smile.
“Okay, let’s get started.”
Athena opened the report folder in front of her, but before she could even write the girl’s name in it, there was a heavy rap on the door. It opened and her boss, Chief of Detectives Lieutenant Amos Padrone walked in, tall, thin, his lined face set in a blank expression. Right behind him came the hulking figure of Captain Cliff Marcel, his beefy body straining at his shirt and slacks, his narrowed eyes focusing on the young girl sitting at the table.
Athena’s stomach knotted. If ever there was anyone who played politics, it was these two. They spent more time feathering their own nests than solving crimes. Except when they were sweeping those crimes under the rug.
“I’ll take over, Detective.” Marcel stood over her as if by his very presence he could intimidate her into doing his bidding.
“But we haven’t even gotten started,” she protested, trying to stay calm for Jodi’s sake.
“I said I’d handle it.” The smile on his face was as false as his conciliatory tone of voice. “Come along, young lady.” He reached a hand to Jodi. “I’m going to make sure you are well taken care of.”
Athena wanted to snort. Yeah, she’d just bet she knew what kind of care Jodi Wilson would get. She gritted her teeth as Marcel led the girl out of the room, his grip tight on her arm. She gave one last scared look over her shoulder at Athena before she and the captain disappeared.
“Fuck.” She slammed her hand down on the table.
“Come on, Athena.” Padrone urged her from the chair. “You know who calls the shots around here.”
“Yes.” She curled her hands into fists at her side. “And it’s not any decent cop, either.”
Padrone shrugged. “He owes the people who made him. He’s on the line to be chief next, you know.”
“Don’t make me throw up.” She shook her head. “That poor kid he dragged out of here. I know his method. She’ll get a barrel full of money and enough threats to keep her quiet. And the captain’s fucking asshole friend is like Teflon—nothing sticks. Again.”
“Come on,” Amos said again. “You need to let it go.”
Athena glared at him, fists clenched by her sides. “You know what, LT? I’m fucking sick of ‘letting it go’ all the time. I’m a policewoman. A detective. I’m sworn to uphold the law and that…that…that animal makes a mockery of it.” She gave him a hard look. “Don’t you ever get tired of playing his game? Of doing your job based on who needs to be protected?”
A muscle twitched in the man’s cheek. “Better watch your mouth.”
“You know it’s the truth. You didn’t get that fancy car or that upscale house on a lieutenant’s pay.” She couldn’t believe she was actually confronting him on this. “Or do you just have some really good ‘investments’?” Sarcasm laced her words.
Amos shook his head. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that, or you might find yourself out on the street.”
“Maybe a better place than in here where I have to watch disgusting garbage like what just happened,” she challenged him.
“I said to let it go, Athena. You’ll only buy trouble you don’t want. Meanwhile, you’ve still got a job to do.”
She stared at him. “Do I? What kind of job is it when everyone from politicians to money launderers to drug cartels gets a pass because they grease the captain’s palm? How many others in here are on that slug’s payroll?” She shook her head. “I can’t handle this anymore.”
He gave a strained laugh. “Maybe you just need to get laid.”
Of course that would be his comeback. That’s who he was. Athena had to bite her tongue to keep back the scathing retort bubbling up.
“Maybe. And maybe I just need to find another job.” She stared at him for a very long moment, trying not to let her disgust show. “Listen, LT. I’ve got leave time I haven’t used. I’m taking it now, starting right this minute. You want to do something nice for me? Fix the paperwork.” She stormed off toward her desk and her purse.
“Hey!” he called after her. “You can’t just walk out like that. When will you be back?”
She shrugged. “Who knows?”
“Damn it, Athena.” Frustration edged his voice. “You can’t do that.”
“Watch me,” she muttered under her breath and just kept on going. What could he do, fire her? Would that even be so bad?
Right now, the only thing she knew for sure was she had to get out of this place before she either threw up or killed someone. In the locker room, she washed her face, scrubbing as hard as she could. She wasn’t sure, however, if even a full-body shower would wash away the dirt sticking to her from this place.
She took a moment, hoping to cool her temper, and tugged her thick black hair into a ponytail. She grabbed her purse and jacket from her locker and headed out the back door of the police station. In her car, she rolled down the windows to catch the breeze as she drove. Unfortunately, it didn’t blow away the rage she still felt.
She just hated leaving Jodi Farrell in Cliff Marcel’s clutches. The girl had been traumatized enough. To end up being a pawn in a political game was disgusting. It frustrated her beyond belief she could do nothing about the situation. It would all get swept under the rug, and Jodi would get paid off. Athena snorted. As if money could fix the damage done to her. But she did have choices. She could no longer turn a blind eye to what was going on with Marcel and her lieutenant.
Quitting the department had been at the back of her mind for some time. This episode was turning out to be the one that pushed her over the edge. But she wasn’t leaving money behind. No, sir. She had vacation time coming, and she’d take up every day of it.
And use it to get the goods on the asshole politician who was a disgrace to the city, the state, and the country. As she drove through the warm Tampa night, her mind whirled with ideas. Tomorrow, she’d begin to plan.
Chapter
Three
Grey couldn’t have asked for a better night for this mission. And that was what it was, in reality. A mission, just as important as so many others he’d been on. Maybe even more, because this involved a promise and a commitment that was intensely personal. There were no stars at all in the sky, and the tiny sliver of moon barely cast any light. The soft breeze rustling the leaves on the mature pin oaks and palm trees would cover any sound he might make, although he’d shock himself if he created even as much as a whisper.
He’d used all the information he’d gathered in his one visit to the community to plot this mission on his laptop. It amazed him how easy it was to identify the weak spots in Tanglewood security as well as Drake Bostic’s house. It was almost laughable what civilians, even those with a lot to hide like the senator, thought was foolproof protection. Maybe against the average crook, but not against a trained Delta Force soldier.
He waited until full dark before he made his move, parking his car at a place he’d scoped out just around the corner from the entrance to Tanglewood, and mentally reviewed where all the bodies would be. He’d learned a long time ago how much information you could get for a very little money.
Drake Bostic’s schedule showed the man at a political fundraiser for the evening. Since the event was to raise money for his campaign, he’d be one of the last to leave. His driver would be at the country club waiting for him, and Grey had learned the two household staff in residence had the night off.
Finding a breach in the perimeter security was a snap. The residents had mistakenly thought that because they’d built this huge twelve-foot-high two-mile-long brick wall completely surrounding them, they were secure. Grey had broken into enemy compounds with much more sophisticated security and not even raised an alarm.
When he was satisfied it was dark enough, he hoisted himself over the brick wall at a place where it curved around a forested area. Jesus. How much money do these disgusting people have to spend when they can afford a brick wall like this?
Strapped to his back was a small knapsack with the equipment he’d need for tonight’s action. It amazed him what kind of equipment he could buy with no security whatsoever on the Internet. And, he was sure, for a lot less money than Uncle Sam paid. He’d assembled everything he needed, and now he crept through the blackness, making sure to skirt the perimeter of the houses close to his destination. He was lucky Bostic’s house backed up to the golf course, although he wondered why a man with so many secrets would want a location that left him open to being breached so effortlessly. Oh, well. Just easier for him.
Finally reaching his target, he used an electromagnetic device to disable the alarm system, the cameras, and the sensors. He was sure Bostic was convinced he’d bought the very best in electronic protection, but there was a way around anything. Grey was an expert in finding whatever those were. He skirted the back door, sure it would have a chain in addition to other locks. The den had a sliding glass door leading out to a patio. He took his phone from his pocket and scrolled through his files until he pulled up the floor plan of the house. When he’d studied the blueprints at the county building, he’d not only photographed them but also memorized them. Now he was just double checking to make sure he knew where to go.
This looked like the best point of entry, although the senator had to be pretty dumb—or too confident of his security system—not to use a room closed on all sides. He slid the door open noiselessly and eased himself just as quietly inside.
The house was dark, so he clicked on a tiny penlight, cupping his hand around it just in case, and began looking around the room. This would be the most logical place Bostic would keep records of his illegal dealings. People like him always kept records, thinking to use them for blackmail if necessary.
Sure enough, he found it in a far corner of the room, behind a sliding panel with a concealed switch. But nothing hid from him. Holding the penlight between his teeth, he took out his tools and began to decipher the combination to the safe. He just about had it open when a whisper of sound alerted him to the opening of the slider again. Someone else in the den.
Fuck!
Who else had taken advantage of tonight to break into this house? And why? Was someone else after the same information? It wasn’t impossible, but what an unlucky coincidence that whoever it was should pick the same night he did to look for it.
In all of the quiet investigating he’d done, he hadn’t heard of anyone else after the politician, but then, of course, if they were any good, he wouldn’t have. Still, it seemed an unlikely coincidence that whoever this was would have chosen this exact night to do some scouting. How had they gotten into the house? Had they seen him, caught him disabling the security? They’d have to have some pretty sophisticated equipment themselves or be pretty damn sharp.
He wedged himself into a corner of the den to the side of the sliding glass door and waited for whoever it was to slip into the room.
*****
What the hell am I doing?
Athena paced the living room of her small apartment, wondering why she had ever thought she could do this. She was a cop—a detective—and a damn good one. She’d even worked undercover a couple of times, so she had some decent stealth skills. She hadn’t, however, breached the security of a high-profile suspect on any of her assignments. She wasn’t all that good with electronics, although she’d spent the afternoon yesterday at the shabby little store owned by one of her confidential informants. It had only taken the threat of exposure to persuade him to tell her what she needed and show her how to use it.
Yesterday she had scoped out Tanglewood, showing her badge to the guard and telling him she was doing an informal security check ordered by the chief.
“To keep the residents happy and secure.” She’d given the guard her best public smile, and he’d opened the gate for her with no problem.
A few months ago, she had been a visitor to one of the homes in the community when the owners’ daughter had disappeared. The situation had turned out positively, but Athena had stored all the security information in her brain, something that now came in handy. It also meant her appearance didn’t raise any red flags.
Tonight, she would make her move. She’d decided that early in the morning when sleep eluded her and her anger at the way Bostic was protected by her bosses continued to churn in her system. Yesterday, she’d managed to learn the senator would be at an event at the clubhouse tonight. Both his live-ins had the night off as well. It was a sign, she told herself. An indication she should move forward with her plan right now.
A glass of wine would have calmed her nerves nicely, but she didn’t think alcohol was a good choice in this situation. She settled for a cup of tea which she sipped while she dressed in dark jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. She tugged on a ball cap and pulled her ponytail through the opening in the back. Black jogging shoes completed the outfit. The last thing she did was check her Browning 1911 was loaded and tuck it into her waistband at the small of her back.
At nine thirty, there was still a decent amount of traffic on the streets but she made it to Tanglewood in acceptable time. She parked her car on a side street, shoved her arms through the straps of her small backpack, and headed off for her target. After making sure no one was strolling the sidewalks in this mostly deserted section of the area, she used climbing gear to hoist herself over the wall and dropped down easily on the other side.
The faint sound of voices broke the silence of the black night here and there, and the vague notes of music drifted from someone’s open window. But no one was outside catching the night air, thank god. In no time, she stood at the rear of Bostic’s outrageously massive house, using her little device to jam the radio signals of the home security system. She bypassed the back door. They often had chain locks as well as other protections, and it took too much time to deal with them. Besides, speed and stealth were of utmost importance here.
From the blueprints she’d studied at the county offices, she knew where the d
en was located, the most likely site for the safe. And stupidly for the senator but lucky for her, it had a sliding glass door leading out to a patio. Using a tiny version of a Slim Jim, she nudged the lock free and eased the door open, moving quietly inside.
She had barely moved a step forward before a muscular arm banded around her throat, pressing her against a very hard male body. A hand closed over her mouth, silencing her. Athena froze, equal parts angry and terrified. She had no idea who this was, but it couldn’t be good.
“If I take my hand away from your mouth, will you promise not to scream?” The voice was a whisper in her ear.
She nodded, and he eased his fingers loose. She took advantage of the slight easing of his hold on her to try to jab him with her elbow. Bad move. The arm banding her throat tightened.
“Not nice,” the voice said. “We’ll have to talk about that later.”
Fingers pressed on a point behind her ear as the arm tightened even more, and, in seconds, she fell into blackness.
Chapter Four
Grey kept a sharp eye on the woman stretched out on his couch. He’d been very careful with the amount of pressure he’d applied to render her unconscious, and he hoped he hadn’t misjudged this time. Getting her back to his SUV had been a bitch. He’d thought about trying to walk her back, pretending she’d had too much to drink, but wasn’t sure that would work. He finally thought himself back to a firefight zone, tossed her over one shoulder, and zigzagged to his point of exit. He even managed to get her over the wall and into his vehicle without anyone seeing them, miracle of miracles. And don’t even ask about the magic tricks he pulled to get her car moved to his place.
