Just in case, she tried the doorknob. Locked. She went back and sat on the bed. Now she understood. Sean had set up this room to be her prison. What she didn’t know was how long he would keep her here or why.
Leaning back in her chair, Agent Burton crossed her arms and stared at him. “Is this some kind of a joke? Why didn’t you mention the time constraint before? We would have gotten the wheels in motion much faster.”
“It never occurred to me. Sorry. I was too worried about my friend, Sean.”
“Sean. That’s your business partner, right?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered. “The cartel couldn’t get to Lucy and Eli, so they grabbed the only other person who means anything to me—Sean.”
“What about your parents and siblings?”
“My parents are in Nepal doing missionary work—long story. And I’m an only child.”
She nodded. “All right, then. Here’s what I want you to do. Call him back and set up a meeting. Tell him you’ll bring the money, but only part of it. This will be kind of a good faith thing. In other words, you know if you brought it all, they’d simply kill you and your friend, Sean.”
“What about the money? I don’t have it.”
“There’s a bunch of really good counterfeit stuff I have access to. It’ll take jumping through too many hoops to get that cleared, so I’m not going to go through proper channels. I’ll just use it and worry about the consequences later.”
“That’ll work. Thanks,” he said.
“No thanks are necessary. If things go according to plan, you’re going to help me bring down one of the largest and most troublesome drug cartels operating around the Mexican border.” She sounded satisfied—and optimistic, which he appreciated.
“Now, we’re going to outfit you with a wire,” she continued. “You won’t be going out there alone by any means, though we’re going to make sure they think you are. Meanwhile, you’ll be under heavy surveillance.”
He thought about it for a moment. “I need to be armed.”
Studying him, she narrowed her eyes. “Do you know your way around a firearm? Are you familiar with a pistol?”
“I know how to shoot.”
“Then I think in this instance that can be arranged.”
That settled, she listened while he made the call to Sean’s cell. Again, he spoke to the unnamed Mexican.
When he’d finished, agreeing to meet the representatives from the cartel at an abandoned ware house in Aurora in two hours, she immediately got on her desk phone, putting together a team.
Then she took him down the hall for her tech people to get him ready.
The DEA people had this type of sting procedure down to a science. Within thirty-five minutes of his arrival in the tech department, they had Tucker outfitted with a wire and commenced giving him instructions on how the operation would proceed.
“We’re taking two teams,” Agent Burton began. “One to cover the front, the other will go around back. We’re going to hit them from both sides and put the squeeze on him.”
Tucker nodded, trying to steady his nerves. He couldn’t help thinking how reality was different than TV. On television, no one seemed to realize they could get shot and killed.
At least Agent Burton had promised he could have a weapon. This made him feel slightly better about his role in this thing.
“Once we breach, I want you to hit the floor,” Agent Burton continued. “No funny business, no heroics, just hit the floor, plain and simple. Can you handle that?”
“Yes, but I want that gun you promised,” Tucker responded. “I have to have a way to protect myself.”
Giving him a sheepish grin, Agent Burton shook her head. “About that… I’ve reconsidered. They’re going to pat you down for weapons ten seconds after you arrive. There’s no way they’ll let you keep a pistol, so why waste one?”
About to argue, Tucker realized she was right. “Fine.”
Conceding the point, he gestured at his chest, now wrapped tightly in some kind of electrical tape. “Then what about the wire? If they pat me down, won’t they find that?”
“That’s highly unlikely due to the location.” Since the DEA tech guy seemed to know what he was talking about, Tucker left it at that.
Five more minutes and they were ready to hit the road.
“Come on,” Agent Burton said. “You’re riding with me. You’ll let me out five blocks before you reach the warehouse, and I’ll ride in with the rest of my team. As a precaution, we’re going to circle around and approach from the southeast. We should arrive about ten minutes before the agreed-upon time.”
And they were off.
A few short minutes later, Tucker pulled over and let Agent Burton out. Before she left, she studied him, then held out her hand. “My name is Daisy,” she said gruffly. “Sorry I was so hard on you earlier.”
Surprised, he shook her hand. “No worries, Daisy. Now remember, I’m trusting you to keep me from getting killed or worse, letting them take me captive. I’d rather be shot dead instantly than have to go through that again. Understand?”
She made direct eye contact as she slowly nodded. “Let’s hope it won’t come to that, all right?” Without waiting for an answer, she got out of the car and shut the door.
He waited until he’d watched her climb into the Tahoe behind him before taking off. He drove around to the back of the warehouse, as he’d been instructed, and parked next to a beat-up, old Chevy van close to the building. The only other vehicles nearby looked as though they’d been parked there permanently and now provided a refuge for wildlife.
Glancing around him for guards and faintly surprised to find none, he went to the metal warehouse door and pulled. Though some of the red paint flaked off in his hand, the door opened with a squeak. Bracing himself, he went inside.
Once the door closed behind him, effectively blocking out the light, he had to stop and let his eyes adjust to the darkness. The briefcase full of counterfeit money felt heavy, though it wasn’t. Maybe knowing it contained over a million dollars—even if it was fake—made it feel that way.
A man emerged from the shadows, flicking a switch that turned on several overhead lights. Despite the fact that he wore a ski mask over his face, he looked vaguely familiar. He had a large pistol pointed directly at Tucker.
“Hands in the air,” he barked, hand over his mouth to muffle his voice. He spoke completely unaccented English and, despite his obvious attempt to disguise his voice, Tucker recognized it.
“Sean?” he asked, incredulous. “Is that you?”
“Now,” the other man ordered, not answering Tucker’s question.
His certainty was growing; nevertheless, Tucker did as requested, heart pounding as the man patted him down, praying he wouldn’t find the wire. He didn’t.
“You’re good,” the man said, stepping back. Then, while keeping the gun aimed at Tucker, he pulled off the mask.
Sean, his expression furious, glared at him.
“Damn, Sean. It is you.” Suspicions confirmed, Tucker couldn’t believe it. “What the hell’s going on?”
Staring coldly at him, Sean didn’t answer. “This way.” He directed with his weapon still pointed at Tucker. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Walking in the direction he’d been told, Tucker wondered what the listening DEA agents thought of this development. Rather than meeting with the cartel, he was meeting with…Sean?
“I don’t get it,” he said out loud. Good thing Sean didn’t think to check him for a wire. Though Tucker didn’t think it would matter either way. Whatever Sean was up to, he was intent and serious.
Tucker tripped on something, stumbling as the empty paint can clattered.
“Keep moving,” Sean ordered. “Or I’ll put a bullet in your back.”
“Come on, man. Get real. Stop this now before someone else gets hurt,” Tucker said, pausing and turning to face his friend.
Still holding the gun, Sean glared at him, the hatred burn
ing in his gaze giving Tucker pause. “The cartel will be here shortly,” he said. “What the hell do you have in that briefcase?”
“Part of the money,” Tucker answered, surprised when Sean’s mouth twisted in a bitter smile. “Over a million dollars?”
“Right. Where the hell did you get that? Your accounts are all frozen and I know you don’t have the cartel’s money.”
“You do?” Suspicion dawning, he eyed the man he’d once called his best friend. “And you know this how?”
Returning his look, Sean smirked. “Because I have the money. I’ve had it all along. Now I don’t know where you got that briefcase full of money, but hand it over. Put it on the floor and slide it over to me.”
Tucker did as he asked. “Let me get this straight. You stole the money from the drug cartel and you’re meeting them here?”
“Correct.” Keeping the gun trained on Tucker, Sean knelt and clicked open the briefcase. “Damn.” He seemed surprised to find the cash inside. “You were serious.”
“Of course I was.” Tucker let the bitterness color his voice. “I brought that money because I believed I was rescuing my best friend.”
“You’re a fool. You always were.” Closing the briefcase, Sean stood back up. “The guy you know as Miguel Gonzalez is on his way here to meet with me. I promised him I’d bring you and the money.”
“And what do you get in return?”
Instead of answering, Sean shook his head, his expression once again wild. “Shut up. I refuse to let you screw this up for me. You’ve taken everything else I had, but you can’t have this. This money is mine.”
“Sean,” Tucker began, trying to sound both reasonable and conciliatory. “Calm down, buddy. I’m not trying to take the money. I just want to know how you stole it and why.”
“How is Lucy?” Practically spitting her name, Sean circled around. “And the baby? They were going to be my family, until you showed back up. You couldn’t even have the sense to stay dead.”
Aware that if he were to respond to this, he’d most likely set Sean off again. Instead, Tucker asked another question. “That money you’ve brought for Miguel. Is it the entire missing ten million dollars?”
Expression like stone, slowly Sean shook his head no. “But it’s enough. He’s paying me a finder’s fee. Kind of like a bounty.” Sean’s smile was cold and brilliant. “And don’t even think about asking me to cut you in. You’ve done nothing to deserve it. I’ve earned it—by bringing you in. The money is all mine. I’ve got it stashed safely away in an offshore account. It’s untouchable now.”
Ignoring this, Tucker pressed on. “The drug cartel is foaming at the mouth for that money. DEA agents have been killed because of it.”
“Not my problem.”
Suddenly, Tucker couldn’t stand pretending anymore. This man, rage darkening his eyes and twisting his features, bore no resemblance to his childhood best friend. “What the hell is wrong with you? You’ve changed. What happened to you, Sean?”
Sean froze. Then he laughed, a mirthless sound full of bitterness. “What happened? Funny that you should have to ask. You’re what happened.” Venom dripped from every word. “All our lives, you’ve been the first, the best and the brightest. I only got in on starting up BBB because you let me. Everything I’ve ever done, every accomplishment, has been because of you. You’ve always dropped me your leavings.”
“That’s not true,” Tucker interjected.
Ignoring him, Sean continued. “You even took Lucy from me. I’ve loved her since third grade, but she only had eyes for you.”
Touchy subject. “The money, Sean.” Steering the conversation back on track, Tucker kept his voice calm and level. Though he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like Sean’s answer. “I refuse to believe you originally stole it. You didn’t even go to Mexico with me, so you couldn’t have been initially involved in this. How did you happen to get hold of the drug cartel’s mission money?”
Sean’s laugh sent chills up Tucker’s spine. “Not involved? Dude, I’m the one who orchestrated the entire thing. Bruno came to me with a business proposition. We could steal the money, as long as we could make it appear someone else did. You happened to be going to look at coffee beans at the right time to make it appear you were the thief. So that’s what we did. As far as the cartel is concerned, you and Carlos stole their money.”
Stunned, for a moment Tucker couldn’t speak. When he did, all he could do was tell Sean something he most likely already knew. “Carlos is dead.”
“Yep.” Sean’s expression remained unchanged. “And they were supposed to kill you, too. I’m guessing they figured if they tortured you long enough, you could tell them where you’d hidden their money.”
Tucker’s blood ran cold. His childhood best friend, the man he’d thought of as a brother, had just admitted arranging Tucker’s death. “Only I couldn’t tell them where the money was, since I didn’t know,” he said slowly.
“Correct,” Sean said, his broad smile contrasting with his dark gaze. “It should have only been a matter of time before they broke you or accidentally killed you. I was surprised you lasted so long. I figured you’d die in captivity.”
The horror of having a man he’d grown up with and once considered his best friend say such a thing had Tucker wincing with pain. But then, he realized with a growing sense of shock, that meant Sean had known all along that he wasn’t dead. In fact, had he wanted to, Sean could have rescued him and shortened his stay in hell.
Sean could have saved his life, but he’d chosen not to.
Not only that, but he’d let Lucy mourn for nothing, aware all along that Tucker was very much alive and being held captive in Mexico.
And that wasn’t even the worst of it.
The fact that he had caused all of Tucker’s suffering, relished it and planned to celebrate by cashing in on the very money the cartel still believed Tucker had stolen was damn near unbelievable.
Sean meant to serve him up to the cartel on a silver platter.
Tucker remembered Agent Burton’s instructions to stall. That didn’t seem to be a problem as Sean appeared to be enjoying gloating. Still, he figured the other man could use a little prodding.
“Then why this?” Tucker spread his arms. “Pretending you’d been captured and that the drug cartel was going to kill you? What’s the point?”
“The point?” Sean smirked. “Is that this time, when you die, I can make sure you stay dead.”
“You’re not acting alone. I remember you had another man, the one that talked to me on the phone and pretended to be from the drug cartel.”
“Bruno.” Sean shook his head. “Too bad about him. He’s dead.”
“You killed him?”
“No, though I might have if he’d gotten greedy. But the cartel got a hold of him. They thought he was your accomplice.”
“You won’t get away with this,” Tucker warned. “The cartel got Bruno and once they figure out you stole their money, they’ll be coming after you.”
“Ah, but you’re wrong.” Sean smiled, full of malice. “That’s where you come in. They want retribution so badly that they’re offering a reward. Like I told you, it’s sort of a bounty, and I’m the bounty hunter. I’m going to offer you up—dead—and they’re going to pay me three million in cash. I’m told they consider it a small price to pay to get back their seven million and the one who stole it.”
“They won’t pay you. You forget who you’re dealing with. They’ll want to keep all of their money.”
“Yeah?” Appearing unconcerned, Sean studied his fingernails. “I’m not surprised that you think that. But they’ve been very adamant about paying the bounty. There are probably six or seven professional bounty hunters looking for you, because the cartel will pay the agreed amount.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Yes, it does. Apparently, they want their revenge almost as much as they want their money. Bad for you, good for me. In fact,” he said, looki
ng up and grinning. “It’s a win-win. I get it all and lose nothing.”
Nothing. His former best friend and business partner had just relegated him to nothing. Obviously, since he’d been willing to let Tucker languish away in a Mexican prison for a year without even attempting to rescue him. That hurt more than he would have believed possible.
“Was it worth it, Sean? Selling out your best friend and the woman you professed to love?”
“Was it worth it, Tucker?” Sean mimicked. “Screwing over your best friend for a piece of tail? You never wanted me to have anything. You always wanted first grab, first choice. In high school, you were the quarterback, and I was the kicker. In college, you made the Dean’s list and I didn’t.”
Tucker had worked hard to earn those accomplishments. But he held his tongue as Sean continued.
“Then, when we started BBB, naturally you were CEO while I was second. Around you, I could never measure up. How do you think that made me feel?” He shook his head, staring at Tucker with narrowed eyes. “Not good, I can assure you. I nearly won once, when the cartel believed they’d captured their thief and Lucy was convinced you were dead. I had it all then.”
“Then I escaped and came home.”
“Exactly. Once again, you managed to claw your way out and back to the top. Well, now the tables are turned. I’ll come out ahead and you’ll be the loser for once. Even better, you won’t be able to rectify the situation this time. You’ll be dead. And I’ll get Lucy back. She and Eli will be my family, not yours.”
Tucker tried another tact. “What about her, Sean? Do you really want her to learn the truth about you? Once she does, I can promise you she won’t want anything to do with you.”
Sean smirked. “She won’t have a choice in the matter, because she’s coming with me, willing or not.”
Frowning, Tucker studied his opponent. He didn’t like the way Sean sounded so confident. “First you’ll have to find her.”
“Shows how much you know.” Positively gleeful, Sean strolled around the room, chest puffed up like a king surveying his serf. “I’ve already located Lucy. I picked her up an hour ago, while you were cooling your heels waiting for my supposed captors to show. She and Eli are with me. And, if she wants the baby to live, she’ll do exactly as I ask.”
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