Chapter THIRTY-ONE
THE UNMARKEDpolice car stopped at the prearranged location. A large guy stepped from the vehicle. Thank God it was a quiet area with no one around. He patted Finn down and indicated the door. Finn slipped into the back seat. He bit back a groan as his ribs protested the movement. Thankfully his wrist only throbbed, obviously not broken like he first thought. He heldthe arm gently to his chest as he eyed the man in the driver’s seat.
The large guy climbed into the passenger seat and swiveled to look at Finn. It was hard to read his expression, but there was obvious doubt.
“Are you the guy I spoke with on the phone?” Finn asked.
The guy nodded. “I’m Sutherland. I’m in charge of this operation. This here”—he indicated the driver—“is Sloane. I take it you’rethe person who’s been feeding us information?”
“Uh-huh. I said so on the phone.”
“You’ve been sending the notes.” Detective Sloane looked confused, and Finn wasn’t sure if he was asking a question or making a statement. “Why are you contacting us now and not via a note this time?” he asked.
“Things have escalated. There’s a confrontation about to go down. It needs to be stopped, and now.”
“Okay. Why don’t you fill us in?”
Finn started to provide some background as to who he was, but the detective interrupted him. “We know who you are.”
“You do?”
“You’ve been under surveillance for some time now.”
“Right.” Finn swallowed. Made sense. The whole club was being investigated, so of course he’d be scrutinized along with everyone else. Finn provided the outline of what he knew wasabout to go down.
“So the Soldiers are meeting with the Brutes now?”
Finn nodded. “That’s right. Supposedly to discuss territories.”
“But that’s not what’s going to happen?”
“No. Rocky plans to attack when the Brutes don’t expect it.”
“And why won’t they suspect anything, and what makes you think they’ll show up?”
“Oh, they’ll be there. Rocky’s tempting them with talk of a deal on a hugedrug run.” Sutherland and Sloane exchanged a glance at the mention of the drug deal. “There’s no way the Brutes will turn that down. Plus if they don’t show, they’ll lose face.”
“Okay, Cummings. What you’ve said so far sounds on the up and up and matches the intel we’ve gathered. What I want to understand is why you’re doing this. Why are you going against the club and your brother?” Sutherlandasked.
“I have no allegiance with the Soldiers. Any loyalty I felt died with my older brother and dad. I’ve never wanted a part of the drugs or the violence, and this is my only way out.”
“Got it.” Sutherland nodded to the other detective. Some sort of agreement seemed to be conveyed in the exchange. “Let’s radio the address and what we know and get the rest of the task force into position.”
It only took a couple of minutes for plans to be finalized.
Detective Sloane turned to Finn. “Ordinarily we wouldn’t allow you to come with us—”
“Fuck that! You’re bloody lucky I called you. Without me you wouldn’t know about the meeting or where it was being held.”And I need to get to Mitch.Just thinking of Mitch with Rocky facing off the Brutes had his stomach rolling.
“And we appreciateit, but this is now task force business.”
“This isSoldiersbusiness.”
Sutherland cut in. “He can wait in the car. It might be handy to have him around if we need any other information.”
Detective Sloane nodded to his boss reluctantly and started the engine.
It didn’t take long to reach their location a safe distance from the warehouse. Another car pulled up, and Finn observed through thewindow as the cops discussed their plan. Sutherland made it clear Finn wasn’t to get out of the vehicle, and he wasn’t close enough to hear what they were saying. Frustration ate at his insides. He wanted to get to the warehouse and see Mitch for himself, make sure he was okay. Eventually the two guys climbed back into the car.
