“Are you sure Moreno doesn’t have people watching the police station to see where the cops go?” Meg’s nerves were frayed at the meeting they were attending today. Most of the officers and agents on the Moreno case would be there.
“It’s a public building.” Chris held the outside door open for her. “There are dozens of businesses in here. And Moreno doesn’t have any association with any of them. It’s why this place was chosen. Plus, it’s Sunday. There aren’t as many people around today.”
Her eyes still darted anxiously looking for anyone she knew from the club who might tell Moreno she’d been here. She followed Chris into the elevator to the top floor then down several hallways to the door at the end.
They walked into a suite of rooms and were led down another hallway to a large conference room. There had to be at least fifty people gathered around talking, sharing files and pointing to bulletin boards with photos on them.Wow, this many people were all working to put Moreno away?Relief washed through her that it might actually happen.
Ever since Chris had recruited her, she’d been hoping Moreno would be busted and put away, but a small part of her had been doubtful it would ever happen. Her time with Chris was great and she could hardly complain about the luxury accommodations she’d enjoyed for the past month. Still, the fear he would give up and walk away leaving her back in her dumpy room living on crackers and rusty water never left her.
He placed his hand on her back guiding her to the center of the room. A tall, trim man with thick, white hair turned to look at them.
“Meg, this is Special Agent Doolittle, the coordinator for this operation. Sir, Meg O’Hara, our cute little spy.”
“Ms. O’Hara, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Doolittle said taking her hand and pumping hard. “Shaunessy here has been saying good things about you and I can tell you the information that’s been coming from your direction has been extremely helpful in filling in some blanks we had about Moreno’s associates. Thank you for your assistance.”
“You’re welcome. Anything I can do to put him away, I will.”
“And we appreciate it. We’ll be starting in about ten minutes, Shaunessy. You might want to touch base with Phil Carter before we begin. He got some interesting conversations from a public meeting Moreno had last week at an outdoor cafe.”
Chris nodded and started to walk away. Was he going to leave her here by herself in the middle of the room? He looked back and cocked his head indicating she should follow him. Had he sensed her panic? They said some people could smell fear. Had he smelled hers? She must be reeking with it right about now. Even though these people were the good guys she’d still been living for over a year under an assumed name. What was the penalty for that? Hopefully her assistance in this case would eliminate any problems with that.
Chris took her elbow and led her to a corner where a bald, heavy set man fiddled with some electronic equipment. He entered into a discussion with the man and she saw him in a different light. No teasing, playful banter just hard facts and serious talk. This was the professional FBI agent in front of her now. Too often she tried to forget that.
Soon the meeting started with Doolittle moving to the front of the room. Chris maneuvered her to a corner to lean against a desk there. She listened intently as the agent doled out information on Moreno and many of his associates. A projector showed pictures of dozens of people and she recognized a lot of them from the club. As Doolittle explained who they were and what business they were in, her nerves increased. These guys dealt in some heavy stuff. Who would have thought dough boy was a weapons dealer?
She kept her ears open but checked out the rest of the room and the people in it. Some were in suits but many were in casual clothes. A few looked like warehouse workers. The undercover people? She scanned the room and her breath caught at a familiar face.What? Dave?What was he doing here? He was a bartender at the club.
She quickly ducked behind Chris grabbing his arm. When he looked at her she tilted her chin in the direction of Dave and whispered, “What is he doing here?”
Chris gave her an unconcerned smile then focused back on Doolittle. “He’s Miami PD.”
Miami PD? He was a cop? How the heck did she not know he was a cop? Well obviously he was undercover. Now that she thought about it she recalled Chris saying there were people who had been undercover for a few years. Dave must be one of them. He was supposedly helping Tina while she recovered. Did Tinaknow?
Okay, so Dave wouldn’t have told her he was undercover but why hadn’t Chris said anything once she’d started working with him? Didn’t he trust her? She swallowed hard at the lump that suddenly threatened to choke her. They’d been living together for a month, heck they’d kissed and petted each other like lovers and he didn’t trust her? The blow sent her reeling and she gripped the edge of the desk so she wouldn’t fall.
Damn, she was stupid. Of course he wouldn’t tell her everything. She was only his informant. He’d certainly emphasized that enough. The only relationship they had was a business one. How had she fooled herself into thinking otherwise?
It couldn’t have been the lovely birthday gifts she’d been given or the romantic candlelight dinner and long walk on the beach a few days ago. Their pretend sex near the shack must have been just that for him, too, though it had rocked her to the core. What about the foot rub and comfort the day of her mom’s birthday? Heck, he even suggested they make a cake for her. Had he done it all so she’d continue this case?
But no, he’d wanted her to pack up and go home when Tina had been hurt. He’d been genuinely concerned for her welfare. Or maybe he didn’t want any guilt if anything happened to her. He’d mentioned going home when he’d seen the bruises on her arms the first week they’d been together. God, what should she think? Did he care at all, or was he merely being cautious about someone he was in charge of? He’d said she was his responsibility. Apparently that’s all she was.
She pushed away from the desk as Doolittle gave the floor up to someone else. “Is there a ladies’ room near here?”
He nodded. “In the hallway to the left.”
She made her way to the door, her head spinning. She found the bathroom and splashed water on her face. What an idiot. How could she be this stupid? She’d been told by Chris that she was his informant. He would treat her with respect. And he had.
She shouldn’t have misinterpreted his actions as more, thinking he actually cared for her. Like she cared for him. Damn it. She’d told herself she wouldn’t do this. Hadn’t she learned anything from her stupid Eddie debacle? Don’t fall for a pretty face. There was no happily ever after there. None here either.
She dried her face determined to go back in there and act professional and detached…like Chris. She stood near the door noticing most people were now clustered in groups talking. He was no longer by the desk so she took a step farther in behind a partition. She finally spotted him across the room but froze when his name was mentioned.
“Looks like Shaunessy’s got himself another stray.”
The voice belonged to a short, dark-haired man wearing a suit. He was with two others in similar attire.
“You got to admire the guy though,” the tallest of the group replied, “he sure knows how to pick them. I wouldn’t mind bringing home a stray that looks like his newest.”
“I’d like to see your wife’s reaction to that,” the third chuckled. “Luckily Shaunessy doesn’t have a wife to object, not that he would ever give in to desires of the flesh while on the job. The man’s a machine.”
