“Brian’s been getting high off his own supply. They aren’t too happy with that, but it happens. He really stepped in the shit though when he stole their money too. They figure he’s got it hidden somewhere, but he wouldn’t talk. So they killed him as a warning to others. Or, at least they thought they’d killed him. Look, things are about to get real messy real fast. I’m…scared.” Tom ran his hand through his hair. “Frank wants you out of the way.”
“Out of the way…what do you mean? Out of danger?”
“No, Sylvie, I meanout of the way.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t believe you.”
“Then you doubt me at your own peril. Frank’s turned.”
Sylvie shook her head. “He wouldn’t.”
“He’s got lots of debt from his wife’s medical bills and from his daughter’s college.”
Do you need money?Frank’s words came back to her when she’d told him her troubles with the HOA.Oh, God… Was that an invitation to join, or a test?
Tom continued. “Now Frank’s in deep, and they know who his daughter is. They’ll go after her in California. You know how much he loves her, what he’ll do to keep her safe.” There was no denying the sincerity in Tom’s eyes. He was not bullshitting her, but she already knew. Frank had been devastated when he lost his wife. His daughter was all the family he had left in the world.
“But if you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe the Feds.”
Sylvie’s heart sped up. “The Feds. So you’ve set up a meeting.”
Tom nodded. “Against Frank’s wishes. He has no idea. But it’s gotta be right now. Our handler is aware of the situation and wants to bring you in ASAP. I’m going to need you to trust me.” He blew out a breath. “I can’t imagine you do after the shit with the photograph, and I’m really sorry about that. You’re a good cop, Sylvie, and you didn’t deserve it.” Tom’s eyes pleaded with her. “But if you don’t come with me now, then you need to head straight to Watchdog and stay there.”
“And what happens if I do that?”
“Then you’ll be safe for a time, but they’re gonna fall. There are things you don’t know about them, Syl, things that the Feds do, that my handler knows.”
“They’re not with the cartel—”
“I know that,” Tom cut her off, losing any semblance of cool. “That’s not what I’m talking about. Black ops, Sylvie, things you don’t even want to think about. But, if you want to keep them out of this, I suggest you come with me right now.”
Sylvie nodded. “All right. I’ll follow you.”
Tom shook his head. “Doesn’t work that way. You’re gonna need to really trust me. Pull the Stang over under that tree.” He pointed at the far edge of the parking lot in the shade. “Then you’re gonna get in the car with me, in the back, lying down with a blindfold.”
Sylvie reared back. “I don’t think I can.”
“It’s the only way. I’m not letting you know where the meeting is. That’s the deal. If they don’t trust you, well.” He shrugged. “The less you know about them, the better.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Finally, Sylvie nodded. She knew the roads around here from driving them, even the logging tracks. Blindfolded, she would probably still have an idea of where Tom was taking her.
Tom’s shoulders dropped as he relaxed. “Ok, good.” He gripped Sylvie’s shoulder. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You’ll meet with them, they’ll explain, and we can all get past this fuck-up. And hey,” he looked squarely into her eyes, “I’m sorry to break the news about Frank.”
“Not as sorry as I am to hear it.” But deep in her belly, she’d known. She’d just been too naïve, she’d wanted to keep her mentor on the pedestal she’d built for him.
Sylvie moved her car into the shade where it was less likely to stand out. Tom opened the back door of the cruiser and she climbed in. He handed her a blindfold and watched as she put it on. She laid down.
And felt the sharp prick of a needle in her leg.
She sat bolt upright and whipped off the blindfold as Tom slammed the car door shut.
“Tom!” she screamed as he watched her impassively through the window. She tried frantically to open the door as a black curtain drew over her vision and her brain turned to fuzz. As she slumped against the seat, her last thoughts were to call Alex, to grab her gun and shoot Tom through the window, to call her dad…
But the blackness took her too quickly for any of that.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
