I put my glass down in the sink and rush to the back door, opening it with my hand on the hilt of my gun. By the time I get there, the figure’s gone and the trees are swaying in the breeze.
Did I imagine something?I don’t think so. Somebody was out there watching my house.
I stand for a few minutes, surveying the perimeter of my back yard. Waiting for… for anything.Make yourself known, I think.Don’t be a pussy, come on out.I could use somebody to take some of this anger out on.
There’s nothing. The cool night is calm and quiet. There’s nothing out there for miles and miles.
I walk back into the house and lock the door behind me. First light, I’m going to call Ares and have him bring a few others to survey the surroundings. Whoever it was, they’d better have been reconsidering jumping my fence.
11
EMBER
I’ve got no idea how long I’ve been here.
The walls are made of brick and covered in gray paint. The floor is carpeted, but there’s nothing about it that suggests that it was ever clean. I’m sitting at this cold metal table, my hands resting in front of me.
I knew I was being followed. I glance over at the two-way mirror and immediately, I’m reminded of Roman. This time, he’s not my eye in the sky.
The door opens and the red-haired woman returns with two cups of coffee. She’s already introduced herself as Agent Michelle Rastelli. Already, she’s asked me questions I can’t answer. I don’t know why I’m still here.
She sets the cup of coffee in front of me and sits down on the other side of the table. “Sorry, it’s not very good,” she says with a casual smile. “But it’s hot and it does the job.”
I know my rights. I told her I wanted a lawyer and it’s been hours. This is bullshit.
“So,” she says with a smile. “Where were we?”
“You were getting me a lawyer,” I say to her.
“Right. I’m sorry that’s taking so long. You know how these court appointed guys are. They like to drag their feet?—”
“Am I under arrest?” I ask her. “Because if not, you’ve got no right to hold me.”
She smiles and it’s like a motherly smile. Gentle and caring. “You’re right. I don’t have any right to hold you. However, I can get a warrant to search the Kitten’s Paw.”
“So, get your warrant. What do I care?”
“You should. Especially with your boss being Roman Orlov.”
A chill runs up my spine. Shit, I knew it. I fucking knew that’s what all this was about. “What about him?” I say innocently.
“I was hoping you’d tell me.”
I cross my arms and glare at her.
“I’m guessing you don’t realize this, but Mr. Orlov is under criminal investigation. Want to guess for what?”
I don’t say anything. She’s good, though. A smart-assed answer is right on the tip of my tongue.
“Apparently,” she goes on, “your boss is pretty deep into organized crime. My sources have named him the boss of the Kostromo Bratva. It’s a section of the Russian Mob, as it happens. We’ve been monitoring his movements for a while now and this new position as the proprietor of the same strip club you happen to work at has piqued our interest.” She pauses, waiting for my response. I don’t give her any.
“See, he owns a lot of clubs and businesses around town,” she says. “All of them are thick with criminal element. Mostly, his own people, from what we can tell. The Kitten’s Paw is the only place where we have yet to observe any criminal element there. Well, there’s some, but it is a strip club. You’ll be happy to hear there isn’t anything happening that’s worse than a misdemeanor.”
I’m biting my tongue hard now. She’s baiting me.
“When we found out that the manager is the daughter of a former cop… well, we got curious.”
“That’s why you picked me up? Because I’m running a legitimate business?”
