“Wait,” Tessa said as she straightened. “Describe the guy, Savvy.”
“He’s just an overweight white guy. Average in every way. I’ll send you a pic.”
Patch added. “He is definitely not muscle, cartel or otherwise.”
Tessa picked up her phone when it chimed at the arrival of the text. She opened it, and a grin split her face. “That’s Rodriguez’s cousin, Dunlop. Rodriguez must be using him to check the situation. He doesn’t want to walk into a trap, and his cousin is expendable.”
Billy came back on the line. “There’s movement over here, but we can’t tell who it is at this point. Give us a few.” There was silence and then, “I sent you a picture.”
Tessa picked up her phone and grunted. Then she crossed to the far side of the office to make the call. “Sanchez? Yeah, he showed up. It’s Craig Winslow.” She was silent for a second. “Seta perimeter a few blocks away. We need to let them get in here and make sure Drew is safe before anyone moves in.”
“They’re picking Dunlop up,” Patch said. “Black SUV. They must have figured it was a setup. We’re heading back to you.”
“Okay,” McGuire said and then killed the call. He went back to Billy. “Are you and Wallace up for taking on Rodriguez with us?”
“Absolutely. We’re on our way.”
Cross turned to Tessa. “He’s gonna call. You need to get off the phone.”
She nodded. “I’ve gotta go. Rodriguez knows it was a setup, and he’s gonna be pissed. I’ll call before he arrives and we’ll work out the details.” She hung up the phone, and it instantly rang again. She immediately answered it and put it on speaker.
Rodriguez was cursing in several different languages. “Youputa. You bitch!”
“Did you think I didn’t know you had people on the inside? What? You think I’m stupid?” Tessa goaded him.
“I’m gonna kill you! I’m gonna slit your throat!” Rodriguez was screaming into the phone.
“Calm down,mejo,” Tessa said in a smooth voice. “I’m not gonna let you get the drop on me, but I am gonna do a deal with you. I want Drew and I want two hundred and fifty K. We’ll do the exchange exactly where I told you.”
Cross stared at Tessa. What the hell was this? They hadn’t discussed this at all. She was playing fast and loose with Drew’s life, and he didn’t like it. Not one bit.
“Money! You think I’m gonna pay you for my own shipment?” Rodriguez demanded.
Tessa’s voice went cold. “You don’t have a choice. You bring me Drew so the assholes get off my back, and you bring me two hundred and fifty K so I can disappear, and the shipment is yours. You need to get the cartel off your back. This is your onlyplay. Drew and the money. See you in forty-five minutes.” Tessa hung up.
“We didn’t talk about money,” Cross growled.
“No, but Rodriguez has to think I’m a bent agent if this is going to work. Why the hell would he come to the exchange if he even remotely thought I was still tight with my bosses at the ATF? It would be suicide. Two things Rodriguez doesn’t want the most? He does not want to get dead, and he does not want to go to jail. The idea of it terrifies him.
“Besides, now he’s sure I’m a crooked cop, and he’s totally pissed, so he’s more likely to make mistakes. It will gall him to no end that he has to pay for his own shipment. His ego won’t be able to take it.” She shrugged. “He keeps that amount or thereabouts in his office safe, so it’s no added stress to get the money. It’s a win-win for us.”
Cross stared at her for a moment. How can this have gone so far wrong? “You better pray you’re right because if Drew gets hurt, there’s gonna be hell to pay, and I’m just the man to dish it out.”
CHAPTER 23
Drew waited for an answer.“Seriously, guys, this isn’t rocket science. You want to get paid to let me go or not? Rodriguez is a dead man walking. Make your money now, while you can.” She tried not to let her growing panic show. She needed this to happen. Her life depended on it.
The shorter one gave a small shrug. “You know what? Fuck it. She’s right. Let’s get paid and then get the hell out of town.”
His partner hesitated a moment and then nodded. “I’m good. Let’s get this done. I’m tired of being sweaty all the time anyway. This place is gonna be underwater with the next big hurricane, and I don’t want to be here for it. Freaks me out.”
Drew held her breath as the taller guy headed toward her, pulling a knife out of his pocket. He flicked open the blade and leaned over her as the door burst open. “Fuckingputa! How the hell did she know?” Rodriguez demanded as he stormed into the room.
The tall guy whirled around, tucking the knife back into his pocket. “Boss?” he said as he scurried across the room to stand by the table.
Drew suppressed the urge to scream. She’d been so close. She’d had her chance, and now it was gone. Fear and dreadclawed their way up her throat, rendering her speechless. Biting the inside of her cheek, she refused to cry. She was smart; she’d just had to come up with another plan. Something else that might work. Giving up was not an option.
“That bitch,” Rodriguez growled as he went over to the bar and poured himself a drink. “The shipment was supposed to be there.” He took a sip of amber liquid from the crystal glass and then threw it against the wall.
