“You’re not in trouble, Eddie,” Landon told him and glanced at the video camera and those watching them. As his own CHS, there was some leeway on how far one could use discretion in the course of an investigation. “The intel you’ve provided has been, for the most part, useful in the case we’ve built against Pimentel and his cronies. Now that you’ve been made, I’m not expecting you to go back in—only to be taken out by someone else—with Abercrombie having failed in this endeavor, along with Davenport.”
“About that…” Eddie reached into the pocket of his shacket. He pulled out a flash drive. “While still on the inside, I collected as much additional info as I could on stolen genuine Native American artwork and forgeries that Ivan got his hands on—names, dates, photographs, places, profits, deliveries, and more… I hung on to it as an insurance policy—if my life or Raquelle’s was on the line and all else failed…”
Landon was handed the flash drive. Based on whathe’d just heard from Eddie, he suspected that it could well contain enough intel to ensure that in combination with other hard evidence, Pimentel was put away for a very long time. Being able to tie the crooked art dealer directly to Davenport with Eddie’s eyewitness account was a further reason for optimism that the case against Pimentel was solid.
Unfortunately, it also meant that this gave Ivan Pimentel more motivation for still wanting Eddie dead.
Landon knew this was another major crisis point that would need to be addressed.
* * *
AFTER DISCUSSING THElatest twists in the case with the Art Crime Team and briefing the special agent in charge, Landon headed to Raquelle’s house. He was happy that she had her brother back—at least for now—and they themselves could move forward in hopefully setting the stage for a future together.
When pulling up to the property, Landon noted the black Mitsubishi Outlander that belonged to Eddie’s bartender friend parked in the driveway.Looks like Raquelle already has company, Landon thought, not too surprisingly, circumstances being as they were.
Raquelle opened the front door as he walked up to it and said softly, “Hey.”
“Hey.” He grinned, happy to see the glow in her beautiful face.
After Landon stepped inside the great room, she told him, “Eddie’s taking a shower. I’ve invited him to stay in one of the guest rooms for now, as his apartment is still in shambles.”
“That’s a good idea,” Landon spoke supportively.“With a great security system, this is a much better bet for Eddie at the moment.” The long term would take more consideration.
“So, how did the interview go?” she asked curiously.
“Good. Eddie laid out the sequence of events that led him to flee and remain at large for as long as he had. All satisfactory, as far as I was concerned.”
Raquelle smiled. “I see.”
He added, “Eddie also handed over some important intel related to the investigation that he obtained while working as my CI, and had held on to for safekeeping, that had been on his boat just before it exploded.”
“Something they were hoping to find when they ransacked his apartment?” she deduced.
“That would be my guess,” he concurred, given the high stakes at play for Ivan Pimentel in his efforts to avoid arrest and prosecution.
Raquelle was thoughtful. “Would you like something to drink?”
Tempting as it sounded, he declined. “I have to get back to the investigation,” Landon said. “Besides, you need to spend some quality time with your brother.”And vice versa, after what Eddie has been put through, he thought.
She started to object but seemed to appreciate the gesture. “All right. Thanks.”
Landon smiled. “I’ll call you.”
“Okay.”
He was about to leave then abruptly turned to face her, knowing that one thing needed to be said here and now. “I love you.”
Raquelle’s eyes lit up. “You do?”
“Yeah,” Landon had no trouble admitting. “I neverstopped loving you, in spite of everything that went awry between us.”
She held his gaze for a moment, before stating, “I love you too, Landon.”
He felt a warmth in his heart in that moment that nothing could replace, prompting him to cup Raquelle’s cheeks and plant a quick but decisive kiss on her soft lips.
Then he left, already plotting strategy for what came next.
* * *
