She pulled out her phone and found Ray Bond’s number. Her thumbs flew across the screen as she sent a text. Call if U have a sec.
Less than a minute later, her phone buzzed with Ray’s incoming call. She could feel Jarek’s curious gaze as she answered. “Hi, Ray, thanks for calling.”
“Anything for you,” he drawled.
She stifled the urge to roll her eyes. She’d already told him she wasn’t interested, but that hadn’t stopped his attempts to flirt. Even if Ray wasn’t a cop, she wouldn’t be interested. She wasn’t remotely attracted to him. Nothing like her keen awareness of Jarek. She needed to get a grip. “Are there any properties that are on your radar as being used for drug shipments?”
“We shut one down shortly after we arrested Warren. It’s been boarded up.” His tone was all business now. “Why, do you know something different?”
“No, I don’t know anything. Just curious if there’s a building or a pier that you guys have been keeping an eye on.” She shook her head so Jarek would know that Ray wasn’t aware of any suspicious buildings being used. “You still suspect the drugs are coming in by boat, right?”
“Right. We’ve been using our resources to track some of the smaller vessels that are coming in and out of the city,” he explained. “It’s time-consuming, but we think that’s how the majority of the drugs are being brought in.”
She thought of the older model boat she’d searched without success. “Any particular boats that we should be looking for?”
There was a long pause before Ray answered. “I thought you and your buddy were going to stay off the radar.”
“We are staying off the radar, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep our eyes open for anything suspicious.” She swallowed a sigh. “It would be nice if you could let us know if you have someone of interest.”
“Every gang member in the city is of interest,” Ray said. “We have a snitch we’ve been working with, guy by the name of Ignacio Juarez. We’re meeting with him later tonight. We’re hoping to learn when the next drug shipment is due to arrive.”
“Okay. If you could let me know how that meeting with Juarez goes, I’d appreciate it. Later, Ray.” She ended the call before he could say anything more. “Does the name Ignacio Juarez mean anything to you?”
“Nope. Who is he?” Jarek asked.
“A snitch who is supposedly giving Ray Bond information on a drug delivery.” She frowned. “I’m not sure a snitch should be considered trustworthy.”
“I’ve never groomed one, but I’ve heard they can be useful. Give me a minute to pull up Ignacio’s record.” Jarek turned to the kitchen table and sat in front of the computer. Her cheeks still burned at how she’d seen her name in the criminal database on his screen. She did her best to ignore it as she crossed to the table to peer over his shoulder. “Looks like our friend Ignacio has a criminal possession charge. Two of them,” he amended. “Both within the past year. And it looks as if Ray Bond and his partner, Jeff Schnor, were the arresting officers.”
“Does that mean they dropped the charges in exchange for his cooperation?” She didn’t like that idea.
“These two charges went through, but if they caught him a third time, it’s possible they struck a deal with him.” Jarek glanced up at her. “Ignacio lives in an apartment building deep in gang territory. We might want to check it out. Could be that was the same place Stewey and Levine lived.”
“I’m game.” She took a step back, putting distance between them. This pull she felt for Jarek was ridiculous and needed to go away. “I just need a minute.”
“Take your time.” He closed the laptop. “There’s no rush.”
She headed back upstairs to her room. She stuffed a protein bar in her pocket in case she needed a snack later, then stood, staring out the window at the neighborhood for a long moment, pulling herself together. Oddly, her gaze went to the blue sky. Was God real? Was it possible He would forgive her sins?
She found it strange to be thinking along these lines. Faith was something other people had, not her.
But what if she was wrong? What if God was watching over her? What if it was possible that He would forgive her sins?
She must have stood there longer than she’d realized because a glimpse of movement outside caught her eye. She instinctively pulled her weapon and slid to the side of the window, half expecting bullets to shatter the glass. Peering carefully around the edge, she swept her gaze over the area.
Maybe kids were playing in a neighbor’s yard. She started to relax when she saw a man straighten behind a tree. The side angle enabled her to see him more clearly now. He was dressed in black and held a weapon in one hand.
Bold move on his part to be standing outside their rental in the daylight.
She couldn’t call out to Jarek because she’d opened the window two inches to let fresh air in. Swallowing a curse at her weakness against being closed in—so much for giving up swearing—she ducked and quickly crossed the room to head downstairs.
“Di, are you ready?” Jarek called as she crept down to the first floor.
“We need to get split up and head around back.” She kept her voice quiet but intense. She hadn’t opened any windows on the main level but worried their voices might carry regardless. “There’s a man with a gun hiding behind the oak tree watching the house.”
Jarek’s blue eyes widened, then narrowed. “We need to get out of here.”
“No, I think we need to split up and grab him. That’s the only way we’ll learn who he’s working for.” She moved to the window facing the backyard to pinpoint his location.
