Schafer was plain crazy and reckless, exactly like Martin Riggs.
“What did you find, Finnigan?” Fernando asked. As the older of the two, he played by the rules and followed procedure. He also ignored Michael as much as possible and only talked to Finn.
But Finn nodded to Michael, indicating that he had made the discovery and should be the one to speak.
Fernando glanced at Michael and then swung back to Finn. “I asked you. I don’t talk to dirty cops. Or sons of dirty cops.”
Schafer rolled his eyes. “Let’s stick to the case. What do you have, Martinelli?”
“Possible witness. And blood.” Michael pointed to the blood drops. “We need techs to sweep this whole area.”
“That’s not all.” Officer Schafer squatted down to look closer at the blood. “We have a missing security guard too. Looks like it was an inside job.”
“Who’s the guard?” Finn asked.
“Retired cop. Gary Donner.”
Michael’s gut twisted.
“Donner? You sure he’s in on it?” Finn asked. “Why would a decorated cop rob a jewelry store?”
But Gary Donner was more than a decorated and now-retired cop.
Five years ago, he was the last man to see Michael’s mother alive.
Baltimore, Maryland
Danielle Kim tried to hold back the grin begging to be released as she pulled her Kevlar over her head. She was either going to laugh or puke. Hard to say which at this point, because this was it.
Her first real sting since finishing at Quantico.
Not to mention her last chance to prove herself before they passed out the permanent assignments.
The Baltimore office–led takedown of Norman Prince would be one for the books. His chain of massage parlors and spas up and down the East Coast were a front for prostitution and human trafficking. A rock-solid investigation all coming to a head now. Not a bad way to cut her teeth.
“You ready for this?” Special Agent Brooke Macy glanced over at her as she checked her weapon.
“Absolutely.” Dani fought for a serious expression.
“Try not to come across as too eager.” Macy’s voice was low, for Dani’s ears only in the group of agents getting ready in the downtown parking garage. “It’s a dead giveaway that you’re a rookie.”
“Am I that obvious?” Dani chuckled.
Macy’s smirk peeked through. “The bouncing on your toes. It’s a tell.” She moved over and adjusted Dani’s vest, tightening the straps even more. “Stick close to me and do exactly as I say. I know you’re ready to prove yourself, use that Quantico training and all, but Prince is that dangerous combination of paranoid and unpredictable.”
Dani met Macy’s direct stare. “You would know since you were the one who went undercover.”
Man, she couldn’t wait to go undercover herself.
Macy snorted. “It’s not as glamorous as they make it out to be in the movies.”
“Yeah, but?—”
“I’m serious, Kim. Don’t do it for the glory. The real heroes are in it to serve others, not to prove anything.”
“Of course.” She’d chosen this job because she needed to do something meaningful. She didn’t need recognition or fame.
“And I’ll warn you right now, when you botch it—because everyone does—be the kind of agent who admits her mistakes, learns, gets up, and tries again.”
