Page 23 of Blood Money

There is no in between, only black and white. Do the crime, do the time.

“Let’s not go off half-cocked.” Detective Chavez glanced at Simonetti. “I’m guessing you all know there’s a more constructive option. A way for Ms. Romano to work off some of her obligations.”

This was the plan Gray had been dreading, one that would put Alex’s life at risk. She was backed into a corner. Worse, the detective part of his brain agreed with it. This was a unique opportunity, the first active lead any agency ever had on the Pyramid.

Alex leaned forward, her face hopeful. “What option?”

“I’m sure we’ve all been thinking the same thing here.” Agent Wilson steepled his fingers. “We’ll need time to work out the details, but it would involve you cooperating in the form of placing calls to the Pyramid.”

“I’ll do it.” Alex’s eyes were bright.

“Wait,” Gray interrupted. He knew she would be eager to jump at what seemed like an easy way out, but she needed the complete picture. “You need to hear the rest of what you’ll be required to do, and you need to know exactly what the Pyramid is.”

Agent Tanner began to object, but Gray cut him off. “The NYPD, FBI, and INTERPOL know the Pyramid has been around for a decade, and still no one has been successful at cracking through its veil of secrecy. After all this time, we only know two things about this organization. One: they were founded in the wake of September 11 and are comprised of professional assassins of Middle Eastern descent. Two: the Pyramid is the most elusive cadre of ruthless killers on the planet. Most of them got their homicidal training as terrorists in the Middle East. Now they’re mercenaries, having figured out that being a professional assassin is more lucrative to their personal bank accounts.”

As the eager look in Alex’s eyes slowly faded, Gray pressed on.

“The Pyramid assassin who tried to kill my sister—Ahmed Methopolis—was really Karim Abdul Azim, a terrorist suspected in multiple explosions in Afghanistan that killed marines and civilians. Azim was on the Terrorist Watchlist.”

Gray paused so that his words would sink in.

“Azim was not only on the Watchlist, he was in the top twenty most dangerous.” He pointed to Alex. “This is exactly the kind of person who called you today. Now do you understand how dangerous this is?”

Gray watched Alex’s face turn even paler than it naturally was. He was walking a thin line between giving her an appropriate professional warning and voicing his personal opinion that the risk to her life was too great. No matter what she was guilty of, he didn’t want to see her dead.

“I assume,” Lt. Frye said, “Alex should also be prepared to make an in-person delivery to the Pyramid.”

“I can do that.” Again Alex nodded, this time more emphatically.

“Do you have a will prepared?” Gray intentionally put an edge to his voice. “In case something happens, you need to make sure Nicky is taken care of.” His words might scare her, but that was his point. Part of him wanted her to turn down the offer because she might get killed. The other part of him knew this might be her only way to stay out of jail.

Alex covered her mouth with her hand. Clearly she hadn’t considered the worst-case scenario.

“We’ll protect you every step of the way.” Agent Tanner leaned forward. “Any in-person meet will be covered discreetly by a team of highly trained detectives and federal agents.”

The door opened and closed as Dom came back into the room. “The phone number that called Alex today is a burner phone purchased four months ago at a Bogos Superstore. Bogos already confirmed they taped over their store video for the day the phone was purchased.”

Gray turned to Chavez, hoping Simonetti’s more reasonable partner would play ball. “Would you be willing to put off talking to the DA until this plays out?”

“I’ll give you a month,” Chavez answered, ignoring the annoyed look on Simonetti’s face. “That’s the best I can do. But we still have a problem. Under these circumstances we’d normally place Ms. Romano on suspension and revoke her building and system access codes pending review.”

“You can’t do that.” Gray vehemently shook his head. “If we know one thing about the Pyramid, it’s that they have vast resources. They already have Alex’s bank account information and they know about Nicky. If you suspend Alex and she doesn’t report to work every day, business as usual, chances are they’ll know she either talked to the police, or we found out about the money and fired her.”

“Good point,” Agent Tanner added. “Detective Chavez, do you think you could cut us some slack here? Alex could come to work as usual, but not be made privy to anything confidential. You could erect a Chinese wall around her, restricting her access to anything confidential or classified.”

Chavez looked at Lt. Frye. “I’d put off filing charges, but IA won’t take responsibility for leaving Ms. Romano in place. Lieutenant, that’s on you.”

Lt. Frye leaned his elbows on the table and sent Alex a meaningful look. “I trust Ms. Romano not to worsen her situation by divulging anything she shouldn’t. We can work out the details later today. For now, you are not to touch any more of that money, or to access any department files. Your computer logon codes will be revoked until further notice. For the remainder of the day, you will sit at your desk as if nothing is amiss. We’ll meet again here tomorrow morning at eight sharp to work out logistics and an ops plan. Between now and then, I suggest you think things through and be certain you want to do this.”

Alex inhaled a shaky breath then nodded. “I want this.” When she glanced at Gray, it was all he could do not to look away from her imploring expression. She seemed relieved at the possibility of digging herself out of the hole she was in, but he doubted she truly understood the potential dangers involved. The Pyramid would kill her in an instant if it suited their needs.

“Gray?” Alex stood. “Could I speak with you privately for a minute?”

The pleading look on her face was so intense Gray nearly relented. “Now’s not a good time. I’ll speak with you tomorrow at the meeting.” It twisted his guts into knots, but no way could he spend another minute alone with her. This was tearing him apart as it was.

“I understand.” Alex turned abruptly and followed Dom out the door.

In those two words, Gray knew Alex did understand. Whatever could have existed between them was dead. Permanently.