“Your mother was probably killed for this. Your friend, Phil, may have been part of the collateral damage or he found supporting information. I understand his laptop is still missing?”
“Yes.”
“There’s a safe in the basement. We’re securing your lock box down there with the drive. You, I and Diego will be the only ones to know for now.”
“How brave are you feeling?” she asks.
“Why do you ask?”
“I want to find that laptop. Don’t you?”
“Yes. And I want them to pay for what they did to Phil. Every last one of them.”
She smiles. “Welcome to the club, girlfriend. Payback is a bitch and there’s two of us. When was the last time you fired that weapon?”
“Four months, and I cleaned it after. Phil’s rule.”
“I’ve got a change of clothes in my trunk. Cover as much of yourself as you can in dark black. We’ll take my car, you drive.”
After parking, she hands me a balaclava and a pair of tactical gloves. I lead the way to the building across from the back of the casino and we climb the fire escape. The moon is brighter than the last time I searched up there with my men. We divide the roof into quadrants.
I’m on my knees feeling around the base of one of the industrial air conditioners while Roja does the other. The sidingis loose on the corner and a thin chain hangs off a jagged piece of metal. Lifting the corner gently and using the light on my phone, I shine it inside. Something is still attached to the chain. Reaching in I gently untangle the chain and remove it from where it caught, then scoop up the metal pieces from the cement. Dog tags and a miniature USB drive. I shine the light on the tags: Clark, Philip C.
Roja joins me, whispering in my ear. “Something’s going on in the alley.
A blacked-out SUV just showed up with what looks like four hired guns. I want to get back to the alley so we can follow if we need to.”
I nod. Shutting the light off on my phone I stuff my discovery deep in my jean pocket and follow her.
CHAPTER 18
Rico
Something’s off. Or maybe it’s just me. I want to be home with our girl. I want these assholes behind bars.
For the last two hours I’ve felt like I’m being watched. Could I have been made? I’ve managed to dump at least two drinks I didn’t order and turn away a private lap dance in a back room.
Muttering to the dealer about better play. I collect my latest winnings from the table and walk away. I want the table with the big boys. The back room. The room where deals are made.
Glancing up I see Kade dressed in his money suit being escorted down a hall. The guy to his left is a little too close. Fuck. We’ve been made.
About the same time, I get a text from Diego.Abort.
Too late.
I send him the tracker info on my bracelet, slip it off and into my pocket. They’ll find the one on my watch but hopefully miss the bracelet.
I’m making my way around the edge of the room when a presence comes up behind me. “Ah Rico, we were just looking for you. Heard you were asking about any high stakes games inthe back room. We got one for you. Come join us. Your partner is already there.”
Entering the room, Kade looks up from where he sits in a straight back chair, arms apparently tied behind his back. A little rumpled, nothing visibly broken, no blood. Okay, that’s a good start.
My arms are pulled behind my back and bound. My watch is wrenched from my wrist and my phone taken. I see Kade’s on the desktop as well.
Adorno walks in with another man I recognize from pictures as Mic DeStefano, and two other men. The one right behind him looks the right size for Phil’s killer.
“Fucking DEA,” Adorno snarls.
“Shut up,” DeStefano snaps. Walking to the desk and sitting down like he owns it, he places a laptop on the empty surface. Leaning back in the chair he rubs his chin and studies us. He taps the top of the laptop. “We’ve already got everything he had. What he turned in and what he held back. Tell me what you know and what you’ve reported, and we’ll kill you quickly. Bullet to the head.”
