My phone rings. I turn away to answer. “What the hell did you guys walk into?” our boss snaps, not waiting for me to say anything. “We found his body. But it wasn’t the only one. There was a young girl as well. She’d been strangled. She was a mess, so probably more happened to her but we have to wait for the autopsy.”
Fuck. We know the bastards are into drugs, kidnapping, prostitution, sex trafficking. Murder.
“Our man got some photos and grabbed what forensics he could but there were witnesses at the dump and they notified the local authorities which is going to blow up in the news,” he continues. “We’ve got a contact in internal affairs. She’s helping us navigate local jurisdiction and taking a little of the heat. Be careful, she’s not sure who to trust right now either. Adorno hasbeen kissing up to a lot of the local authorities and handing out paydays like candy. Somebody is on his payroll.
“Watch your back. We’re trying to get you some additional help on the ground. I’m of half a mind to pull this whole operation. It’s getting too dangerous. You may have been made.”
I pause, taking a deep breath. “He was a good guy. We can’t, won’t let this go. Not after what happened. Put a hold on the bodies so that no one can claim either one. Can you get us pictures of the girl? See if we know her.”
“Will do.”
Something niggles at the back of my mind. “Phil made Rico pretty quickly. How? Who knew we were here? What officials were aware you had a team coming to town?”
“None that I know of. We started getting anonymous tips three months ago. They escalated to some verifiable info for us to know we were on to something. Because of your history in Vegas, we waited a month for the two of you to get free to take the investigation.”
“Are you sure your contact at the Vegas department can be trusted?”
“I’d trust her with my own life.”
“What about our office? Are we clean? Have you checked?”
He’s silent so long I know he’s thinking the same thing I am.
“I’ll get back to you. Stay frosty and I want daily check-ins from now on.”
CHAPTER 7
Fancy
“His computer should have been at the apartment. Maybe once we have it we can find out about the medicines,” I say to Rico. “We need to go back and look again. He took it everywhere except the casino.”
“The team will get back to us. Everything has to be requested legally if we want a case against Adorno to stick. We need to give them a little time.”
“Damn it! I want answers. I—I need them to pay for what they did. I want that bastard to get gutted just like he did to Phil, and I don’t care if that makes me a bad person.”
“I know, babe. We want payback, too. But if we’re going to put them away, and catcheveryone, not just the killer, but the assholes pulling the strings, we need to do it legally.”
Turning I cross to the window. None of the pictures they’ve shown me have been of the killer. There’s a guy that’s the right height, but it’s as if he knows there’s a camera on him and always seems to turn at the last minute.
Rico explained that he hasn’t been invited to the big table yet. A couple meet and greets as Adorno walks his empire, and a show and tell of how important he is. Head nods when I’vebeen playing the higher tables. Hints about my past had him investigate me. An invite has been hinted at. Once that happens things will move quicker.
There’s a buzz at the door. Kade passes us and whispers, “It’s probably the food I ordered when I picked up the clothes, but…”
Taking my hand, Rico leads me into the bedroom where I slept last night. Pushing the door almost closed he stands in the opening of the cracked door, his weapon drawn. It hits me, these men are always on. Do they ever get to let their guard down? Not only have they been watching each other’s back, they’ve had mine since we met.
The bellhop pushes the cart into the room. Kade has him lift the covers making sure he got what was ordered before handing him a tip.
“Last time for food service. We’ll need to start food runs from now on,” he says.
Rico nods.
“What does that mean?”
“Letting them bring food to the room exposes us. Either to attack or food tampering. We’ve never done it in this hotel. I figure we’re safe this one time.
“We don’t know how much of the town is under Adorno’s control,” he continues. “He’s not the biggest fish but he wants to be.” He looks at me. “Come eat before it gets cold.”
Kade’s phone dings just before we’re done eating. He glances at the message then goes for his laptop and sits back at the table.
