Page 51 of Illicit

It took about two minutes for her to realize she didn’t have a choice. By the end of the night, I’ll have the information she’s looking for whether she’s there or not. This is my last-ditch effort to explain to Tim that I did everything I could to protect his daughter. The way this case is turning out, he’ll know about it sooner rather than later since he’ll be my supervisor soon.

I might’ve taken her in with me once, but not twice.

I’m counting on that to save my ass.

Not that he doesn’t know what Teagan will do for a living when she gets to New York. But being an investigative journalist is very different from going undercover with someone like Jules Robichaux.

When Tim and Annette find out, they’ll never sleep again.

When I texted Robichaux when and where to meet me, he didn’t like my location and said the deal was off unless he called the shots. This wasn’t unexpected, but it did require a new op plan for backup.

So here we are, only a mile from the bar where we met last night, though this isn’t a restaurant or a high stakes card game.

This is a warehouse.

Nothing good goes down in a warehouse. I’ve got the scar and six years under my belt in law enforcement to prove it.

“I’m going in.”

“See you on the other side, dude,” Taylor says.

“No need to be morbid, asshole,” I mutter.

“Shit,” Taylor bites. “I didn’t mean that other side. You know what I mean.”

“Just watch my ass,” I say.

“Dude, we’ve got you.”

I disconnect the call from my Bluetooth, kill the engine, and grab the bag of money.

It’s Friday night. Teagan and I didn’t even get to the beignets when Jules got back with me. She vowed to wait for me and then wrapped her arms around me in an embrace that lasted longer than it should have and made me promise her I’d be careful.

I jog up the steps in another business casual outfit. I’m glad this shit will be done soon. I’m running out of clothes nice enough to play the part of Mack Crowder much longer.

I bang on the door three times.

Unlike last night, they don’t make me wait. Two men stand behind the open door.

The short, stocky one lifts his chin. “Crowder?”

“That’s me,” I confirm.

“Get in.” Once I step into the dim and dusty building, the door slams behind me. “Gonna need to frisk you, man.”

I don’t let go of the bag, but I do hold my arms up. The tall lanky one pats me down. Even though all I have is a cell that’s secretly my location and ears, he does a shit job and would be fired if he worked in the jail.

“My-my! He really showed.” I look over and Jules comes out of the small office to the left. “You’ve got balls, man. We were taking bets.”

“He’s clear,” the tall one announces.

Jules looks surprised. “You’re not packin’?”

I lower my arms and grip the money bag. “You’ve been a man of your word so far. I have people who know where I am. There’s no reason for me to fuck with you.”

Jules cocks his head and his cheek twitches. “I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t come in here packin’.”

“I’d tell you to expand your horizons, but that’s none of my business, and I’m not up for talking. Tell me where Heath Hayes is, and I’ll hand over your money.”

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