Page 61 of Fanatic

“A heart, and I suspect it’s human,” Lio replied.

“What the fuck?” I stepped closer and peered in. “This is getting unnerving.”

“You sat in someone’s crosshairs a few days ago, and that wasn’t disturbing? But this is? Willow, this is escalating. In the space of five days, you’ve had a dead rat, a cat, been undercrosshairs, and now been sent a heart. Somebody has it in for you,” Gold exclaimed.

“If that’s human… that means he’s killed someone. Yeah, this shit is worrying. I think we should be included in this investigation,” I said to Markin. I didn’t need Gold telling me this was ramping up. As the target, I was well aware of the fast-level escalation.

“Willow, I know it concerns you, but the Feds can’t march in and take over this case,” Lio stated.

“Surely, we can work together, can’t we?” Markin asked.

“Sure, as long as you realise SPD is the lead,” Gold agreed.

“Fine by me. Get to it,” Markin said as an agent walked in and handed over a couple of evidence bags.

Fanatic would freak when I told him about the new incident. Plus, it also raised a problem. I needed to get my will amended, as I had Danny to worry about, and I didn’t want legal battles over him.

???

Seven hours later, Jimenez and I had managed to cut the three stacks of boxes in half. The offenders were either dead or behind bars. That left a lot of suspects remaining, and worse? There were six more piles left.

“Are we fighting a losing battle here?”

“No, boss. We know more than a few hours ago,” Jimenez replied.

“Yeah, that half these fuckers are accounted for, and the rest are free.”

“That first box was a rat with its throat slit, right?” Jimenez questioned.

“Yeah.”

“That’s a message. A rat represents a snitch. And a slit throat shuts them up. Could this refer to your undercover time?”

Feeling an idiot, I stared at him before nodding slowly. Jimenez had a very viable point. “Yeah, I’d be classed as a rat.”

“Maybe we should review those first. Boss, you brought down the Demonio Cartel. Some must have escaped, and I bet you’ve had a huge target on your back,” Jimenez said.

I got to my feet, pulled a box from the stack containing the cartel files, and gave it to Jimenez while I grabbed a second for me.

After an hour, I tapped a file. “Juan Ramos, he ranked high in the cartel. His two brothers were soldiers, Fidencio and Gonzalo. Gonzalo died in the shoot-out at Rage. Fidencio went to prison and was killed six months ago inside.”

“And Juan?”

“Escaped. Rumours were, Juan returned to Mexico and took over what remained of the cartel. But we couldn’t prove it as he disappeared deep into the mountains where a supposed Demonio stronghold was meant to be.”

“Didn’t a new cartel rise to power a year after Demonio was brought down?” Jimenez asked.

“The Corazon Afligido. The Grieving Heart. Seems fanciful for Juan.”

“Juan lost a brother. Were they close?”

“Yes, Jimenez. If anybody would want me dead, Juan would head the list. Not only did Juan lose his boss and associates, he also lost family. Damn, we might have a viable suspect.”

“I’ll let SPD know, and I’ll get a couple of rookies up here to keep narrowing this shit down. It would be a foolish mistake to concentrate on Juan and nobody else,” Jimenez said.

“Agreed. I need to go get my son. You’ll schedule the interviews?”

“Yeah. Hey, Willow, you really that cold?” Jimenez asked.

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