Page 46 of Hawk's Sapphire

“What kind of guarantee?”Agent Galina leans back in her chair clearly feeling like she has the upper hand.It’s what makes this moment that much sweeter.

“We know you have Hawk’s gun, and the bullets found at the crime scene at the motel with the dead Devils match his gun.However, you don’t have fingerprints and Hawk’s alibi is iron clad.What we want to know is where you found the gun and if you have any suspects yet besides my client?”

Agent Galina’s smug demeanor falls, replaced with anger.“How the hell do you know what we have in our evidence locker?Did you hack our system, Hawkins?We know that’s your specialty.”

“No ma’am.I didn’t even know about it until Ms.Archer brought it to my attention last night.”

“And how, pray tell, didyoucome across that bit of information?Those records are classified.”Galina grits her teeth.

“I don’t reveal my sources without a subpoena.I’m sure you understand.”I have to bite back a laugh at that.

“So, what you’re saying is I have a mole in my department.”Galina suggests and none of us bother to correct her.Let her believe what she wants.“You realize you’re messing with a federal investigation?”

“Well, actually, we think we may be able to help your investigation.”Allyson pushes on.“We have an invitation, rather Mr.Hawkins has an invitation to an auction party happening in Dallas in two weeks.This party, as we understand it is where some of these kidnapped women are being taken and sold to the highest bidder.You might be able to catch the head of the snake, if you catch my meaning.”

Oh, she’s good.

“How did you get an invitation to such an event if you’re not linked to the trafficking ring?Did Nate get you in?”Galina looks puzzled and a little pissed.Probably because we were able to get something she couldn’t all this time.

“We have someone on the inside with the DO.”Gabe says nonchalantly.“He’s been feeding us information for years.Helping us keep our two clubs from crossing paths.You can imagine after my Maggie’s death, t was the best option.We had already lost enough at that point.So, we planted one of ours in their ranks.”

“Who?”

“Agent Galina, I can’t give you his name.If you or your men go after him, you’ll not only blow his cover, but you could insight a war we’re all working hard to avoid.”Gabe says.

“I want a fucking name, Jenkins.”We anticipated this and collectively made a decision.

Gabe sighs, like he’s struggling to get the information out.If I didn’t know the truth, I might even believe it pained his to sell his brother out.“My brother Thomas.”

“Thomas Jenkins is undercover as a Devil?”Galina questions, skepticism written all over her face.Thomas is anything but working with us, but he has been playing both sides for years, do throwing his ass under the bus hardly seems like we’re hurting anyone.In my mind, it serves his ass right for getting his daughter involved with his bullshit and coercing her into helping him get to Nate.He knew what that would mean for Sadie and the club, and he still talked her into doing it.

Fuck him.

Gabe shrugs.“Not exactly.He works for as their liaison between the DO and Marco Cusenza.”That gets her attention.She’s practically salivating with this little piece of news.

“You mean to tell me, you got an invitation to a party where Marco Cusenza will be auctioning women off, and yourbrother, who’s been off the grid forever is working as a double agent under Cusenza’s nose…for you?”

Allyson decides to step back into the conversation.“Agent Galina, Thomas discovered a plan for the Devils to kidnap Gabe’s daughter after they had already sold her to some wealthy hotelier in Baron’s Edge.With that knowledge, we were able to find Avery and bring her home safely.”

“And what of the hotelier who supposedly purchased Avery?”Galina asks.“What happened to him?”

“Last we heard the old man died of heart complications a while ago in Barons Edge.”Allyson states firmly.“But I would imagine if I got mad at a mob boss and had words with him overlost merchandiseand wanting a refund as it were, well, my heart might give out unexpectedly too.”

Agent Galina’s eyes widen, her expression one that says she’s not sure if Allyson is speculating or if she knows more than she’s letting on.

“All right.So, what do you want from me?”Galina finally asks.

“Well, in exchange for Hawk’s weapon and his name being removed as a suspect in the homicide case, we would propose a partnership.You go in with Mr.Hawkins to this party as his plus one.”Allyson glares at Gabe as she says it.She did not want us doing any of this.On fact she was dead set against it until Jameson managed to talk to her.I still don’t know what he said to her, but whatever it was, it worked.

“So, you want me to go in as bait.”Galina states the obvious.“I go in as his, what, woman…date…slave?How do you see this working out?”

“Well, it’s not a regular venue.So, let’s start there.”Allyson starts.“It’s actually going to be taking place at a fundraising gala.”

“I don’t understand.They’re going to auction women off at a charity event?”

“Not exactly.”It’s my turn to talk.“The charity gala is a cover for the auction.These men will go to the gala with their wives or escorts whichever.They’ll have a few drinks then move upstairs to a penthouse party reserved for special guests only.There will only be a select few in attendance upstairs.This is just the introduction.You have to pass the test.Getting noticed by curator.She chooses who will be invited to the second party at which time those chosen from that group will be sold to the highest bidder.From there arrangements will be made to drug and kidnap the chosen.”

“Okay, wait.Let me see if I understand.”Galina leans forward with her elbows on her knees.“I go in with Hawk as his plus one to the gala where we will then be escorted to the penthouse party upstairs.Then I have to pass some stupid test to get selected to go on to the next round?”

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