Page 26 of Jacqueline's Quest

Chapter 4

"I can see your wheels turning," Luca said. "It's not that I don't want to tell you about them. It's better to experience the atmosphere. However, I need a favor from you as well. I received some information after my phone call with Asher and Tex. I have to sift through it to find what's legitimate and what's bullshit. Do you think your team would be willing to help me?"

Surprise filled Murray. “Help you? On a case?”

Luca shrugged. “Basically.”

"We could help." Jaqueline glanced at Murray. Her eyes sparkled not only with determination but also hope. "While we wait to leave."

Shit, how could he say no now? “Sure. We’ll help.

Luca stared at them. “It will take hours.”

“What time did you expect to leave for Absolution?” Murray asked.

“Eight-ish,” Luca hedged.

“Then I’ll go get Thomas and AJ and you can lay out the intel you’ve been given.” Murray excused himself and exited the library. There was more going on than the bits Luca fed them. Luca wouldn’t have said anything about Los Trios if it didn’t mean something for their mission, which, technically was a bit shitty on Luca’s end for playing cat and mouse.

He knocked on the door, hoping he wouldn’t be interrupting the duo. They had a molten hot chemistry AJ either didn’t recognize or didn’t want to acknowledge. Denying their mutual attraction would only weigh both of them down in the long run and tinge their undercover mission.

Thomas opened the door and relief flooded Murray. He hadn't caught them at an inopportune moment. "What can I do for you?"

Murray stepped forward, entering the room. “I hate to do this, but Luca has some kind of information for us. I know we were supposed to be working on our skills, however, this takes priority over the other. Can you join us in the library again?”

Thomas nodded. “Sure, we’ll be right there.”

“Great.”

“Can you give us a hint of what we’re dealing with now?” Thomas hedged.

“Do you know anything about a cartel called Los Trios?”

Thomas frowned. “They’re new. Deal in sex trafficking, why?”

“Supposedly they’re involved in this intel gathering Luca’s been given. Do you think it’s connected to our case?”

Thomas frowned. “Not sure.”

“I knew there was an ulterior motive for coming here,” AJ snarled. “This is what I warned you about.”

“If it does tie back to ours, we’ll be ahead of the game,” Thomas said.

Murray shrugged. “Plus, it’ll pass the time before we leave for Absolution.”

“Fine,” Thomas said. “We’ll meet you there in a minute.”

Luca had already placed several pictures on the long conference table in the library by the time Murray returned. Some of them were aerial photos others were from murder scenes. Above those were mug shots, three to be exact. The men appeared ordinary. Nothing to make Murray take another look at, except for the fact one of them was a white man, in his mid to late forties. Two more photos showed a plantation in the middle of nowhere surrounded by small homes and trailers.

Murray took a seat next to Jaqueline as Thomas and AJ entered the room. He understood AJ’s skepticism about Luca. The man did everything with a flourish and verve. He could have simply pulled them in and started right away with the explanation, instead, he led with their training and going to El Paso.

Once they were seated, Luca began. “I have been given data that might correlate with Raul and the Nieto Cartel. I’m not sure what all of the pieces are, except for what you see before you and one other detail. The Los Trios Cartel deals in humans, specifically sex trade.”

“That’s not new,” Thomas said. “It’s a known fact. The real question is, what else do you know that we don’t?”

Luca quirked a brow. “Did you know about the walnut farmers near the US border who were helping the cartel?”

Thomas sat back.

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