Page 1 of Blind Justice

Prologue

Duncan Frazier watched as the SUV carrying Hannah, Christian, and Jaqueline followed the ambulance with Scotty inside. The mission had been a success for the most part—the ‘most part,’ being the operative words. He glanced back at the shell of the building and shook his head. The front facade was gone, and a hole the size of a tank replaced the entrance. Debris littered the area, and in some spots chunks of lath and plaster continued to fall onto the floor of the club. Someone had told on them. Someone who had connections to the Federales and the cartels corrupting the majority of the police force. He had his suspicions, but without proof, he couldn’t say a word. Instead, he strode back into the mess of a building and got to work.

The blasts were rudimentary. Easy to spot if the person had bomb detection training, like Duncan did. The charges were hidden right under Raul’s nose. The C-4 had been placed in strategic areas around the building. If all of them had gone off like planned, it would’ve brought the building down on top of them. But, again, someone had an itchy trigger finger and went too soon.

Inside, the destruction was devastating. It was a wonder how anyone survived. Those who hadn’t lay strewn about, their bodies savaged by bullets and debris. Even with Asher’s help, it would take days before the building could be considered cleared, and since the others were likely to spend time at the hospital, he’d be in charge. Of course, if Asher had it his way, the bastard would be on the next plane to relieve Duncan of his duties.

The comm in his ear buzzed before Asher said Duncan’s name. “I don’t trust anyone on the scene. This is your job now. Tell me everything.”

Duncan twitched, surprised by Asher’s admission. “Are you asking me in a professional capacity or FBI capacity?”

Asher grunted. “Both.”

Duncan rubbed his forehead and blew out a breath. “Raul is gone. I suspect the bastard got out before all hell broke loose. The rest... It doesn’t sit right with me, Asher.”

“Why?”

The simple question required a complex answer, one Duncan didn’t think should be talked about while clearing the building. Too many noses to butt in and too may ears to eavesdrop. “Can I respond to that another time? Perhaps, after I leave here?”

“I understand. Make contact when you’ve done a complete sweep of the building. The Federales will begin the process of mopping up while the team sent to excavate the place will start in the morning.”

“I’m going to be honest with you, Asher. I don’t think the building can be reinforced enough for you to dig anything up.” Duncan glanced at the holes in the ceiling then those in the support walls. “It could come down at any moment.”

Asher blew out a string of curses. “Is this part of what you don’t want to talk about?”

“Yes.” He’d been on alert the whole evening, waiting for the go signal while pretending to enjoy the festivities. It should’ve been simple. It should’ve taken no more than two hours for them to begin the incursion. Unfortunately, shit went sideways faster than they’d been prepared for.

“I’ll let the team know and have them ready.” The comm went silent, ending their conversation.

Duncan continued through the mess. The tunnel to the left had completely caved in. Those who’d gone through there were either dead or trapped, and either way, they wouldn’t be found in time. It was a sickening means of dying but fitting, considering what the individuals of this club participated in—the Emporium of Monsters. The depraved individuals preyed on the weak and helpless, and there wasn’t an ounce of humanity left in them.

They deserved to rot.

Since the passageway to the right was still passable, he decided to clear that side of the building first. Going higher might require equipment they didn’t have at the moment. He stepped around the fallen debris so as not to disturb the weakened walls, until he found one of Raul’s men lying across the body of one of the poor helpless souls. If Duncan didn’t know any better, and to be honest, he didn’t, he’d have sworn the man was protecting the woman.Were there more like Santiago imbedded in the cartel?Did they know how disgusting Raul was and so they tried to protect the ‘submissives?’

He shook his head. He couldn’t think about it now. Later, while writing up his report and talking to Asher, he’d voice his finding and put it out there. Duncan kneeled beside the man and patted him down, discovering a set of keys on the guy’s belt loop. He glanced at the locks on the doors and began the arduous task of locating the key to fit the locks. After three of the rooms netted nothing, he opened the fourth door and paused.

A man and woman cowered away from the door, clinging to one another. Both of them were covered in several gang tattoos. He recognized the man, because he’d studied all of the files they had on the Nieto Cartel. The woman, not so much. Duncan stepped into the room with his hands up to show he wasn’t a threat.

“I’m Duncan Frazier, FBI. You can come out now. You’re safe,” he said, drawing near. “Were you in here the whole time?”

The man helped the girl to her feet. Both of them were a little too wide-eyed for Duncan’s liking. The information he’d gleaned from the club dossier didn’t match up with the way this guy cared for the woman beside him.

“We were,” the man said, while continuing to check on the person at his side.

“I can get you out of here.” Already Duncan came up with a plan. He’d have to take them back to the hotel and question them there. Maybe, if he was lucky, which sometimes he wasn’t, they’d help him with the case.

The man gave Duncan a once over. His hardened brown eyes filled with suspicion and relayed years of tough living, while his body said he trained often, probably to protect himself and his companion. He was rough around the edges, kind of like Duncan, and attractive to boot. “Aren’t you part of the group who did this?”

“No.” Duncan shook his head. “We were the ones trying to prevent this from happening.”

“But you wanted to take down the cartel. You wanted Raul.” The man lifted his chin, exposing the smaller tattoos traversing his neck. Most were roman numerals, one was a set of lips, and another was a clown mask. “We knew everything, ese.”

Duncan had his confirmation. Only two people on the inside knew what the plan had been going in. One of them ended up betraying R.O.O.T. “We did.” He had to be careful with them. If he said too much, the guy might tuck tail and try to run. If he didn’t give the man enough, however, it could turn into an all-out brawl ending in one of their deaths.

“Told you,” the woman said. “I’ve been saying something isn’t right for a while now, and you didn’t believe me.”

“Hermosa, I did believe you.” The man sighed. “I—”

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