Page 72 of Blind Justice

Epilogue

Six months later...

Duncan sat in the conference room of R.O.O.T.’s C&C and stared at the projection screen in complete disbelief. Raul’s dead body lay in the middle of his solitary cell, curled in the fetal position. A pool of coagulating blood surrounded him. The ticker on the upper right corner of the screen read 21:30, twelve hours before he was supposed to appear in court for the first day of his trial. Duncan couldn’t reconcile what he was looking at. It didn’t make sense. Sure, Raul being dead registered in his brain. But, really?How?

Due to Raul’s status and the fact Mexico already had issues containing Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán, aka “El Chapo,” the US employed the same tactics—solitary confinement for the duration of his sentence. No one should’ve been allowed in cell. He should have been escorted to the shower and had one hour of outside exercise once all of the other inmates returned to their cells. So, how did someone not only get into the cell, but kill Raul and escape before being seen?

“The prison believes it was a paid hit,” Asher said. “Still no word on who did it, but I believe we can all speculate who it may have been.”

Los Trios or Pueblo. They were the only two active cartels trying to dismantle Raul’s cartel.

“What about Bexley?” Duncan couldn’t pull his gaze away from the screen. “Enzo and Bella?”

Asher smirked. “They’re fine. According to the Marshals, Bella and Enzo are slowly putting their lives together. We will be sending this update to Witness Protection, but I have a feeling Pueblo and Los Trios will be going to ground soon until the heat is off of them, thanks to SRT and Bex.”

In the six months since he’d rescued Enzo and sent Bella away, the pair had invaded his every waking thought. There were days he wondered if he’d made the correct decision. On those days, he remembered all of the information they’d given the FBI, and he knew letting them go was the right thing to do—logically. His heart, on the other hand, hated the idea of being ripped from both of them. Every day it felt like he stared up at the light from inside the darkness. He went through the motions. Work. Home. Investigate leads. He hadn’t been back to his apartment at the club since the night he said goodbye to Bella. It was too hard. Everything in his place reminded him of Enzo and Bella.

“Good,” he said.

Asher shook his head. “We’ll have the autopsy information along with time of death in the next few days. From there, it’s up to the FBI whether or not they pursue the case any further.”

“I’m sure there will be an investigation,” Thomas said. “There was a gap somewhere. Someone within the prison staff had a connection or had been paid off. I’m also sure they’ll be in the wind before the investigators can get their hands on him or her.”

Of course, it was how they worked. The cartels. Even when they could prove what those bastards had done, the witness ended up dead or the suspects disappeared. And, now, Raul was deceased. Duncan supposed the case could be considered closed since there wouldn’t be a trial anymore. It might also be years before anything further would be done about his death, if they even caught the person who killed Raul.

“Case closed, gentlemen,” Thomas said, standing. “Our partnership, in this particular assignment, has come to an end.”

Asher sighed. “It’s been a pleasure working with the both of you. I hope R.O.O.T. can count on you should we need you again in the future.”

Thomas chuckled. “Oh, you’re not getting rid of me so easily. You have what belongs to me. Besides, the place is kind of growing on me.”

Duncan frowned. Was Thomas done with him? Did he plan on retiring from the agency? He considered his partner for a second. The man gave nothing away. It was infuriating. He pushed away from the conference table and stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m sure there’s another case I should be taking care of.”

“You didn’t tell him?” Asher sighed. “You were supposed to relay the information before he arrived.”

“And ruin the surprise?”

Duncan pivoted. “What surprise?” Stunned, he stood there staring at both men as though they’d lost their ever-loving minds.

Thomas reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out two envelopes. “This took almost all of the favors I was owed to obtain, so if you don’t use it to your advantage, I swear I’ll be the one to arrest you this time, and you won’t be getting out of prison ever again.”

Duncan accepted the envelope from his partner. “I’m lost.”

“Also, you’re going to be working with me and Thomas on occasion still. Those are the new terms of your agent status, got it?” Asher added.

“I’m still lost.” Duncan opened the envelope, and a packet of paper greeted him. “What is this?”

“Your new identity,” Thomas said. “Your name is now Damian Hooks. You’re a private investigator. You own your own business and have two employees, Xavier Jimenez and Gracella Flores. You call Florida home because of the warm climate and the country living—it’s the best of both worlds. You live in Aloma, away from Orlando but close enough to your office should something happen.”

Duncan still didn’t understand. He read over the paperwork signed off by the director, Thomas, and Asher, along with another man he didn’t know. The term of the contract was for the remainder of his sentence and also allowed him the opportunity to apply for a green card when he was ready. “Wait, Xavier and Gracella?”

“He’s a dense one.” Asher shook his head. “Go on, get out of here, Duncan. Take six weeks or three months to settle in then give me a call. I’m sure we’ll have work piling up for you to start on.”

“But I—” He looked to Thomas. They’d been partners for more years than he could count. Thomas was his family. “How do I—” He swallowed hard.

“It’ll get sorted, don’t worry. Now get your ass out of here. Your plane leaves in under two hours.” Thomas pointed to the door. “I’ll have your shit sent to you.”

Shocked and still not sure what was going on, a tingle of hopefulness filled him. Could it be?No.He squashed the thought before it took root and set him up for disappointment. No, Thomas was giving him a way to escape the memories. A fresh start. A new life. He’d be able to cut ties with everything he knew and be done with his father. With the IRA. With his old transgressions.

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