Page 13 of Special Agent Joseph

“By the way, isn’t there a law against having a person lurking around private property? And spying on a man’s guests?”

Kramer spoke up. “I do believe so. Wanna press charges?”

Joe grinned Kramer’s way. “I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Noted. You were saying about Farina.”

“Right. His goons forced me to go to his place, and the man threatened to kill me… oh, and some mangy dog I’m supposed to care about.”

Sheila’s gaze narrowed, her unblinking eyes demanding answers. “Now why would he threatenyou?”

Playing along, Joe answered slowly. “Seems like he expects me to keep passing on illegal information he says he paid me to get for him.”

If she was shocked by his answer, he didn’t see it. The lady let nothing show. Rather, she came back at him in the same easy tone. “He did, did he?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“So what do you want to do about it?”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to give it to him. The information I mean. Not fond of having a death sentence hanging over my head for either me or my phantom mutt.”

Sheila’s mouth quivered slightly before she forced it into a frown again. “Uh huh. Understandable. And how do you figure we should handle this? Just pass over this information that would mean the rich asshole would walk away with millions of dollars and hundreds of pounds of one of the most highly addictive, killing kind of narcotic ever produced?”

“Well, when you put it that way.” Joe’s eyes crinkled. “I’m thinking it best I just give him what he wants… and then you stop him from getting it. Maybe arrest the prick and throw him and his goons in jail.”

“Makes sense to me. Except, you’ve never been willing to be on our side before. What’s made you change your mind?”

“See… that’s just it. I have no idea. Seems like the right thing to do.”

“Oh, it is. But can we trust you?”

“What do you mean?”

Kramer, who’d been sitting quietly all along, snorted loud enough for the others to turn his way.

Getting the nod from his boss, he sat forward before responding to Joe. “Say we let you find out what Vinnie wants to know. Then you pass it on to him. But double-cross us. The drugs go missing, and we’re left with nothing. It’s happened before. More than once.”

Suddenly Joe understood. “Because of me.”

“Right. We’ve been onto you since the last couple of shipments went missing, just waiting for the right time to arrest both you and Vinnie.”

“The right time. Are you…? What?”

“Fine. So you played us and got away. Therefore, you can imagine why we’re kinda stunned that you might actually come clean and be willing to give us this… ahh, juicy confession.”

“Hey, wait a minute. How can I confess to anything I can’t remember? And I wouldn’t lie to you. What I’m saying is this.That scumbag thinks I’m a dirty cop. So you should use me to catch him, right? Isn’t that what’s important here?”

Joe saw Kramer’s astonished look pass to their boss who straightened, turned her back, and walked around the desk to take her seat. Then she slowly folded her hands on her desk in front of her, and Joe had no doubt that she’d taken this time to consider his words.

“You say hethinksyou’re a dirty cop, but Joseph, that’s exactly what you are.”

Stretching his neck sideways, the discomfort of her claims made him sick to his stomach. Joe felt everything inside become repulsed by her accusations. Knowing they wouldn’t be censuring him without proof, he suddenly didn’t know what to say. His mouth slid sideways… the dimpled grimace forming. Taking his time, he said the first thing that came to him. “I prefer to be called Joe.”

Stunned, Sheila passed a heated look to Kramer and then turned back to him. “Okay then, Joe. I’m going to admit I’m shocked that you’ve come to us with this. And you’re right in thinking we can use you just like you said. But it’s dangerous and could get you killed. If you can’t remember that you’re an FBI agent, how do I know you still possess the skills you attained at the academy, skills to keep you alive in the tricky situation this might turn into? You’ll be expected to be in close with Vinnie while our task force attacks.”

Joe nodded. “Makes sense. Look, after the accident, I worked at getting back into shape. Physically, I’m fine. As far as my shooting skills or whatever else you’re worried about, I can go to the firing range, and we’ll see if I can operate a handgun. Something in my brain says I can assemble and disassemble an M16 rifle but that’s only because I saw a program on TV about weapons and they looked familiar.”

Sheila nodded, her face showing no emotion whatsoever. “Sounds promising. Kramer will work with you. For now, the shipment that Vinnie is talking about has been delayed due to necessary repairs on the vessel because of bad weather. That’ll give us a week maybe longer. In that time, I want you to go back to his place and look around, gather any information that might help us figure out where he hides these shipments, and his distribution routes.”

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