Page 1 of Shades of Mercy
Chapter One
“Come on, sweet girl. Dance for me.”
Mercy Sams tucked her bottom lip as she infiltrated the encrypted files and data, just as easily as taking candy from a baby. There was nothing better than outsmarting a villain at his own game. Well, perhaps sex, but that was beside the point.
She tapped the keyboard, a thrill coursing through her as she watched her computer screen dance with confidential information.
Clicking several buttons, the data began saving.
She swiveled her chair to view a row of monitors. The surveillance drone would be hovering near the targeted location, an abandoned warehouse where Jules Cross did all his illegal businesses—money laundering, drug and sex trafficking, and extortion. The boss, an influential businessman, had earned a considerable reputation for hosting parties for Denver, Colorado's upper-crust society of billionaires. Cross dined and wined the elite partiers, comprised of politicians, doctors, celebrities, and anyone with a hefty bank account. No less than twenty girls served on-site as hosts, ensuring that the “billionaires club” received top-notch care during exclusive parties.
Many of the girls were barely eighteen, which made the situation more personal for Mercy. Her best friend, Hart, had been kidnapped and trafficked when she was seventeen. Hearing the abuse she suffered during that year made Mercy determined to do her part in putting a stop to men like Cross.
He had become so powerful in recent years that the CBI struggled to secure any charges against him. Whenever agents thought they were close to putting Cross away, a high-profile attorney exploited a legal loophole to secure the crime boss's release. He employed several lawyers on his payroll.
“Let’s see what we can do to make his life a bit more miserable,” Mercy whispered as she activated her earpiece. “McKinley, are you there?”
“In position.”
“Drone ready?”
“She’s ready to fly.”
“BOLO for anyone who gets within a hundred feet of the warehouse tonight and take a glam shot.”
“Copy.”
Roger “Howie” Howell came into the mobile security unit. He looked like shit, which seemed usual since his wife left him.
“Where’d you go to getthat cupof coffee? Columbia?” she said with a smile that disguised her irritation.
“Sorry, the line was long.” He sat down behind the row of monitors.
Mercy liked the missions to go efficiently, which meant a lower chance of failure. If she saw a hiccup in the protocol, she had to smooth it out. “You one-hundred percent?”
“Let’s bring him down,” Howiesaid, inserting his earpiece.
“I guess it’s that time,” she said, pulling out her earpiece and setting it at her station.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Howie asked. He knew computers, which made him an invaluable asset at SHM Security, the company he co-founded with McKinley and her. The team specialized in ethical hacking andsurveillance.
This mission would be different. Instead of their usual roles as “backseat drivers,” Mercy would be taking the investigation up a notch. She wanted to bring Cross down, andthatmeant infiltrating one of his parties without getting caught.
She smoothed her hands over the sequined dress that fit her snugly—a little too snug for her tastes. She’d never been one to dress flashy. Even as a teenager, when her friends were shopping for makeup and the current fashion trends, Mercy had been buying books. She’d enlisted Hart’s fashion sense to help Mercy fit in at the billionaire party.
There were risks involved in attending one of the parties. If her cover was blown, she could end up in a compromised situation.
“It’s not too late to pull out,” Howie encouraged.
“Once I have made up my mind, there’s no turning back,” she reminded him.
“Mateo is going to kill us both.”
She knew her brother would have vetoed the plan, so she’d chosen not to tell him.
Two years ago, SMH Security had achieved certification for collaborating with law enforcement agencies to aid in fighting crime on Colorado soil. Mateo was assigned to work undercover and had been working to bring Cross to justice.
“I’m ready. How do I look? Do I meet party girl standards?” Although she put on a brave front, her nerves were rattled.
