Page 21 of Shades of Mercy
“Excuse me?”
“That’s what we call a belly crawl for tactical advantage. So what happened to the mouthpieces?”
“Billy and Trip were very nice men. We just didn’t connect.”Not like you and I did.
“Probably for the best. They would have cheated. They had that look about them.”
“Aren’t you just a bucket of judgment?”
“You can’t tell me you didn’t already know. You saw the red flags. That’s why you were smart enough to drop them.” He eased his shoulders back into the seat.
“It’s called dating for a reason.”
“Touché.”
“How about you? Still sowing your wild oats? Still slinking away after nights of sex?” Why couldn’t she calm the shakiness in her voice?
His laughter bounced around the cab. “Is that how you see me?”
She lifted her chin. “Is that a serious question?”
He shrugged. “Considering you've moved on from what we did, I think you referred to it as a ‘blip’, you seem to carry a lot of anger.”
“Is it anger or repulsion?”
“You tell me?” He didn’t seem the least bit disturbed.
“I think we should avoid the discussion altogether. I’d rather talk about Mateo. How much danger is he in?”
“Mercy…”
“He downplays nearly everything, yet he appeared anxious. Don’t bother to sugarcoat the facts. I understand this is critical, but how serious is it? He would never have asked for your help if he weren't worried.”
Jag hesitated. “What did he tell you?”
“I already know the basics and that our Uncle Joe could be a criminal.”
“Honestly, he didn’t tell me everything either. It’s safer that way.”
“I’m not a child, Jag. I know I shouldn't have acted like a field agent, but my intention was good.”
After a long pause, Jag said, “Imagine a family tree, with all the limbs and roots connected, but on this tree, it’s not ancestry. This is the organizational chart of high-powered criminals who are all connected in some degree, from the masterminds who are the puppet masters of the entire organization to the right-hand men who do the dirty work. Mateo has been working on this ‘tree’ since he went to work undercover. Filling in the branches is about as difficult as finding needles in a haystack. Probably more difficult because the criminal ring is about saving the identity of those with power.”
“Where does Cross fall into that tree?”
“He’s just a puppet. Something tells me these men he deals with would gladly get rid of Cross if they thought he stood between them and remaining in the shadows. Mateo wouldn’t have let you out of his sight unless he knew, without a doubt, that you were better off away.”
Tears filled her eyes. Jag must have sensed her distress because he reached over and touched her shoulder. She reacted instinctively, jumping, which caused him to pull away.
“I know you’re worried about him, but Mateo is tough and skilled. That’s why the CBI hired him to find the highest-ranking members in the ring.”
“I feel like I need to do something.”
“You are,” Jag said. “You’re staying safe and allowing Mateo to do his thing. Remember, you did hack Cross’s files. That’s huge.”
“Why doesn’t it feel like enough?”
“It never feels like enough, trust me. Even when you stop a criminal, you’re left wondering why you didn’t stop them sooner. How many others are out there committing worse crimes?”
