Page 71 of Love Me Darkly
“Good news,” Carlisle replied. “The judge agreed that Roman Korenic’s ties to trafficking and drug distribution through Valemont, as well as the activities at Solstice and potential ties to The Veil, were enough to grant you your wiretap. Tactical surveillance is already planning their way in. The wire should be in place by the time Korenic arrives back in New Orleans.”
Mateo pumped his fist, startling Donovan who gave him a questioning look. Mateo gave him a thumb’s up and then motioned to his ear. The younger agent grinned.
“That is good news, ma’am. And what about the mansion?”
“Don’t push it, Garcia. That will require more time. Thank me for the wiretap, and sit on your hands just a little while longer. Think you can manage that?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said without argument, too excited over this development to argue. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Carlisle chuckled, the sound heavy with shock. “Haven’t heard those words from you in a while. Seems like things are going well out there.”
“They are. We’re close to putting this thing to bed, I can feel it. The Veil is planning something—something big. Whatever it is, the UNSUB wouldn’t miss it. If he isn’t still in town, he’ll return soon. And when he does, we’ll have him.”
A long silence greeted him, making Mateo frown. He glanced at the screen to ensure they hadn’t lost the connection.
“Ma’am?”
She sighed. “About the UNSUB. There’s something else you should know. Something that was brought to my attention only a few days ago. There hasn’t been time for us to discuss it before now.”
“Discuss what?”
“I want you to know I never stopped digging. It was important to me that you knew the truth. You deserved that after everything.”
Mateo paced across the room, searching his thoughts for any reason for Carlisle’s sudden caginess. She was stalling, babbling. Two things she never did.
“The truth about what?” he prodded, growing impatient.
“The UNSUB … we figured out how he found you. How he identified you as the lead agent on this case.”
Mateo staggered against the nearest wall, his knees turning to water at the impact of her statement.
“How?” he rasped, the only word he was capable of.
“The digital intelligence arm of Internal Affairs discovered a data breach that occurred about fifteen months ago. At that time, the case was public knowledge, but all information pertaining to the agents assigned to it was sealed. Or so we thought. Someone—I’m now assuming someone working for Vestra or Valemont—used outdated credentials for a retired agent. His access was never revoked—some kind of oversight. The data stolen included your personnel file.”
Mateo’s head spun as he thought over all the intimate details contained in a government personnel file. The UNSUB would have seen his listed next of kin and emergency contacts, current and past addresses … enough to find his family and rip it apart.
“Any way to prove it was them?”
“We’re working on that, but whoever they have working for them … they’re good. Better than most of our best hackers and intelligence specialists. But they’re working on it. I won’t let them stop until we have proof.”
Mateo fought the urge to go tearing out of the room in search of fresh air. He breathed, pushing against the walls closing in on him. Now wasn’t the time to fall apart. This new information changed nothing. It only proved how far the reach of The Veil was. If anything, it was almost a relief to know that the UNSUB wasn’t some kind of ghost. He was simply a rich religious fanatic with the wealth and connections to move mountains. It was easier to hunt prey when the hunter knew what he was dealing with.
“Garcia, are you still there?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, standing up straight. “I’m here.”
“Are you all right?”
“Fine, ma’am.”
“If you insist, I believe you. Stand by for my next call. Should be a verdict on that warrant for the mansion.”
“Roger that.”
Mateo hung up the phone to find Donovan coming toward him, determination in his stride. “Well? I take it we’re cleared for the wiretap?”
Mateo nodded. “It should be set up by the time Korenic gets back. I’ll be monitoring the feed myself.”
