Page 36 of Hart of Redemption
Her mouth parted slightly. “Maybe this op will be successful. Who knows? You might find out what really happened to Jason after all.”
“One day at a time. I’m not going to lie. Undercover is harder than I thought.”
“It always is,” she said. “I’ve had buddies come out of long undercover assignments different people, and they’ve told me it was one of the hardest jobs anyone could imagine. Which is why the quicker we can gain concrete intel, the faster we can pull you out.” She picked up her phone beside her, brought up a picture, and handed me her cell. “Have you seen that guy next to McCauley before?”
The man in the photo had military-style brown hair, brown eyes, and pockmarks on his face. He was dressed in jeans, leather jacket, and shiny loafers.
“I haven’t. Is he part of a gang? Cartel?”
“Fed,” she said, gaze directed at the pond in the distance. “DEA. Neal Fitzgerald.”
I sucked in freezing air, my pulse going from seventy to one hundred in a second. “They look chummy. Does the DEA have someone inside McCauley’s camp?”
“To our knowledge, no, but that doesn’t mean shit. You know that agencies don’t like to share their special ops assignments, afraid to compromise their subjects.”
That was one issue we’d talked about before I’d gone in. Only key personnel on a need-to-know basis were privy to what we were doing. Agent Howard was adamant we didn’t bring the FBI in on the matter, as was my dad. We hadn’t discussed the DEA, only because Duke didn’t deal in drugs. McCauley did, though.
“Does my dad know?”
“He’s calling in some favors to find out what’s going on. McCauley could be this dude’s informant, for all we know.”
“McCauley an informant?” I mumbled. “I don’t believe that. Though it would be ironic for him to snitch on his own men or maybe his good friend Duke.”
I didn’t want to totally discount the idea. If McCauley was desperate to save his own ass, he might throw Duke under the bus. Or, maybe, Rosario Mendoza.
She pulled her hat down over her ears. “I agree with you. McCauley and Hart have been joined at the hip for many years. I highly doubt Brian would fuck one of his only longtime friends. My main concern is you. Keep alert.”
“I will. Any updates on the stolen guns? Who might be involved?”
“My contacts within the gangs haven’t heard a thing. Bruce learned that Mateo Alvarez was seen with a cartel member weeks ago, but no one is talking. But we know that the Alvarezes have been trying to gain leverage into the gun market way before Tito went to prison. We know Arturo Rodriguez wants a piece, if not all, of the market on illegal firearms for his Mexican cartel. They might be teaming up. Keep your ears open.”
“So could we be looking at a coup to oust Rosario and gain control of both the gun and drug businesses in Boston?”
She bobbed her head. “Possibly. I wouldn’t be surprised if they use Duke Hart as a pawn to get to Rosario.”
“Or take Duke out altogether.” I bounced my knee. “Anything else?”
“Be careful. If you see Neal Fitzgerald around, make yourself invisible. Until we know more about him, we don’t want you compromised. As soon as I have info on him, I’ll message you. So check your burner more often.”
“Copy that. By the way, how’s my dad?”
She plucked her cell from me. “I won’t lie. He’s worried.”
I blew hot air into my cold hands. “Tell him I’ll call on Thanksgiving. Also, please don’t mention my scratch to him.”
“My report will say that you have no intel yet but are making inroads with the Hart family. I don’t know if I’m jealous or scared for you.”
“Duke is a target, nothing more.”
She pushed to her feet. “I know we’ve joked around about fucking Duke, but?—”
“You don’t have to say it.” Tucking my hands into the pockets of my vest, I rose.
Her blue eyes were filled with worry. “I do. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t. It’s easy for us as women to use our sexual charm to lure a man to trust us. I know your brain is all in on doing a kick-ass job and taking down the likes of the cartel, Duke, hell, maybe even Brian McCauley. But separating the enemy from the man isn’t always possible when emotions take the lead.”
It wasn’t my emotions driving the ship but my physical attraction to Duke.
“I’m sensing that you speak from experience.” I wasn’t aware that she’d gone undercover.
