SIUBlues7

“Damn this is bad timing,” Nash complained as he hung up the phone and looked around the SIU.

“What’s up Nash man?” Joe asked as he handed off a file to one of the uniformed officers.

“We just got lucky. Boz called in. He spotted Kratz at a little deli down on fifth and followed him back to his girlfriend’s apartment. I just called in to get the warrant issued.”

“Why is that bad timing?” he asked curiously.

Nash gestured around to the lack of occupied desk space. “If you haven’t noticed, bubba, we’re a little light in the personnel department.”

“Sounds like we’re going to have a busy day,” Rachel interjected as she strolled into the SIU with her hands shoved in the front pockets of her jeans.

“Uh, what we, sister?” Nash returned, pointing a finger in her direction. “You’re suppose to be on medical leave.”

She clicked her tongue in mock disappointment. “That’s really a shame. You’re really going to be short handed trying to take down Kratz and Reed at the same time,” she taunted him. “I just found out that Reed is holed up at his brother’s house down on Maple. It doesn’t look like he’s going to be hanging around long either. His sister-in-law is on her way to pick up his kids as we speak.” She gave him a smile.

“And you know this how?” he asked tentatively.

“Nash, you know I can’t reveal a source,” she hedged. She knew that she had him over a barrel. If he wanted both Kratz and Reed, they were going to have to move fast to get them. “You’re going to need all of the extra bodies you can get.”

He wanted to argue with her, but he knew that she was right. Even with the uniformed officers, their resources were running thin. “All right sister. You’re with me strictly as an observer,” he stipulated. “Joe. Take Ronnie with you and get the teams moving. You can wait for the warrant at the scene.”

As Nash started out of the SIU, Rachel fell into step beside him. “If I didn’t know better, McCabe, I’d say that you planned it this way.”

She smiled up at him. “That’s what happens when you’re a workaholic. You’ll do just about anything to get a fix.”

“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” he joked, giving her a smile in return as he held the door open for her. “How’s the ribs.”

“It only hurts when I laugh,” she shot back.

He shook his head as he flipped open his cell phone to call with instructions for delivering the warrants on Kratz and Reed. “If you’re feeling that good, you can help us catch up on some paperwork when we get back.” When her smug expression evaporated, he chuckled. “Tit for tat, sister. Maybe next time you’ll actually take the time off.”

“Your powers of persuasion are as good as ever, Nash.” She was amazed by him. Whenever she thought that she finally had one on him, he would out flank her every time.

* * *

They didn’t have to wait long for the warrants to arrive, then Nash was on the cell phone again coordinating everything with Joe. Everyone was suited up and ready as Nash and Rachel walked across the street. He gave the word to enter and both teams were on the move.

Nash entered directly behind his people, his eyes taking in the efficient way that everyone fanned out through the apartment. The sound of dishes hitting the wall in another room let him know where the first detainee was. He and Rachel quickly followed the sound of a woman’s voice screeching over the commands of the officers.

Kratz’ girlfriend was cornered in the kitchen by two of his men and he laughed out loud when he saw how much trouble they were having holding onto her arms. Her legs were flying in the air and her body was contorting in every conceivable direction in an attempt to get away. “Calm down, sister or we’re going to have to tie you to a chair.” A third man stepped in to grab her legs and they wrestled her to the floor before they were finally able to slip the handcuffs on her.

“Where’s your boyfriend?” Nash asked, then heard a crash from upstairs. “Never mind.” He smiled when her expression fell. She had obviously hoped to give Kratz time to get away by putting up such a fight. “Don’t you just love it when things go as planned,” he asked rhetorically, then walked back out toward the front door just in time to see three of his men bringing Kratz downstairs. “Nice work boys,” he complimented them. In and out without a single shot fired. Just the way he liked it.

* * *

Joe smiled as strolled into the SIU. Flipping his cell phone closed with a snap as he stopped next to Nash’s desk. “I’ve got a little surprise for you,” Joe tempted him.

Nash shot him a glance over his computer monitor. “Why is it whenever you start a sentence off like that, the hair on the back of my neck stands up? If this is anything like the last surprise you gave me, I’ll pass.”

“Hey, how was I suppose to know that tire was under recall,” he complained.

“Oh, I don’t know. The news maybe?” he returned sarcastically. Nash was never going to let him forget the one time he had four flat tires thanks to the great deal that Joe had gotten for him on a new set.

“I got you a good deal on those tires.”

He gave his friend a hard look. “Hell, I could have bought two sets of those tires retail for the cost of replacing all four of my rims.” He sighed heavily. He wasn’t going to go through that argument again. “Go away.”

“Okay,” he said, turning slowly, but he couldn’t leave it alone. He had to let a little more of the bait dangle. “I guess it wouldn’t interest you to know that there is at least one more DEA agent in town.”

Nash gave him a confused look as he walked away. “Now why would I care about that?” He waved him off and turned back to his monitor. “I’ve had enough feds hovering around this past week. As long as the guy stays away from here, I don’t want to know.”

Joe sat down at his desk and propped his feet up on the edge to watch the show. He was going to enjoy this. “Even if the DEA agent is Stefano Perez?” A smile inched up on his face when Nash came up out of his chair.

“What?” Nash asked, all other work forgotten. “Where is he? When did he get back in town?”

“No, no.” Joe waved it off as he started sorting through the messages that had stacked up while he was gone. “You said that you don’t want to hear about that and I’ll just have to respect your wishes. After all, you know what my surprises are like.”

“Don’t do this Joe,” Nash warned him as he stood over his friend’s desk. Sometimes he felt like he had some sort of twisted marriage with his partner. Old arguments would rear their heads at any given moment and he was forced to humble or humiliate himself to smooth things over again. “Where is Perez and when did he get into town?” he reiterated.

“Oh, so now you want to hear about it?”

“Don’t make me hurt you, Joseph,” he warned.

Joe chuckled. “Relax Nash man. We’ve got plenty of time.”

Nash cocked his head to one side. He knew that Joe had already arranged something, but that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. “Plenty of time for what?”

“He’s been in town for a couple of days,” Joe informed him. “One of my snitches saw him at a high brow club called Flash. He has been turning up there for the past couple of nights.” He chuckled again. “He said he stuck out like a sore thumb.”

That was no revelation to Nash. “Yeah, that guy has absolutely no idea how to blend,” he returned as he distractedly rubbed at his chin. “You don’t think that he has actually been able to maintain his position in Corday’s organization, do you?”

Joe shook his head slightly. “I don’t know, Nash man. Stranger things have happened. I’m amazed the guy is still alive.” He thought about that for a moment. Two years was an extremely long time to stay undercover. “Of course, you have to consider that Perez may have turned.”

“Perez?” Nash chuckled at the thought. “That guy probably bleeds red, white and blue. He wouldn’t roll over even if his life depended on it.”

“Are you willing to stake your life on that?” Joe asked point blank. “Or mine? Or Harvey’s?”

Nash held his look for several seconds. He had a good point, but he wasn’t going to admit it just then. Instead, he spoke in the nicest voice that he could manage. “You wouldn’t happen to know what time he will be at Flash tonight, would you?”

“Well, since you asked so nicely, yes I do,” Joe returned in an equally lighthearted voice. “You don’t seriously think he’s still on the Montipinia case, do you?”

A smile inched up on his face. “I’d be willing to bet money on it. I can’t believe we’re going to get another crack at the guy. The feds have been after him for years.” He looked around quickly and spotted Rachel hard at work her computer. “Rachel, I need you to...”

“Pulling it up now, boss,” she interrupted. She had overheard Montipinia’s name mentioned and knew that Nash would want everything that the feds had on him. That was one case that had been hard for any of them to let go of. “DEA’s number one most wanted,” she announced as Montipinia’s picture came up on her screen.

“Put yourself in for a raise,” Nash told her as he leaned over her shoulder and started scanning the contents.

“Already in triplicate on your desk,” she joked in return. She clicked through several of the file pages until she found one of interest. “I see that our buddy, Perez, is still shackled to the case.”

“That’s one dog with a bone,” Nash commented absently as he took over Rachel’s mouse to search the pages.

Joe looked down at his friend as he stepped up to Rachel’s desk as well. “Yeah, you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Nash?”

“Hard copy all of this,” Nash instructed her as he highlighted several pages. “Add it to the file we have already and see what you can pull up on Perez. There’s no telling how that bozo has screwed things up over the last two years.”

Rachel shook her head at what she was seeing in the file. “I don’t like this, Nash. Looks like several agents have been killed trying to infiltrate Montipinia’s organization even with Perez’s help.”

“That’s nothing new, sweetheart,” he returned. “Montipinia isn’t exactly the kind of guy you take home to mama.”

Joe checked his watch. “Aren’t you suppose to be out of here by now?” he asked Rachel pointedly. He knew that Nash would have her hacking the net next if he wasn’t reminded that Rachel was only suppose to be working limited hours for the next few days.

“That’s okay,” she returned. “I can have this...”

“No, Joe’s right,” Nash cut her off. “The rest of this stuff can wait until tomorrow. Just print those pages up for me and get out of here. We’ll pay our old buddy a visit tonight and see what we can get out of him.” He straightened and gave his partner a smile. “In the mean time, you and I are going to do some shopping, bubba.”

* * *

Nash took one last look in the full length mirror as the cashier rang up his purchases. It had been a long time since he had invested in some tailored silk suits. He definitely liked the look even though it wasn’t very practical for San Francisco weather or for his wallet.

Joe stepped into his line of vision to admiring his shimmering gray pinstriped suit and heard him chuckle for taking over the mirror. “Inger is going to be all over me man.” He slid the heel of his hand over the side of his head to smooth his hair down. He looked good and he knew it.

“Just don’t let her crease the suit,” Nash warned him and gave the sales clerk one of his best smiles. “We’ve got an appointment to keep tonight and first impressions are everything.” His smile broadened when the sales girl allowed her eyes to roam over him appreciatively. At least he knew that his new look was a hit with one person.

“She has been after me to get some new clothes anyway,” Joe returned, unaware of the exchange going on behind him. “Believe me, she’ll be thrilled it’s not Hawaiian shirts and Bermuda shorts.” He fell into step quickly when Nash started back out of the store. “I don’t mind pulling out all the stops for an undercover gig, Nash man, but don’t you think we should have waited until we know if Perez can get us in?”

Nash shook his head. “I’m not waiting for Perez on this one, bubba. I’ve already put in a call to Alonzo to let him know that we’re in the market.”

“So what’s the point in going to Flash to see Perez if we’re just going to go around him?”

“Courtesy call bubba. Perez is definitely not the kind of guy you want to surprise. That’s one dude that doesn’t do well under those circumstances. Besides, it will give me a chance to bust his chops for not contacting me when he came back into the city.” He shook his head as he thought about the grandeur of the case they were about to take on. “It’s been a long time since we went after a fish this big, bubba.”

“Don’t worry, Nash man. We’re going to have Corday eating out of our hands, then he’ll lead us right to Montipinia. He’s not getting away this time.” Joe checked his watch as they walked down the sidewalk. Inger would be home soon with Lucia. He might still be able to make dinner after all before going with Nash to the club.

He was quiet for a long moment as he thought about the recent past as well as the near future. They had lost too many good people lately and he knew that they were about to open up the door for more by taking on a man as powerful as Montipinia. It might not be the smartest move he had made, taking on such a massive project, but as Bixby once said, no one ever forgets the one that got away.

Nash’s step began to slow as they neared the spot where he had parked the car. His heart began to pound in his chest as he looked up and down the street. “Uh, tell me I’m not seeing what I think I’m not seeing.”

Joe’s mouth dropped as his partner’s words sank in and he began looking around as well. “What the hell?” He couldn’t believe it. They were in one of the classiest neighborhoods in San Francisco. There had to be some mistake. “Who would be stupid enough to steal the Cuda?”

* * *

Rachel heard the sound of a child’s laughter coming from the back yard as she started up the front steps of Harvey’s home. Abruptly changing directions, she went around the side of the house instead and was just in time to catch Harvey playing with his son. He was down on all fours chasing Jerry who was screaming in delight.

Harvey’s Great Dane was in a similar position, his rump high in the air with his front legs kneeling as he barked boisterously at his master. His tail wiggled excitedly as he waited for his chance to join in the game. Rachel folded her arms over her chest as a smile grew. It was a marvelous family scene. The three Leek men happily at play.

Rachel was touched by the Hallmark moment and she leaned back against the gate to watch. King, however, wasn’t content with simply being a spectator any longer and suddenly launched himself into the air. He landed squarely on Harvey’s back, flattening him to the ground. Rachel had to slap her hand over her mouth to keep from roaring with laughter.

Harvey didn’t even see it coming. Apparently his dog had decided that it was his turn for the attention and he leapt into it...literally. “Good boy,” he told his monstrous pet as he tried to push him off his back. “Go for the crazy man and protect the baby. That’s just what you’re suppose to do.” He tried in vain to turn beneath the massive weight. He couldn’t get enough power behind his hand to shove the dog off because of the awkward position he found himself in. “Go get the ball, King,” he tried, pretending to throw a ball across the yard, but his pooch wasn’t going for it.

Rachel turned quickly when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her and gestured to Anna to remain silent when she would have said hello. At her curious look, Rachel pointed over at Harvey, still pinned under King. Anna couldn’t contain her amusement, however, causing Rachel to lose control as well.

When their laughter reached him, Harvey looked back over his shoulder and King’s rump to see Rachel and Anna sharing a moment. “Oh great. As if I wasn’t humiliated enough in life.” He shook his head when their laughter grew. “Okay ladies. Mind giving me a little help here?”

“Come here King,” Anna called to him, receiving an immediate response from the dog, who came lopping over to see her.

“Oh you spoil all my fun,” Rachel joked with her. “I was just going to run inside and get the camera.”

Harvey brushed off the front of his clothes after getting to his feet, then swooped Jerry up into his arms as he walked over to them. “God forbid the two of you should ever gang up against me. I’ll get humiliated and blackmailed with the photographs for the rest of my life.”

“A girl’s got to make a living,” Rachel shot back, then turned her attention to the youngest member of their group. She waved to Jerry as his father passed him to his mother. “He has grown so much since I last saw him,” she remarked as she stroked the back of his head. “Hi buddy.”

“Hi,” Jerry returned quietly, then shyly buried his head in his mother’s shoulder.

Anna smiled at Rachel. “Why don’t you give me a call when you have some free time and we’ll see if we can get together?” she suggested.

“Why don’t I like the sound of this?” Harvey asked as his eyes darted between the women.

“Sounds great to me,” Rachel responded, ignoring her partner’s worried expression.

“Sorry I’m in such a hurry at the moment or I’d suggest we have some coffee now.” Without giving it a second thought, Anna leaned over to Harvey and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I’ll call you later and you can tell me all the good and bad from this weekend.”

“All right,” he responded, then got his son’s attention once more. When Anna was in a hurry, there is barely time for good-bye. “I’ll talk to you later, Scooter. High five.” He held up his hand and Jerry dutifully slapped it. “That’s my boy. I love you.” He managed to get a tiny kiss on the cheek before Anna was gone again.

Rachel looked at him with doubt written across her face. “Scooter?”

Harvey waved it off as a topic to be covered later. “We’re trying out new nicknames. You know, kind of a father-son thing.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. “Don’t tell me you’re actually planning on taking it easy today. Off work so soon?”

She slid her hands over his shoulders and around to his back. “Like you said the other day, who knows when we will get some off-duty time together again.”

Harvey looked at her suspiciously. “Nash has you doing paperwork, doesn’t he?”

She lightly slapped him on the back. “Stop it. I was trying to have a moment here.”

“Oh sorry,” he returned quickly, a smile growing on his face. He loved the closeness that they shared. They had so much history together and yet there were still so many new things for them to experience together.

“I was hoping to get to spend a little time with Jerry too, but I guess that’s out.”

“Yeah, Anna is always running late for something. Speaking of Anna, what’s with this getting together for coffee?” Harvey asked point blank.

A smile inched up on her face. “Getting paranoid?”

“Let’s just say when your girlfriend and the mother of your child get along that well, it’s not necessarily a good thing.”

“Oh yeah?” she asked playfully as she eased closer. “I do know a good thing when I see it.”

“Is that right?” he said softly, then received a long, seductive kiss. To say that sparks flew and rockets went off would be an understatement. One touch from her hand sent his blood pressure skyrocketing. “I’ve missed you today,” he confessed, letting one arm fall away as they began to walk toward the back door.

She smiled at him as her heart skipped a beat. It felt so good to be missed.

“And don’t bother telling me that you missed me too because I know that you were thrilled with the fact that you got to go back to work so soon instead of bouncing off the walls of your apartment.”

“It was a relief to get out of my place,” she admitted with a sigh. “But you were right. Nash had me knee deep in paperwork so all I did all day was daydream about you.”

“Oh really?” His eyebrows shot up as a myriad of scenarios raced through his mind. “Anything that you would care to share?”

A smile inched up on her face as her eyes dropped to his mouth. So many fantasies. So little time. “Maybe,” she teased, then she caught a glimpse of a motorcycle standing off in the corner of the yard. “It looks like you had plenty to keep you busy,” she commented, as she looked at him curiously. “Is that yours?” she asked, slipping out of his grasp as she walked toward it.

He hadn’t known that she would be stopping by or he would have stored the bike back in the shed after washing it. That was one topic that he didn’t particularly want to broach just yet. Deciding what to do with his dirt bike hadn’t been easy. “Yeah, but not for long.” He grabbed up the dry cloth from the handle bars that he had been using to buff up the chrome. “I’m just getting her ready to sell.”

Rachel watched his hands move gingerly over the surface. There wasn’t a speck of dirt left anywhere, but he continued to polish. “Why would you want to sell it?” she asked. It was obvious that he had put a considerable amount of work into it. The motorcycle had been street readied even though he used it mostly on dirt tracks. He had even added special chrome details over the years.

He ran the cloth absently over the surface. “It’s been months since I last used it,” he said in explanation. “And it just wouldn’t be the same riding without Evan,” he told her. At least that was half true. It wouldn’t be the same after nearly getting us killed either, he added to himself.

Rachel studied him as he spoke. She wasn’t buying it. She knew that he was trying to dismiss how much the motorcycle actually meant to him and she was fairly certain that she knew the reason why. He had already lost Evan. She didn’t want to see him lose that too. “Would you mind taking me for a ride first?”

His eyes shot up to hers in surprise. “Seriously?” He didn’t think she would ever want to ride with him again considering the one and only time she had, she had ended up with cracked ribs and a concussion. “Give me ten minutes to get cleaned up,” he said without hesitation.

* * *

Rachel slid her hands up over Harvey’s chest then back down again to circle his waist as they cruised down Highway One and away from the city. She never knew that riding a motorcycle could be so stimulating and relaxing at the same time. It felt so good just to have her arms wrapped around him that she didn’t care if he ever stopped, but he eventually did at a small strip of sand separated from the highway by a parking lot and a wide row of smooth boulders.

She climbed off of the bike after she had removed her helmet, then stretched languidly as she waited for him to do the same. It was beautiful there. Just a bit of sand in the middle of nowhere. She loved looking out over the ocean. She watched the seagulls diving and circling the water and could just make out a sailboat off the coast.

For a moment, she closed her eyes and listened to the waves, letting the salty air blow her hair back from her face. There were moments when even the sound of the highway behind them was drown out by the crashing of the waves against the shore.

Harvey took one look at her face and smiled before moving behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist so that he could get in some quality snuggle time, just as she had while they were riding. It had been incredibly frustrating to have her curled up against him and not be able to touch her as well. When her hands started to roam over his chest and stomach, he knew that he was going to go insane if he didn’t stop soon.

“I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed,” she said as she leaned back against him.

He leaned back onto the motorcycle seat as he pulled her closer still. “This place has the same affect on me,” he told her. He let the roar of the waves fill his ears for a long moment as he breathed in the scent of her hair. Vanilla. He would have to make a point of finding out what shampoo she used and buy her a case of it.

She turned her head slightly to brush her cheek against his. How could anything feel so good? she wondered. “Do you think that anyone would notice if we just stayed like this for the rest of our lives?”

His lips lightly brushed her temple. “I don’t know, but I’m willing to give it a try.”

She smiled wantonly. It felt even better to know that he shared her sentiment. “You know how much I love your PT Cruiser, but the trip here just wouldn’t have been the same without the motorcycle.

He smiled at her obvious tactics. “You’ve definitely got a point there,” he admitted. “Holding hands in the Cruiser or having your body wrapped around mine on the motorcycle. No contest.”

She dropped one hand to his thigh while the other hand lightly skimmed over his arms around her waist. “Now tell me again why you’re selling the bike?”

Harvey dropped his chin to her shoulder. He knew that he had been busted. His concern for her safety had been blown way out of proportion and selling the motorcycle had been a drastic measure. “You certainly know how to hammer home a point,” he complimented her. If she kept touching him that way, there was nothing that he wouldn’t say or do for her. “Would you have bought it if I had told you I was trying to be a responsible parent by selling it?” he asked jokingly, trying to steer his thoughts away from the path they were taking.

Rachel smiled. That sounded like the Harvey she knew. She had missed him. “Somehow, I just can’t imagine you without a motorcycle.” Her eyes drifted closed when he started to kiss her neck. Such a delicious reward for her effort. She subconsciously tipped her head aside, enjoying the sensation of his mouth against her skin. “I know that you use to drive your Ranchero across country to all those Dead Head concerts, but I can’t get rid of the image of you riding a motorcycle instead.”

“Having fantasies about me again, McCabe?” he teased as he nibbled her ear.

“Always.” She turned in his arms to face him and his eyes gazed into hers. She could get lost in those eyes. The tenderness, the desire was shimmering in his beautiful blue eyes. She slid her hands over his shoulders. “I’ve been worried about you too, you know,” she confessed to let him know that she completely understood how he was feeling. “You haven’t exactly been yourself lately.”

His hands eased their way up and down her back before settling at her waist once more. “You can’t be yourself if you don’t understand who you are and why you do things.”

She searched his eyes. “Am I suppose to understand that?” She didn’t even pretend to know what he was talking about, but it was obvious from his words that he had been doing a lot of soul searching.

He didn’t bother answering her. Instead, he took her mouth with his, possessing her completely with his kiss. Taking things slowly with her was getting to be an impossible task. He had never wanted a woman more. He drew breath heavily when the kiss ended. “You’re driving me insane. You do know that, don’t you?”

Rachel put her hands on either side of his face, her lips hovering just above his as she fought for breath as well. Her heart felt as if it would leap from her chest at any moment. She wanted to rip his clothes off then and there without care to the motorists speeding by. And he thought she was driving him insane? “Let me assure you. The feeling is very mutual.”

His gaze locked with hers. He couldn’t believe what was happening to him. He had been consumed by passion before, but he had never known that it could possess his very soul. It was like laughing and crying at the same time. Nothing made sense. It merely devoured. “I love you, Rachel. Completely and totally.”

A smile danced across her face. All of her doubts had been swept away with that amazing profession. “I love you too, Harvey.” She had never believed in soul mates before, but now she knew that it was incredibly true.

* * *

Nash’s eyes scanned the crowd warily as he smoothed the lapel of his expensive jacket, then slipped the button at his waist securely into place. It was difficult to focus on the faces surrounding him with the strobe light flashing viciously in his eyes from the moment he walked through the door, but he made the effort anyway. He shot a quick glance at his partner who was attempting to scan the people around them as well. “I guess this is why the place is called Flash,” he quipped, then the two of them stepped down into the chaos.

Joe tossed his head back slightly in agreement as he gave an attractive lady standing at the bar an appreciative smile. The strobe lights weren’t the only reason that the night club could be called Flash. There were more money clips and jewels filling the room than he had seen in a long time. “I could get use to it,” he returned as they continued to search the crowd.

Nash had gotten a rental corvette. Not exactly an original as far as sports cars were concerned, but it had the right look for the image he was trying to present. They were in the world of the beautiful people, where power and money were the only exceptions. Everything was fleeting. The women danced with seduction in mind and the men paid handsomely for the privilege of spectator. Diamonds, rubies and emeralds dripped from ears and throats with the latest extravagances dangled in front of the noses of the appreciative. Everything in that world was flash, without substance or conviction. Every person, a carbon copy of the one who came before.

Yet, there was one exception that caught Nash’s eye. A statuesque beauty in a blue shimmering gown reminiscent of a day gone by. She looked like she had just stepped out of a classic film. “Now that’s a lady,” he commented as he gestured up to the second story terrace hanging out over the dance floor.

He didn’t need to identify her any further than that. Joe knew his tastes as well as he knew his own and he smiled as he watched the stunning brunette leaning in to receive a kiss on her cheek from her male companion. “She’s way out of your league, man,” he returned, giving him a firm pat on his shoulder.

“Yeah, but she’s definitely worth the effort,” he said with a smile as he turned back to Joe, then saw the man that they were looking for across the room and gave his partner a nod. “Business before pleasure.”

They made their way through the club slowly, casually, giving off the impression that time was something that they spent in abundance when, in reality, every second counted. “Perez,” Nash said in greeting as they stood over his table, then he looked back over the crowd for that certain glimmer of blue.

“Bridges. Dominguez,” Perez returned in kind with a brief gesture to the other chairs at the table which they pulled out to join him.

“It’s Malone and Hernandez,” Nash corrected him as he gestured to himself, then to his partner. “Try to keep it straight this time.”

“It’s been a long time,” Joe interrupted before Perez had the chance to respond. It wasn’t difficult to know the direction in which the conversation would be heading soon even though he never really understood why. There was no love loss between Nash and Stefano Perez.

“Two years,” Perez said casually, seemingly unruffled by Nash’s rebuke as he took a sip from his drink. “How’ve you been Joe?”

“Prosperous,” he teased with a smile, unaffected by the friction between Perez and his partner. “We’ve got them lining up to do business with us.”

“We hear that you’ve moved back into our turf,” Nash said, coming to the point of their meeting abruptly as he leaned his elbows on the table and gave Perez his complete attention. “We want in.”

“No can do gentlemen,” Perez stated firmly. “Corday is a skittish seller and he’s not going to let a couple of new faces in easily.”

“We’ve already made contact with Jose Alonzo,” Joe countered. “We just need you to give us the nod.”

“And what makes you think that Alonzo will listen to me?” he asked, trying to divert their determination. It was a risk for him every time he helped another officer or agent get into the organization. He didn’t mind the thought of working with Joe again, but Nash was another matter entirely. “I’m pretty low on the totem pole.” He was merely a driver for Alonzo and Corday and they had been very careful at keeping Perez away from any illegal activities. Even after two years, there was little that the pair would trust him with.

“Which is exactly why we want in,” Nash said with confidence. “If you can’t get Alonzo to listen to you, how are you going to get anywhere near Montipinia? Hell, you’ve been trying for two years without any luck. You already know that you can’t get him by yourself. You’re going to need our help.”

“I’ve got a solid case working, Bridges,” Perez argued as his finger tapped at the marble table top, then he looked around quickly to reassure himself that no one could overhear their conversation. “I don’t need you two coming in and screwing things up.”

“What case? A couple of parking tickets?” he mocked, then chuckled vindictively at the thin case that he had built against Corday. “We got closer to Montipinia in a couple of weeks then you had in what? Eight months? Do you really think that you can open a slot for one of your dead-man-walking crew by taking out Corday?” he asked skeptically. “Frankly, I’m amazed that he’s still letting you hang around.” Nash’s eyes locked onto his. “Unless you’re the reason your people keep getting killed.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Joe warned, holding up a hand to Perez’s shoulder when he moved to confront Nash on a more physical level. None of them wanted to draw undue attention to themselves.

“We’ve got a hell of a lot more than that now,” Perez argued. “We can place Corday at the scene of Barkley’s murder,” Perez returned, his anger growing at Nash’s smugness. “It’s only a matter of time before we bring him down.”

“Wrong,” Nash contradicted him, then shook his head. Perez had been trying to get his men into position to take down Montipinia for two years. Corday was the stumbling block that had resulted in several agent’s demise. None of the agents had managed to get a meeting with Montipinia before being uncovered. “I’ve already seen the file. You weren’t even there. A witness can place Corday’s car at the scene. You don’t have anything on him. Corday will walk and you know it.”

“This is my case, Bridges,” he growled through clenched teeth as he leaned toward his nemesis. “Back off.”

“Let me put it this way,” Joe interrupted before the argument could continue. “We’ve already talked with your lieutenant.”

Perez shook his head as an ironic smile twisted his lips. “In other words, I don’t have any choice. Why did you even bother to come in here?”

“I don’t like surprises, Stefano,” Nash said bluntly, using his given name in ridicule rather than friendship. “Surprises get messy, but you would know all about that, wouldn’t you?”

“I’m not the one that lost Montipinia,” Perez returned scathingly, knowing instinctively
that was what Nash had been referring to. “Next time I’ll just let you get your head blown off.”

“You lost your cool, Perez. You blew the bust and eight people ended up dead.”

“I don’t need this,” he said and abruptly stood from the table. “You want in? You’ve got it. Just don’t expect me to be your baby-sitter.”

“Spoken like a true team player,” Nash remarked sarcastically as he leaned back in his chair and watched Perez leave.

“What is it with you and Perez?” Joe asked. “I worked with him a few years ago on the Walker deal and everything went fine.”

“He’s sloppy, Joe,” Nash returned. “Two years ago, we actually had Montipinia on the hook and Perez blew the whole deal by playing hero. Montipinia was on his way to the meet when Perez lost it. He started shooting up the place and his partner ended up getting killed. Perez claims that it was going to be a hit.”

“What makes you so sure it wasn’t?”

“Because Montipinia likes to put on the heat. He likes to think of himself as some sort of modern day Genghis Khan using intimidation and rumors as his shield. He has put the fear of God into his men as well as the locals so that no one will even think of going against him. Perez lost his wad and he’s been blaming me for it ever since. We would be better off without his kind of help.”

“We might not have a choice if Alonzo doesn’t bite. We may need Perez to get to Corday.”

“Alonzo will bite,” Nash said with confidence, his attention waning on the conversation as a vision in blue began drifting toward them. “We only had to mention that two mill and he started drooling all over himself.”

It only took a glance in the direction that Nash was staring off in to see why he had suddenly lost interest in the conversation. “Alonzo isn’t the only one that’s drooling,” he commented as he tossed a napkin at his friend in jest.

Nash’s smile grew as he used the napkin to touch the corners of his mouth, then discarded it back onto the table. When it became apparent that the lady was coming to speak with them, both men stood.

“I trust that you gentlemen are enjoying yourselves,” she said, her eyes lingering on Nash before turning to give Joe a glance.

“The company has definitely improved,” Nash said as he smiled. “I’m Teddy Malone and this is my business associate Rico Hernandez.”

“Victoria Castle,” she responded, then turned her attention to Joe when he captured her hand in his.

“It’s truly a pleasure,” Joe affirmed as he slowly brought her hand up to his lips.

Nash watched Joe in amusement as he gave his best smoldering look. “Would you care to join us for a drink, Miss Castle?” Nash asked solicitously.

“That would make me a cheap date considering that I own the club, Mr. Malone,” she returned, eyeing him speculatively. “I noticed you speaking with Stefano Perez,” she commented as she gave them both another swift appraisal. “Is he a friend of yours?”

“Not on his best day,” Nash remarked sarcastically as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pants.

“Perez is merely an acquaintance,” Joe clarified.

Victoria’s gaze held his for several seconds. “You should be more careful of who you keep company with, Mr. Hernandez,” she said with certainty, then hesitated another moment before continuing. “I’m sure you’re well aware of who Mr. Perez’s other acquaintances are so I’ll make myself brief. My club is not to be used for any of your business transactions. My establishment is clean and I intend on keeping it that way.”

The corner of Nash’s mouth twitched up as he gave Joe a glance, then he gave a subtle nod to Victoria. “Point made, Miss Castle.”

Her shoulders relaxed slightly with her quiet sigh, the only indication that she had been anxious about confronting them. She was oddly disappointed that Nash had turned out to be a dealer even though she had suspected as much when she saw him with Perez. “Is that offer for a drink still open?” she asked hesitantly as her eyes danced over his face.

Nash’s smile broadened perceptibly. “Definitely.”

Joe gave his partner a knowing look, then started to excuse himself. “I’ve got to call the office,” he said as he hitched his thumb in the direction of the front door. He would have to go outside if he had any hope of hearing anything on his cell.

Nash barely even acknowledged his partner before holding out his arm for Victoria and turning in the direction of the bar. “This is quite a place you have here,” he commented conversationally and darted another look around. “I don’t see much of you in it though.”

The hint of a smile hovered in her eyes as she stared up into his face. “That’s very astute of you, Mr. Malone,” she complimented him. “The concept of the night club was mine, but the trendy atmosphere is strictly business. I don’t need to explain the need for glitz considering your line of work. People respond to the smell of money.”

“That almost sounded like a note of disgust in your voice,” he teased. “Don’t tell me that you don’t approve of wealth?”

“It pays the bills,” she returned with a graceful shrug. “Beyond that, it’s only a mirage. That’s what everyone pays for, the illusion, and that’s what I’ve given them with Flash.”

“Somehow I don’t think those are rhinestones hanging from your ears,” he commented dryly as they took several steps down to the main floor. “Are you telling me that you’re not the least bit interested in the illusion you’ve created.”

“My earrings were a gift from an admirer,” she told him. “They aren’t something that I would buy for myself, but I must admit, I do enjoy wearing them. A touch of vanity is to be expected of a woman, I think, but the trick is not to go to excess.”

Nash chuckled softly as he shook his head. He loved the way her mind worked and the easy way she had of expressing herself. “I’m beginning to wonder where the illusion begins and ends.”

Victoria reluctantly released his arm as they stepped up to the edge of the bar. “That depends on the individual,” she returned evasively. “Some people can’t survive without the fantasy.” She glance over to the bartender as he stepped up to them. “Two glasses of Dom, please Steve,” she instructed him politely, then he gave her a nod and turned away to comply.

Nash leaned his elbow against the bar to face her as she did the same. Smart, sexy and beautiful. He was definitely in trouble. “I keep hearing the phrase ‘what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this’ running through my head. You seem so much like a part of the illusion.”

“I assure you that my feet are planted quite firmly in reality, Mr. Malone. It doesn’t matter what business you’re in. You have to give the people what they want or you’ll go under.”

“Does that exclude allowing people like me to conduct business here?” he asked, trying to trip her up while hoping that he wouldn’t.

“I won’t deny that there is a demand for your particular product, Mr. Malone, whatever that may be, but I choose not to have it interfere with my line of work.”

He chuckled again at her naiveté. “You don’t really believe that there aren’t several grams of white powder circulating around the room at this very minute, do you?”

“Of course not,” she returned, giving the bartender a nod as she received her champagne flute. “I’m neither blind nor stupid, Mr. Malone, but I do know when to look away and when to keep my mouth shut.”

Nash shook his head again as he looked down at his own glass of sparkling wine, then he raised it to her. “You haven’t cut me any slack since I walked into this place.”

“And I don’t intend to,” she informed him succinctly. “This is my world and I’m not going to let anyone else run it.” She couldn’t stop the smile from inching up on her lips so she covered it with a sip from her glass. Against her better judgment, she was beginning to like Teddy Malone.

“Do you always know the right thing to say?” he asked softly as he watched the tip of her tongue dart out to catch a lingering taste of the Dom Periogn on her lips.

“Only when I’m trying to make an impression,” she said smoothly.

“You’re doing an excellent job,” he complimented her as he took a sip from his own glass.

“I hate to break this up, but we have business to attend to,” Joe said as he joined them.

“Is it something that can wait?” Nash asked in return, his eyes never wavering from Victoria’s face.

“Not this time,” he said apologetically. “Miss Castle,” he began, taking her hand into his once more. “It was a pleasure,” he repeated, then placed another light kiss on her fingers.

“Good evening, Mr. Hernandez,” she said graciously, then looked back over at Nash and felt a fleeting desire to toss her convictions aside where he was concerned. She was continually on her guard against men just like him. Drug smugglers, buyers, runners. They were all the same, but something about him tempted her.

“Maybe we’ll meet again sometime,” Nash said with every intention of making sure that happened and soon.

“Perhaps,” she returned, equally evasive. She held little hope that he would stop passed the club on his own again, but she wasn’t going to suggest it either. She was risking enough without serving up her heart as well. Her eyes followed him as he made his way through the crowd and an infinitesimal nagging inside became stronger.

“A couple of new players?” Steve asked as he leaned on the bar across from his boss and followed her line of vision.

“It looks that way,” she returned, then sighed as she looked over at him. “See what you can find out on them. Teddy Malone and Rico Hernandez.”

“Will do,” he promised as he pushed away from the bar.

* * *

“I’m afraid that there has been a new development,” Ling told his employer as he stood across the desk from him. “I have just heard from one of our sources that Inspector Rachel McCabe has been asking questions about your grandson.”

Yong Cha felt his gut twist. He knew that day would come sooner or later. He was pleased with his assistant’s discretion. He had waited until Samuel had left before informing him. His grandson had grown too curious about that woman. He wasn’t going to encourage that curiosity. “Then we must do something to take her mind off of my grandson,” he returned cautiously. “You know what to do.” He slid a black and white photograph across his desk. “Start with him.”

Ling hurried over to the desk to retrieve the photo, then started out of the room. “Actually,” Yong Cha said causing his assistant to stop and turn back to him. “Start with his daughter.”

* * *