Promise Renewed (The Callahan Series Book 5) Page 15

  Gina looked wonderful. Her long shapely legs in black tights and her enticing cleavage would distract every male who looked their way.

  They were to meet a man by the name of John in a motel on the north side of town. Their Mercedes was waiting when they walked out of the hotel.

  The drive was quiet. Darin’s thoughts wandered to the episode earlier. What had happened to make Gina edgy enough to pull a gun and look as if she would use it? He’d like to know what that was about.

  His thoughts turned to the upcoming encounter. He had to admit he was nervous. Would he meet the drug lord himself? If so, which one? Darin didn’t think he would show his face this soon, maybe not at all. He would have to be pretty damned convincing to get the drug lord in a position where his team could put cuffs on him. Everything depended on their acting ability and their disguises, if he could entice the drug lord involved into the open, and whether they would be recognized.

  If the mole fingered them they were dead meat.

  Darin didn’t want to have a shoot-out with Gina present. Hell, he didn’t want to have a shoot-out, period. Though Gina was a trained professional, he wanted to protect her. Although after this morning he didn’t think protection was necessary.

  His growing feelings about his partner worried him. A partner he’d kissed more than once on a made-up excuse. Which wasn’t typical either. He simply liked kissing her. Liked the feel of her soft lips under his. He shook his head to clear his thoughts.

  She couldn’t stay his partner. Once this was over he was going to pursue this attraction.

  It didn’t take nearly long enough before they were at the motel. The FBI driver got out and opened the door, his expression somber. His eyes though, were full of concern.

  At the motel, they walked down the first floor hall to room 1012. Why they didn’t call it room 101 or room 112 was beyond him.

  Darin checked to make sure the mike was on and knocked on the door.

  A voice said to come in. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

  Chapter Fifteen

  When they walked through the mobile metal detector at the door, Darin held his breath.

  He let it out silently when it didn’t go off.

  Two men stood in the middle of the room. Darin recognized them as Kamu, Chavizi’s bodyguard, and Paz, his intel guy. Now he knew the man they were dealing with. Kamu looked like a refrigerator on steroids, Kaz like a two hundred and fifty pound businessman who, Darin suspected, could and would take the gun tucked in his waist and use it without a qualm. Both were dressed in designer suits, shirts, and tie.

  Since the room wasn’t large to begin with, it was crowded. A bed, a TV on a long, maple table that had six drawers, and two chairs took up most of the space.

  No one said anything.

  “I think we’re in the wrong room, sugar,” Gina said in her East Texas drawl.

  “Maybe, sweet one.” He looked the two men up and down. “Either of you contact me?”

  “Didn’t expect a broad,” Paz said, his eyes suspicious, dark holes in a too-large face.

  Darin put an arm around Gina’s shoulder. “My wife is an equal partner in our business. You deal with both of us or we don’t deal.” He looked them up and down again. “C’mon, sweet one.”

  He started for the door.

  “We didn’t know you were a team. We’re not accustomed to dealing with anyone other than the buyer.”

  Darin paused, Gina’s hand in his. “And I don’t deal with anyone other than the man in charge.” Darin gave them a long, lazy look. “I don’t think it’s either one of you guys.”

  “Why don’t you tell us what you’re looking for?”

  “How do I know you’re not cops? How do we know this isn’t a set-up?” Darin made sure his voice sounded low and gruff—made sure his left eye twitched.

  Kamu rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to worry about us. We’ve been working this area for years.”

  “You sell drugs. Right?”

  The men stared, but ignored his question. “We have to make sure you’re not wearing a wire.”

  They walked toward them. Darin caught the eager look in their eyes when they looked at Gina. “You can check me out if you must. Don’t touch my wife.”

  “How do we know she’s clean?”

  Darin grinned. Made sure the grin wasn’t pleasant. “Obvious, isn’t it?”

  Tights hugged her legs and fit loosely in her boots. A snug T-shirt with a low neck showing enough cleavage to be interesting left no space for a hidden wire.

  “Yeah!” Paz said. “She couldn’t hide much in that outfit.”

  Darin willed his body still when Kamu ran his hands briefly up and down his body. He didn’t bother with the boots. “He’s clean.”

  “I’ll give you a list of what we have. You can let us know if you’re interested.”

  He handed Darin a list of drugs that boggled his mind. He’d been with the narcotics division for years and never seen the like. If Kamu and Paz were here, Chavizi was definitely the head of this outfit. If the authorities could get their hands on him it would be a major coup. If he or one of his henchmen was Hunter’s killer, all the better.

  “We’ll go over the list and give you a heads up. Can we reach you at the same number?”

  They nodded.

  “Good. When we make the deal, we expect to see the man in charge.”

  “We’ll see what we can do.”

  “I don’t think you understand. Either we deal with him, or it’s no deal.”

  “We’ll get back to you.”

  Darin wrapped an arm around Gina and left the room. They didn’t say a word until they entered the Mercedes and closed the door.

  Gina leaned back and let out a long breath. “I thought for sure they could tell how nervous I was.”

  “I had a few anxious minutes. But I think we did it. If we can get a face-to-face with Chavizi, we’ll make a few arrests.”

  “Have you turned off your mike?”

  “Nope,” he said and clicked it off. “I hope they heard it all. I’ll call them in a minute. Did you see the list? How do they get this many drugs past the border? Something’s got to change.”

  He gave her a long, lingering look. God she was beautiful. And smart. “You did good. You played your part like a pro.”

  His admiration kicked up a notch. Gina Carlson was quite a woman. It seemed she was able to hold her own whether it be on the squad, in a drug bust, and now playing a part he was sure was foreign to her. Added to that she seemed comfortable around his family.

  If he didn’t watch out, he was going to fall for her.

  Or had he already?

  He made the call to Agent Peavy to let him know what was on the list. Peavy told Darin to call him back in ten minutes.

  Back at the hotel, Gina asked, “Is the room clean?”

  “We’ll know the minute we step inside,” Darin said. “A white vase with a red rose will mean it’s clear. Anything else is suspect.”

  ****

  With a sigh of relief, Gina saw the red rose in a white vase sitting in the center of the table.

  “So what now?” she asked. “Do we just sit around and wait? I’m not good at waiting.”

  “Didn’t you know? That’s what narcs do best.”

  “True, but usually we have something to do in the interim.”

  Gina paced the luxurious living area. She didn’t know how she could keep this up. The stress of playing a role she was unaccustomed to, tied with her growing feelings for Darin was making her a wreck. After pulling a gun on him, God only knew what he was thinking.

  She couldn’t blow it. Not now. They were too close to the source of a goodly portion of the drug trade in the Houston area. She wanted a takedown as much as Darin did. And she wanted to find Tom Hunter’s killer. If for no other reason, to give Darin the satisfaction of putting his partner’s killer behind bars. After she had enough proof to put her findings in writing for the higher-ups, she would t
ell Darin the truth. She didn’t know how he would take it. This subterfuge made her feel dishonest. She didn’t like the feeling.

  Maybe she should opt out of IA. But she liked the work. It was challenging and interesting. She could go back to being a cop though. She had her detective’s badge. There shouldn’t be a problem. But did she want to?

  Darin went to the bathroom to make the call. Even in his disguise he was an impressive man. When he stepped back into the room, she waved him over, put her arms around him, and leaned close to his left ear. “Can we speak freely?” Being close felt so perfect she wanted to stay there.

  Darin pointed to the desk. “It’s safe.”

  Was she? Her emotions were all over the place. She stepped back. “What did they say?”

  Darin grinned. “They’re excited. They gave me a list for the buy and told me they are on top of this.”

  “Thank, God,” she breathed. “What else did they tell you?”

  Though they trusted the room had been cleared they kept their voices low.

  “We’re good to go. The fake bank account is ready. I’m going to call the goons now and set it up.”

  Five minutes later, they were scheduled for a three o’clock meeting with the boss.

  “I can’t wait for this to be over,” Gina said just as there was a knock at the door.

  A valet rolled in a food cart. After another large tip they sat down to eat. “I’m too nervous to enjoy this,” she said, taking a small bite of fruit. Although everything smelled wonderful, she ignored the soup and the colorful salad.

  “Eat. You’ll be glad you did.”

  “I’ll try.”

  She did. But food stuck in her throat and she found herself drinking more iced tea than eating.

  Too nervous to do any more than think about how close they were to seeing Zeb Chavizi, she paced the room. This would be the big test. He wouldn’t be where he was if he wasn’t smart. Even a small slip on their part could give them away. And what if he wasn’t the one they wanted? What then?

  “Stop pacing, Gina. You’re making me nervous.”

  “We have to be really careful, Darin. Chavizi won’t be as easy to convince as his thugs were.”

  “Don’t over-think it. Chavizi’s nothing more than a thug on steroids.”

  She laughed. “I’ll try to remember that.

  Finally, it was time to leave.

  Once more the Mercedes with the FBI driver picked them up. When they were dropped off at a different apartment complex, Darin turned on the mike. “We’re at the meeting place.

  “We know Chavizi’s office is in this building. We’ve followed him here often enough to know that much. We’ll soon find out for sure.”

  They walked inside arm in arm. Every step of the way they played their parts. At the door they were met by Kamu and escorted upstairs.

  Kamu opened the door. Once more they stepped through a metal detector. This one was the permanent kind. A receptionist greeted them. “Would you like a cup of coffee or a bottle of water?”

  They declined.

  The space was tastefully decorated. Chavizi had taken two apartments and turned them into a first class office. A receptionist area with a heavy maple desk and matching computer station spelled money. The walls were glass, with lots of plants sitting around. Several chairs, a coffee table holding a stack of magazines completed the area.

  Down the hall, several closed doors had to be offices.

  This office handled his legitimate business. Darin wondered if he handled his drug trade here also.

  Kamu told Darin he would have to check him out. Darin put a scowl on Dutch Farley’s face, stretched out his arms. “This is insulting. If I didn’t understand the man’s concern, I wouldn’t be so cooperative.”

  The receptionist walked up to Gina. “Would you mind coming with me?”

  “I just might, honey, unless you tell me why.”

  “Sorry. I have to search you.”

  Head high, Gina followed the woman into the next room.

  They were back in minutes, chatting as if they had known each other forever. Darin gave an invisible headshake. Gina was amazing.

  “Where’s the boss? I’m not good at waiting.” He offered his most evil glower.

  “You’re too impatient, sugar. Give the man time,” Gina drawled in a voice all could hear.

  Darin made a show of looking at his watch. “Two more minutes.”

  As if he heard, a man stepped out of one of the offices. Darin held his breath.

  As he came closer, Darin realized the man they’d wanted to arrest for over a year was out of his cage and in the open. All they needed now was enough evidence to put him away.

  Zeb Chavizi walked up to them, stretched his arm out to shake hands. Darin sized him up: five foot ten or so, two hundred pounds of muscle, a smile that contradicted the hard look in his dark eyes, and wearing some very expensive threads.

  “Dutch and Meg Farley. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “And about you.” Darin didn’t smile, but kept a hard look on his face. He hoped he looked as hard as the man standing in front of them.

  “Come. We can talk in my office,” Chavizi said. As he led the way down the hall, he gestured and talked. Every so often he said something in Spanish, to which Darin responded.

  “So, you’re in the business.”

  “Not the apartment business,” Darin growled.

  Kamu followed them in.

  “Have a seat.” Chavizi pointed to several plush chairs separated by a cherrywood table and a very expensive lamp. When Darin and Gina were seated, Chavizi did the same. Kamu stood at the door.

  Wood paneling and pale plush carpet made the space seem larger. Darin would bet the art work on the walls were originals.

  “Coffee?”

  “We’re fine.”

  They exchanged small talk. Weather. How long had they been married? Kids?

  “Let’s get to it. I’ve no doubt my side-business can accommodate your needs.”

  Darin took the list out of his pocket. Kamu’s hand flew to his waist, then relaxed when he saw the piece of paper. Darin cautioned himself to be more careful.

  Chavizi took the list Darin handed him. Nodded. “Good. Hope you’re flush. This is going to be costly.”

  “My money’s good.”

  “So I’ve heard. Let’s get down to specifics. When do you want delivery? I can make it as early as day after tomorrow. Not before. Plus, I have to be assured the money will be there.”

  Darin leaned back as if thinking. “Should work. I’m anxious to get back to my operation. But this is a lot of money. I want to be sure that every ounce of drugs I pay for is loaded on my truck.” He gave Chavizi a look Darin hoped made clear he would brook no argument.

  “It’s easy enough to do, sugar,” Gina chimed in. “We’ll be there when they load the truck. Then you can transfer the money right then and there.” She looked at Chavizi with admiration. “This nice man can be there, too. He can make sure everything is done just right.”

  “Sounds good, sweet one.”

  Darin turned to Chavizi and saw the scowl. He had to be convincing enough to clinch the deal. “There is one thing I want to clarify. I want no interference from the law like you had a few weeks back. If my info is correct, a cop died, and you were almost caught. If you can’t guarantee a clean delivery, I’ll go elsewhere.” Nailing Chavizi for the crime was a risk. It would also nail him or one of his men for murder. If he hadn’t been behind the storage lot fiasco, they were in trouble. If right, the drug lord would think more highly of him for having his facts right.

  Chavizi threw his head back and laughed heartily. “You don’t have to worry.”

  Darin leaned closer, keeping his relief under wraps. They had their man. He wanted to shout. “I do worry. I have no intention of spending my golden years locked in a cell.”

  More laughter rolled through the room as Kamu joined in.

  Darin wanted to punch them.
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br />   “We’re not thugs. We don’t go around killing people.”

  So why was Hunter dead?

  “I’m not putting my pocketbook and hide at risk,” Darin warned.

  “I’ll personally guarantee your safety,” Chavizi said with a smile.

  “How do I know you’ll do better this time?”

  Chavizi’s eyes turned to slits. Darin wondered if he’d gone too far.

  “There has to be a little trust here, or we can’t deal. Let’s just say that if you have the money, I have the goods, and leave it at that.”

  Darin nodded as if he approved. What else could he do but go along? He wanted to pull his gun and make an arrest right now. He had to calm himself before he could talk. “All right.” He looked Chavizi in the eye. “From what I could find out, you run a smooth operation. If you say the deal is a good one, then I’ll take your word for it.” He looked around the room, keeping the scowl on his face, making his eye tick. “You’ll let us know when you have the merchandise?”

  “We will.”

  They stood. Darin stretched out his hand. “Good doing business with you.”

  “If this works out, maybe we’ll do more.”

  “Count on it,” Darin said, his voice gruff. Only you won’t like the business I’m going to give you.

  Kamu escorted them to the outside door and watched as they got into the Mercedes and drove away.

  Darin waited until they were a mile away before he turned to give Gina a high-five.

  “We did it!”

  With his mouth fairly close to his Rolex, he said, “Did you guys get everything?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “I came close to blowing it.”

  “I think you smoothed it over. It was one of those opportunities that doesn’t come along too often, but you stopped the questions in time.”

  “It would go a long way at his trial if we had him on tape admitting to having a mole on HPD’s payroll.”

  “He admitted the warehouse was his deal. We’ll get the rest when the sting goes down.”