Promise Renewed (23 page)

Darin tucked a small fifteen-inch laptop under his arm.

“Can’t take that,” the thug said.

“No laptop—no money.”

Kamu took it from Darin. “I’ll keep it until you need it.”

“Fine with me.”

Minutes later they were in a black SUV with dark tinted windows.

“I can’t see a thing,” Gina complained loudly. She tapped the driver on the shoulder. “I can’t see out. Why are the windows so dark?”

“Boss didn’t want to blindfold you. This is the next best thing.”

“Well!” she huffed. “I thought Mr. Chavizi was a nice man. Are you telling me he doesn’t trust us?”

“It’s okay, sweet one. I would do the same.”

She folded her arms and sat back against the seat with a frown of disapproval.

In the darkness of the back seat Darin found her hand and held on tight. It was make or break time. Knowing Gina could get hurt, that both of them could, sent his concentration back to the job. There were so many things that could go wrong. He wanted to wipe his forehead. Not a good time to sweat. If the mole was there, would they be recognized?

His nerves were so wired he didn’t know if he could keep up the act much less confront Chavizi. Did he wish he’d never had this idea?

Not a chance. Not if they could nail his partner’s killer.

Thirty minutes later the SUV came to a stop.

“Are we there?” Gina asked.

Kamu opened the door to let them out. Darin had a feeling if they had wanted out of the SUV earlier, they’d have been out of luck.

He looked around. Warehouses lined both sides of the street. Who knew there were so many warehouse districts in Houston? Where this one was located was anyone’s guess. “Where’s the merchandise?”

“Straight ahead,” Kamu said.

They walked toward the darkened warehouse. It looked deserted. A small door was to the side of the closed overhead doors. Kamu held the door open. The interior was pitch black until Kamu flipped on a light.

Another door opened and Chavizi stood there smiling at them. “Good to see you. Sorry about the cloak and dagger stuff, but one can’t be too careful.”

“I agree,” Darin said. Keeping the frown on his face wasn’t hard to do right now. “Are you sure we won’t have company?”

Chavizi’s grin grew wider. “Positive.”

“Good. Let’s take a look at the merchandise.” Willing his hands steady and his heart rate normal, he followed Chavizi.

Unlike the outside of the warehouse the interior was a beehive of activity. Just as Darin had seen on the night Hunter was killed, men in baseball caps and jeans were busy loading a large box truck.

An eerie feeling swept over him.

The scene was too familiar. When nausea threatened to send him running, he grabbed Gina’s hand and held tight until it passed.

“A hundred kilos of heroin. Just like you ordered,” Chavizi said with as much pride as one would announcing he’d just won the lottery.

“Sample,” Darin demanded.

Expecting the order, Chavizi waved one of the men over.

The baseball cap was low on his head. A blue handkerchief around his neck partially covered his face. There would be no way to recognize him again.

Darin took a few grains between his fingers, touched it to his lips, and nodded his approval. He walked over to the truck and pointed to another bundle. “That one.”

Chavizi laughed. “Don’t trust me?”

“As much as you trust me,” Darin countered in Spanish.

Chavizi signaled to the man who once more presented Darin with a sample. “Good.” He pointed to three more bundles and sampled each.

“Satisfied?”

“It will do.” Darin watched the men expertly load the big box truck. “Mine, I presume.”

“My man will drive you out. Then it’s all yours.”

“Good. I guess it’s time to transfer the money.”

Kamu handed Darin his laptop.

“Hope you don’t mind, but I need to watch,” Chavizi said.

“I mind,” Darin said.

“Can’t be helped. I’m owed a lot of money. I intend to make sure you get it to the right account.”

Darin shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

The door Darin and Gina had entered flew open. Someone ran in as if they were in a hurry. This person was also in jeans and a baseball cap. Only the shirt was different. It was a long-sleeved man’s shirt worn on the outside, the tail flapping. Just like the photo Hunter had taken of the captain’s lover. Just like the person he’d seen before he was hit over the head when Hunter was killed. Darin stifled a gasp. Who was he? Were they about to find that the captain was in on this?

He found himself holding his breath. They’d made it this far with no trouble. Would this person blow it for them? Was he about to see the mole? Nope. Couldn’t be any of the men on the squad. Joe was about the same height, but much heavier, the other men didn’t fit. So who was it?

They would find out soon. Still holding his breath, Darin watched as the guy rushed up to Chavizi.

“Why did you want me here?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Chavizi snarled. “I told you specifically I didn’t want you within ten miles of this place tonight.”

Darin’s heart stopped. Gina gave a quiet hiss.

He squeezed Gina’s hand tight. They had just found their mole. The urge to go for the gun in his boot was so strong he leaned that way. As if knowing his thoughts, Gina gave his arm a yank that pulled him to attention.

He couldn’t control the shock that whispered through his body, and left him weak in the knees. Not in a million years would he have guessed. He looked over at Gina. The same shock showed in her eyes. It was a good thing Chavizi’s attention wasn’t on them.

So far there was no recognition. Then again, the mole’s attention was centered on the drug lord.

How would they have ever gotten this close without this gigantic sting?

Melanie Harris stood there with her hands on her hips glaring at Chavizi. The look on his face told Darin he was ready to strangle the woman with his bare hands.

So was Darin. Damn her to hell. She’d been everyone’s friend. How could she do this?

“What’s going on?” Chavizi’s attention swung to Darin.

“Why ask me? Who is this woman?” Darin hoped he could keep up the charade when all he wanted to do was pull his gun and make arrests. Where the hell was the team? And the FBI? This would be a good time to burst through the doors. If the GPS in Gina’s ring wasn’t working they were in more trouble than they could get out of on their own.

He made a silent vow. If they went down, Melanie was going with them.

Chavizi turned on Melanie. “Who gave you permission to come here?”

“You did! You sent me a text message to meet you tonight.”

“I didn’t send anyone a message.” His voice was so deadly Darin’s stomach clenched. Would Chavizi pull his gun now and kill his mole? Because of her connections, she was more valuable to him than a dozen of his men. The look on his face said he was thinking about it.

For the first time, Melanie turned to Gina and Darin. Darin’s guts shriveled. Would she recognize them?

Luckily, no recognition showed in her eyes. “Do you trust these two?”

“I don’t know you,” Darin said in his Dutch Farley voice, putting more anger into it than ever. Real anger. “This gentleman and I were about to conclude our business.”

Melanie yanked her baseball cap down as if to cover her face. “Fine. Get it over with.”

Chavizi dragged her out of hearing range. Darin could tell by the way the drug dealer was waving his hands and yelling that he was ready to blow.

Darin didn’t want that. If guns were drawn, he and Gina would be forced to enter the fray. Not good. Not planned.

Where were the cavalry? It was past time for them so show up.

They had all the proof they needed to put Chavizi away for life. They had the mole. They had the drugs.

If Darin knew anything about human nature someone in the bunch of guys loading the truck would give up the shooter.

Tom Hunter’s death would be avenged.

Darin wanted to see his team march in with guns drawn.

A dozen men ran through the door, their guns out. Before they were even close, they fired shots into the air, leveled the guns on everyone there.

Only it wasn’t the team and it sure as hell wasn’t the FBI.

Who were they?

Darin looked closer. His breath hitched when he recognized the lead man. Tony Ramiro himself. Were they going to be involved in a turf battle now? He gave Gina a quick glance. She knew as well as he did that their chances now were slim to zero.

What the hell was the cavalry waiting for?

A few foolish men went for their guns and were shot down. Darin exchanged another glance with Gina.
Do not pull your gun.
She must have gotten the silent message as she just stood there with her hands in the air.

Ramiro, his gun aimed at Chavizi’s gut, came forward to confront him. “Bastard. I’m killing everyone in this room. You knew I’d be after you when you stole my drugs. What were you thinking? I wouldn’t know who took them? I thought you were a smart man. If I’d known you were this stupid, I’d have put you out of business years ago.”

Chavizi grinned. “Almost pulled it off.”

“Ramirez—?” Melanie started a question.

“Shut up!” He glanced at Melanie, then Chavizi. “Who’s the bitch?”

“You can’t kill me,” Melanie informed him coolly. “I’m more use to you alive than dead.”

He turned his gun on her, cocked and ready. “You think so?”

She smiled. Darin wanted to slap the turncoat’s face. She walked up to the drug lord, unafraid. “I’m a detective in HPD’s Narc division. I think you get the picture.”

The warehouse was so silent Darin could hear his heart thundering in his chest.

Ramiro smiled. “Ah, my sweet Conchita. I think we can work something out.”

Chavizi glared at her. “You lousy bitch. Don’t you have
any
loyalty?”

Come on, Peavy. Where the hell are you?

“Freeze, everyone! FBI!”

As if he had conjured them up, at least a dozen FBI agents flooded the warehouse with drawn guns. Darin’s team, with Dwanda leading, right in there with them.

Then all hell broke loose.

Ramiro whirled to turn his gun on the approaching agents. Darin, acting as if he were running away, stumbled over Ramiro, knocked him to the floor and fell beside him.

“Shit! Run, sweet one! Save yourself!” he shouted as Chavizi drew his gun.

Gina, following Darin’s lead, screamed and acted as if she were fainting, falling against Chavizi in the process. His gun clattered to the floor.

For a few minutes, chaos reined.

Darin crawled over to Gina, pretended to take care of her, while all the time, covering her body with his. “Baby? Baby...you okay?”

Two FBI agents followed by Hank and Ernie were cuffing a half a dozen men who had their hands raised. Dwanda handcuffed Melanie, who cursed a blue streak. Out of the corner of his eye, Darin saw Dwanda pull the cuffs just a tad tighter, making Melanie scream in pain.

A couple of random shots rang out, adding to the chaos as the FBI cuffed both Chavizi and Ramiro.

Darin helped Gina to her feet.

Just as they had practiced, Darin and Gina raised their hands. “Don’t shoot,” Gina called out in her Meg Farley voice. “I’m too young to die.”

FBI agents rounded up everyone else.

As Chavizi was being handcuffed he gave Melanie hell. “You led them here, you crazy bitch. Are you nuts? I knew I should never have gotten involved with you.”

“You liked what I did for you. Don’t tell me you’re sorry. It would be one big fat lie,” she sputtered.

They shut up before they said any more. But they had said enough.

Darin looked around. Two men were down. Sirens could be heard approaching.

Had they really taken down two drug cartels?

His mind raced. They could never have planned this. Not in a million years. It was hard to keep the smile off his face. When he looked over at Gina, he saw the tears. No one but him knew they were tears of joy.

When Dwanda came over and cuffed him, she gave his hand a good-job pat.

Meg Farley screeched when she was cuffed. “I can’t go to jail. Tell them, sugar. I can’t.”

“I’ll take care of it!” Dutch Farley told her, as Dwanda dragged him off in the opposite direction.

“You’d better!” she wailed again.

Darin took one last look at the stunned faces of those under arrest. It had been a good night’s work. And then some.

What wasn’t good was the fact that Darin and Gina had to be taken to headquarters with the rest of the drug thugs.

From there Dutch and Meg Farley would disappear.

Their room at the Hotel Indigo would be sanitized. The Mercedes that took them around town would be taken in and sanitized as well. The license plate destroyed. By the time the FBI was finished there would be no way for Chavizi, Ramiro, or anyone else to connect Darin or Gina to the buyers from Dallas.

He’d have to praise Gina later. There was no way this could have gone down as it had without the help of the FBI, the chief, and their squad members.

In the back of a police prison van, Dutch Farley cursed Zeb Chavizi. “What the hell were you thinking when you tried to sell me hot drugs? Are you really that stupid? I told you I wanted a clean buy. We’ll probably spend years in prison!” He wanted to spit in the man’s face. “Wherever the hell you end up, you’d better watch your back.”

“Don’t give me shit. Blame that bitch cop.” He thrust his chin Melanie’s way. “Ramiro must have followed her, and the law followed all of them. I’ll take care of her when the time comes.”

“She didn’t steal the drugs,” Dutch Farley reminded the drug lord, though why he was standing up for Melanie, he had no idea. Hunter had died because of her.

“I wasn’t followed,” Melanie insisted. “But I
was
following orders. Your orders.”

“I told you I didn’t send any damn text!”

“Then who the hell did?”

“I can’t go to jail, sugar,” Gina moaned. “You know I don’t like small spaces.”

Gina began to sob. Darin sent her a patented look of longing. “Sweet one—”