Weston (13 page)

I
nside the weight room, Kage sat backward on the bench in front of the press and hung his arms over the bar. Tony stood beside the pull-down bar opposite him, and shoved his hands in his front pockets. How was he supposed to bring up a subject Kage refused to talk about?

They’d grown up together. The history between them went clear back to kindergarten, when his mom had felt sorry for Kage, who walked to school alone, without a parent by his side, and taken Kage under her wing. Thank God she had.

For reasons Tony never thought about until he was an adult, he’d latched on to Kage from that day forward. Maybe he knew his friend needed someone, or that Kage was so fucking cool he wanted to spend time with him, but he’d never questioned his friendship. Hell, he looked up to Kage.

Despite being the same age, Kage seemed years older and a decade wiser.

Now, he had information that would change Kage’s life, and he gave his word on Rocki’s life, that he wouldn’t share the news with his best friend. What kind of friend did that?

“Are you going to talk?” Kage asked.

Tony sat on the incline bench, bracing his boots on the floor. “I’ve got a problem. I’m not sure how to fix it or if I should do something about it.”

“Figured that’s why you called me to come here.” Kage sighed deeply and lowered his voice. “Is this about Rocki?”

He shook his head. “No, things are good between us. Better than I expected considering the shit we’re going through and how we met.”

“Then what?” Kage asked.

He had no idea how to explain the situation. Kage was smart; he’d read through any lie, and Tony would insult their relationship with anything but the truth. He damned Darrell Archer to hell, and said, “Last night at the Crystal Palace, when we dealt with Darrell, he gave us information that affects you, but I gave my word to your uncle that I’d keep it to myself for the time being.”

Kage relaxed and shrugged. “If it came from my uncle, whatever he said to the both of you means nothing to me. Don’t sweat it.”

“You’d want to know, bro.” Tony stood and walked over to the punching bag, tapped it twice with his fist. “The hell of it is I’m protecting Rocki by not telling you and that doesn’t set right with me either. I agreed on keeping my silence to strike a deal with Darrell and keep his men off Rocki. It was either that or protect her for the rest of her life, and we both know that’s a hell of a life for anyone. You’re continually on guard, and though you don’t say anything, I realize the damage that was done because of your connection to the Archer name.”

“She’s your woman. I don’t see what the big deal is or why you have to worry about me. I live my own life. What Darrell does and continues to do has no reflection on me,” Kage said.

His friend’s openness and unguarded reaction bothered him. He got what he was saying, but the unfairness of it all angered him. Kage had given up a lifetime of doing what he wanted, when he wanted, and with whom he wanted, to make sure no one mistook his actions and brought trouble down on him, Janie, and the agency. A lesser man would’ve caved.

“I know how you feel, but you and I both know that everyone in this town will link you two together no matter if it’s me or one of the other guys who have to deal with him. The citizens of Bay City are accepting but leery…I can understand, because most of them realize there is someone more powerful running their town than the mayor. The drug trade is a big deal here, and everyone wants a clean town. You can’t outrun your family name, and they’ll speculate how you’re involved. I respect the hell out of you for making sure nothing reflects on your integrity, and I’ll admit that if roles were reversed, I doubt if I’d have the strength to stand strong as long as you have. This situation…it’s fucking unfair. It’s personal, and my instinct is to keep you away from the fallout.” He ran his hand over his forehead. His temples pounded from the weight of his involvement.

He’d stayed awake, lying in bed last night when he wasn’t making love to Rocki, thinking about nothing else but what he’d do with his secret. Keeping his mouth shut bought Rocki more time. She wasn’t out of danger. He wasn’t stupid. He agreed with Darrell. The information given to Rocki was too big of a package to ignore.

But so was a lifetime friendship with one of the few men he trusted with his life. He closed his eyes for an extra beat. He couldn’t keep his word. Kage’s well-being meant more to him than staying honest with a drug lord. Together, they could protect Rocki for however long it took.

“Listen, man. If it were Janie, I’d do whatever I had to do to keep her safe. Hell, I did when her ex-boyfriend came after her. I was willing to go maverick and turn my back on everything I believed in because I loved her. I learned everyone has limits and Janie’s mine. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her in my bed, in my life, and alive. I’d kill for her, man.”

Tony nodded, because he understood. Despite having known Rocki for only a week, he’d thought, dreamt, and wanted her for much longer. Having her personally in his life was better than he ever imagined. The level he’d go to keep what was his scared him. Because not once did he ever think he’d push aside his friendship with Kage for a woman.

“I want you to know that Rocki’s it for me, like Janie is for you. She’s the one,” he said.

“Okay.” Kage joined him at the bag and held the weight while Tony put some power behind a swing.

They stayed in position. Tony hit left, right, high, low, and Kage took the brunt of the force being his spotter. He put his frustrations on the bag, trying to knock some sense into his responsibilities, as if he could beat back the fear and know in his heart he was doing the right thing for everyone involved.

After a few minutes, Tony stopped. The situation was clear. He could do both. Somehow, he’d make Kage understand and keep Rocki safe. There was only one thing he could do. He had to tell him the truth, because above all else, he wasn’t going to sink to Darrell’s level. He’d shoot straight and believe that doing the right thing paid off in the long run.

“You need to know,” he said.

Kage straightened. His mouth grew tense and he looked at the ceiling before meeting Tony’s eyes. “Just answer me this before you say anything you’ll regret. Does it involve Janie?”

“No.”

“Will Janie be put in danger if I don’t know what’s going on?” Kage asked quietly.

“No.” Tony inhaled deeply. “This affects you personally. Even though I gave my word—and, dammit, you know I don’t give that unless I mean it—my loyalty is to you. Not your uncle. Keeping this from you makes me sink down to his level, and I couldn’t live with myself for turning my back on you.”

“Keep your word, man.” Kage punched his shoulder and turned to walk away.

His body went solid. “Just like that, you’re fine with everything?”

Kage raised his hand without turning around or stopping. “Just like that.”

“Fuck that, Kage,” he muttered.

Kage laughed, but the sound was loose and given freely, it was accepting. Tony stood there, staring at Kage until the door shut, blocking his view. Then he clenched his hand and sent the punching bag swinging.

If anyone wanted to know what a real man looked like, he just walked out the door. Tony checked his watch. Almost time to bring war down on the bureau. He wished he could keep the mess from touching Rocki, but she was smack-dab in the middle. All he could do was stay with her, support her.

They headed to her place to pick up her clothes for the meeting. He could tell how worried she was. And he would stick beside her. He blew out his breath. She was strong and smart. Everything would be okay.

I
n her official navy-colored dress skirt and coat and white blouse, Rocki paused outside the door to the boardroom at the academy. Her heels echoed in the stark hallway on the tiled floors. She tugged at the hem of her jacket and adjusted the tie at her neck. She was glad she had Tony come with her early to change out of her street clothes.

“You look great,” Tony whispered. “Relax.”

“My hands are shaking.” She grabbed his arm and looked up at him. “It’s been four months, and they have no idea what information I’m giving them.”

She stepped around Tony and he snagged her hand. “Sweetheart, you’re fine. “

“Okay.” She nodded as her stomach flip-flopped. “I can do this.”

He smiled tenderly at her. “Yeah. You can.”

“They’ll believe me, right?” She shook her head. “Don’t answer. I’m being stupid. Justice always prevails, and I’m not the one who broke the law.”

She tugged her hand, but he kept her from walking to the door. “What?”

“Breathe.” He waited and when she took a short breath, he said, “Again.”

All the while, he held her hand, his thumb stroking her knuckles. Her nerves settled into a hum rather than a screaming fit. Surprised to find herself more confident, she swallowed. “I got this. I can do it. I’ll just walk in, tell them what I know, answer their questions, and it’ll be over.”

“Right.” He stepped out of the way and opened the door for her.

She swept past him into the room.
Please don’t let me fall apart.

On the other side of the large boardroom, Detective Hanara stood from behind his desk, scowling in her direction. His bushy mustache hid his lips, but she knew he was displeased. His lowered eyebrows and tucked chin said everything she needed to know. On her right, Officer Bailey remained standing and tapped the heels of his thick black service shoes together as he straightened to his full height of six feet tall. She dipped her chin at each of them.

“Good evening, Detective Hanara and Officer Bailey. Thank you for agreeing to see me this evening on such short notice.” She stood beside the chair in front of the desk at attention. “This is Tony Weston, a private investigator with the Beaumont Body Shop in Bay City. I’ve asked him to join us today because he’s directly involved with the recent undercover case against Mr. Darrell Archer, also of Bay City, case number 2463A-C.”

The men shook hands, and Detective Hanara motioned for them to sit. “Detective Marcelli reported that you removed yourself from the case because of high probability that Archer was on to your status with the department. Then I received a ten ninety-nine form for two weeks of vacation filed for you. Maybe we should start there, before I learn what happened during the four months we were paying you to gather information to bring down our suspect.”

She folded her hands in her lap. “Detective Marcelli is correct. Mr. Archer confronted me, willingly admitted to discovering my position as a detective for the Cannon Police Department, and wanted to know why I was working for him. I denied any involvement, and when he left me after the meeting, I feared for my safety and escaped.”

“Yet, from the report, you went to Mr. Weston’s house instead of contacting your commanding officer.” Detective Hanara leaned back and steepled his fingers. “Highly against regulations, Detective Bangli.”

The blow from his reprimand stung. She’d always gone by the book and followed procedures. Because of Gino’s involvement, she’d relied on herself instead of the department’s protection. Anger toward the man who’d taught her everything and overseen her training threatened to make her rise from the chair and tell them all she knew in one temperamental outburst, but she tamped the urge down.

“Correct, sir.” She cleared her throat and removed the manila envelope from Tony’s hands. “In my defense, I’ve received information that compromises Detective Marcelli’s role as my superior and until I delivered the evidence into your hands, I made the decision not to release the information to Detective Marcelli. The truth is, sir, I was concerned with my safety if I took the package to Detective Marcelli. I believe the conflict of interest will be liable in court.”

Detective Hanara tilted his head. “Think very carefully before you make any accusations that you can’t back up and prove as fact, Detective Bangli.”

Tony’s body shifted forward. She put her hand on his thigh, assuring him she had the situation under control, and laid the envelope on the desk. “I’m requesting the board to open an investigation on Detective Gino Marcelli for illegal drug trade, blackmail, theft, and tampering with criminal evidence, going against everything the bureau believes in and using his position to conduct illegal activities. Along with being responsible for the deaths of six people, twenty years ago, five of those victims are cold cases that I can solve.”

“You’ve got to be shitting me, Bangli.” Detective Hanara came out of his chair and towered over his desk. “What is this bullshit?”

“The truth, sir. All the evidence is in the envelope,” she said.

The air inside the room suffocated her. Her heart hammered against her chest. His reaction came as no surprise, but nothing could prepare her for the onslaught of guilt over accusing one of her own.

“May I ask where and who gave you the evidence you’re bringing in front of the board?” he asked, his voice gravely serious.

Earlier, she’d talked to Tony about the best way to handle answering the question she knew would come up about Archer, and they’d both agreed. If she were to remain safe, she’d take responsibility and leave Archer’s name out of her story. Okay, Tony didn’t agree and they’d fought, but in the end, he’d remained silent, letting her make the decision on her own.

The police department used informants all the time. Archer was working with her.

“I gathered it while I working undercover.” She pulled her shoulders back. Always truthful; if she kept information to herself, it wasn’t lying. “The physical evidence, the recordings, and the pictures were handed to me personally for payment on the jobs I fulfilled while on duty for the Cannon Police Department.”

“Shit.” Officer Bailey bent at the waist and braced his elbows on his knees.

Rocki kept her gaze forward, allowing the officer time to collect himself. News of a scandal this big would rock the town of Cannon for many years, and he deserved enough time to grasp what she was telling them. The lives of every single person employed by the bureau would be tested, talked about, and run through internal affairs. None of them would walk away without feeling the effects of Detective Marcelli’s actions.

Detective Hanara studied her for several seconds and turned to Tony. “And your involvement?”

“I was with her while she was working undercover on the case, doing my own investigative work into Mr. Archer. I witnessed the exchange. She was given the package honestly. Because of my close involvement with the police in the county, I was aware of Detective Bangli’s true identity from prior occasions while she worked here at the academy. I stayed around to make sure she remained safe.” Tony remained sitting, his body relaxed to the others in the room, but she could sense the tension rolling off him. “When the job became too risky, I helped her stay out of sight until she could contact her superior. The first night before she could make contact with Detective Marcelli, we had a drive-by shooting at my place of residence, which resulted in the police being called and a report filed. Detective Marcelli came out of his jurisdiction to meet with Detective Bangli before he was notified she’d left the job.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.” Officer Bailey tilted his head and looked down at Rocki. “His radio would pick up the nine one one call from dispatch. It’s out of his jurisdiction, but we all know if extra help is needed, he serves not only Cannon, but the county as a whole.”

“True.” Rocki looked Officer Bailey in the eye. “And yet, since I’ve known him, he never responds to a call in the district’s unmarked patrol car, wearing street clothes, during off hours.”

Detective Hanara sat and shook his head. “Give us a few moments to figure out what we’re dealing with, please.”

Tony’s hand covered hers. She swallowed. “I’m afraid we can’t let the evidence out of our sight, sir. I want it reported, tagged, filed, and locked away in the evidence room to be copied and handed over to the department’s lawyer. I will not chance having Detective Marcelli get his hands on the package.”

“You do know what this will do to the department, to the academy, if what you’re telling me is true?” Detective Hanara scowled.

She steeled her spine and refused to cower under his threat. “Yes, sir, I do.”

Two hours later, Detective Hanara, Officer Bailey, Attorney Phil Armour, Tony, and two security guards escorted her from the file room. Then she listened as Detective Hanara put out an APB on Gino Marcelli.

Rocki led Tony out of the building. Her legs shook and she bent over to catch her breath, and Tony’s arm hooked her waist, catching her. She leaned into him.

“Good job, sweetheart. A little bit farther and I’ll take you to the house and you can deal with what went down in private,” he murmured.

She climbed into the passenger seat of the Camaro, buckled, and sat quietly as Tony started the car and drove them off the academy’s property. She stared out the windshield as they passed the Dairy Queen and the Cannon plaza, then drove onto the highway heading north to Bay City.

Tony remained silent, but offered her continual support by holding her hand. She squeezed his fingers, afraid if she let go, she’d crumble.

Once she found her voice, she’d thank him for supporting her at the meeting. She could tell it killed him not to defend and jump to her defense. Yet what he didn’t know was that without his confidence in her, she would’ve backed down.

Despite their history she couldn’t let Gino get away with what he’d done, even if bringing the allegations to the board cost her the promotion or her job.

Her door opened. She blinked up at Tony, unaware that they’d arrived at his house. She let him pull her out of the Camaro and into his arms. She buried her face in his neck. Against his warm skin, within his strong embrace, she let the worry and stress go.