GENIE glanced in her rearview mirror, the fifth time in the last fifteen seconds. She decided to take another turn. She looked in the mirror again. The car followed. Genie let out a breath in frustration. She lived only five minutes from church but she had been on the road for ten. She squinted, the fading light of the sun making it more difficult for her to see. A blue sedan tailed her from a few cars behind. Genie wished she remembered where she picked up the shadow. How could she know for sure whether she was being followed?
“You’re getting lazy, Genie,” she muttered to herself. Ever since Diego followed her home, she found it a challenge to keep track of all the cars behind her, no matter where she went. She kept her eyes peeled for the black sedan Rafa spotted at Flores’ house the other evening. Now, it seemed half the population drove black sedans.
Even after Compton assumed command of the investigation, Huera and Montenegro were no closer to being caught. The FBI did as they always do in Genie’s opinion: drag their rear ends. Genie itched to have a more involved role and her boss hinted she could possibly participate as a member of the task force, if Compton approved.
No chance of that happening.
The task force invited Rafa to brief them on the tactics and methods of the Snakes, and he offered valuable insight into their operations, suggesting the IRS focus its efforts on money transfers possibly connected to known human traffickers as Springfield didn’t have an established drug trade. Rafa’s future FBI boss introduced himself and displayed an eagerness to work with Rafa as soon as he completed his agent training at Quantico.
It pleased Genie that Rafa had secured an assignment with the Bureau in Virginia and planned to move back home. He claimed he never intended to stay permanently in San Diego. The thought of having him near made her nervous. Even though she’d kissed Rafa at the hospital, they weren’t in a relationship. She wasn’t in danger of being hurt, but there was a good chance they’d see each other in the future. God, I need your help. I don’t want to be hurt. You can’t do this to me again. Please don’t do this to me again.
Genie pulled into the church parking lot and glanced in her rear mirror again. The sedan didn’t slow its pace. It traveled by the church. Genie strained her eyes to see the driver but the windows were darkly tinted. “Figures,” she grumbled. When she parked, she shut off the car’s engine and rested her head against the headrest. She allowed her anxiety to sour her mood, and to top things off, paranoia took root.
Her phone buzzed. The ME’s number flashed on the screen of her cell.
“Detective Green,” Genie said into her cell.
“Genie? It’s Doc Morrison. Look, I have a situation and I need you here immediately.”
Genie tensed. It was unusual for the ME to call her directly about a crime. “Sure. Where are you? Your office?”
“No, I’m downtown at the Sheraton hotel.”
“The Sheraton? What are you doing there?” Her breath suddenly seized. Wasn’t that one of the locations the FBI considered keeping… “Wait, don’t tell me—”
“I think it’s best if you see in person anyway. I had no idea the FBI took over the stabbing case you had.”
“Oh, that. I’m sorry. I should have updated you, but I’m sure the lead agent would’ve wanted to do that himself,” she said sarcastically.
“Would that be Agent Compton?”
Genie was surprised to hear the name from Doc Morrison. “Yes, how did you know?” The car revved to life and Genie pulled out of the church lot. She could reach the hotel in approximately ten minutes… if she didn’t have a tail.
“I overheard the other agents mentioning his name and how he would have to be notified.”
“What? What other agents?” Then Genie’s blood ran cold. “There hasn’t been another murder, Doc, has there? Please tell me there hasn’t.”
“You better get down here. Agent Compton will arrive within the half-hour. I’ll phone Detective Santiago.”
“Yes, thank you.” Genie hung up the phone. Why would the FBI be at the Sheraton hotel? Doc Morrison didn’t mention a murder, but she called her and would be calling Rafa. The FBI had Doc Morrison’s full autopsy reports on all four murder victims. Genie checked her rearview mirror. No sign of the blue sedan. She breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever the reason for the ME’s call, it sounded serious enough to bring both her and Rafa to the Sheraton in advance of Compton.
Rafael (The Santiago Brothers Book One) Page 33