by Jana DeLeon
We gave our orders and before she could rush off, I stopped her. “Cora, I was wondering,” I said. “Someone told me you made bacon-wrapped shrimp for the last church dinner. Is that hard to do in bulk? I’m thinking of hosting a party and would like to try it.”
Cora froze and for a second, looked like a deer caught in the headlights. “It’s not that hard,” she said. “I’ll get you the recipe.”
She whirled around and hurried off. I looked at Ida Belle and Gertie. “Well?”
“It doesn’t look good,” Ida Belle said. “She’s too nervous over a simple conversation.”
“Well, the bacon boxes are long gone,” I said, “so there’s no way to pin it on her. And even if we broke into her house and found chickens and pot roast, there’s no way to prove it came from the café.”
“The chip box might be stamped,” Gertie said.
“Yeah, but don’t you think she’d have gotten rid of the evidence before her husband saw it?” I asked.
“True,” Gertie said. “So what do we do now?”
“I don’t think there’s anything we can do but let Francine put up the cameras and see what happens,” I said.
“Maybe we scared her enough to stop,” Ida Belle said.
“Maybe,” I agreed.
I watched as Cora served a table on the other side of the café. She glanced over at us, but when she saw me looking, immediately redirected her gaze. Something was definitely up with her. But was she a thief?
She seemed an unlikely choice, but if living in Sinful had taught me anything, it was that things were often not what they seemed.
The rest of the day was a slow grind, but I have to admit, I was okay with it for a change. The security cameras were delivered at eleven, and Ida Belle, Gertie, and I hauled them all to Big and Little’s warehouse, where Mannie loaded them into the back of his truck. He’d also offered to stage my hideout room at the takedown location and showed us the cot, blankets, and ice chest and cooktop that he planned to use. It was exactly the sort of thing Ahmad would expect me to have and made me wonder, once again, just what Mannie’s past included.
We spent the rest of the day hanging out at my house, watching movies. No investigating. No chasing alligators. No crazy cat escapades. And most importantly, no 911 calls.
Mannie checked in midafternoon to tell me everything was in place, and I called Harrison to let him know the cameras were ready for monitoring. He was going to filter the fake intel to the Miami team that afternoon, and then all we had to do was sit back and wait. I just hoped this exercise gave us what we wanted. Even though I was leaving the agency when this was over, the good men and women still working there were in jeopardy as long as someone who could be bought was working beside them.
Carter and I were supposed to have dinner, but he got a burglary call from the hospital right before quitting time. Since it involved the theft of pharmaceuticals, he needed to work the scene himself. Deputy Breaux was learning, but he was still too green to handle something of that magnitude. Given the number of people that traversed the hospital every day, Carter knew it would take a while, so he’d told me to go ahead and eat without him. If he got out at a decent time, he said he’d come by, but when 11:00 p.m. came and went with no word, I headed up to bed.
I stared at the ceiling for a long time, wondering if I should pick up a book and try to read. Then Merlin jumped onto the bed and curled up next to me, purring, and I finally drifted off to sleep.
I got the call at 8:00 a.m. the next morning.
Without even checking the display, I somehow knew it was Harrison. The ring just sounded different even though I hadn’t changed it since I’d owned the phone. I drew in a deep breath and slowly blew it out, then answered.
“I have awesome news, Redding,” Harrison said.
I already knew what he was going to say. “You caught the mole.”
“Oh yeah. Last night one of the operatives from the Florida job took a red-eye to New Orleans and went straight to that old motel.”
“Which agent?”
“Summerfield.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever met him. Young guy, right?”
“Yeah. He’s been with the agency for three years. Picked up right after a four-year stint in the navy.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“Morrow’s already got the forensic accountants on it. He won’t be able to hide money from them. They make the IRS look friendly.”
“How long?”
“A day, maybe two, but it doesn’t matter. Morrow arranged to have him sent on a job in California. He won’t be anywhere near New Orleans when the takedown happens.”
“Any word on that?”
“Yeah, the cameras are all working fine. Your guy did a bang-up job with placement. We have a green light.”
My hand tightened on the phone. “Now?”
“Whenever you’re ready to pull the trigger. I need ten hours to get my team in place. I’ll brief them with the fake mission on the plane ride down, just in case our friend Summerfield has a partner.”
This was it. The moment I’d spent the entire summer waiting for. The moment that would set off the thing that would change the rest of my life. Or end it.
“Tomorrow,” I said.
“You’re sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.”
“I’ll get them on a plane tonight. You get the word back to Ahmad through your people. We’ll be set to roll tomorrow.”
“If Ahmad shows. He may be back in the Middle East.”
“Our last intel placed him in Houston. We couldn’t verify, but it makes sense. Big port. Either way, he’ll show. Even if it takes a day. I’ll hold the team in place until he does.”
“What will you tell them if you’re delayed?”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll come up with something. Besides, I’m senior. Their job is to follow orders, not question them.”
“Okay then. I’ll talk to my people. And Harrison, thanks for pushing this through. I really appreciate it.”
“You’d do the same for me,” he said before disconnecting.
I put the phone on the table and blew out a breath.
This was it.
Now I just had to tell Carter.
Chapter Seventeen
“Tomorrow?” Carter’s eyes widened and he rose from my kitchen table to face me.
I’d gotten off the phone with Harrison that morning and driven straight to see Big and Little. I could have just called but with something this important, I felt that it should be done in person. They were happy to hear that the mole had been exposed but were somber when I told them it was time to put the rest of my plan into motion.
We discussed the exact details of the intel they would pass on, and I assured them that I had the best operatives at the CIA at my back on this one. They didn’t look completely convinced, but I couldn’t blame them. We all knew it could be the last time I sat in that office, and it showed on our faces. You could hear it when we spoke.
They both shook my hand before leaving, and Big kissed my cheeks again. Little surprised me by saying he’d light a candle for me at church that night, but I supposed the Mafia and the Catholic Church had always gone together. At least, that’s how they showed it in the movies. The grin that Mannie usually had for me was nowhere in sight, replaced instead with a focus that I recognized from the men and women I’d worked alongside. He clasped my shoulder before I left and reminded me that he was available for anything—absolutely anything.
That had been hard, and telling Ida Belle and Gertie that everything had been set in motion had been even harder. But standing there in my kitchen and telling Carter was the worst of all.
“I mean, I knew the CIA was getting everything ready and the time was coming but I didn’t think…” His voice trailed off.
“It’s time,” I said. “I need this to happen, no matter how it goes down.”
“I need this to happen too, but
it definitely matters how it goes down.”
He pulled me into his arms and held me tight. I wrapped my arms around him and prayed that this wouldn’t be one of the last times we did this. I buried my face in his neck and could feel his heart pounding against my chest. I’d pushed to expedite this, but standing here, holding him, I almost wished I had put it off another day.
“I want in,” he said.
I moved back and looked up at him. “I know. Harrison has arranged a suite for the four of us at the hotel across the street from where the operatives are staying.”
“The four of us? Ida Belle and Gertie?”
I nodded. “I couldn’t just leave without telling them.”
“It wouldn’t have worked anyway. They’d burn the city down trying to find you if you disappeared.”
I smiled. “Yeah, probably. Anyway, you’re in but I don’t know to what extent. It’s Harrison’s call and I trust him.”
“And the troublesome twosome?”
“I’m pretty sure their role is to wait and pray. Heavy, heavy praying. Begging if necessary.”
“I don’t think I’ve heard those two beg for anything my entire life. But I bet they would now.” He bent down to kiss me. “You’re the most important thing that’s happened to us in a long time. And if Harrison says I have to stay behind, I won’t like it, but I’m not about to question his judgment.” He smiled. “I’ll just grab a Bible and add my two cents to the begging end of things.”
I gave him a squeeze. “So, no pressure or anything, but what do you want to do tonight? I’ve freed it all up for you.”
He was silent for a bit, then smiled. “I think I’d like to grab a bottle of wine and head out in my boat to watch the sunset over the bayou.”
“Perfect.”
I rode into New Orleans the next morning with Ida Belle and Gertie. Carter was fixing things at work so he could be away for a while—his excuse being a last-minute law enforcement conference—and would meet us there later. Harrison had already sent me the hotel reservation and we were set to go with a three-bedroom suite. Ida Belle and Gertie had passed around that we were headed to New Orleans for a gambling bout and would be back when we ran out of money. That way, no one was looking for us at a set time. I had no way of knowing how soon Ahmad would act on the information, but I figured it would be quick. He wouldn’t want to run the risk of my getting suspicious and changing locations before he could get to me.
We were quiet a lot of the way, and I knew we were all lost in our own worries and fears about the takedown. When we did talk, it was about unrelated stuff, like the stolen food and Celia’s butt-showing adventures. Godzilla hadn’t been sighted since the incident in my backyard, and the only things that had taken the bait in the trap were feral cats, a raccoon, and a skunk. Fortunately, none of them weighed enough to trip the door. I’d already told Gertie that if a skunk got trapped in there, she was on her own. I’d removed the bait and closed the door on the trap before we left. The last thing we needed was for Godzilla to pay a visit while we were in New Orleans. I hoped he stayed away for a while.
“Did Big and Little put the word out?” Ida Belle asked, finally broaching the subject we’d all been avoiding.
I nodded. “I told them yesterday morning that they were clear to talk. They passed along the information through a mutual contact yesterday afternoon.”
“What if he comes looking for you before you’re there?” Gertie asked.
“Then he’ll find an empty warehouse with my quarters set up and he’ll wait nearby for me to return,” I said. “He’ll want to make sure it’s me before he moves in, so he’ll watch for a bit before he makes his move. Probably from a rooftop blocks away. That’s his usual MO.”
“So you’ll give him something to see and that sets everything in motion?” Ida Belle asked.
“Exactly. I’ll drive to the warehouse and go inside. If he’s watching, he’ll know I’m there and can see I’m alone.”
“And he’ll come after you,” Gertie said. “Will he be alone?”
“I doubt it,” I said. “He’ll have men around somewhere to back him up, but he’ll come after me alone. He’s gone off the deep end and thinks he has to do it himself or the debt won’t be paid.”
Gertie shook her head. “What a nutter. Makes Celia look harmless.”
“In so many ways, the Celias of the world are nothing more than a pesky insect,” I said. “I know you guys have seen some of the evil that the average joe never hears about, and with global communication, there’s far more information out there for people to read. But there’s still so much that only a small circle of people know about. Things that would cause worldwide panic if they were public knowledge.”
“I’m sure that’s the case,” Ida Belle said. “We live under a veil of protection that most are completely unaware of. I’m just praying that soon, there’s one less for those in the know to worry about.”
“Me too,” I said. “Don’t get me wrong, someone will step right in and take his place. This underground war of ours is never-ending, but the next guy won’t be gunning for me. And maybe he won’t have a side business trafficking kids.”
The hotel was located in the French Quarter, and our suite had one huge living room, dining area, and kitchen, then three separate bedrooms and baths. We carried our bags into the bedrooms, then wandered back into the living room, all looking a little lost.
I was totally antsy. I knew Harrison had arrived with the team early this morning, but we had to stay put until he made contact. He’d get the team ready to mobilize, then head out to meet up with us. Morrow had remained in DC because he was afraid his presence would tip others off that something more than what Harrison had conveyed was afoot. The agency had eyes on the mole, but he still had the ability to contact Ahmad if he suspected something was going on. Morrow’s leaving DC would set off alarms among the other operatives, and we couldn’t afford for the mole to make the connection between Harrison’s deployment with a team and me.
Gertie wandered into the kitchen and checked the refrigerator because food was where Gertie always headed when she was stressed or bored. This definitely fell into the first slot.
“Hey,” she said, “this thing is fully stocked.” She opened the pantry. “This too. There’s MoonPies. And Wheat Thins. I saw sliced cheese in the fridge. Anyone want a snack?”
I wasn’t hungry, but I knew I needed to eat. I hadn’t managed anything so far that morning but coffee, and I couldn’t afford for my strength to wane.
“Sounds good to me,” I said. “There should be some protein shakes as well.”
Gertie looked in the refrigerator again and nodded. “Chocolate or vanilla?”
“Chocolate,” I said. “Ida Belle?”
“None for me,” Ida Belle said. “I’ll load up on cheese.”
“There’s bread and peanut butter,” Gertie said. “I could make you a sandwich.”
“That would be great,” Ida Belle said, and we headed to the bar to sit.
Gertie moved around the kitchen, fussing with the food and plates as Ida Belle and I watched. We could have helped, but we both knew that this was what Gertie did to take the edge off. I wasn’t sure what Ida Belle did, but then I also figured her nerve control was a lot better than Gertie’s. At least, that’s the way it seemed.
Gertie put the sandwich and a plate of cheese, crackers, and fruit on the counter along with drinks and my protein shake. Then she took a seat on another barstool and we all started to graze. The only sound in the suite was of us eating. A couple minutes into the snack, Gertie jumped off her stool and turned on the television.
“We need some background noise,” she said. “This place sounds too much like a, uh…library.”
I figured she was about to say “funeral” and caught herself. But she was right. The three of us sitting here, probably imagining the worst that could happen, had created a tense, somewhat depressing atmosphere in the room.
“What do you usually do
before missions?” Gertie asked.
“They all sit around cleaning their guns,” Ida Belle said.
I laughed. “We do that and go over the plans until we could recite them in our sleep. And then we play poker.”
“Really?” Gertie asked.
I nodded. “Even pros need to take the edge off. Poker gives us something to do that requires a bit of concentration and appeals to our competitive spirit. We always play for money, so that doesn’t hurt either.”
“I bet we could get a pack of cards at that convenience store across the street,” Gertie said.
“We don’t need to,” I said. “I brought some. And chips. I figured I shouldn’t break tradition. Even though this is a departure from my normal arrangements, I should maintain everything that I can the same.”
Ida Belle nodded. “That’s smart. Puts you mentally into that place you used to go when things were about to happen. Heightens your senses because your body knows you’re about to need them all.”
We finished up our snack, and I retrieved the cards and chips and we set up at the dining table. “Regular five-card draw,” I said as I shuffled. “None of that new crap.”
“Sounds good to me,” Gertie said. “I can’t keep up with all the variations anyway.”
I dealt the cards, and we started our game. With every hand, we got more relaxed and we started to talk about Celia and her absurdity, laughing about what she must have looked like running from the cats. We were an hour into the game when Carter arrived.
“Poker?” he asked, looking at the table.
“Yep,” Ida Belle said. “Gertie is up—I have no idea how—but I’m going to get her in this next round.”
“The only way you’re going to beat me is if I stop playing,” Gertie said. She rose from the table and motioned for Carter to sit. “You must be hungry. Let me put you together a sandwich.”
Carter hesitated, but when he looked at us, Ida Belle nodded toward the chair next to her. He caught on that Gertie needed to do her thing and took a seat. “Deal me in,” he said.