by Carsen Taite
Syd did know, but instead of being upset about being reminded of the trouble Tanner was walking into, she was coming around to the idea that being around other people was the best way to handle her discomfort. She stole a look at her watch. Tanner would probably be at the ranch by now, setting up to wait for Aguilar to arrive. Would Sergio show up? Would Gellar? Too many what-ifs when all she wanted was a solid answer. It had almost been easier when Tanner left her to join the FBI. She’d had a fuzzy notion then that Tanner might face danger, but there was nothing tangible to worry about. But now, after having worked for the Justice Department, she was acutely conscious of the specific dangers that could be inflicted by the criminal element. Please don’t let this morning be the last time I see her.
They were almost finished with their tamale dinner when Bianca announced, “She’s there.”
“What?”
Bianca shoved her phone at Syd. “Text from Dale.”
Syd read the brief line: She’s here. “Dale’s not big on sharing a lot of detail, is she?”
“She’s definitely not the touchy-feely type, but aside from Tanner, there’s no one I’d rather have watching my back than Dale or Mary.”
“I wish we could have set up a way to listen in.”
“Dale said there wasn’t enough time to set something up. She said if she could work out an open phone line, she’d make it happen, but it’s not worth the risk if it would compromise the operation.”
Bianca’s mother stood up and started clearing plates, stopping to hug her daughter from behind and kiss the top of her head. “Would you listen to mija, talking about such things? She does such important work.”
Syd smiled at the sweet display of affection, and then a thought occurred to her. “Jade, where is your mother tonight?”
“She’s staying at Peyton’s with Lily. It’s a good cover since she’s been over there a lot helping plan the wedding.”
Syd started to ask about the wedding plans as a way to distract them all from what was happening at Jade’s ranch, but a loud ringing pierced the air, causing her to nearly jump out of her seat. She looked around the table, but everyone was staring back at her, and she quickly realized it was her phone. “Sorry,” she said. The display said only Unknown Caller. She pressed the answer button and braced for whatever was on the other end. “Hello?”
“Syd, is that you? It’s Sarah.”
Syd smiled at the sound of the familiar voice. “Hey you. Did you find something?”
“Yes, but you’re not going to believe me when I tell you.”
“Spill.”
“I did some cross-checking on those numbers and finally got a hit on a bank in St. Kitts. The numbers correspond to a set of accounts opened approximately two years ago. I’ve got a contact down there, and he’s sending me the full details, but these accounts are flush with cash and have been extremely active. They’re all registered to the same person.”
Syd gripped the phone. “It’s Aguilar, isn’t it? Can you trace any of the transactions back to Herschel Gellar?”
“I’ve traced quite a few and I’m working on others, but, Syd, I’m not seeing Herschel Gellar’s name or any of his accounts from that list you gave me on any of this.”
Syd sank into her chair, dismayed to learn her theory about the Aguilar-Gellar connection wasn’t panning out and wondering what that meant for the meeting at the ranch tonight. She needed to get word to Tanner so she could determine how she wanted to play this new piece of information. “Thanks for checking into this for us. I’ve got to make a call to someone. Maybe we can catch up before I head back to DC?”
“Hang on a minute. Don’t you want to know who Aguilar was wiring money to?”
An urgent undertone in Sarah’s voice set Syd on high alert. She’d assumed that because whatever Sarah found didn’t support her theory, it didn’t affect the work of this particular task force, but maybe she was wrong. “Who?”
Sarah spoke a name, and a rush of white noise flooded Syd’s ears, blocking out the rest of what Sarah had to say. Syd grabbed the edge of the table and held on while her mind whirred through every piece of evidence she’d reviewed, every conversation she’d had since she arrived in Dallas, but she kept cycling back to the same conclusion. Sarah’s revelation came out of nowhere.
* * *
Tanner found Dale and Mary waiting for her in Jade’s ranch house. Tanner had been here several times before and she liked the place. If she ever had a spread, she’d want it to be like this—a unique combination of rustic ambience and modern conveniences.
“How many other agents are here?” Tanner asked.
“Two more in the house, two at the stables, and a few others spread around the property. They’re all dressed like ranch hands, and Jade’s regular employees are gone for the day. If anyone is watching the place, they’re going to expect that Jade beefed up staff to help her with her takeover of her uncle’s business.”
“Aguilar’s going to know it’s me the minute he walks in that door.”
“Sure he will, but he doesn’t know us. A good captain lets her lieutenants vet the visitors. Besides, you’re just the bait to get them here. We’ll talk to him first and see if we can get him to make some admissions in the interest of developing a business relationship with you.”
“What’s the matter, you think an FBI agent can’t handle a sting?”
Dale grinned. “Well, we know you kids can handle simple jobs, but you should leave the big cases to the drug and gun folks.”
“As if. Okay, where do you want me?”
“Jade’s room is upstairs and it’s got a great view of the road in. Go up there, and whoever sees Aguilar approaching first will text the other. We’ll talk to him and see what we can get before he pushes to meet with Jade personally.”
“And if he won’t talk to you at all?”
“We’re going to have to improvise.”
Tanner nodded. She’d expected as much and was ready. Worst-case, she’d have to tell Aguilar she was the reason Gellar was suspicious of the task force, that she was working for Jade, and while he’d come here to meet the boss, he’d have to settle for second in charge. She couldn’t imagine he would believe her, but it might be enough to get him to say something incriminating about Gellar. Or it could get her killed.
“Hey, if things go sideways tonight—”
“Shut up,” Dale said, holding her palm up. “Don’t even go there.”
“Yeah, okay.” Tanner nodded at Mary, who gave her a sympathetic look, and then she climbed the stairs to Jade’s room.
The room was clean and simple, with hardly any personal items in view except a single framed photo on the nightstand of Jade, Bianca, and Emma standing in front of the stables. Emma was grinning wide between the women, who were looking at each other instead of the camera. Tanner wondered if Jade and Lily’s mother, Sophia, had taken the picture and how she’d managed to capture such happiness, love, and joy in one click. Tanner ran a finger around the frame, tracing the captured moment. Once upon a time, she’d wished for a wife and a life full of love and family. Spending time with Sydney had stirred those longings, and she wondered if the feelings would subside when this case was over and Syd returned to her home. They had to.
She heard the SUV before she saw it, its tires crunching on the gravel drive as it slowly approached the ranch house. It was dusk out and the headlights shimmered in the haze of the setting sun. Her phone buzzed and she looked down to see a text from Dale. Ready?
She stared at the display for a moment, hesitating—something she’d never done before when it came to the job. Risks were part of the package, and she’d never shied away from them for any reason. More so, she’d always embraced risk as a way to show her allegiance to duty, but the images of Syd in her arms flashed in front of everything else she’d ever considered important. For the first time in her life, she realized there were some things, some people, that a person shouldn’t risk losing for any reason.
Her
thumbs hovered over the keyboard on her phone. She was ready. Ready for this operation to be over so she could find Syd and tell her she loved her, that she’d never stopped loving her. That she’d been wrong to walk away and she wanted to spend the rest of her life making it up to her. Tanner typed the single word, and turned the vibration off on her phone. She stepped back to the window and took one last look, squaring her shoulders for whatever was about to happen, certain she could handle whatever risk this night might bring. But when the door to the SUV opened and Amanda Gellar stepped out, Tanner knew none of them were ready for this.
Chapter Twenty-One
Tanner stood at the top of the stairs and listened as Amanda Gellar calmly explained to Dale and Mary that she was here to see Jade and had no interest in explaining her business to a couple of Jade’s lackeys. Tanner’s relief that Amanda appeared not to know who Dale and Mary really were turned to dread. Amanda for sure knew who she was, and there was little to no chance she could sell Gellar’s wife on the story she’d planned for Aguilar.
The bigger question was why in the hell had Amanda Gellar shown up for a meeting with the new head of the Zetas Cartel?
Two large men escorted Amanda from the SUV to the house. Tanner stepped back to the window, but from this vantage point, she couldn’t see if they were waiting outside or if there was anyone still in the SUV. Tanner pulled out her phone to text the team covering the stables. Maybe they could see if Amanda had more personnel waiting in the car, but a text from Syd popped up and stole her attention. Bank accounts are in St. Kitts. They belong to Amanda Gellar. She was getting money from Aguilar through back channels. Be careful.
What the fuck? Tanner sent a quick text to the team outside and shoved her phone into her pocket. If Syd already had proof Amanda Gellar had sketchy dealings with Aguilar, Tanner didn’t see any point in putting off the inevitable. She descended the stairs, prepared to leverage this information into the full story.
Amanda almost hid her reaction when she walked into the room, but Tanner caught a hint of surprise in her eyes. “Special Agent Cohen, how nice to see you.”
Tanner’s eyes swept the room. One very large and frighteningly ugly man stood hulking behind Amanda, who was seated at the kitchen table. Dale sat across from her with Mary standing behind. Judging by the bulge near this guy’s heart, he was armed with some serious firepower. Amanda was dressed in a sleek black cocktail dress, like she was headed to a gala instead of a business meeting. After assessing the room, Tanner turned her attention back to Amanda. “Call me Tanner. I mean, what’s the point of being formal when I already know so much about you?”
“Tanner it is,” Amanda said without missing a beat. “Please join us.”
Tanner didn’t want to sit down, but she needed to make Amanda feel completely at ease if she was going to get her to talk. She thought back to the conversation she’d had with Amanda during the holiday party when Amanda had spoken so disparagingly about her husband, and it gave her an idea. She motioned to Dale who, like a pro, didn’t ask questions, but merely gave up her seat. Once she was sitting across from Amanda, Tanner said, “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Confess, Tanner, that you are surprised to see me.”
Tanner smiled and steepled her fingers. “I’ve been doing this for a while. Nothing surprises me.”
Amanda arched her eyebrows. “Nothing?”
“Would you like an example?” Tanner waited a beat, and when Amanda didn’t respond, she pressed on. “There was a time when I thought everyone involved in law enforcement, from prosecutors to police, was above reproach. Granted, I was young and fresh out of the academy.”
“While it would be a treat, I’m sure, to hear the tales of your youth,” Amanda said, “I can think of other, more pressing matters.”
“I have no doubt. Bear with me, I’m getting to the point.” Tanner cleared her throat and wished there was some way she could alert Dale and Mary about what Syd had told her. “Back in the day, the idea that a sitting US attorney would frame an innocent man for the death of a federal prosecutor to appease his business partner, a drug lord, well, that would have blown my mind. But now…” Tanner didn’t bother finishing. Amanda’s contorted features told her she’d guessed exactly the right pressure points. “Is something the matter?”
Amanda’s tone had a slight edge. “You overestimate my husband.”
“I don’t think so. He’s actually pretty brilliant. It was only by chance we found him out. He probably should’ve chosen a more experienced agent to do his dirty work, one who was already jaded by years of seeing criminals succeed where law enforcement failed. One who’d grown tired of subsisting on paltry raises when men like Aguilar live like kings. An agent like that wouldn’t have rolled on him because she would’ve understood what she was risking, and your husband’s perfect plan to put the Vargases out of business in exchange for the generous support of Carlos Aguilar would never have been detected.”
Tanner studied Amanda, detecting micro signals of discomfort from the slight shift in her posture to the way her eyes seemed to focus on nothing in particular. Tanner was trying to figure out what exactly she could do to push her over the edge, when Amanda turned to the thug behind her. “I would like to speak to Agent Cohen alone.”
The big guy stepped back, and Amanda pointed at Dale and Mary. Tanner nodded and Dale and Mary led Hulk out of the room. Amanda waited until they were completely out of sight before she spoke.
“You’re smart enough to know my husband is not a criminal mastermind.”
Tanner shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter what I think, only what the evidence can prove.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit. Evidence can be massaged. I’ve been married to Herschel long enough to know that.” She leaned back in the chair, assuming an air of confidence. “I can tell you don’t care for my husband. You’re not alone. But there’s no reason the breadth of your investigation has to extend to Carlos Aguilar. What if you could be rid of Herschel and live like a king yourself? I can make sure you have sufficient resources to fund your wildest dreams along with enough evidence to put Herschel away for his crimes. It’s a win for everyone. The Vargases will still be out of business and you can close the case on Maria Escobar’s death.”
Tanner struggled not to act surprised at Amanda’s callous suggestion, not to mention her command of the specifics. Tanner never would’ve expected her to know Maria Escobar’s name. And what was Amanda’s relationship with Aguilar that she was willing to pitch her husband to the wolves? Were they lovers? She decided to call Amanda’s hand. “How long have you and Carlos been lovers?”
A look of confusion crossed Amanda’s face, but before she could reply, a loud shout and sounds of a scuffle from the front of the house interrupted their conversation. Another shout and Tanner could swear she was hearing “Jade.” Tanner shot out of her seat and drew her gun, and carefully eased into the living room in time to see a man and a woman she didn’t know burst in through the front door holding a struggling Hispanic male between them, followed closely by Dale and Mary.
“They’re with us,” Mary called out.
Tanner looked at the man the strangers were holding and narrowed her eyes. “Sergio Vargas?”
He spat on the floor by way of response, but Dale said, “Yep.” She jerked her chin. “These two found him out by the stables. Agents Mars and Ruben, meet Agent Cohen.” Dale pulled Tanner aside and in a low voice said, “Sorry to interrupt your little charade, but while they were taking Sergio down, Mrs. Gellar’s bodyguard rushed outside and a couple of other guys jumped out of her car. Pretty sure they planned to whack Sergio, but with the other agents stationed outside, we managed to get everyone separated and detained. We searched Mrs. Gellar’s car and there’s some pretty serious firepower inside.”
Tanner clasped Dale on the shoulder. “You did the right thing. Taking Sergio down is a huge win. Besides, Syd sent me a text earlier—they’ve traced the money from Aguilar to
none other than Amanda Gellar. She’s in there, throwing her husband under the bus.” Tanner pointed toward the kitchen where she could see the table she’d been sitting at with Amanda, but Amanda was no longer in her seat. Tanner jogged back across the room, her pulse quickening with dread. When she reached the doorway, the room was empty and curtains fluttered in the breeze of the open window.
“Shit!” Tanner backed up into Dale. “She went out the window.” Without another word, the two of them raced toward the front door of the ranch house. They ran toward Amanda’s SUV, but there was no sign of her. “We should split up,” Tanner said. “You check the stables, and I’ll head that way.” She pointed to the wooded area on the other side of the field next to the house. She had a hard time imagining Amanda Gellar in her fancy dress dashing through a field, but desperation made people do crazy things. Tanner had just started to run toward the woods when two men emerged with Amanda between them. Unlike Sergio, she didn’t struggle, but she wore the signs of her attempted escape in straws of hay adorning her dress.
Dale jogged up to Tanner’s side as the men holding Amanda approached. “Our guys,” she said.
One of the men handed Dale a cell phone and said, “She was on the phone when we found her, but she hung up.”
Tanner took the phone and checked the number Amanda had called. It looked familiar. She pulled out her own phone and scrolled through her pictures until she found the one she’d taken of the card Syd had found in Aguilar’s suite at the Ritz. The number Amanda had just called matched the number to the restaurant supply company listed on the front of the card. “She called Aguilar.” She handed Amanda’s phone back to Dale. “Probably not directly, but he’ll get the message and be on the run in no time.”
Dale told the other agents to take Amanda in for questioning and turned to Tanner. “Let’s go get Mary and track this bastard down.”