Bad Guys Get Caught (Book Three) (Janet Maple Series)

by Marie Astor

  Janet looked directly at Ham. “While I haven’t found that link, last night I learned that Kovar runs an underground casino in the same building as Panther.”

  Normally, Ham’s expression was always hard to read, but the look of surprise on his face was priceless. “Please go on,” he managed to say in an even voice. “I’d love to learn more about it.”

  “It’s in the same building as Panther, but you enter through a side entrance,” Janet explained. “You’ve got to have a special card to get in. There are several checkpoints, with bouncers at each location. When you first enter, there’s this cluttered storage room, but then you go downstairs and it’s like you’ve been transported to Atlantic City or Las Vegas; roulette, craps, black jack, you name it, they’ve got it. Their clientele is highly exclusive; last night I even saw the governor there, and he wasn’t with his wife.”

  Ham looked blown away. “Janet, this is huge. We’ve got to get the FBI on this right away.”

  “It’s our case,” Janet blurted out.

  “It’s our lead and we’ll get credit for it, but it’s way too big for us to handle on our own. I can’t let you subject yourself to that kind of danger.”

  She nodded. “I understand.”

  “Dennis, in light of the current developments, we may need to put the Mila operation on hold. I’ll let you know once I speak with my contact.” By the look on Ham’s face it was clear that this was to be a private conversation.

  “I’ll be in my office should you need me,” said Janet, getting up.

  “I’ll be waiting for your instructions, sir,” Dennis added.

  Dennis followed Janet into her office. “Well, I think that went well.”

  “You think?”

  “Considering the circumstances.” He paused. “That was one hell of a thing you did last night, Janet.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making you think that it was a competition between us. I would never want that. I—” Dennis broke off.

  “You?” Janet baited her breath, wondering if he was going to finally say it.

  “I care so much about you. I’d go crazy if anything were to happen to you. I would never, ever, in a million years take credit for your work.”

  “I know that, Dennis. I care about you too. You’re my rock. In fact, you were my inspiration for last night.”

  “Thanks!”

  “Well, you were.”

  “It makes me feel great to know that you associate me with breaking the rules.”

  “Well, you’ve been known to break a rule or two before.”

  “Guilty as charged. If that’s the kind of example I’m setting for you, I’m ready to quit right now.”

  “Oh yeah? And what would you do?”

  “I don’t know, get a private investigator license or work for Laskin—I’m sure he’d hire me.”

  “You’d work for Laskin because of me?” Janet grinned. She needed no further proof for Dennis to demonstrate his love for her.

  “Janet, for you I’d do anything. No job is worth putting what we have together in danger.”

  “I know. I’m sorry about last night. I should’ve called you, but I was worried Roman might suspect something and then we’d lose the lead.”

  “Janet, no lead is worth risking your safety. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.” Running out of words, Dennis pulled her toward him, enveloping her in his tight embrace. His lips touched hers with tenderness at first that then grew into passion as he kissed her with abandon.

  “Hmm! Pardon me for intruding,” Ham’s voice startled them.

  “Sorry, sir, but all this excitement seems to have gotten the better of me,” Dennis apologized, crimson red.

  “Yes, I can see that. Sorry to interrupt you two love birds, but as the proverbial saying goes, duty calls.” Ham chuckled. Then his expression grew serious. “I just spoke with my contact; both operations are a go. Janet, you are to report to this address to be briefed.” Ham gave Janet a piece of paper with an address. “Ask for Jeffrey Falk upon arrival.”

  “Can I come with her?” Dennis asked.

  “No. You, my friend, have an appointment. Your rendezvous with Mila is on tonight, and you’ve got to give top performance. Our FBI contact will instruct you on the procedures. I’m guessing that they are probably going to keep Mila in protective custody.”

  “Protective custody?” Janet repeated. “Is that a code word for jail? She didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Didn’t do anything wrong?” Ham cocked an eyebrow. “What about stealing fraudulent funds? She did have the option of volunteering the information to prosecution.”

  “Mila’s not a bad person,” Janet cut in. “She just kind of lost her head in a chase for—”

  “Sex and the City lifestyle,” Dennis offered.

  “You’re not helping, Dennis,” Janet snapped. “I can’t backstab her like that.”

  “Janet, we don’t have a choice in the matter,” Ham said firmly. “That’s the nature of our job; sometimes we have to make tough decisions. It’s been a while since I worked in the field, but believe me, I know what you’re going through. Mila will be fine; her only involvement will be that of a witness. Once the investigation is over, she will be free to go.”

  “Well, at least I’m glad I won’t be there to see the look in her eyes when she learns the truth,” Janet said.

  “Thanks, partner.”

  Chapter 16

  As Janet entered the lobby of the gray office building in downtown Manhattan, located at the address Ham had given her earlier, it occurred to her that she would’ve never guessed that a building so ordinary housed offices of the FBI. Matters of supreme importance were being decided upon beneath the unremarkable façade, but one would’ve never suspected it from the looks of it. Of course that was the intent, but then it also depended on how one looked at it; to the FBI’s agents it was probably simply part of a job, just like preparing tax returns or operating a cash register was for an accountant or a cashier. Only it wasn’t just a job because decisions made inside that building could make or break people’s lives.

  After checking in with the security desk, Janet was told to wait to be escorted to the upstairs offices. A few minutes later, a woman in her early twenties greeted her.

  “Janet Maple? I’m Penelope Wice. I work for Mr. Falk.” She was dressed in a black suit with a knee-length skirt; her hair was pulled back in a tight bun and her eyes shone brightly with purposefulness. She had junior agent written all over her.

  “Very nice to meet you, Penelope.” Janet momentarily regretted her loosely hanging hair along with an outfit of jeans and sweatshirt, but then she wasn’t cooped up in an office, toying around with paperwork. After last night, she deserved some slack.

  “It’s right this way.” Penelope motioned at the elevator bank.

  After the elevator ride they entered a gray carpeted, gray walled corridor. Penelope led the way until she stopped by one of the gray metal doors.

  “Right this way.” Penelope swung open the door revealing a small conference room with a round wooden table and chairs with gray upholstery.

  “Thank you.” Janet took a seat.

  “Mr. Falk will be right with you.” Penelope’s elegant shoes made soundless steps down the carpeted floor.

  Janet examined the threads of the gray chair upholstery; the FBI sure had a lousy taste for decorating.

  There was a brief knock, and the door swung open. “Janet? I’m Jeffrey Falk.” A tall, trim man in his mid-fifties entered the room. “Pleasure to meet you.” He was dressed in a gray suit (surprise!), white shirt, and a red tie.

  “Very nice to meet you, Mr. Falk,” replied Janet, trying not to wonder whether Falk had to obtain a special permission for his red tie.

  “Please, call me Jeff.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jeff.”

  “May I?” Falk motioned at a chair across from Janet’s.

  “By
all means.”

  He sat down and eyed Janet curiously. “I must say that the agency is very impressed with the headway you’ve made.”

  “Oh, it was just a coincidence really.”

  “I don’t believe in coincidences when it comes to investigations. Kovar’s been on our radar for some time now, but we never could pin anything on him. We’ve had our man undercover there for several months, and he found nothing. You’ve only been there a few weeks, and already you found Kovar’s underground casino. Amazing, simply amazing.”

  “You have an undercover man in Kovar’s entourage?”

  “Yes, at Panther. You’ll meet him shortly. He’ll be your backup for tonight’s operation.”

  “Tonight’s operation?”

  “Yes, forgive me for the lack of detail, but these things are on a need to know basis only, so even Ham doesn’t know the specifics. We’re going to take down Kovar’s casino tonight, and I hope that you will help us.”

  “Of course,” Janet replied. Falk’s polite but firm tone had made it clear that she really didn’t have a choice, but then wasn’t that what she wanted? Wasn’t that why she’d become an investigator in the first place: to catch the bad guys? Yes and no. The more experienced she became at her job, the more she found that the line between bad and good often became blurred. Sure, the Kovar family deserved to be put away, but what about the people who worked for them? Janet hardly had any compunction about the grizzly bodyguards who looked like they had an entry or two in their criminal records, but the waitresses and the croupier girls at the casino just seemed to be victims of their circumstances, and then there was Mila.

  “I can understand the position you’re in. Our agents are trained for their assignments. Needless to say, it is human nature to form attachments, but I want to assure you that the prosecution will not indict those innocently entangled in this abominable web. We’re only after Kovar and those who truly did his bidding. It’s a real viper nest, Janet, and we need your help to clean it out.”

  “You can count on me.”

  “Great. I think now would be a good time for you to meet your partner.” Falk picked up the phone. “Would you come in here, please?”

  After a few moments of silent anticipation, there was a knock on the door. Janet barely had the presence of mind to keep her mouth closed when she saw Jason, the flirtatious bartender from Panther, enter the room.

  “Hi there, Janet,” Jason greeted her; there wasn’t even a trace of brogue in his speech.

  “Hello, Jason.” Janet wondered if it was even his real name, but she knew better than to ask.

  Jason took a seat next to her. Now his outgoing demeanor made perfect sense; ever so friendly, Jason was always there to lend a hand, to play confidant, or maybe even lover, while all the time he was out looking for information. They were on the same team, but Janet couldn’t help a welling sense of resentment; she didn’t like being made a fool of. Still, apparently Jason wasn’t very good at it, for it took Janet’s arrival to get a tangible lead on Kovar. Jason smiled at her and she smiled back. It made no sense to hold grudges now that they were going to be working together.

  ***

  As she prepared for her last shift at Panther, Janet couldn’t help being uneasy. Jeff Falk had assured her that she would be under the FBI”s protection, and she was convinced that he had meant it, but people could slip, people could make mistakes, and the FBI agents were only human after all. She had been pretty cavalier about her actions, but now the full realization of the predicament she had gotten herself into weighed down on her shoulders. She was about to bring down an international empire of drugs, racketeering, money laundering, and God only knew what else, and she was trembling like a leaf. Maybe she should’ve listened to Dennis from the beginning, but instead she’d been pigheaded, biting off a piece of action way too big for her stomach. She wondered what Dennis would do if he were in her place. Would he be shivering with nervousness or be cool as a cucumber? Probably the latter. How she wished he were there to comfort her, but he was busy being prepped for his assignment with Mila. Even if Dennis had been there, she wouldn’t have been able to tell him a single thing about tonight’s operation. Besides, Dennis had plenty of things to worry about: tonight he would be breaking into Anton Kovar’s safe.

  Janet took the pendant that Jeff Falk had given her and hung it around her neck. It wasn’t a token for luck; inside the pendant was a hidden camera with a very sensitive microphone that was going to transmit the electronic lock sequence Roman used to open the casino bunker. The FBI agents would then be able to gain access quietly, taking the entire outfit by surprise. Of course there was always the option of brute force. The casino doors were reinforced, but no door provided foolproof protection against explosives. The disadvantage of this option, however, was the possibility that the noise from the explosives would give advance warning of the raid, letting the key people make their escape. At first Falk wouldn’t hear of Janet wearing the hidden camera, but she had assured him that she could handle the pressure. It was of utmost importance for the FBI to apprehend Roman Kovar during tonight’s raid; after that, his uncle would have no choice but to cooperate with the authorities. According to Mila, as well as the FBI’s independent sources, Anton and Petr Kovar would be arriving in New York the next day. Prague was six hours ahead of New York, which meant that uncle and nephew had already boarded Kovar’s private jet. Tomorrow there’d be a surprise welcome for them at the airport.

  Janet checked her lipstick in the mirror and grabbed her keys. She patted Baxter behind the ear, instantly feeling calmer; when all else failed, Baxter was always there for her. “Come on, boy, you’re staying with Mrs. Chapman tonight.” As if intuiting her tension, Baxter licked her hand, as though trying to tell her that everything was going to be all right.

  Janet closed her door and rang Mrs. Chapman’s bell. A few moments later Mrs. Chapman’s door opened.

  “Hi there, Janet. My, you look lovely tonight, a hot date?” Mrs. Chapman eyed Janet’s navy sequined shoes.

  “Yes. Dennis is taking me out to dinner.” Janet shifted from foot to foot. She’d been able to find a pair of evening shoes very similar to the one she’d worn last night, only these were in her size. The price tag of two hundred dollars was hefty to say the least. If she made it out of tonight’s mess, she would make sure that Falk would foot the bill.

  “He’s not picking you up?” Mrs. Chapman sounded disappointed in Dennis’s slipping manners.

  “Oh, he’s just working late, that’s all. I’m meeting him by his office.”

  “He sure works a lot; good husband material,” Mrs. Chapman whispered, winking.

  “We’ll see.” Janet smiled. She had enough on her mind as it was; she didn’t need to be reminded of Dennis’s complicated views on the subject of matrimony. “Well, I have to get going or I’m going to be late.” She stooped to scratch Baxter behind the ear one last time. “In you go, Baxter,” she whispered, gently pushing him over the threshold of Mrs. Chapman’s apartment. Usually Baxter would bark up an argument, but this time he only wagged his tail and joined Mrs. Chapman.

  “What a good boy you are, Baxter!” Mrs. Chapman exclaimed. “Just wait until you see the treats I have for you—” she broke off, eyeing Janet apologetically. “I promise I bought organic dog cookies.”

  Janet smiled. At least Baxter would be having a good time tonight. “Thank you, Mrs. Chapman. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  A quick cab ride later, Janet was standing by Panther’s door. Roman let her in himself. Her heart skipped a beat at this unusual gesture; was he suspecting something already?

  “Janet! My favorite hostess.” Roman kissed her on both cheeks. “The customers were very happy with you last night; you got glowing praises.”

  “Thank you. You’re too kind.” Compared to Regina’s abrupt demeanor and that of the rest of the girls, being slightly above civil was enough to earn rave reviews. “I sure enjoyed that extra cash.”

>   “You’ll have the opportunity to make some more tonight.”

  “Sounds great. I even got the shoes to fit the job.” Janet wiggled her foot.

  “See what I mean? You’re a real worker. Most girls don’t know the meaning of the word. Those look expensive. I’ll remember to pay you a little extra for tonight.”

  “You don’t have to.” Considering the fact that tonight was going to be Roman’s last night as a free man, Janet didn’t feel right asking him for reimbursement.

  “Mila is out today again.”

  “I know.”

  Roman shook his head. “Anton is away and she thinks she can do whatever she wants, but he’ll be back soon. I’ll need you to host at Panther until eight thirty, and then we’ll go to the other place.”

  “Sounds excellent.” Janet beamed. Her heart was about ready to explode from the adrenaline pumping through her veins, but her voice was calm, or at least she hoped it was calm.

  Janet went downstairs to change into her uniform. A few of the girls were there, and she chatted with them, hoping that the mindless conversation would relax her. It did the trick; as she listened to the girls’ chatter about their hopes of making it in New York’s modeling / acting scene and their latest conquests, her thoughts drifted away from the enormous task that lay ahead of her. Things were going at their usual pace at Panther, and no one seemed to suspect her of anything.

  Janet walked back upstairs. As soon as she set her foot on the floor, she collided with Jason.

  “Easy there, Janet.” He grasped her elbow to steady her. Sure enough, his brogue was back.

  “Thanks. Slippery floors.” She tugged at her hair, but instantly dropped her hands by her side. What the hell was she doing? It was a world-known fact that whenever women were nervous, they fumbled with their hair.

  “You be careful in those heels.” Jason eyed her legs with admiration.

  She knew that it was part of an act, but Janet felt her earlier nervousness return; Jason’s fake Irish banter was the last thing she needed right now.