Deep Cover

by Kimberly Van Meter

Shaine let her go, leaving him with the coroner. “Anything else we might need to know? Any sign of physical trauma? Sexual trauma?”

  “She was definitely sexually active the night she died, but whoever she was with must’ve worn a condom because there was no evidence of sperm, but there was a residue of spermicide.”

  “So are you listing the death as drug overdose?”

  “I’ve never seen a drug do this, but I don’t know what else could cause this. Technically, she died because her heart exploded.”

  How much Bliss had the kid taken? The previous users had died of heart attacks, but Capri’s heart had practically disintegrated.

  Something felt off about Capri’s death, more so than the other users.

  Dumb kid, he thought sadly, understanding Poppy’s distress. Capri had grown on them both.

  And now she was dead because she chose her friends poorly.

  “Thank you,” Shaine said, and the coroner covered Capri’s face with the sheet. “Call me when the official toxicology report comes in.”

  Shaine left the coroner building and climbed into his car. No one could be seen leaving together. They were all scheduled to meet back at headquarters to discuss the events over videoconference with the brass.

  He wasn’t looking forward to that meeting. Not only because of what’d happened with Poppy, but Capri’s death was sitting wrong on his shoulders.

  Maybe it was because Poppy was taking it so hard, but Shaine understood Poppy’s distress over the young girl’s death.

  Sixteen was too young to die.

  Shaine walked into the insurance building front and immediately went to the debriefing room where DEA director Rosa Ramirez was waiting.

  None of the other agents had arrived yet, which left him to field questions alone.

  Rosa leaned back in the leather chair, watching him intently. “Exciting twenty-four hours,” was all she said and left it to him to elaborate.

  But seeing as he was wise to the games people played when they were fishing, he just nodded as if agreeing, but to what specifically, he wasn’t sharing.

  “Tell me about the dead girl.”

  “She went by the name Capri. Her real name was MaryBeth Johnson. She was only sixteen.”

  “Was she a suspect?”

  “Not sure she was dealing but definitely using. But even if she wasn’t dealing, she was connected to who was. We were exploring leads. Hard to say now that she’s dead.”

  Rosa considered that, then asked, “Do you think someone killed her to shut her up?”

  “Again, hard to say. It’s way too early. All we know is that she most definitely died from a Bliss overdose. The coroner said her heart exploded. However, we have no idea how many times she’d actually taken Bliss.”

  “She must’ve had one hell of a fake ID in order to dance at Lit.”

  Shaine shrugged. “Or maybe nobody checked. I know she drove a sports car, but I don’t even know if she had a license.”

  Rosa nodded, saying, “Fake ID operations are getting more and more complex. That’s a whole other problem for another day.”

  Shaine wasn’t going to argue that point. Luckily, the need for small talk was done as the rest of the team filed in. It didn’t escape his notice that Poppy’s eyes were red, giving away that she had probably privately cried in her car on the drive over.

  The videoconference started up and Patrick Hobbs appeared on the small screen.

  “Hey, boss,” Shaine said with a short wave. “How’s DC?”

  “Still standing, still filled with stupid bureaucrats.”

  “Glad to see it’s business as usual.”

  Rosa started talking first. “Agent Kelly has already filled me in on the dead girl. MaryBeth Johnson, stage name Capri, died last night between the hours of 3 and 5 a.m. from what we assume is a Bliss overdose. What else do we know so far?”

  Victoria jumped in. “Agents Kelly and Jones were invited to a party last night that we suspect was a test of their loyalty. Capri was at that same party.”

  Shaine caught Victoria’s look and held his breath. When she didn’t seem interested in elaborating Shaine breathed a little easier.

  “And how’d that go?”

  “They seemed to buy the act,” Shaine replied.

  Poppy wiped her nose. “I don’t sense that our cover’s been blown.”

  Rosa’s sharp eyes noted Poppy’s red eyes and queried, “Is there a problem, Agent Jones?”

  Poppy shook her head, denying any problem. “I’m fine. It was just a shock to see Capri on the slab. I didn’t expect that to happen.”

  “Are you going to be able to go forward with this case objectively?”

  “Of course I am. I’m just sad because she was a kid. She should’ve been doing kid stuff, not pandering to old men and ultimately dying without anyone ever caring about who she was.”

  Rosa dismissed Poppy’s comment. “Well, throwaway kids are a dime a dozen. You can’t attach to one or you’ll be heartbroken by the end of the day. What more do we know about Angelo?”

  Shaine could tell Poppy was upset at Rosa’s cold attitude. He understood the director’s stance but also understood that Poppy was struggling. Capri had been a cute kid playing an adult game.

  Collateral damage was a bitch.

  Shaine cleared his throat, bringing the topic back on point. “By now everyone’s heard that Capri is dead. How are we supposed to play this?”

  “Act natural. The kid is dead, so some appropriate sadness wouldn’t be out of line. The idea is to earn their trust. Maybe ask around and find out why she died. Find out what the official story is on the street. Chances are nobody wants word to get out that Bliss ultimately is a one-way ticket to dead. Not a good way to get repeat business. It’s likely they haven’t perfected the formulary yet, which means we’re going to end up with a lot more dead kids showing up until they get it right. It’s our job to get Bliss off the streets before they get that chance.”

  “One of the things they said to us last night was they wanted to know if they could trust us,” Shaine shared. “We had to take Bliss.”

  Rosa’s brow arched. “Make sure you log that in your report. You’re going to need to get checked out with the doctor, check your vitals. We don’t need agents with exploding hearts.”

  Shaine nodded, accepting her directive. What choice did he have? He didn’t want his heart exploding. And he certainly didn’t want Poppy to be in danger, either. “We’ve only scratched the surface of the inner circle. It’s my guess that Angelo is the closest to whoever El Escorpion, is but he’s not sharing, and we haven’t found anyone else who’s willing to talk. It’s a very tight circle. There is a dancer by the name of Raquel with a scorpion tattoo on her lower back who might be worth checking out. I think she’s jealous of Brandi. I’m gonna work that angle and see if I can get anything out of her.”

  Rosa nodded with approval, then turned her attention back to Poppy. “In the meantime, you need to get closer to Angelo. Seems with Capri gone, there is room for a new girl on his arm. Get close to the man. Use that pretty face.”

  Shaine tried not to growl. He knew Poppy must hate that aspect of her undercover story. She tried so desperately to be seen as more than a pretty face, but to her credit, Poppy nodded firmly as if ready to do whatever it took to get the job done.

  Which was probably true.

  The idea of Poppy sleeping with Angelo made Shaine want to break something.

  He drew a short breath, trying to calm his reaction. “And what if it was Angelo who did this to Capri?”

  “Then there’s no better person than Agent Jones to figure that out and bring him in.”

  Shaine didn’t dare look to Poppy to gauge her reaction. Things were already tenuous between them; he didn’t need to make it worse.

  Dismissed, they left the building, scattering in different directions. But he knew at some point he was going to have to talk to Victoria about what was said last night.

  He had a fe
w hours to get his head on straight before his shift at Lit, and he knew exactly what he was going to do.

  Taking a friggin’ nap.

  He needed his A game tonight.

  * * *

  Rosa waited a beat before addressing Patrick Hobbs, extending a professional courtesy.

  “I told you I had a bad feeling about those two. They’re hiding something. The tension between them was almost palpable. Would you like me to handle this or would you?”

  “Shaine Kelly is one of my best agents. He closes cases. I’m not sure what you’re seeing, but I’m not seeing it. Cut them some slack. A kid just died unexpectedly. I know you’re supposed to have a heart of stone, but sometimes the human element does get in the way.”

  “I think you may be blind to your agent. I know he’s made you look really good these last two years, but this is my case and I’m not going to allow anything to fall to chance.”

  “Is this an official inquiry?”

  Rosa paused. An official inquiry would require paperwork—a paper trail if you will. She wasn’t entirely ready to go that far. Not until she had proof. “I don’t think that’s necessary just yet. Let me see if they’ll be honest when I talk to them.”

  “Honest about what exactly?” he asked, annoyed that she wouldn’t let it go. “Just what exactly are you getting at?”

  “My gut instinct is telling me they’re hiding something. This case is too big, and I can’t afford that kind of misgiving. Whatever it is they’re trying to conceal, I will find it. When I do, I will decide whether or not it’s worth filing for an official inquiry.”

  Patrick blew out a short breath before grousing, “Fine. You do what you have to do. In the meantime, just let them do their jobs.”

  “Of course.”

  Patrick Hobbs clicked off, leaving Rosa to her thoughts.

  Maybe she was jaded, but the death of a street kid/baby hooker barely merited on her empathy meter. As far as she was concerned, the girl got herself in a mess and ended up dead because she’d made bad choices.

  Agent Jones better keep sight of that fact if she wanted to make it in this field.

  Rosa was packing up when she was surprised by Agent Jones.

  “Is there something you forgot?” she asked.

  “I overheard your conversation with Bureau Director Hobbs,” Poppy said, going straight to the point.

  “Eavesdropping isn’t polite,” Rosa said with a small smile. “And you want to enlighten me?”

  “Yes, actually,” Poppy said. “This case is important to me, too. More so now that Capri is dead. And before you say anything, I know that I’m not supposed to get attached, but when you’re working deep undercover, it’s bound to happen a time or two. It would never interfere with my ability to stay objective, but I won’t deny if it happens.”

  “That’s smart of you,” Rosa said, returning to her chair, intrigued by Jones’s desire to be a straight shooter. That was a point in her favor, depending on what she chose to share. “So tell me about you and Agent Kelly.”

  “There’s nothing between me and Agent Kelly now, but there used to be. We dated when I was in the DC Bureau.”

  “I don’t recall seeing that in your personnel file,” Rosa said.

  “Because it wasn’t there.”

  Rosa wagged her finger. “Naughty, naughty. I suppose you think you have a justifiable reason for breaking protocol?”

  “No, we just didn’t file the necessary paperwork and when it ended, I left, therefore negating any need to follow through.”

  “The paperwork is not for your closure, it’s a departmental requirement, which is supposed to remain with your personnel file in the event that future assignment decisions can be made with full disclosure.”

  “I know,” Poppy answered, accepting Rosa’s rebuke. “We made a mistake. I thought by leaving it wouldn’t become an issue. I never could’ve imagined that we’d end up on the same undercover operation.”

  “But you did,” Rosa pointed out. “So where does that leave my investigation? If you’re not willing to be honest about your past, how am I supposed to trust you with such a sensitive operation?”

  “To be frank, ma’am, the issue isn’t whether or not we’re trustworthy, it’s whether or not we can work together successfully to bring down one of the most dangerous drug lords in Miami. Or am I mistaken?”

  Clever. “No, you are not,” Rosa agreed, grudgingly impressed with how Agent Jones was shooting from the hip without apology. “And was this dating situation serious? Or a fling?”

  She swallowed. “It was serious.”

  “Marriage, kids, the whole enchilada?”

  Again, Poppy seemed to have something stuck in her throat but her eyes remained clear. “I mistakenly thought we were headed in that direction.”

  “Ah, I see.” Rosa didn’t feel the need to dig any further aside from one small detail. “And now? How do you feel about him now? Any residual feelings?”

  Without blinking, Poppy said in a firm voice, “Absolutely not. Today, he is just my coworker. And I’m happy to keep it that way.”

  “Good. I won’t act on this information for the time being. We have bigger fish to fry and your messy love life isn’t my concern. But don’t let me regret this decision, Agent Jones. Bad choices can end up derailing an otherwise promising career.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Poppy said with a short nod, and Rosa dismissed her.

  A long moment after Poppy had left, Rosa churned the conversation over in her mind. Did she believe Agent Jones that a clandestine romance was the only skeleton dancing in their closet?

  Rosa was a straightforward person and she appreciated Poppy’s bold choice to come to her instead of waiting for Rosa to question her.

  That said something about Poppy’s integrity.

  Kudos for her honesty...but would she really be able to put the past behind her so that it didn’t affect the case?

  Rosa would keep an eye on those two. If there was any hint that they were losing their objectivity...they’d both be out of here.

  This case was too important to lose.

  CHAPTER 12

  Shaine walked into Lit, deciding to act as if he hadn’t heard about Capri. He wanted to take his cue from those around him. If no one mentioned Capri’s death, Shaine would remark on her absence, as if he were interested in hooking up with the girl.

  He didn’t have a chance to pass on his plan to Poppy before work, but that was okay, as it would be more organic if they had separate reactions, anyway.

  Angelo was already behind the bar, wiping down a glass. He looked up when Shaine walked in and gestured for him to follow him into the back.

  Showtime.

  “I don’t know if you’ve heard but there’s been a terrible tragedy,” Angelo said somberly. He waited a beat then added, “Capri is gone.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She kicked it last night. It was a horrible thing. Brandi is a wreck about it. We’re all pretty broken up. Capri was our girl. She had a special place in all our hearts.”

  “Holy crap, what happened? She seemed fine at the party last night. What went wrong?”

  “Capri was a wild child, man. There was no stopping her when she was on a quest to party. Bad juju to mix your cocktails, you know?”

  “You mean she took more than Bliss?”

  “Raquel was with her when she croaked. She just died. Like fell over and was no more. I don’t know...it’s pretty wild.”

  Yeah, pretty wild when a kid’s heart disintegrates, asshole. “Anyone tell her family?” Shaine asked.

  “We were her only family,” Angelo said with a sigh. “We’re going to have a little get-together after work, say a few words in her honor. You in?”

  “Yeah, sure, of course,” he murmured. “I just can’t believe it. It’s hard to take it all in. I mean, Capri was fine at the party. And now she’s just gone?”

  “Yeah, it’s a shit-bag of messed up proportion. Grieve with us, man. She
’ll be missed. No one could reel in those old moneybags like Capri. It was like watching a bee make honey.”

  Bile rose in Shaine’s throat, but he nodded as if he agreed. “She was talented.”

  “For sure,” Angelo said, then exhaled as if he were finished with that topic and he was ready to move on. “So tell me about you and that hottie, Laci. Did you seal the deal? I want details, my friend.”

  Shaine forced a cavalier grin. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

  “Bullshit. Family doesn’t keep secrets, man.”

  Angelo’s tone was joking but there seemed an edge, making Shaine wonder if this was all part of the test.

  “All right, if you must know, let’s just say someone did the walk of shame this morning and it wasn’t me.”

  “That’s my man.” Angelo laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. “Am I right that Bliss is out of this world?”

  “It’s wild. What the hell is in that shit? I’ve never even heard of it.”

  “Miami special, baby. Nowhere in the world are you going to find a high like Bliss, at least not yet, but we’re working on that. Are you a businessman, Rocco?”

  A jump of adrenaline made his palms sweat. “I don’t own stocks or anything,” he said with a shrug. “But I can manage to pay my own bills. Why?”

  “Let’s talk later. I have something you might be interested in getting in on that could end up being very lucrative.”

  “I like the sounds of that,” Shaine said, nodding. “Let’s talk now.”

  “Patience, brother. All good things come to those who wait, right?”

  “Naw, I heard good things come to those who chase after it,” Shaine countered boldly, which seemed the right thing to say, as Angelo’s approving grin widened.

  “I like your style.” He pointed. “Now get to work. There are tips to be made and bills to be paid.”

  Shaine didn’t have a choice but to do as he was told. He couldn’t seem overeager or else it might come off as strange, but he was humming with the urge to press harder.

  This was where experience trumped youth. He tamped down his urge to go balls to the wall and returned to the bar, ready to sling drinks.

  That’s when he saw Poppy enter. He only caught a flash of her long blond hair before she disappeared behind the stage, but he could tell it was her from the way she walked.