Resurgence

by Rebecca Deel

  Adam frowned. His name wasn’t familiar. If this man was a major player in the cartel, Adam should have known about him. “Why didn’t I know him? I knew Collins’ key people.”

  “Escobar’s assignment was in Mexico and the U.S. He wasn’t in Belize when you were undercover.” He paused. “Escobar is married to Maria Elena Vargas. I doubt his wife knows about Shoemaker because she’s currently living in Belize.”

  “I feel bad for Risa,” Veronica said. “Escobar is using her to gain access to me. Is it possible Escobar killed Dane?”

  Jon’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, unmoving. “You think his death wasn’t an accident?”

  “How many times in our business do we have real coincidences?”

  He inclined his head. “Never. Everything is connected.”

  “Exactly. Dane was a skilled driver. He used to drive stock cars before he joined the DEA, had driven since he was a kid on the race tracks. I don’t believe he lost control of his car.”

  “Seems unlikely. Might be helpful to examine his car.”

  “I’ll call Taylor, see if he can locate the car.” Adam stood. “May I use one of the bedrooms for a minute?”

  Claire pointed to the room on the left of the suite. “Tell Cal I said hello.”

  He closed the door behind him and called the detective. “I need some information.”

  “Shoot.”

  “I want a look at Dane Carver’s wrecked vehicle.”

  “Why?”

  “The DEA agent used to be a race car driver. Seems unlikely that he would lose control of his car.”

  “Accidents do happen.”

  “Sure. This man is connected to Veronica and several people connected to her have been hurt or killed in the last few days. You want to tell me that’s a coincidence?”

  “Something else happened since Norton’s attack?”

  Adam explained about R.J.

  Taylor whistled softly. “Give me a second. How’s your girlfriend?”

  He gave a quick update, then said, “She’s incredible.”

  “Planning to keep her?”

  A snort. “My Nana didn’t raise a fool.”

  A burst of laughter. “Good. Looks like Carver’s white Tahoe is at the towing company’s yard. You want me to check it out or clear the way for you and your girl?”

  “You have enough going on. Besides, I’d like to see the Tahoe myself.”

  “I’ll take care of it tomorrow first thing.” He shared the name and address of the towing company, then said, “Be careful, man. Everybody around your girl has a target on their backs. I’d hate to learn from Maddox that you were another casualty of this hunt.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Veronica studied Risa’s house, at least what she could see in the dim light. White siding, dark shutters, beautiful landscaping. A sweet setup, like Risa. Or more what she thought Risa was like.

  She couldn’t believe Dane’s assistant tried to ruin her career and perhaps kill her and her friends. And maybe Veronica’s ability to read people wasn’t as good as she thought.

  “Ready?” Adam asked, his hand outstretched.

  “Let’s do this.” She laced their fingers together and walked with him to Risa’s door. Veronica glanced at their entwined hands. She had always felt she didn’t need a man, especially after her less than ideal childhood. She didn’t need Adam, either, but she liked being with him, particularly liked how they were together, a great team on the job and off. She pressed the bell.

  A minute later, the locks disengaged and the door swung open to reveal the brunette with a surprised smile who worked at Dane’s side for years. Was this sweet face the face of a killer?

  “Veronica! I didn’t know you were back. What are you doing here?” Risa’s gaze shifted to Adam. She took an involuntary step backward. “Who is this?”

  “My boyfriend, Adam. This is Risa Shoemaker, the woman who keeps us on track.”

  The other woman shook Adam’s hand. “Please come in. I suppose you want to ask me questions, Veronica.” She closed the door behind them. “Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make coffee.”

  “Don’t go to trouble on our account,” Adam said.

  “It’s not a problem. I could use something warm. All this craziness surrounding the office is frightening. I’m not like the agents I work with. I don’t know how to handle what’s happening.” Risa led them to the quaint farmhouse-style kitchen where she measured coffee and water, and turned on the coffee maker. “I want to hide and forget any of this happened, pretend Dane is on an extended assignment somewhere. But I can’t. Things will never be the same without him.”

  “Risa, what do you know about Dane’s death?”

  She sat at the table and waved them to two chairs across from her. “Not much. The police said it was an accident, that Dane lost control of his SUV.”

  “Didn’t you think that was strange?” Veronica leaned her forearms on the table. “Dane was an excellent driver.”

  “It was odd, but accidents happen to the best drivers. Maybe someone cut him off or he swerved to miss an animal that darted into the street.”

  An easy explanation that just didn’t fit the man Veronica had known for five years. “Do you really believe that?”

  Unease settled on Risa’s face. “You don’t?”

  “Dane used to be a professional race car driver.”

  “I didn’t know about the race car driving. Dane didn’t share much about his past.”

  Protecting his privacy and Cissy’s was a top priority for Veronica’s handler. He had been afraid a misstep on his part would lead enemies straight to his wife.

  “How long have you been back, Veronica? Did you hear about Carol?”

  “We saw her SUV explode.”

  Shock filled the other woman’s gaze. “Were you hurt?”

  Veronica shook her head. “Adam and I weren’t injured. We drove Carol to the hospital.”

  “That was you? Good job. With Dane gone, losing someone else in the office would have been awful.”

  Risa poured coffee into three mugs, then carried them to the table on a small tray. “I have cookies, too.”

  “The coffee is fine, Risa. Thank you for the offer, though.” Veronica sipped the drink. “Did you hear what happened to Graham?”

  Dane’s assistant set her mug down with a thud. “He’s all right, isn’t he?”

  Veronica thought about Risa’s reaction. Fear, almost panic at the possibility that Graham was dead, too. Perhaps Risa had more than a passing interest in the DEA agent.

  “He’s fine,” Adam assured her. “Someone tried to kill him. A team of ten men came after him early this morning.”

  “Are you sure he’s okay?”

  “Positive. You can call him to confirm.”

  “I will. What’s happening, Veronica? I don’t understand why there have been so many attacks on our people.”

  “They’re not the only ones. I was taken prisoner in Mexico by the cartel I was sent to track.”

  Risa’s face blanched. “Are you all right? Did they hurt you?” She winced, held up her hand. “Never mind. Of course they hurt you. I know enough from listening to you and the others talk how vicious and cruel they treat their prisoners. How did you escape?”

  She and Adam had talked over their strategy on the way to Risa’s. Even though she had objected to Adam exposing himself to more danger, he’d insisted she use his name in their discussion with Risa. “Adam rescued me.”

  Brow furrowed, Risa asked, “Are you from another DEA office?”

  “I’m with Fortress Security, Risa.”

  “How did you know she was in trouble? None of us knew where Veronica was and with Dane dead there was no way to find out.”

  “Dane sent a message through a friend to Fortress. That friend is now dead, too.”

  She moaned. “I don’t understand what’s happening.” A pause. “Wait. I’m glad to know all this information, but why did you come to me?”

/>   “Someone framed me as a mole in our office, Risa. Dane had emails showing supposed proof of my guilt.”

  “That’s crazy! You’re not a traitor. No one would believe that.”

  Although it felt good to hear someone else believed her innocent, Risa’s support wouldn’t be enough to regain her badge and weapon. “Forrest does. He took my badge and weapon, Risa. I want them back.” If she resigned from the DEA, she wanted to walk away on her own terms. “To do that, I have to find out who’s doing this and why.”

  “How can I help? We need you, Veronica, especially now.”

  How did she accuse a woman she’d worked with for years of being a traitor? She glanced at Adam.

  He covered Veronica’s hand with his, squeezed. “Risa, a friend of mine traced the emails about Veronica to you.”

  Risa’s jaw dropped. “Me? I would never do that. I have no reason to hurt Veronica.” She turned her gaze toward Veronica. “You believe me, don’t you?”

  “I want to, but there’s no question the information came from you.”

  “It wasn’t me.”

  “Do you have visitors at work?” Adam asked.

  “Well, sure. Not many. A friend or two stops by occasionally for lunch.”

  “No family.”

  “Never.”

  Not surprising given her family background. “Who visited you after I left for Mexico?” Veronica cupped the coffee mug between her palms. The timing fit because the emails were sent right after she left.

  Risa’s cheeks turned pink. “My boyfriend.”

  “I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”

  “We’ve been together a few weeks.”

  “Raul Escobar.”

  She frowned. “How do you know Raul’s name?”

  “We’re investigating everyone connected to Veronica,” Adam said. He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen, then turned it around so she could see the picture. “This is what we learned about your boyfriend.”

  She stared. “Who is that woman with Raul?”

  Veronica reached over and covered Risa’s hand. “His wife, Maria Elena.”

  Risa jerked her hand free and covered her face. “No. You’re lying. Why are you trying to hurt me?”

  “Risa,” Adam said, his voice soft. “Look at me.”

  She raised her tear-drenched gaze to his.

  “I know this is hard to hear. Fortress computer experts did two separate searches. There’s no doubt. Raul is married and has four children.”

  “Why did he lie to me?” Tears streaked down her face.

  “He used you, Risa,” Veronica said, hurting for the other woman. “That’s his loss. You’re a special woman, one any smart man would be happy to have in his life.”

  “Yeah?” Risa uttered a watery laugh. “Why haven’t I met this smart man, then?”

  “Maybe you have.”

  “Who?”

  “Graham.”

  She shook her head. “He’s hung up on you.”

  Noticed that, did she? “He’s not the man for me. He’s known that for a while.” And he might be more aware of Dane’s assistant now that Veronica had made it clear she wasn’t interested in him. Especially after she nudged him in Risa’s direction. Now that she considered it, they would be great together.

  “Risa, was Raul alone in your office for any reason?” Adam asked.

  She started to shake her head, stopped. “Wait. I had to take a package down the hall. The mail guy dropped it off in the wrong office. Raul waited for me at my desk. He said he had a phone call to make.”

  “So he had access to your computer. How long were you gone?”

  “Maybe fifteen minutes. The package was for a lady who doesn’t know how to have a short conversation.”

  “Did you log off your computer before you left?”

  “I always do when I leave the office. It’s habit.”

  “Do you have your password written down?”

  She hung her head. “I have to change passwords every two weeks. I kept forgetting the new one.”

  “Where do you keep it?”

  “Taped to the bottom of the mouse pad.”

  Adam glanced at Veronica. “Raul would have had time to find it, log into prepared dummy accounts, and send the emails from Risa’s computer. Five, ten minutes at the most.”

  “But why would he do this?” Risa asked. “Why make me look like a whistleblower?”

  “This isn’t about you, Risa.” Adam set aside his empty coffee mug. “It’s about me.”

  “You know him?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve never met him. However, I worked undercover in Belize to bring down Peter Collins.”

  “He’s head of a drug cartel.”

  “He was. He’s dead. Collins found out I was a plant and tortured me for information. He would have killed me if Veronica hadn’t given Fortress my location. They saved my life with her help.”

  “What does that have to do with Raul?”

  “He worked for Collins and now is employed by the drug lord’s daughter, a woman who wants revenge for my role in bringing down her father. Raul wanted information on me. Collins never knew my real name. Somehow, word leaked that Veronica had a hand in my rescue. That’s why she was kidnapped and interrogated for information on me.”

  Risa turned her stricken gaze on Veronica. “It’s my fault. I’m the reason you were hurt. Veronica, I’m so sorry. I never meant for that to happen.”

  “Pillow talk, Risa?”

  “I didn’t use your name or Adam’s. I swear. I just thought you did such a good thing by helping an American in trouble.”

  “Did you volunteer the information or did Raul ask you specifically about the situation?”

  “He said he heard agents discussing an operation in Belize to rescue a missing American. He pressed for names, but I know better than to talk specifics.”

  “Vonnie?”

  “I don’t see how that’s possible, Adam. I wasn’t under DEA orders to hunt for information on your location. I stumbled across it by accident. That’s when I contacted R.J.”

  “We had a leak at Fortress during that time, but I know my real name didn’t get out because Collins was still using my undercover name during the interrogations.”

  Veronica was silent while she worked through the possibilities. “R.J. He knew I was the one who located you. Perhaps he talked too freely about my role and word leaked.”

  “Is it possible Carol or Graham talked?”

  Oh, man. That would be the most simple explanation. “They both knew. Maybe they mentioned the information and the secret landed in the wrong hands.”

  “I want to help,” Risa said. “I brought a snake into our lives.”

  “Can you contact Raul?” Adam asked.

  “Of course. I have his cell number.”

  “Call him. See if he’ll come here. We want to talk to him.”

  “As long as I have a chance to tell him how despicable he is.”

  “I’ll make sure you have the opportunity.”

  Thirty minutes later, Risa’s doorbell rang.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Risa stepped back to admit Raul to her house. From the shadowed hallway, Adam watched the dark-haired, dark-skinned man enter the living room and sweep Risa into a tight hug. He frowned when she turned her head away from his kiss.

  “What’s going on, babe? You sounded upset on the phone.”

  “I am. Sit down, Raul.” She waved him to the couch, sitting so he turned his back to the hall.

  Perfect. Adam and Veronica eased from the shadows, weapons drawn, waiting.

  “Why are you sitting over there? Are you mad at me?”

  “You could say that. Why did you do it?”

  “Do what?”

  “Why did you use me to hurt Veronica?”

  He stiffened. “What did you say?”

  “You sent emails to Dane, framing Veronica as a traitor. You made it appear as though I sent them. I would never hurt Ver
onica like that. She wouldn’t turn on the agency or her friends. It was you.”

  “Honey, who has been feeding you lies about me? I’ll talk to them, straighten things out.”

  “Not lies, the truth. How could you do that to me? I thought I meant something to you.”

  A harsh laugh exploded from Raul, the sound conveying his disdain. “A weak woman like you? Not likely.”

  Hurt followed quickly by anger crossed her face. “You admit to sabotaging Veronica?”

  “Sure. You won’t live long enough to tell anyone.”

  At those words, Risa smiled. “I think they might have something to say about that.”

  He snorted. “You think I’d fall for that old trick? You really are a fool, Risa. I’ll be glad to stop wasting my time with you.”

  Adam pressed the barrel of his Sig against the back of Raul’s head. “Hands up, nice and slow.”

  Raul froze. “Who are you?”

  “The man you’ve been searching for.” He pressed the gun harder. “Hands, Raul. I won’t tell you again.”

  He slowly raised his empty hands. “Now what?”

  “Lock your hands behind your head and stand up.”

  “You will regret this.”

  “Not nearly as much as you will.”

  Veronica rounded the back of the couch, weapon aimed at Raul, placing her body in front of Risa’s. “You can leave now, Risa. Go out the back door.”

  The other woman glanced back with her hand on the knob.

  Raul scowled at Risa with hatred in his eyes. “You set me up,” he said, his voice just above a growl. “I won’t forget your betrayal. Be watching for me, baby. I’ll be back for you.”

  “Go, Risa,” Veronica said. “No detours.”

  “Are you sure he won’t mind?”

  “I cleared it with him. He’s expecting you.”

  A moment later, she was gone, headed to Graham Norton’s place where he would keep her safe.

  Adam zip tied Raul’s hands together. “Into the kitchen.”

  “Planning to feed me?”

  “Move.” He shoved the thug into a chair in the center of the kitchen and secured him with more zip ties and duct tape. The thug wouldn’t get free unless he had help or a knife. He didn’t have either.