Bizarrely, they seemed to be shouting my name.
Surprised, I let go of the door and it clicked behind me. I immediately felt trapped. Microphones were shoved in my face from every direction, with cameras creeping in behind. I was quickly surrounded, and all the voices blurred together in my confusion.
After my initial shock, I was able to tune into a few of the excited questions.
“Was the takedown part of your plan the whole time?”
“How did you know what they were up to?”
“Were you involved with the crime ring before you assisted the police?”
Takedown? Police assistance? I was clueless. I hadn’t been involved in anything in months. My one and only foray into investigating was long over. I had been staying clear of the game. Completely.
I gazed uncomprehendingly at the reporters, all vying for the first response. “I . . . I don’t understand.”
My meek reply only seemed to encourage them. The shouts became louder, but no more coherent. More questions. Alarm bells were sounding in my head.
No one was explaining what was happening. But I knew it couldn’t be good.
I turned to catch sight of Grant, left behind by the press of bodies encircling me. Our widened eyes met over the crowd. He gave me a shrug, looking just as confused as I was. He watched silently with fascination.
Just as tears of panic began to prick my eyes, the crowd was jolted by a deafening honk. A car horn from just behind the horde, blaring continuously. Everyone turned en masse toward the sound, parting the crowd just enough for me to recognize the dark sports car making all the racket. And the smiling girl in the driver’s seat. Sloan.
Everyone quieted for a moment, processing. Then someone in the crowd yelled out.
“It’s the other one!”
The tangle of bodies stumbled over one another in their rush toward the vehicle, leaving behind their clearly uncooperative subject. Sloan appeared utterly unfazed by the excitement as they surrounded the car.
“Ms. McKenzie! Ms. McKenzie!”
She kept her eyes on me. “Get in,” she yelled.
I hustled to the passenger side and elbowed my way into the car.
Once I was buckled in Sloan leaned her head out her window, throwing some chum to the throng. “Sorry, guys. We have somewhere to be.”
Her radiant smile was captured by dozens of clicking cameras. Then she gently stepped on the gas, sending reporters leaping out of our way.
I sighed into my seat as we escaped, relieved by the solace of the car. People actually like this sort of thing? The appeal of celebrity was definitely lost on me. But Sloan had handled the situation with poise and grace, as usual.
I checked behind us to be sure we weren’t being followed. Satisfied, I turned to Sloan for answers. “What in the world was that? What’s happening?”
Her characteristic confidence fell away. She glanced over, concern edging into her eyes. “I’m actually not sure. All I know is a pack of them bombarded me at the office out of nowhere. I didn’t stick around to find out why. Standing in front of rolling cameras is not the time to ask questions.”
“But you knew they’d come for me, too?”
“Your name was being thrown around, so I snuck out the back and came to find you. Apparently, we’ve made the news in some way. And I don’t like not knowing why.”
I grimaced. “I don’t like any of it, period. Do you think it’s about the finger?”
Sloan paused. “Maybe. But there has to be more.”
“Have you been into something lately I should know about? Are you in trouble?”
Sloan smirked. “Nothing more than usual.”
I sighed. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”
She glanced over and saw the uneasy look on my face. “Really. Nothing that I know of. And definitely not anything that would bring you into it. Hard as I’ve tried, you’ve stayed away. So I’m as baffled as you are.”
That’s never good. “So then, where to?”
“My apartment will be safe. They shouldn’t be able to find it. I keep my home address extremely private.”
I perked up a little at the thought. Private, indeed. So private even I hadn’t seen it.
THREE
“Now, don’t get too excited,” Sloan said as she pulled out her keys. “It’s all boxed up for my move.”
Move? It was the first I’d heard.
Sloan swung open the oversized metal door to reveal a high-ceilinged open space with weathered hardwood floors and giant paned windows. It reminded me of an expanded version of her office. She clearly had a thing for lofts.
I eyed the stacks of boxes littering the otherwise hiply furnished great room. “Going somewhere?”
She took in the room with me, then shrugged. “Just time for a change, I guess.”
“More changes, huh?” I swallowed to loosen my tightening throat. “Somewhere close by, I hope.”
Sloan threw her bag on the concrete counter in the small but modern open kitchen. “I don’t know. One day I just started packing, ready to get out. I’m looking around, seeing what might pop up. Just want to go where the wind blows.”
“Well, the wind better be blowing somewhere here in town. ‘Cause you can’t leave.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. It’s only boys and living spaces I can’t settle down with these days. I’m otherwise very grounded at the moment. And I’m sure you’re partly to blame for that.”
“Glad to hear it.” I felt my shoulders relax a little as I took another look at the space. The dark woods and leathers were a little masculine but right up my alley. I felt a twinge of envy picturing my own spare little student apartment.
“Make yourself at home,” she called, her head deep in the stainless steel refrigerator. “You know, I was thinking you could maybe move in here when I go. Gotta be a lot better than that postage stamp you call an apartment.”
I let myself mentally drool over the idea only for a moment, then shook it off. No way I could ever afford it. “I have a postage stamp for a reason. And a lease. I’m fine where I am.”
“I’m sure we could work something out. And I happen to know you have a short-term lease, up for renewal soon.”
I shot Sloan a knowing look. I had definitely never told her that information. Why doesn’t it surprise me anymore?
She returned a sly smile, fully understanding. “Besides, you’ll be making the big bucks soon, right?”
“Ha!” I blurted. “That’s a good one.” I hadn’t meant to sound quite that sarcastic. Touchy subject. “Next comes the student loans, until about . . . Oh, retirement, most likely. And that’s if I’ll even still have a job.”
I paused, realizing the truth of my initially-joking words. I actually had no idea what was going on, or what it would mean. Dread stabbed at my gut.
Sloan ignored my dark musings completely. “Well, I’d hate to have to let some stranger in here.” She placed two bottles on the counter and turned to sweep the room with her eyes. “Lot of memories here, that’s for sure.” Her eyes were soft and wistful, for just the briefest of moments. Then she shrugged and dug noisily in a drawer, retrieving a bottle opener. “But I guess the search is on hold anyway, until whatever this is dies down.”
I sighed. “Right.” I collapsed onto the closest rich leather sofa, my mood continuing to sink. “Should we check the news, then?”
“Hudson’s headed over. Says he has the scoop.” She held up an enticing glass. “A little wine in the meantime?”
“Definitely.”
Sloan busied herself with cocktails while I pondered her business partner. Hudson was still fairly a mystery to me. I knew he was dark-skinned, handsome in a buff, macho sort of way, and handled the security side of their business. And he had been in on the deception that kept me out of the loop
during my first investigation showdown.
A reminder of that situation derailed my pity spiral. A clue. “You think this . . . whatever is happening . . . has anything to do with our little sting operation a few months back?”
Sloan headed into the room, drinks in hand. “Afraid so. If you weren’t involved, it could really be anything. But your connection certainly narrows things down quite a bit.”
Great. I took the offered glass and watched her pace around the room, my growing curiosity and anxiety fighting for control. If she was nervous, I knew I should probably be verging on terrified.
A loud pounding sound shook the door and made both of us jump.
“I know that bang.” Sloan’s expression lightened as she strode across the room.
She opened the door and Hudson waltzed in without a word, headed straight for the kitchen. His tight red athletic shirt hugged his enormous biceps and was soaked with what I assumed was profuse sweat.
Sloan closed the door and followed him. “You know you knock like a gorilla, don’t you?”
“Take that as a compliment.” He reached into the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “Gorillas are magnificent creatures.”
We watched as he tossed the cap on the counter and began chugging, quickly draining the entire bottle in one long pull. He was out of breath when he slammed the empty bottle on the counter. “Whew,” he exclaimed.
Sloan grabbed the debris and threw it in a nearby bin. “Good workout?”
He grinned back at her. “Nothing like it.”
“Glad to hear it. But you can’t come into the den like that. Why don’t you pull up a stool?”
“No need to sit on my butt. I’m good.” Hudson seemed to notice me for the first time and moved closer. “Quinn. Good to see you.”
I gave a little wave, my mind racing with anxiety about his news.
Sloan jumped in anxiously. “So what do you have? The media just now find out about our run-in with Little Miss Overdose months ago? Is that why they’re going crazy?”
Our one and only joint spy venture thus far had, somewhat incidentally, uncovered a plot to facilitate a CEO’s overdose in order to push through an underhanded company takeover. Tragically, the man ended up dead—and it became our mission to expose those responsible, despite the risk to my career getting involved presented. The late CEO’s wife was still awaiting trial for her misdeeds and thus far there had been no public knowledge of our participation. My education had been blissfully unaffected, with completion of my Doctor of Audiology degree only weeks away.
Hudson shook his head in slow motion as he stared at us, open-mouthed. “You really have no idea the shit-storm you two have created, do you? They did find out about that, yes. But only in the context of all the other arrests.”
Sloan sank to the sofa next to me. Her voice was now smaller, distant. “Other arrests?”
“Yeah, from today. Dozens. Of most of the local mafia organization. A huge takedown of the whole network.”
My eyes widened. There was that word again. Takedown. “But what does it have to do with us?”
“Are you kidding? You guys lit the match that started the whole thing burning. You’re going to be heroes.”
Heroes. My head was swimming. “Come again?”
“Look, when you two played your little game and got the president of Quandom to confess to conspiracy to murder her husband, there were ramifications. Big ones. They just took time to percolate.”
I glanced at Sloan, wariness rising. “So this is about Carolyn Evans? The CEO?”
“That’s where it starts, but definitely not ends.” Hudson took another step toward the couch, looking excited. “Once you got her arrested, she made a deal to testify against the drug dealer she hired, in exchange for going easy on her.”
“Of course,” Sloan said.
“Right. That didn’t surprise anyone.” He raised his eyebrows. “But what people didn’t expect is that then that punk dealer would squeal like a pig.”
“On who, his boss? Salvatore?” The Italian restauranteur’s icy glare popped into my head and I shuddered.
“Sal, his buddies, underlings. You name it. He was looking at capital murder. I hear he rolled over every warm body he could think of in order to save his scrawny butt and get a lesser charge. He talked their ears off.”
My eyes widened. “And that was enough? They arrested the whole operation on the word of that kid?”
“Not a chance.” He shook his head. “But it was just enough to get the ball rolling. Once they had one inside man telling all his tales, it just kept moving up the chain.”
Sloan looked skeptical. “How’s that?”
“They’ve been working on these guys a long time. Deep-cover investigations. So in addition to the slinger’s testimony, they had tons of evidence all lined up and ready to go. Years worth. Just waiting for the right time.
I glanced to Sloan. “And this was it?”
Hudson shrugged. “Guess it lit just the right fuse. Nobody had paid any attention to that little pipsqueak. He was in the room for all kinds of illicit activity.” His chuckled. “But they sure noticed him once he started talking.”
It was my turn to be skeptical. “So he starts naming people, and then the named guys just willingly hand over all their information?”
“Not exactly.” He flinched. “But when the cops did their first quiet round of interrogations, the guys he fingered did start to get scared. They were sweating long prison stints, some of them life. And with the years of evidence piling up already, pretty quickly the whole organization started looking like it was going down one way or another. So the idea that it was better to do the time than face the ‘family’ didn’t look quite so wise anymore.”
Sloan finished his thought. “And so the cards started tumbling down. Every man for himself.”
Hudson grinned. “That’s right.”
I was feeling overwhelmed. “So they got them all?”
“Not everyone. Many, assuming the charges stick. But that’s just the opening act. I’m sure there’s plenty of deals still to be had. Especially once some of the elected officials start talking. They're certainly not going to take one for the team.”
I gulped. “Elected officials?”
“It’s widening beyond just the actual mobsters at this point.” He nodded, into it. “They’re rounding up quite a few low-level government employees, hoping to go from there. Probably right about now, from what I hear. Even have a mayor’s office in the mix.”
“Which one?”
“Haven’t heard yet. But corruption charges are coming down. People’ll be singing from every direction.” His face darkened as he gave us a direct look. “Which is why you two need to lay low. This isn’t finished yet.”
Sloan and I exchanged a glance. “Are we in danger?”
“Hopefully it’ll just be the media hounding you for a few days, wanting to get your story. And then things can settle back down. But there’s no telling for sure.”
“What does that mean, exactly?” I said.
He sighed. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was assured your names would be left out of this.”
“Assured by who?” Sloan said.
“I have a source in the investigation.” He shook his head. “Can’t say any more right now. But I’ve been getting updates on this for a while now. I really thought you guys wouldn’t get hit when it all blew up. But now that you are, I need you to be careful.”
Sloan’s eyes shot daggers at Hudson. “Getting updates for a while? Appreciate the heads up on this. Partner.”
He returned an apologetic shrug. “Wasn’t my secret to tell. Source won’t trust me if I’m spreading it around. But I had your back. Or at least I tried.”
Sloan crossed her arms and avoided his eyes.
Hudson continued. “I thin
k you need to lie low for a few days. Both of you. Stay home, preferably in the same place. I’d feel a whole lot better if you did.”
“Can’t.” I shook my head. “I have to work. If I don't get my final experience hours in, I won’t graduate.”
He was unmoved. “Just for a few days. I’m sure it won’t last long.”
I stood up, ready to fight if necessary. “I have to go. I can handle a bunch of reporters.”
“It’s not just reporters I’m concerned about.” He looked me directly in the eye. “If they know who you are, other people will too. People that are not locked up yet. But should be.”
My stomach sank. “So we could be in danger.”
Hudson sighed. “There’s no immediate threat that we know of. But I’m not taking any chances. No way around it, your names are out there.”
Sloan leaned in. “Look, I know you mean well. But I certainly don’t want to be responsible for Quinn not finishing her internship in time. I can’t do it.”
“I’m not trying to cause trouble. I’m trying to keep you out of it.”
“But you said yourself there’s no immediate threat,” she pleaded. “We can just have some of our guys escort her to work. Both of us. No big deal.”
Silence hung in the air as we waited for an objection. When Hudson didn’t immediately argue, she quickly continued, her voice playful. “We’ll even let you be in charge of security.”
Hudson studied both of us for a moment before sighing, exasperated. “Fine. I’ll at least think about it. But do me a favor and stay in through the weekend. Call in sick a couple days. Let it blow over. We’ll see how things look on Monday.”
FOUR
I just couldn’t stop checking. Every time I passed a window, I had to pull the curtain back and confirm the horde was still out there. It was utterly fascinating. And I was addicted.
Apparently our role in the bust of the century was important enough to keep a small team of reporters outside my apartment building day and night. Standing around chatting, just waiting for me to step out the door. Or for something juicy to happen. Whatever that could possibly be.
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