Page 33 of Recovering Ivy (Red Team #4)

Zane

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

It had taken damn near a week to piece together the connection between Forester and Barbara.

Declan’s conversation with Amy gave us no further insight into Forester’s operation.

It seemed he had been smart and compartmentalized.

Amy only knew her part in his business. He gave her drugs to supply to the Johns she worked, that was all.

“Afraid not,” Garrett answered.

Leo and Declan were inspecting the tube of tennis balls Jaxon was able to get from a country club member that had carelessly left the container on the table after a lunch date with Barbara. It seemed she was more than the madam and took clients as well.

Jaxon picked up the third ball from the table and pinched the sides, exposing a cut in the green fuzzy exterior. He tipped the ball and out fell a small bag containing a white powder.

“Fuck me running. That is pretty fucking genius. He’s dealing right out in the open, a three-pack of tennis balls at a time. ”

“He sure the hell is,” Linc added. “I have the security footage from the club. Apparently, they had an issue with the cleaning crew stealing out of the locker room and installed a camera in there as well. Pretty fucking intrusive if you ask me, and illegal. I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth, it saved us the trouble, but fuck if I’ll ever change in a locker room again. ”

“What’s wrong, Linc? Camera shy or afraid you won’t measure up?” Leo chuckled.

“I measure up. Trust and believe that, brother. But I don’t need that shit making its way on the web. The line of women waiting to bang down the door will piss my wife off.”

“What will piss your wife off?” Jasmin asked as she joined us in the conference room. The correct term would’ve been waddled in, but I smartly kept that comment to myself. She looked tired, and for the first time I agreed with Linc, it was time for her to go on leave.

“Nothing, Jassy, come sit down.” Leo stood and pulled out the seat next to him. When she cut her eyes at the nickname, he chuckled.

“Stop calling me that,” she complained, but took the chair Leo had offered.

“What about Barbara’s client list?” Garrett asked.

The list.

I’d yet to decide what I was doing with the list. Morally and ethically, I should turn the list over to the police along with the other evidence. But it wasn’t that simple. Judges, lawyers, politicians, and police would be swept into a scandal of epic proportions.

“Christ.” I rubbed my temples trying to ward off the headache that was fast approaching. “There are two names on the list I want to talk to first. Michael Miller and Janet Goodall.”

“Michael Miller?” Garrett inquired. “He’s a beat cop. A no one. And Janet is a lawyer again, no one special.”

“Both of them have small children. I want them warned and ready to obtain counsel and the opportunity for them to hire Maya Vaugh in case the list goes public. If anyone can turn a scandal into a PR gold mine, it’s her.”

“Just those two?” Declan looked up from the paper he was writing notes on.

“Everyone else should’ve fucking known better and has the means to paint lipstick on the goddamn pig without my help.

Miller is a beat cop, he makes shit for money and only used Barbara’s services twice.

He probably couldn’t afford more than that.

His wife left him and he’s a single dad.

His service record is stellar, the Captain raves about him, his kids’ school had nothing but good things to say, including he’s involved in the PTA.

I found nothing on him other than a man looking to get laid, discreetly, without taking time away from his kids. ”

“Janet Goodall married her high school sweetheart. Both lawyers. Nice family, nice house, nice kids. Only issue, she’s gay.

I don’t know why she’s staying in her marriage; I would assume for the sake of her children.

She is wealthy without the use of her husband’s income.

Moderate debt, no priors, no past drug use.

She’s fair and mostly honest for an attorney.

If her husband doesn’t already know, I think it is her right to tell him before he hears it from the media. ”

“And the rest?” Linc asked.

“Fuck ‘em. They all knew the risk and should’ve known nothing stays a secret.”

“Judge Leone is on the list,” Jaxon reminded me. “He’s had your back. You sure you don’t want to repay him the favor.”

“He’s never had my back. He’s signed off on warrants that he knew would result in takedowns, making his son-in-law, the Police Chief, look good and his good friend, the District Attorney, would have an open and close case.

It was not to have my six. The man doesn’t do favors; he collects them.

Besides, he is no fucking friend of mine with a wife of thirty years sitting at home while he fucks hookers twice a week.

He’s no man, he’s a goddamned scumbag cheating on his wife.

Turn the list over, let the chips fall where they may.

I’ll call the POTUS later and give him a heads-up.

He can decide who he wants to warn after that. Not our circus.”

The landline rang, and the front desk indicator flashed. I hit the speaker button and answered.

“Yeah.”

“Detective Goldsborough is here to see you.” Ivy’s sweet voice came over the line, making me smile, then I remembered.

“Why are you out front?” I growled.

“Should I bring him up, sir, or will someone be down to escort him?”

Fuck me, she was completely ignoring me.

“So help me God, you better get your little ass back upstairs right now.”

“That would be great. I’ll let the detective know someone will be right down.”

“Ivy!”

It was too late; she’d disconnected the call.

“Sweet Jesus, finally, someone else got the last word.” Jasmin laughed. “The vein on your neck is working overtime.”

“I’m gonna paddle her ass,” I muttered. “Declan, go meet with Amy and tell her now is a good time to get outta dodge. She’ll be free to leave with her daughter.

Jaxon, you go meet with Miller and Goodall; give them the heads up.

Leo, you’re with me. Linc, take your wife home and get her situated.

If you’re back in time, you’ll be with me and Leo.

Garrett, keep trying to find Sarah. I want that bitch brought in ASAP.

I need a word with her before I send her ass back to Florida. ”

“Home?” Jasmin asked.

“Yep. You’re on leave until you pop those babies out.”

“I have another few weeks until…”

“Non-negotiable. You’re done. Go home, relax.”

“What the fuck?” she complained. “When the hell did you go soft and start treating me with kid gloves? I’m an asset to this team, you goddamn well know it. This is jacked.”

“You are an asset, a damn good operator. We all know it, Jas. This has nothing to do with your ability and everything to do with me wanting you to be healthy and strong for my nieces and nephews or whatever combination you’re growing in there.”

“I am…”

“Goddamn it, Jasmin. You’ve busted your ass your whole life.

You’ve worked hard, struggled, and fought like hell to get where you are today.

You’ve fucking earned some time to sit back and enjoy the last of your pregnancy.

Go home and nest or whatever girly shit pregnant women do.

I don’t much care as long as you’re not thinking about cases. ”

“Geeze. Okay. Cool your tits. I’m going.” Jasmin lowered her head before she looked back up and leveled me with her piercing gaze. “Thank you, Zane. For everything. For always having my back.”

With a nod of acknowledgment, I looked to Leo, uncomfortable with her appreciation.

There was no need to thank me. I’d almost gotten her killed, more than once.

We were both lucky to make it out of Russia alive.

Then I’d spent the next two years after that lying to her about what had really happened.

I kept Lincoln’s secret until he could get back from his operation and claim his wife. I almost fucked that up, too.

“You ready?”

Leo stood, tagging his tablet and phone off the table and following me to the door.

I stopped at the door and turned back. “Garrett, you’re in charge of Ivy. She’s not to leave the building. If she so much as tries, tie her up in my office.”

“Right. Apparently, you’ve never met your woman. She’d have my balls before she allowed that to happen.”

Yeah, she would, part of what made her the perfect woman.

Three hours later, Detective Goldsborough and his chief were up to speed on the latest developments. They’d also brought in a DA to discuss charges, including reopening the case against Forester for Joanna Long’s death.

“It’s a long shot,” the DA informed me. “If the tox screen comes back with fentanyl and the nexus can be made between the heroin Forester is selling now and what came up in autopsy, I can push for murder. However, drug-induced homicide is still hard to convict. It is a matter of proving the dealer put the user in harm’s way by adding the fentanyl. ”

“Harm’s way? The motherfucker is a drug dealer. He puts everyone in harm’s way. These assholes are public enemy number one,” I spit out .

I hated the justice system. My way of doling out retribution and punishment was more effective – time-saving, too.

“While that may be, Mr. Lewis, opinion does not matter in a court of law. It boils down to what I can prove . If the toxicology comes back in our favor, I will be seeking murder charges in the death of Joanna Long.”

I nearly rolled my eyes at the asshole. Some days it was hard to remember I was stateside; there were rules and laws to be followed.

The good guys claimed to have civility while the criminals were protected by due process.

It was a bunch of bullshit and I regretted having law enforcement involved.

However, my hands were tied; they were smack dab in the middle, leaving me no choice but to play the game.

“Fine. Let’s go pick this asshole up. I have a man on him; he’s at the country club. Barbara is with him as well. It should be an easy takedown. Two birds, one stone.”

I moved to the door and waited as the other men gathered their belongings before we made our way through the office and down to the public area of the office. I was happy to see Rena was now stationed at the reception desk.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re an over-the-top son of a bitch with security?” the Police Chief chuckled.

“A time or two.”

Jaxon and I went to my Rover and I impatiently waited for Goldsborough to get in his car to follow.

“Christ. How long does it take to get in a fucking vehicle?”

“I’m happy for you,” Jaxon said, ignoring my comment.

“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”

“Ivy.”

I contemplated his statement before I did something so uncharacteristic I couldn’t believe my own ears. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I never thought I could love a woman or merely being in someone’s presence could bring me so much peace. I’m going to marry her someday.”

I watched as Goldsborough pulled out of his parking spot, no longer thinking about Forester or his impending arrest. I was pondering how long I had to wait before I could ask Ivy to be my wife.

Just as we’d pulled out onto the street, the answer came to me.

I didn’t have to wait. I’d never been one to procrastinate when I wanted something.

Ivy was no different. And if she had an issue with agreeing, I’d persuade her – one way or another.