Page 86 of Sticks and Stones (FBI Romance/Thriller #65)

“They were asked about the locations, and every single one of them was checked out. What was found was they were blights to the city. Abandoned buildings that NO ONE was using. The bikers said they’d get there, and there would be a padlock on the door.

They’d been given the combination, and once inside, they found the ‘goods’ bound, gagged, and ready to go. ”

That’s what they learned, regarding the abandoned buildings.

So again, nothing new.

Ethan added the information to the report. He knew there wouldn’t be an official email on this. It would only be mentioned once.

Over the phone.

So they’d have to make it look like they found it out somehow.

“They then took them, and had a good time. They looked for a place to lay low, party, and have fun. They’d drug them, and then get them to swallow the balloons after they’d been used. The Snow made them comply. That’s why this shit is so dangerous.”

Yeah, tell them about it.

Gene was grossed out.

“Gabe, the head of that shitfest was on the phone and mentioned that he took a victim to Detective Price’s home and had some fun. They must have passed him off to a buyer shortly after. We haven’t come across any drug mules.”

He sighed.

“Well, that sucks. That matches what they told the interrogators. They admitted that they would then take them for delivery. There would be drop-offs, and it was always a park after dark. They would see the waiting car, get flashed by the headlights, and the trunk would pop open.”

Damn.

They had a system.

“The victim would be dropped into the back for the buyer to use, and that’s how they would pass the drugs to them.”

Gene was grateful for the information, so they were up-to-date on this.

“The three dead victims had to have died at some point in the process for them to all end up at the same place,” Gene admitted.

Gabe agreed.

“Only, the bikers all swore they did the drop with them. They showed them pictures of the missing men, and they said they went to the buyers unscathed—just used. Unfortunately for us, their stories all matched. No one deviated from the story, and they were scared stupid. If something else happened, someone would have caved.”

Honestly, hearing the details was gross.

It turned both of their stomachs that someone was doing this kind of act against another human.

To stop anyone else from going through this, they had to get to the bottom of it.

Ethan went there.

“So for the buyers to have the same dump location, it’s either one person buying men, or they contacted the person they paid, and he did the dumping after the victims died.”

Gabe agreed.

“That’s what I think. It feels like a clean-up on aisle perversion if you ask me. You know like a money back guarantee and all. With drug mules, we all know they die from the same thing more times than not. I’d bet that they died likely from a balloon popping inside them.”

They didn’t argue that.

Plus, the tox report that Reed Peterson had said they had the drugs in their system. He just couldn’t identify the drug.

“And we’re to believe them?” Ethan asked. “I only question it because if I use that in my profile, and Gene runs with it, that is going to make us go one way versus the other.”

Gabe understood.

Been there.

Done that.

“I tend to believe the bikers in this case. Let’s just say that they were run through the wringer pretty damn hard,” Gabe said. “The CIA has HORRIBLE people skills, but they are effective when it comes to extracting information.”

Gene hoped so.

He wanted them all to suffer for what was done to Corbin.

“If they died during interrogation, give me some names of those agents. I’ll send them a gift basket to thank them. They deserve a medal after what those five assholes did to the detective.”

Gabe didn’t disagree.

“How’s the detective?” he asked. “I’m going to assume you’re both making sure he’s okay. I know you like working with him.”

That they did.

But that Gabe knew was more annoying than anything. That meant someone was talking shit about them as they fed information to him.

Gene was honest.

“He’s in pretty bad shape, but he’ll get better with time. I find it particularly annoying that the commissioner didn’t bother to ask about his own detective. Instead, he was too busy busting my balls,” he stated. “Oh, yeah, and the homicide captain too—who played pass the buck.”

Gabe laughed.

“In his defense, it’s not difficult to bust your balls. You make it easy. As for the rest…I can’t answer that. If something happens to one of my agents, I want to make sure they’re okay. That’s vital when you run a division.”

Yeah, they were aware.

They honestly wished Gabe would follow-up a lot less than he did—especially since he was onto them.

“Thanks for helping us out,” Gene admitted. “I appreciate you letting us pull this case away from the local police.”

Yeah, well, after the talk with the commissioner, now he needed to know.

“Are you any closer to solving it? I shared everything we have, but now you get to tell me what else you found out. Clearly, you annoyed someone if they are calling me.”

They wished it was solved, but they were just in the beginning stages. They’d just finished reinterviewing, and starting their own list of suspects.

“That’s why we were interviewing Stafford Townsend III’s lover. His MUCH younger lover. We didn’t know he would rat us out to the commissioner and then he’d go to our boss.”

Gabe wasn’t shocked.

“Of course, he’s going to do that. Unfortunately for you, now you’re to meet with him and keep him in the loop. That was part of the original deal, as was you guys staying for an extra year.”

Yeah, well, when you danced with the Devil, you got burned.

Ethan was honest.

“We’re at the beginning of the process. We handled the situation last night, and this morning, we reinterviewed the people in Detective Price’s files. We just hit up Dunne,” he admitted. “We’ll humor the commissioner, but there’s not a whole hell of a lot to update.”

Honestly, he trusted his agents, and he understood what he was saying.

“We have a couple leads,” Ethan admitted. “Harrison Dunne connected to the three men, and that’s why we were up his ass,” he said, telling him about it. “And now, we’re on our way to a man’s home who also had connection to them. So far, that’s all we have.”

He was curious.

“Who?” Gabe asked. “So I can get ready for another call from an angry commissioner.”

Blackhawk told him.

“Julian Mercer.”

Gabe knew of him. He was big in DC.

Hopefully, that didn’t cause an issue.

“He’s very wealthy, and runs the foundation that was created in his brother’s memory. He was killed in a college campus hazing situation. I’ll fully expect a call by this afternoon when you annoy him. Make it good. If you’re going to get ratted out, make it memorable.”

Gene laughed.

“That sounded like Gabe just told us we can punch civilians,” he joked.

Gabe stopped him.

“Hands are not for hitting, Agent. Use your words,” he suggested.

No one wanted that paperwork.

Oh, Gene was well aware.

“For the record, we were nice to Stafford and his boy toy. We didn’t provoke them.”

Much.

Gabe understood.

“I’m not upset about that. If I had a dollar for every commissioner and homicide captain who called me, I could retire tomorrow. Rich men are annoying. I’m surprised he didn’t call me too. Half of my day is filled with handling complaints from law enforcement while agents are in the field.”

Gene was to the point.

“Yeah, I love rich, entitled assholes who think they own the world.”

Oh, speaking of which…

“Javier Hughes is likely getting out tomorrow,” Gabe said. “Are you prepared for that?”

Gene wasn’t happy.

“Can’t we keep him there?”

Gabe wished.

“I just got off the phone with the Justice Department earlier this morning. That’s not happening. He’s likely getting sprung. They want a monitor on his ankle, so there’s that. He won’t be able to leave his home.”

Yeah, well, he wanted him shanked in jail. When did he get what he wanted?

“Except he hires people to do his dirty work. Diesel took the shot at me. Not Javier. We all know he was hired by him.”

Gabe was aware.

“Yeah, but we can’t fight all of the battles, Cantrell. Keep your ass in a vest, and don’t do anything crazy. Be careful, and let me know if he crosses any lines. I can try to do what I can to get you some breathing room. My hands are tied by my boss.”

Ethan was to the point.

“He’s going to go for Gene again. His obsession with me is problematic.”

Oh, he was aware.

“Greyson already put in a request for floating vacation time for the two of you—in case you need to bug out fast. So, my suggestion is take a trip if it gets hairy.”

Gene covered them.

There was no way he was letting the man know where they were going.

No.

Freaking.

Way.

“We are. I’m going back home to see my parents, and Ethan is heading home too. Do you think we’ll be okay apart?” he asked, lying his ass off.

Gabe considered it.

“Yeah, if you don’t tell anyone you should be fine. This conversation is on a protected phone, and I’m at home in my kitchen. The director can’t get anything back to Javier IF he’s helping him.”

Yeah, he definitely was.

They all knew that.

It was the proving it that was difficult.

“How’s that coming?” Gene asked. “Do you have anything on him?”

Oh, Gabe was amused.

“You know I can’t tell you that, Agent. It’s above your pay grade. Just make it difficult to be his target, and know that I’m actively building a case.”

That was the plan.

“So, since shit rolls down hill, and I have to deal with annoying rich people, so do you. Avoid Javier, visit the commissioner, and keep me updated.”

Gene went there.

“We have to go back to Bull’s Biker Bar ,” he admitted. “Today.”

Gabe was silent.

At first.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” he asked. “You just absconded five of their regulars.”

Ethan clued him in.