Faceless (Sinister Secrets Book 2), Candle Sutton [dar e dil novel online reading txt] 📗

of the guys in the boat?” Her mind flashed to Mitch. Was he in FBI custody right now?

“Coast Guard couldn’t locate them. My guess is that they pulled off somewhere nearby and are lying low until they can get out of the area.”

Seemed logical. Tio and his gang hadn’t gotten this far by being careless. “Mitch was there. He’s in on it.”

It should hurt to admit that, but somehow it didn’t. Maybe because she didn’t really know him, maybe because she’d had time to adjust to the idea.

“I suspected.” Dak covered her hand with his and leaned in. “How are you doing with that?”

She quirked a smile. “I thought I was the therapist in the room.”

He didn’t return her smile. “I’m not a therapist. I’m your friend.”

A sigh slid out. “I don’t know how I feel. Not as upset as I was when I first found out, but it could be shock.”

“It could be. Don’t shut me out, okay? If you need to talk to someone, you know I’m here. Or use the Bureau’s psychologist. Just talk to someone.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t suffer a mental break. Not over him.” She grinned again, but he still wasn’t amused.

“The Coast Guard has boats combing the shoreline, but there are a lot of cabin cruisers around. Without probable cause, they can’t board.”

“Gypsy’s Chance.” The words popped into her head. In her hurry to escape last night, she didn’t even realize she’d caught the boat’s name, but it floated in her head as smoothly as the boat had floated in the water. “The boat’s name. Gypsy’s Chance.”

He pulled out his phone. “That’ll help.”

“Well, well. Looking good this morning, I see.” A man in a white coat appeared in the doorway behind Dak.

Dak rose, pointing at his phone and stepping into the hallway.

While she answered basic questions about how she was feeling, the doctor checked her vitals.

“That didn’t come from the hospital cafeteria.” He nodded at the half-eaten danish and sugar-laden coffee sitting beside her bed. “Your boyfriend must have brought them.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.” Thank goodness Dak hadn’t been in the room to hear that. “Just a friend.”

“Oh, my mistake.” The doctor ducked his head slightly. “You looked so cozy when I came in that I assumed.”

Cozy? How did two FBI agents discussing an organ trafficking ring look cozy?

Time for a change of subject. “So this foot. How long will it take to heal?”

The doctor pulled back the sheet to reveal her bruised and swollen foot. A fresh layer of gauze kept her from seeing the stitches and full extent of the damage, but the toes looked like miniature plums, the color extending to both sides of the bandage.

“At least six weeks. Maybe longer. There was considerable trauma.”

Something about the way he said it didn’t feel right. Her mouth cottoned and pain shot behind her eyes. “But… it will heal, right? No permanent damage?”

“Most likely it will heal fine. Provided you wear the walking boot and try to stay off your foot as much as possible.” He gently tucked the blanket back around her foot. “You never can say for certain when it comes to trauma.”

She looked up to find Dak leaning against the door, sympathy written across his features.

“Good news, though.” The doctor’s voice drew her attention back. “I think you’re ready to go home.”

“Great. I’m ready to get out of here.” But she was only going home long enough to clean up and put on fresh clothes. After that, she’d be headed to the office.

Tio, Mitch, and the rest of the crew were still out there.

They had to be stopped. Before anyone else died.

₪   ₪   ₪

Dak glanced up at Kevyn for at least the fifth time in the past hour.

She looked tired. After what she’d been through, she should be home, not sitting at her desk, but there’d been no dissuading her.

“You’ll get more work done if you stop checking on me every five minutes.” She slid amused eyes up to him.

“I really think you should be resting.”

“I am.” She pointed beneath her desk. “I’m resting my foot on top of the rubbish bin.”

Propping her foot up on a trash can was hardly taking it easy. “That’s not what I meant.”

A deep sigh slid from her. “I’ll rest when we catch these guys.”

Dak’s phone rang, ending further conversation. Not that this conversation was over. He still hoped he could convince her to take care of herself.

Sid’s number displayed on the ID.

His breath caught. Sid was on surveillance duty right now. Maybe something had happened. “Hey, man. What’s up?”

“There’s a freighter. Docked behind the warehouse. Looks like things are being loaded inside.” Excitement tinged Sid’s words.

Sid was watching the original warehouse, not the one they’d raided the night before. “Can you see what they’re loading?”

“Most of it’s in crates, but I did see what looks like a conveyer belt.”

If they were loading up basics like a conveyer belt, then they were clearing out. And, it appeared, using the freighter to do it. “I’ll get a team together and notify the Coast Guard. Keep on them.”

He ended the call and looked up to find Kevyn’s gaze locked on him. While she didn’t say a word, the questions were written across her face.

“I think we’ve got them.”

She pushed back in her chair and wobbled to her feet. “I’m coming. Don’t even try to stop me.”

It was a losing battle, one he didn’t have time to fight. “Fine. But you’re staying in the van until the scene is secured.”

Twenty-Three

The SWAT team moved with panther-like stealth.

A few FBI agents on loan from other departments cleared the remaining civilians from the surrounding area as his team followed the SWAT officers, led by Caiden