Page 2 of Until Ace

“We’ll find a way. Just send me back in,” I push.

He looks at Garett, who is standing opposite him, almost as if he’s looking for help. When he doesn’t get it, he shakes his head and looks to the floor before turning back and facing me. “Ace…”

I know what he’ll say even before he says it.

“You know there’s a good possibility your cover is blown. Even with all the intel, the witness is long-gone and probably crawled back to his master. There's no way I can send you back in. He’ll have you killed in a heartbeat.”

The frustrating thing is, I know all that. If I were in the captain’s shoes, I would be doing the exact same thing—finding the case detective and locking him down.

It still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I can’t just sit tight and twiddle my thumbs. I have to do something. I have to make this right.

“You can’t get a man like that brought down on tax fraud. You just can’t!” I yell, and Frank and Cobi materialize on either side of me. “This is not the ’20s, and this is not some local mobster we’re talking about. This man is ruthless. He’s a sociopath, and worst of all, he’s wicked-smart. His operation knows no lines, borders, or even continents. When he wants to move his business, he simply does. He’s like cancer. He spreads everywhere, and he’s there to stay. It was a stroke of dumb luck we found that junkie willing to roll over. And now you’re standing here, telling me that because of a fifteen-minute shift change, you lost him.” I make sure to look Garett in the eyes for what I’m about to say next. “He knew how you operate. I told you from day one he was fishy, that he wasn’t to be trusted and would screw you over. You had more faith in a fucking piece of paper than me, thinking Witness Protection will work.”

“Now, what a minute—” Garett starts, getting all red in the face, but I don’t let him talk.

“You fucked up. You let him get away. And you need to find out who gave him a heads-up.” I’m not buying for a second that car crash was an accident. It was orchestrated to serve as a decoy, and to shift focus of men circling the motel, keeping eyes open for anyone trying to come near the witness.

Done with Garett, I turn back to my captain. “We need to find another way. And that’s why you need to let me back in.”

“Ace, you know I can’t. Besides, we already have someone in.”

That’s news to me, some that both terrifies and relaxes me.

“Who?”

“You know I can’t tell you that,” the captain says softly.

I know. And it sucks.

“I want to be kept in the loop,” I demand. It’s not usual protocol, but they both know they should have listened to me, and this whole thing rests on their shoulders.

After an expanded eye glance between Garett and him, the captain looks back, and with his lips pressed together tightly, he nods and looks to his desk.

“Appreciate it,” I mutter before turning around. I stalk to the door, yank it open, and stride out.

When I get to my desk, I start shuffling the papers lying across it without seeing what’s written on them. I take out my phone to check it out of habit, but when I press the button, I see there’s a message from Beverly.

Now that’s a woman who can always make me smile.

Aunt Beverly

Coming tonight?

Beverly Walker.

My mother’s aunt and, in my opinion, a saint.

And a pain in my ass, but when someone is family, that comes with the territory.

Also, she’s the only person who has the ability to put me in a good mood just by thinking about her. Or, as is the case now, by sending a message to confirm I’ll do as she demanded last night.

Smiling despite the anger that still lingers in my gut, I type the expected answer.

Me

Like you even need to ask.

I hit the blue arrow to send my reply.