Page 119 of Trace of Doubt
He pushed off his car. “Might as well see what the bosses say.”
“My guess is a butt-chewing and specifics on how to make arrests.”
Behind a closed door inside a conference room, Mike and I positioned ourselves across from Special Agent in Charge Rogers and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Leonard.
SAC Rogers, more Mike’s age, expressed the need for arrests. He jotted notes on a legal pad of paper. “We lack sufficient evidence for a search warrant.”
“Shelby is working on it.” I showed him last night’s text. “No one could be more motivated.”
Rogers leaned back in his chair. “Have you heard from Ms. Pearce since?”
“No, sir,” I said. “All communications have been forwarded to you and ASAC Leonard.”
“We assume Stover and Chandler have a deal about to take place for them to stay in Miami for this long. The risk must have millions at stake,” Rogers said. “Has Pearce mentioned any more about Feng Liu or John Rudder?”
“Not any more than I’ve given you.”
ASAC Leonard frowned, a grim-faced man whom I’d seen smile once in the seven years I’d known him. “Until Pearce confirmed Liu’s girlfriend, we were merely speculating. Word is Stover and Liu are negotiating for a merger, and she’s leaving the country. Could be they’re holding off until the deal with Rudder is sealed.”
“While the danger for Shelby rises.” The moment the words left my mouth, I wanted to yank them back. “My—”
“Denton—” Leonard leaned in—“is your relationship with Ms. Pearce a liability?”
I pushed aside my dislike for him. “My apprehension would be for anyone working as an informant and unprepared. A Miami agent’s death shows Marissa Stover’s capabilities. Shelby is taking precautions with the knowledge that everything in the penthouse is bugged or videoed.”
SAC Rogers directed his attention at Mike. “What are your thoughts?”
My old friend hesitated. Correction, my old friend who lived and breathed honesty. “My observations are the two have feelings for each other, and both are determined to bring justice to the case. Shelby has a fearless and stubborn streak that I hope doesn’t outweigh her good judgment. She’s aware of the critical timing.”
“All right.” Rogers wagged a pen at Mike and me. “I don’t want Pearce dead. She’s all we have between the truth and criminalactivities. We have surveillance on Stover, Chandler, and Pearce as well as Liu and Rudder. We need to know the details for the San Francisco meeting ASAP.”
“Are we needed in Miami?” I wanted to be there, help Shelby in any way possible.
ASAC Leonard huffed. “That hasn’t been discussed.”
“Yes, it has,” SAC Rogers said. “The Miami office had a huge wake-up call, and they want the agents who’ve worked the case there.” His phone rang before he could continue. “Hold on. I need to take this call.” He stepped from the room.
ASAC Leonard continued the conversation. “If the meeting between Stover, Liu, and Rudder takes place, the likelihood is Stover won’t return to Miami. One more time, she’ll be out of reach.”
Where did that put Shelby? “Stover’s calculating, and she hasn’t invested in Shelby without a reason.”
“McClure, use your head. She’s setting Shelby up for a huge fall that’s geared to get her killed. Shelby is an amateur, and Stover is holding the aces.”
I despised the reality. “Wish you were wrong. But I’m doing all I can to stop this. A recent report speculates Rudder is selling some of his auto parts with fake packaging. But which orders from Liu contain heroin?”
“We need traceable evidence. Obtained by trained agents, not Shelby Pearce.” Sarcasm crested Leonard’s words. “How many years have you been on this case? What’s the problem with you two that it remains an open case? Looks like fresh eyes are in order.”
I made no attempt to hide my ire. “No one knows this case better than Mike and me.”
SAC Rogers stepped back into the conference room. “I talked to one of the agents based at the safe house for Clay Pearce and Aria Stover. Aria has disappeared.”
73
SHELBY
No matter how many times I rehearsed my reactions to Marissa’s behavior, her announcement at lunch sent me scrambling. “Eli’s picked up Aria.”
“How did you find her?” I valued my ability to show a lack of emotion. Yet I panicked at the danger for my niece. What plans were in place for her?
