Annette Broadrick - Double Identity

“Jude, this is Sam Watson from the Drug Enforcement Agency. With him are three of his agents: John Greene, Hal Pennington and Ruth Littlefield.” The agents stood and Jude shook hands with each of them.

“Now that we’re all here, let’s go into the conference room where we’ll have a little more room,” Jackie said, and led the way out of her office.

Once they were seated around the conference table, Jackie said, “Sam, I’ll let you explain to Jude why you wanted to see him.”

Watson smiled, transforming his craggy face, and Jude decided that the man was younger than he appeared at first glance.

“Thanks, Jackie,” Watson replied. He turned to Jude. “I have a major problem with my San Antonio office at the moment. One of my men was killed last week and we have reason to believe that another agent was responsible.”

Jude straightened. “Damn. That’s really tough.” He glanced at the other agents. “You’ve got to trust the man who’s got your back.”

If possible, they looked even grimmer as each one nodded.

“I need to get someone down there who I can trust and who can go undercover for us. In my search, I came across your file. You’ve worked covert operations for several years.”

“That’s true.”

“And you’re from Texas.”

Jude grinned. “Can’t deny that, either.”

“I also found out that your family is well-known in Texas.”

“Well, there’s a lot of us there, I’ll admit.”

“You would be ideal for what I want to do.”

Jude nodded and waited.

“Here’s the deal. For the past several months we’ve been investigating a family by the name of Patterson. They own an import/export business which we believe they’re using to smuggle arms, drugs and an assortment of contraband into the United States.

“Gregg, the agent who died, was one of several working to obtain evidence against the Pattersons because we need to get them behind bars as quickly as possible, especially now that we think they bribed an agent or two to look the other way. The Pattersons seem to be one step ahead of us no matter what we plan, so it’s obvious they’re getting their information from somewhere inside our group. We’ve made raids and found nothing and we’re being accused of harassing honest businessmen.”

Watson paused and poured some water from a pitcher nearby into a glass. Once he’d drunk some, he continued.

“Two days before he died, Gregg skipped the chain of command and contacted me on his own. He said he was suspicious of two of the other agents. He felt the investigation had turned up some important information that had not been passed on. He told me he planned to find out what was going on. I told him to call me as soon as he found out. That was the last time I heard from him. A few days later he was killed in an automobile accident.”

“Sounds like somebody figured out that he’d reported to you.”

“That’s my take on the matter. I pretended to believe that Gregg’s death was an accident and told the local agents to drop the investigation for lack of evidence, so the Pattersons must feel they’re working in the clear now.”

Jude frowned. “Where do I fit into this?”

“We need someone we can trust who is trained in undercover work to keep the investigation going. John, Hal and Ruth are from our Virginia office and they’ll be your team. They aren’t known to anyone in the San Antonio office and they’ll be working with you to find out who killed Gregg.

“What we need is someone who can get close to the family without raising suspicion. When I discovered your background, your impressive record and your family’s reputation, I asked Jackie if I could borrow you for the next several months to work for us.”

Jude scratched his chin. “It’s been a few months since I did any undercover work.”

“I doubt that you’ve forgotten much. You were damned good at what you did.”

“If I understand correctly, you want me to go to San Antonio as myself, get involved with the Patterson family and find evidence of illegal activities.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any idea how I’m supposed to get close to them?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. The Patterson family includes a twenty-five-year-old daughter who happens to be single. We want you to arrange to meet her and ask her out. If you two start dating, the rest of the family will grow used to seeing you around and won’t be suspicious of you.”

“You want me to date her?”

“Correct.”

“What if she isn’t interested in dating me?”

“Oh, with your charm, good looks and the added benefit of being from a well-known Texas family, I think she’ll be interested enough to accept a date with you. After that, you’ll have to play it by ear. The more often you see her, the better.”

Jude looked at Jackie and then at the other three. He noticed that Ruth looked amused. “I may have good covert skills but I’m lacking in the charm-and-good-looks part. I’m not what anyone would call a ladies’ man.”

Watson replied, “Guess you’d better learn, because that’s going to be your cover when you move there. We’ve rented a large house for the four of you while you’re there. It’s in a gated community with good security.”

Jude studied his hands. “So I’m supposed to be a ladies’ man, huh?”

“You’ll be a free-wheeling playboy with too much time on his hands. Get a reputation for being seen with beautiful women and get involved in the arts.”

Jude straightened. “The arts? Are you kidding me?”

“The daughter—her name is Carina—is a pianist. She was in her third year of study at Juilliard when her father fell ill, so she returned to Texas, rented an apartment in San Antonio and plans to finish school in another year.

“You need to show an interest in music, donate money to worthy causes and figure out the best way to approach her. Developing a close friendship with her is crucial if we’re going to put them behind bars.”

“Is she part of the smuggling?”

“Hard to tell at this point. She could be. Part of your job will be to find out. I’m convinced we can make this work.”

Jude nodded. “All right, if you think I can help, I’ll do my best.”

“Good,” Sam said, standing up. Jackie, Jude and the agents stood, as well. Watson placed his briefcase on the table, opened it and handed Jude a fat file. “Here are the dossiers on each member of the family.”

Jude picked up the file. “When do you want me to start?”

Sam smiled sardonically. “Yesterday?”

Jude nodded. “Gotcha.”

Six Months Later

He spotted her as soon as she walked into the ballroom.

Carina Patterson was petite. For tonight’s benefit for the San Antonio Symphony she’d chosen to wear a short, flame-red dress, sleeveless with a mandarin collar, the color in stark contrast to her fair skin and dark hair. Her lipstick matched the dress, emphasizing a sultry mouth.

She was more beautiful in person than in the several photographs he had of her. He watched as she spoke to some of the guests. Studying her, he realized that her beauty was enhanced by her vivacious manner and sparkling smile.

He enjoyed watching her walk across the room. She had a rhythm about her as though she moved to the sound of music that only she could hear.

Jude stood near the open bar with several of the movers and shakers of San Antonio society and listened with half an ear to their conversation. He glanced around the room, which glittered from the expensive chandeliers and the jewelry that adorned the women attending the benefit. The murmur of voices filled the room, drowning out the soft music being played by a small orchestra.