Неизвестный - 6. Justice For All

“Not good enough. I want incentive for her to stay on our side. I want Witsec for her and her sister.”

Clark pursed his lips. “Witsec is expensive. It’s getting pretty selective these days, too, especially when we’re trying to persuade people to testify against terrorists.”

“Get them to make an exception. My undercover officer has to be protected.”

“I’ll look into it.”

“I want an answer soon or I’ll pull my people out.”

“Your captain won’t be happy about that. Neither will the commissioner.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

• 134 •

Justice for All

Clark studied Rebecca and whatever he saw in her face must have convinced him she wasn’t bluffing. He nodded. “I’ll get back to you.”

“So tell me about Kratos Zamora.”

“He’s a businessman. A very wealthy one.” Clark spread his hands.

“And a staunch supporter of the present administration.”

“What’s your interest?”

“His family may be doing business with persons of interest to us.”

“His family? Or him?”

“That’s what I was hoping you could help us with.”

Rebecca’s internal temperature soared to just below boiling, but she didn’t move an inch. She reminded herself that just because she and Clark were supposed to be on the same side didn’t make them teammates. “Help how?”

“You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. And the people they do business with.”

“His business interests should be a matter of record. One thing you federal types are good at is chasing paper trails.” Clark’s expression shuttered closed, but Rebecca didn’t care if he was insulted. He wanted to use her and give nothing in return. “Besides, his brother heads the family.”

“That’s what Kratos would like us to believe,” Clark said. “We’re not so sure. That’s why we want a more personal look at him. Business gets discussed at events like this fund-raiser tomorrow night. Alliances are forged. We want to know who’s in his inner circle.”

“Why don’t you put your people on him?”

“Because he’s smart and he’s careful,” Clark said, frustration evident in his voice. “All we need is an initial legitimate business connection. Then we can insert our people and run with it.”

“I can’t help you. Sloan has plenty of connections in the private sector, but if the Zamoras don’t know about her working with us, they would soon enough.”

“I wasn’t thinking of Sloan.”

Rebecca shook her head. “Who then?”

“Innova Design is one of the biggest companies on the East Coast.

And Michael Lassiter—”

“She’s a civilian,” Rebecca snapped. “She nearly died already and she’s completely untrained.”

• 135 •

RADclY fFe

“I don’t expect her to do undercover work,” Clark shot back. “All we need is the initial overture and then we’ll put our people inside her firm.”

“No.”

“Think about it.”

“I already have.” Rebecca rose. “And the answer is still no.”

• 136 •

Justice for All

ChAPTER ThIRTEEN

Since Joyce, Catherine’s secretary, had gone to lunch, Catherine checked the waiting area herself a few minutes after one. As she expected, her special appointment was waiting. “Dellon. Hello, come on in.”

“Thanks for seeing me.” Dell followed her into the office, removed her windbreaker, and took her customary chair in front of Catherine’s desk. “The lieutenant thought we should talk.”

“What do you think?” Catherine settled into a chair facing Dellon.

The first time they’d met, Dellon had sat nearly at attention in her seat, feet firmly on the floor, eyes straight ahead. Today, she was a little more relaxed, her back still not touching the chair, but her shoulders no longer rigid. In her black street clothes, with her black hair and dark eyes, she was wildly attractive. Catherine could imagine her capturing the eye of any number of females, of any age. That kind of sexual magnetism could pose a problem, especially in the kind of work she was doing.

“I think if the lieutenant thinks it’s a good idea, it is,” Dell said.

“That is a very diplomatic answer.” Catherine laughed softly. “So how are you?”

Dell grinned and interlaced her fingers, resting her hands between her thighs. “I think I’m doing okay, but…there’s a lot going on, you know?”

“I know some of the details of the operation. Why don’t you tell me how you see it.”

“The assignment’s great,” Dell said enthusiastically, filling Catherine in on the basic details. “It’s good. It’s what I want to do. I feel like…”

• 137 •

RADclY fFe

“Like what?” Catherine asked after a minute of silence.

“Like I’m doing something that no one else can do. ’Cause I’m really good at this undercover thing.” Dell smiled. “Well, Mitch is, anyhow.”

“Is Mitch a police officer too?” Catherine leaned closer as Dell stared. “By that, I mean does Mitch make decisions from the same set of rules and regulations that a police officer would?”

Dell frowned. “Um.”

“You know this is private, don’t you?” Catherine said gently.

Dellon had matured since their first meeting. She’d filled out, metaphorically, from a heartbreakingly innocent young officer into a confident detective. Catherine was glad to see the changes, because she knew Dellon would be safer on the streets, but growth spurts like that could leave someone off balance. And that could be dangerous.“Even though your lieutenant thinks it’s a good idea that we talk, what we discuss here is between us.”

“Yes ma’am. I know that. It’s just…I never thought about it before. Mitch…yeah, Mitch is a cop. I mean, when I’m Mitch, I still think like a cop, even if I have to do things I might not do when I’m not undercover.”

“What kind of things?”

Dell stared at her hands. “The things I do with Irina. I wouldn’t do them with her, with anyone.”

“When you’re intimate.”

“Yes.”

“Do you feel guilty about it?”

Dell searched Catherine’s eyes. “Should I?”

Catherine smiled and waited.

“I don’t feel guilty about Mitch acting like Irina’s boyfriend. I mean, when you’re undercover, you have to be into it. It’s gotta be real.

If it isn’t, it won’t work.”

“That makes sense,” Catherine said. “So when Mitch and Irina act like lovers—when they’re physically intimate, that feels okay.”

Dell nodded. Then after a second, she shook her head.

“Yes and no? A little of both?”

“It’s okay we kiss and fool around.” Dell slowly met Catherine’s gaze. “It’s not okay that I…want to.”

• 138 •

Justice for All

“You want to be intimate with Irina.” Catherine waited until Dell nodded again. “Do you want to make love with her?”

“Sometimes. I mean, I get turned on and part of me wants to keep going.”

“What about when you’re not actually being physically intimate with her? Do you think about making love with her when you’re not with her? Do you look forward to seeing her and hope you have a chance to have sex?”

“No.” Dell straightened her shoulders and set her feet squarely on the floor. “No, I don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t love her.”

Catherine wanted to smile, but she kept her expression neutral.

Oh, she could see this one breaking hearts everywhere she went. “So let me see if I understand. You find her physically attractive, but you’re not in love with her and you aren’t interested in having a sexual relationship with her.”