Rafael (The Santiago Brothers Book One) (20 page)

“Exactly.” He met her eyes. He saw a shade of
doubt there but the longer their gazes held, the more it faded.

“Are you sure?" Genie asked. “I made a
promise, foolishly I know, but I promised he would be kept
safe.”

Rafa’s gaze traveled from Genie to Compton.
“Well, I’m not sure. I’m just a humble city detective, but perhaps
the FBI can school us on how to run a simple operation. You can run
one, can’t you, Compton?”

Drake’s eyes stormed over. “This isn’t my
first assignment,” he grated, fists to his hips.

“We need to run it by Diego first,” Genie
stated, stepping in between the two. “If he’s unwilling, then we
have to think of another way.” She handed Compton her paperwork.
“I’d still like to see Flores taken into the Bureau’s protective
custody and you’ll find my reasons listed on my proposal. The most
obvious being Springfield PD’s lack of manpower. Almost every
essential personnel has been called to run leads on Huera and
Montenegro.”

Drake glanced over the documents. If he
agreed with her plan, he made no effort to verbalize it.

Genie sighed and ran a hand through her loose
hair. She was exhausted, but Rafa admired her fortitude. When she
looked at him, he could see her willingness to go the distance
before allowing her body to rest. “Detective Santiago and I will go
speak with Diego now.” Rafa followed Genie out of the room, but not
before seeing Compton pull out his cell and dial a number. Rafa
hoped he was calling his boss to get the approval on the plan. If
not, he was fresh out of ideas on how to stop the killers.

“
IF goes
well, we should have Huera and Montenegro in custody soon, and you
and your sister can go back to your normal lives.” Genie released a
breath, confident in the imminent capture of the two killers.
“After you testify, of course,” Genie added.

Diego Cera gave her a look of disbelief. He
repositioned himself on the hospital bed and blew out a heavy
breath, beads of sweat on his forehead. He seemed groggy, still
under the influence of pain medications. After surgery to repair
his collapsed lung, doctors gave him an excellent prognosis.

“Are you sure it’s safe?”

Rafa spoke from the end of the bed. “Look,
you don’t have to do this if you’re uncomfortable. You’re still
recovering and your health and safety are our primary concern. The
FBI will still take you into protective custody. But this might be
our one shot at getting these guys.” He crossed his arms and leaned
forward, the dark pools of his eyes swirling. “You know they won’t
stop—”

“Until I’m dead, I know,” Diego finished the
thought. His body shook with a ragged sigh. His eyes watered either
from exertion or fear. Genie put a gentle hand on his arm.

“Diego, I know you’re scared, but I believe
this could work,” she whispered.

“What about my sister?” He regarded her with
trepidation. “You… you won’t use her, will you?”

“Of course not,” Rafa stated firmly. “In no
way will she be involved. She’ll remain protected.”

From behind them, a throat cleared. Genie and
Rafa turned at the sound. Lieutenant Winters stood in the doorway,
his face more grim than normal. “I need to see you two in the
hall.” He let the door close behind him, not waiting for their
answer. Genie and Rafa exchanged hesitant looks.

“That didn’t sound so good.” Diego slid down
into his covers.

Genie forced a smile. “He’s usually like
that. Get some rest. We’ll let you know if anything changes.” She
patted him on the arm and then faced Rafa. He put a hand on her
elbow and leaned in close.

“Something doesn’t feel right.”

“I know.” Genie’s voice was low as they made
their way toward the door. “I hope there hasn’t been another
murder.”

“Diego is the only one left alive who was in
the restaurant that night.”

“That we know of.”

Rafa opened the door, and they stepped into
the quiet hallway. Two women manned the nurse’s station across the
way, and the only other visible souls were the lieutenant and the
guards posted at Diego’s door. Winters motioned for the two of them
to follow him to an empty room down the hall. He shut the door for
privacy. He stood before them with his eyes on the floor, pudgy
arms crossed over his wide chest. Genie glanced at Rafa, who kept
his gaze on the lieutenant. Finally, her supervisor raised his
head.

“The FBI has pulled rank and is now in
control of the investigation.”

“What?” Genie stepped forward. The case had
been a joint one with the Springfield department as the lead
agency. Genie expected to remain lead investigator, even with the
assistance of the FBI and the IRS.

“I just got off the phone with the special
agent in charge. He insists this case would be better run with them
at the helm.”

“You mean with Agent Compton at the helm.”
Rafa’s low tone held anger Genie heard him struggle to control.
Well, she didn’t want to be in control.

“This is unbelievable! This was our case from
the beginning, Lieu. They can’t come in here and—”

“Yes, they can, Detective, and you know it.”
Winters’ hard eyes warned her into silence. “Apparently they’ve
been expending more resources than originally agreed to and have
exercised their right to take the lead on this investigation.”

Now they have an issue.
Genie ground her teeth. If there were any complaints, why
weren’t they voiced earlier? “I can’t believe this,” Genie spat
through thick teeth. She stomped to a nearby corner. All of her
efforts… and Rafael’s! The promises they’d made to Diego and
Flores. Although the FBI was a capable agency, Genie had become
quite possessive of the case, having received physical injury in
the course of her investigation.

“What about Diego and Flores? Are their
protective orders still good?” Rafa asked.

Winters sighed, fingering his moist brow, but
his tone lightened. “We didn’t get into specifics, but I was
assured both Diego and Ms. Cera would be under FBI protection. But
we were given strict orders to back off and let Agent Compton do
his job.”

Genie whirled. “This is Agent Compton’s
doing.”

“Now, Genie,” Winters held up his hands, his
palms facing her, “we don’t know that for certain. But with the
formation of the task force involving the IRS, it’s no surprise the
FBI has decided to take charge.”

“
No
surprise? We
just
saw Agent
Compton not more than an hour ago, and he didn’t bother to give us
the good news,” she spat.

“
Genie,”
Rafa whispered gently. Genie knew she was flying off the handle but
it was easier to just let go than to calm down. She crossed her
arms in defiance. She’d worked hard on this case.
Very
hard. The FBI didn’t usually
steal investigations unless they wanted the glory. The potential
for their case to become the biggest homicide investigation in
Springfield history no doubt drew the FBI to take a more command
role. Unless…

From her corner, Genie studied Rafa. He
quietly spoke to Winters, both content to let her stew it out
alone. Genie didn’t mind; she needed to think. Less than an hour
ago, she and Rafa had spoken to Agent Compton. He only mentioned
the paperwork for the protective order. Even then he knew the FBI
would assert jurisdiction and he'd be the lead on a case rapidly
becoming high profile. The FBI would get the glory even though the
Springfield PD did all the work.

And therein lies the problem
.

“I’ll be right back.” In a few long strides,
she was out of the room before they could object. She pushed
through the pain in her chest as she jogged down the hallway until
she spotted Compton talking to a guard outside of Diego’s room. She
grabbed Compton by the crook of his elbow and steered him towards
the common waiting room. “I want to talk to you.”

“Detective Green,” he protested, but Genie
didn’t let go until they were alone.

She drew in a breath and glared at him. He
returned her glare with an even stare of his own. “What is
this?”

“What’s what?” he answered.

“What’s this I hear about the FBI suddenly
taking point on this investigation?”

“Just procedure.”

“I’m not stupid, Compton. This isn’t about
procedure.” She stepped closer. Blood pounded in her ears and she
fought to keep her fury in check. “You made a phone call to your
boss earlier, didn’t you?”

Compton crossed his arms over his chest and
smirked. “Is this an interrogation?”

“What did you say? Or better yet, what did
you ask?”

“You don’t get to question me. I’m the agent
in charge here, and I ask the questions.”

“Not when I’ve spent a considerable amount of
time on this investigation.” She put her hands on her hips. “It’s
mine. We all know it. You did persuade your boss to pull rank,
didn’t you?”

His eyes steeled over. “I did.”

“Over some petty thugs who’ve graduated to
murder?”

“Now you’re playing dumb. You know as well as
I do that this is huge. Money laundering, possible human
trafficking—”

“Ah, so it is about your pride?”

Compton’s lips formed a tight smile. “I’m
above being petty. Two people’s lives are on the line, and two
killers remain at large. At the end of the day, we need to shut
down La Cocina Dulce’s operation and bring justice to those
families who’ve lost loved ones. The FBI has more resources, more
manpower, and our agents are better trained. It’s only logical we
now assume command of this investigation to ensure the best
possible result.”

Genie shook with anger.

“Now, I know you were here at the hospital,
injured only a few hours ago. I suggest you and Detective Santiago
go home and get some rest. I’m going to need you two sharp to type
up your latest investigative reports. Forward them to my office for
inclusion into the official file. If I need anything else, I’ll let
you know.” He walked toward the door but stopped before passing
through. “Also, tell Detective Santiago he might as well pack his
bags. We probably won’t need him after he’s finished his
paperwork.” Drake smiled and exited with a quiet click of the
door.

****

Still sitting in front of Genie’s home,
neither wanting to leave the other, Rafa eyed her, but she faced
the window, staring into the dark night. “You’re still a part of
this. Once Compton breaks the news to Diego and Flores, I’m almost
positive they won’t cooperate without you.”

“You mean without us.” She spoke softly, her
body quivering with emotion. The day had been too long, and it
didn’t seem to want to end. She had experienced the complete arc of
emotions and Rafa sensed her exhaustion.

“Without us,” he agreed. “There’s still a
chance we’ll be heavily involved, despite Compton throwing his
weight around.” Rafa crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw
hardening. “Trust me, I want in this case just as much as you do.”
It’s not that he didn’t trust the FBI to close this case quickly,
but he was afraid if they didn’t, and if the Snakes succeeded in
murdering anyone else, he’d feel responsible for having been a part
of that organization.

She sighed, yanking both hands through her
hair. “I don’t know what I was thinking, confronting him. I just
thought…” He allowed her a few moments to collect her thoughts.
“Ever since… um, ever since college, I’ve just had this thing.”

“What thing?”

“I kinda have this thing about being in
control.” She gave him a tentative glance.

He smiled, resting his head against the
headrest and meeting her gaze. “Don’t most women?”

She glowered. “This is different. I always
feel as if I have to prove myself… my worth.”

With elbows on her knees, she fixed her eyes
on her house. Rafa knew she didn’t see her house, but some event in
her past that defined her present attitude.

“Genie, are you okay?”

She opened her mouth to speak and then shut
it. Her fingers combed her hair again. Her smile was inauthentic.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”

“Genie—”

She shook her head, causing him to stop. He
wouldn’t push her to be more open. She’d already shared her painful
past and that was probably all she had the energy for tonight. She
trusted him with her heartbreak, but beyond? Could he trust himself
with her heart?

“You stay here. I can see myself to the
door.” She hopped out quickly. “I’ll lock up, I promise. See you in
the morning.”

He frowned while watching her hurry to her
front door. She was keeping her distance, and he’d be wise to do
the same. At least until the case was over.

She closed the door and flipped the porch
light, signaling she was okay. Rafa let out a sigh, a wave of
weariness washing over him. His adrenaline had run its course. He
turned the key in the ignition and backed out her driveway.

****

Genie ran a hand through her free hair. Her
nerves had been frayed ever since Rafa had dropped her off at the
office. Diego phoned from the hospital, and her boss decided he and
Rafa would follow up, just in case Drake was at the hospital. She
begrudgingly agreed, especially after Winters reminded her of the
paperwork she and Rafa let pile up over the last twenty-four
hours.

“Genie!”

She jumped, and then cringed, rubbing a hand
across her chest. Her ribs were still a bit sore from the blow she
took at Flores’ house. If she ever got her hands on whichever of
the murder suspects hit her—

“Whoa, whoa. Are you okay?” Familiar hands
kneaded away the tension in her shoulders. “I’m sorry. Did I scare
you?” Rafa came around and leaned against the side of her desk.
Genie didn’t look up. “Eugenia?”