Shelby used a laser pointer and aimed it at the picture of the stall. “The death of Rick Greco yesterday might be the fuse that starts it.” She then gave a brief history of Rick’s work record. “Because of where in the airport this happened and how exposed it was, none of us had someone inside. The closest team was Mark Pearlman’s from DEA. Mark.” Shelby turned it over to him.
“We’re mostly assigned to major players in the city but are reassigned whenever Rodolfo Luis is in town. The street vendors are one thing, but Luis is one of the big heads of the snake. Cut him off from moving his crap in and we put a serious hurt on supply.” He turned on the projector connected to his laptop, and one of his guys dimmed the lights. “Yesterday we followed four of Rodolfo’s men to the airport. When security sounded the alarm, we started to move a group in to pick these guys up on their way out, since video from their exit shows one of them in different clothes that are too big for him and a bundle under his arm.
“But that’s not the only thing we captured on surveillance after the pandemonium that this caused.” Mark advanced to the next picture. As soon as it came on the screen, Annabel and the rest of her agents leaned forward. Anthony Curtis and Juan Luis were getting into a car on the lower level of the airport.
“Anthony was in there when this happened?” Shelby asked.
“If he was, we didn’t pick him up with the other four, but we weren’t really looking for him,” Mark said. “We spotted Anthony and Juan seconds before security called for help. Having Juan come back so soon leaves us with more questions than we have answers.”
“Like what?” Joe asked.
“The name Juan Luis appears nowhere on the manifest from the flight he took, he hasn’t gone anywhere near his uncle since he came back, and neither have the four idiots who probably did this. I don’t think Rodolfo knows his nephew is back. I just don’t know why, so we let everyone go and stepped up the surveillance on them.”
“He’s splintered off from Rodolfo, that’s why,” Shelby said.
“There’s no way that’s true,” Mark said. “Rodolfo runs that family with no tolerance for dissension in the ranks, and Juan will be lucky to keep control once the old man goes down.”
“But Rodolfo sent him home why?” Shelby asked.
“From what we could gather,” Mark said, “because your guy’s gotten in the way.”
“Rodolfo, probably for the first time, hasn’t given in to Juan’s whims, and because of Anthony he feels emboldened to defy his uncle,” Shelby said. “You’re right. Rodolfo doesn’t know he’s back, but it’s only a matter of time before Juan does something to announce his arrival. When that happens, Juan and everyone who helped him will get off easy if all that happens to them is a bullet in the head.”
Mark turned off the projector and the lights came back up. “You’re doing a lot of guessing, and we can’t afford to be wrong. You may know your subjects but we know the Luis family. After watching this guy, we’re positive Rodolfo won’t put up with anything from anyone, especially his nephew.”
“Juan may love and respect his uncle,” Joe said, “but something stronger is pulling at him now.”
“Since you two have all the answers, how about you share with the rest of us,” Mark said.
“His hatred of Cain Casey, that’s why he’s back, and in Anthony he’s found the perfect ally.”
“Find Anthony and bring him in. If he was there yesterday and stood by while this went down, that’s his ass,” Annabel said. “And Shelby,” she added as the meeting started to break up, “make sure your team reads him his rights as soon as you find him.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“At this point it might be better to leave him on the street with the rest of them,” Mark said. “If your guy’s been able to get close to Juan, he’s going to be easier to squeeze when the time comes. Pick him up now and we blow the opportunity.”
“I want regular reports, if that’s the case,” Annabel told Mark.
“You got it, since we’re putting a team on Juan.”
Joe placed his hand on Shelby’s arm and led her to an interview room while Annabel finished up with the other agency. “If Sabana Greco told Cain that you asked about Anthony, we better find him first.”
“There’s no way Cain goes after an agent.”
“Shelby, are you crazy? Anthony was standing next to Juan when he confronted Cain. In her mind that changed the rules of the game.”
“That goddamn moron,” Shelby said, letting her anger out. “If something does happen to him, it’s his own fault.”
“At this point I’m not sure who he has to be more afraid of,” Joe said as he scratched the top of his head, “Cain or Hicks.”
“You know the answer to that one, Joe.” Shelby stared at the chair Cain had occupied recently when they’d brought her in. “Hicks might reprimand or maybe fire him, but Cain…that’s a different punishment, isn’t it? If Cain puts him there, Anthony’s going to be joining Giovanni and his sons, wherever that may be. We’d have better luck finding Jimmy Hoffa or having tea with space aliens.”
*
“You’re looking smug today, mobster,” Emma said as they descended the stairs together the next morning. “Not that you shouldn’t, considering what you’re able to do to me most nights,” Emma teased until she saw her father waiting for them on the first floor.
“Have I ever mentioned how beautiful you are when you blush?”
“Don’t you bruise easily?” Emma shot back, smiling the entire time. “Morning, Daddy.”
“Morning.” Ross opened his arms to Emma and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful this morning.”
“It’s always a good day when everyone’s this nice to you,” Emma said, feeling happy. “Do you want to do some sightseeing today, Daddy?”
“I’d rather go start on some of the house repairs Cain told me about.” He nodded when one of the women who worked for Jarvis held up a carafe of coffee.
“We didn’t invite you for that,” Emma said. “Tell him, honey.”
“Ross, you aren’t here to repair our house,” Cain said dutifully.
“I know this place is huge, but tell me you both aren’t ready to get home. And you know I built the majority of the house you grew up in,” he told Emma. “Besides, Hayden’s birthday’s in a couple of days. He’s going to feel more comfortable having his friends over if he’s home.”
“If you promise not to work yourself into the ground and take some help with you,” Emma said, “then knock yourself out.” She put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot on the floor when she heard Cain laugh. “What’s funny?”
“It’s good to see where that well-developed stubborn streak of yours comes from.”
“Ha.” Emma picked Hannah up when she ran to her. “I’m mildly persistent compared to you.”
“Compared to Mom you’re not what?” Hayden asked. He was dressed for school and Mook was right behind him, carrying his book bag.
“I’m not stubborn,” Emma said.
“Uh-huh.” Hayden dragged out the phrase. “She’s got a good sense of humor, huh, Granddad?”
“Good imagination too.”
“What happened to the highly complimentary group from earlier?” Emma said.
“You’re stubborn, lass, but incredibly beautiful.” Cain kissed the side of her neck. “I’ve got to head to the office, but I’ll call later to see if Ross needs any help.”
“Are you putting on a tool belt?”
Cain didn’t answer but did gently swat her on the butt. “I’m heading over to Rick’s funeral as well.”