What do you mean, the FBI? There’s FBI agents here?” he asked.
“Yeah, well, kind of.”
“What?” he asked again, trying to be patient.
“One of them is FBI, another is DEA and I didn’t hear what the other one said.”
“What do they want?”
“They want to talk to you.”
He sighed, striving for patience. “Then send them in.”
She turned and strode off. Two men and one woman entered his office soon after. One of the men was big, dark-skinned and serious looking. The other man was smaller with a big smile. The woman between them was tiny. She was dressed in an ugly gray suit with stockings and flat, brown shoes. Her dark hair was pulled back in a braid. Her skin was smooth, her cheekbones high. She was gorgeous.
He turned his gaze from her as the slim-built man held out his hand. “Hi, Sheriff, I’m Jackson Lyle. I’m from the Treasury Department. These are my colleagues, Bronson Clay from the DEA and Georgina James from the FBI.”
“Please, call me Ed. Have a seat. What can I do for you all?”
Bronson had closed the door behind them and chose to stand, leaning against the wall. Both Georgina and Jackson sat.
“We’ve been tasked with investigating Rosalind Perez. I believe you know her?” Jackson asked.
“Of course,” Ed replied. “She lives here. Owns a beauty spa. A task force to investigate one woman?”
“I believe you also know about her ties to the Devil’s Sinners?” Jackson continued.
“Let’s stop beating around the bush, huh? You’re obviously trying to get a feel for what I know. I know that Rosalind is dating the head of the Devil’s Sinners, Saber Mason. He spends a lot of time at her house. Other night, I went there for a noise complaint. He and a bunch of his gang members were there. They’ve created a bit of trouble around town. Had a few locked up for drunk and disorderly, that’s it.”
“And do you know she owns a series of beauty spas across the country? In places where the Devil’s Sinners have gangs?” Georgina asked.
She had a firm voice. But quiet. She didn’t smile. Didn’t show much reaction at all to anything.
“I knew she owned a few across the country. Thought it seemed a bit suspicious.”
“It’s more than a bit suspicious. We have evidence that she’s using those spas to launder money for the Devil’s Sinners.”
“Not surprising. But if you’ve got evidence then why are you here and not arresting her?” He looked up at Bronson. “Because you’re hoping to use her to get to the Devil’s Sinners? What? You want her become an informant?”
Somehow, he couldn’t see that happening.
Georgina frowned slightly, her first show of emotion. “We don’t believe Rosalind will work, she’s in too deep. Her spas should be failing, but she’s got millions in the bank.”
Damn. That was really stupid.
“We don’t think we can use Rosalind,” Jackson said. “But there is someone else close to her and the Devil’s Sinners who we think we could convince to help us.”
Shit. Fuck.
“Marisol,” he said grimly.
“Yes,” Jackson told him.
“Marisol is innocent in this.” He wouldn’t have her taken down with her aunt.
“We thought as much,” Georgina said. “But she’s ideally placed to help us. She has access to her aunt’s business and the Devil’s Sinners. One of our informers told us that Tiger is very interested in her. He’s had his guys out, searching for her.”
“As well as her aunt,” Ed said. “She reported her missing. I think she’s hoping I’ll lead her to Marisol.”
“So you do know where she is,” Georgina said with a flicker of something in her gaze. “We need to talk to her about helping us.”
“Yeah, I know where she is. But her man isn’t going to agree to her helping you. I can tell you that much.”
“We need to talk to her. Her man has no say,” Georgina stated.
Ed snorted. “Not the way it works.”
“The way what works?” Georgina asked, confused.
“Maybe you could talk to her and her man for us?” Jackson asked.
“That bastard Tiger, wants her. He attempted to sexually violate her,” Ed told them grimly.
Georgina blanched. “He what?” She stared over at Jackson. So she didn’t know what Tiger had done to Marisol? That made him feel better.
“We’ll protect her as best we can,” Jackson said. Bronson just frowned.
“No. She’s not going back there.”
“Can you still ask?” Jackson asked smoothly.
“I suppose I could, but I’m telling you now. Linc’s not going to let her be put in danger.”
“No fucking way!”
Marisol was so shocked by Linc’s angry words that