The Escape (US Marshals #1) - Lisa Harris Page 0,74
you in the back by the loading dock at three. There shouldn’t be anyone around today.”
The warehouse was deserted when Jonas drove behind it. He parked the car, then shut off the engine.
“How long have you known this guy?” Madison asked.
“I met him when I was a detective years ago. He’s the best CI I ever had.”
Madison glanced at her watch. “You think he’s still coming? He’s already ten minutes late.”
“You’re not nervous, are you?” he asked.
“Just antsy, I guess. I’m ready for this to be over. We’re so close to Barrick and yet he’s always a step ahead.”
“Give Biggie time. He’ll be here.”
Five minutes later, an old beat-up Mustang pulled around the corner and stopped at the other side of the dock. Biggie climbed out and headed over to them. At six three and two hundred fifty-plus pounds, Biggie hadn’t changed at all from the last time Jonas had seen him.
“It’s good to see you again,” he said, introducing Madison. “We appreciate your meeting with us. How have you been?”
“Staying out of trouble.”
“That’s good. Did you hear about the plane crash in Idaho?”
“I heard something about a prison transport that went down. One dead and the other escaped.”
“We need to find the escapee, and we believe he’s here in Denver.”
Biggie tugged on the edge of his shirt. “So what do you need from me?”
“He’s trying to leave the country, but he needs a passport,” Madison said. “We need to know where he’s planning to get it.”
“There’s more than one option in a city this big.”
“True,” Jonas said. “We have a list of suspected forgers, but this person would have to be fast. Say a twenty-four- or forty-eight-hour turnaround, and good enough to ensure a passport would make it through security. Someone who takes cash.”
“Which means they’d probably be using a stolen passport and not forging the entire thing,” Biggie said.
“For that kind of turnaround, exactly.”
Biggie folded his arms across his chest and frowned. “And when the cops come arresting him and word gets out that I was behind it, then what happens?”
“All we need is a name. No one will ever know it came from you,” Madison said.
“No one will know, Biggie. I’ve worked with you for years and I’ve never betrayed you.”
“I know, but you can’t guarantee that. It’s hard out there.”
“In all the time I’ve worked with you, you’ve always come through for me, and I’ve always been fair to you.”
“True.”
“Then why are you so jumpy tonight?”
Biggie shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I had this guy come up to me at the bar yesterday. He threatened me and my family. Accused me of being a snitch.”
“You’re still doling out information.”
“Every once in a while. But it made me reconsider if it’s worth it.”
“I understand, but this man might kill someone else. We need to stop him.”
“It’s always urgent, but if anyone finds out I’m here, I’ll be the one you’re carrying out in a body bag.”
Jonas held up a photo of Ryan Phelps on his phone. “This man is dead because of Barrick. He had a wife and three kids. And he’s not the only one our guy has killed. We believe he’s waiting for new IDs, then will head across the border. Once he’s out of the country, it will be a lot harder to find him.”
“All we need from you is a name of who he might approach to get a new passport,” Madison said. “You can help us stop a murderer, Biggie.”
Jonas handed him a wad of bills.
Biggie shoved the money in his pocket. “I can think of a few people. But nobody—and I mean nobody—can know I gave them to you.”
“Everything you tell me is confidential, Biggie. I swear.”
“Things like driver’s licenses are a lot easier to get your hands on, but for passports, there’s not a lot of options. At least not for someone who can do the job right and ensure you can get through security without raising any red flags. I’ve got a couple possible names.”
Jonas tried to swallow his frustration. They needed to narrow it down.
“How about we give you a name?”
Biggie shrugged. “Okay.”
“What about the name Zookeeper?” Madison asked. “Does that mean anything to you?”
“The Zookeeper.” Biggie rubbed the back of his bald head. “It’s been a long time since I heard that name.”
“Who is he?” Madison asked.
“He dabbles with a whole bunch of things, which is why they call him the Zookeeper. Money laundering, identity theft, forgery, insider trading . . . you name it.