deep shit. I think I’m being set up.” Her eyes stared at him beseechingly. “You have to help me.”
“Always thinking of saving your ass,” he snarled. “Never even thinking about the people who might die or get hurt as long as you get your way.”
“I didn’t know.”
Declan laughed derisively. “Ignorance isn’t an excuse. You need to be in jail for the baby switch alone and all the lives you’ve ruined by putting people in Ortega’s path.”
“Well?” Her mouth flattened and her face had a closed-off look that said she wouldn’t budge if he didn’t help her. Or tried to at least.
“Look, I may have contacts, but nothing short of giving me information on where to find Ortega or this bioweapon is going to buy you safe passage out of the States.”
“I can do that.” A look of relief came over her face. Did she think she was going to get away with it?
“I want immunity first,” she said.
Well, fuck me. Maybe she’s not as dumb as she lets on.
“I don’t have that power.”
“Yes, you do. You work for the CIA,” she smiled. “Never underestimate me, Declan.”
“I may have worked for them once.”
“I’m not talking unless I get immunity. Also, I want to get out of this country as soon as possible.”
“You can’t make demands unless you give me something, so start talking.”
She told him everything. What happened that night, how the baby switch happened and a possible, current location of Ortega.
“This is what’s gonna happen,” Declan managed to say, even when the promise of the ultimate answers was looming. He looked back to where her bodyguards were idling in their SUV. “I’m gonna take your Explorer and go to the clinic you mentioned, the one in Van Nuys. You better make that call. If homeboy doesn’t give me any actionable intel, I can’t go to bat for your immunity.”
“What should I do then?”
“Go back to our house in Brentwood. I’ll give Levi a heads up.”
“Why should I go there? Can’t I just go ahead and find a safe place to hide out and then call you?”
“Because I don’t trust you. And it’s not because I can’t find you, because like you suspected I know people who can. But I don’t want to get pissed off at you any further by wasting my time looking for you.”
They got out of the Porsche which prompted her bodyguards to get out as well. Declan took a good look at them. South African mercenaries if he were to guess. Blond, built, Dolph Lungdren wanna-bes down to the buzz cut and spiked hair. Claudette informed the one driving to give up the keys. As she and the two guys walked back to the Porsche, Declan called out, “Oh, and Claudette, please don’t piss Gabby off.”
“I never …”
“Just. Don’t.”
Claudette gave an offended huff, and with chin held high, climbed into the luxury vehicle.
Declan got into the Explorer. He had some calls to make.
11
The Gangs and Homicide Division was located in an old square building on 77th street near the 101. A task force was formed in response to problems in information sharing when crimes crossed lines from gangs into narcotics, vice into homicide, and all other possible combinations. Because of its proven efficacy, the task force was converted into a division. Not everyone was happy with this move because other individual tables were territorial about GHD encroaching on their turf.
GHD was comprised of two teams—Bravo and Charlie. Gabby belonged to Charlie team which was made up of six detectives. An administrative staff included an adjutant, watch officer, crime analyst, clerk and a liaison officer who supported all the teams. Captain Mitchell oversaw the entire division.
When Gabby and Kelso arrived in the squad room, the area was buzzing with activity.
She spotted Lt. Chen who was the officer-in-charge after Mitchell, who was currently talking to his partner Detective Delgado. The other detective pair was off the watch.
“What’s going on?” Kelso asked. “Is the captain in?”
“He’s on his way back from his meeting with the mayor,” Chen looked at Gabby. “Aren’t you supposed to be on leave, Woodward?”
“I was getting cabin fever,” she quipped.
“You sure wouldn’t want to miss this fun, white girl,” Delgado piped in. “Your hunch on Our Lady of Lourdes Clinic hit pay dirt. Nadia is out and about in the Valley doing another surveil for the suits on Bravo team and hopped over a couple of blocks to Van Nuys. And guess who joined us?”
Gabby’s heart was thumping. “Well don’t keep me in suspense, homie.”
“Ariana