Three Dirty Secrets (Blindfold Club 4)

“It’s a moot point. Your cover’s blown, Adams. We can’t get anyone else in now.”

“No, we can’t.” I leaned on my elbows. “But I can stay in.”

Biller’s eyebrows lifted in visible disbelief. “How’s that?”

“No one at the club knows I’m FBI except for Julius King. We have leverage. King may have immunit

y for his cooperation, but what about his people? He’ll keep me on to protect them from prosecution. If you put that offer on the table, he’ll take it.”

“You’re saying you want to go back?”

What I was saying was I would do everything in my power to save my friends. And I couldn’t admit it out loud, but the filthiest part of me didn’t want to let go, either.

I nodded slowly. “With full cooperation from King, yes. If I’m there, it ensures transparency.”

The muscles along Biller’s jaw flexed as if he were chewing on my statement. He muttered under his breath, “This operation is ridiculous.”

“It is, but we brought down a congressman. We’ve only had access to Bennett’s financials for three days, and how many payoffs have we discovered?” We finally had proof that Victor Bennett had taken bribes from a huge healthcare provider in exchange for favorable voting, and who knew what else we’d find as we dug deeper?

Biller’s scowl forced me to continue. “How many leads did we have in the Markovic case before I took on the assignment? We got someone on the inside.” It was something Biller had been trying to do for years. “My work will be a helluva lot easier if King’s handing over the information we need. I’ll still be available to work other cases like I do now. What’s the downside?”

“How about the part where we let a known illegal brothel continue to operate?” His voice was full of disdain.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that’s what we’ve been doing for the last year?”

His phone chirped. He glanced at the screen and the scowl intensified. “I’m going to be late.” He rose from the table, pushed his chair in, and then set his hardened gaze on me. “I’d rather this whole mess be done with.” He sighed. “But I’ll talk to the folks above and see what their thoughts are.”

I stood tall on my heels and smoothed my hands down my blazer. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. This whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

It was a terrible phrase to use, but I held my tongue, and squeezed out a polite smile.

I took the final sip of my coffee and stared at the clock in the corner of my computer screen. How much longer was the interview going to last?

My phone lit up with a text message from Shane.

I practically dashed to the conference room, and stood to the side as the rest of the agents filed out. As soon as the doorway was clear, I darted through it, drawing the attention of the man and the woman still seated at the table. A frown twisted on her lips.

“No. I don’t want to talk to you,” Payton said. She turned to her lawyer. “Do I have to talk to her?”

Payton’s brother closed the cover on his tablet and gave me an evaluating look. “Who is she?”

“I’m Special Agent Adams.”

He turned to Payton. “Oh. Then no, you don’t have to talk to her.”

“Please,” I said, stepping to the edge of the conference table. It’d been a week since I’d climbed on the table at the club. “You won’t take any of my calls.”

She turned her hard eyes toward me, and they were teeming with betrayal. “Why should I?”

“So I can apologize. So I can explain.”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“You know what? That’s too bad,” I snapped, “because you’re going to. I’m sorry for what happened, but I did everything I could to protect you. Your name didn’t get out, so you won’t have to testify. As long as you cooperate, which you obviously are since you’re here, no charges.” I gestured to the glass door. “Your involvement ends when you walk out of this office.”

I didn’t point out what Payton had been doing was illegal. Getting caught was always a risk, and even though she had, I’d fought to make it the best possible scenario. She stared at the table with an unhappy look on her face, but at least she hadn’t gotten up yet. I’d keep talking at her until she walked out the door if I had to.