Greed (The Deadly Sins)

“Good,” Shy said, and went back to looking at the papers on the desk while Black went to search the rest of the house.

She’d been looking at documents and papers, most of which she didn’t understand because they weren’t in English, wondering if she did find a clue, would she be able to read it. Then she came across a piece of paper that had a name, a time, and a phone number. She picked it up and read it.

“Look at this Michael,” she said, and Black came to see what she had to show him.

“What did you find?” he asked when he came in the office. She handed him the paper.

The name was Mateo Alejandro and the time was 11 pm. Shy looked at her watch.

“We have time to make it.”

As luck would have it, Edwina arrived at the house just as Mr. and Mrs. Black were leaving. He told Chuck to stay and help Edwina. After he called Carla to check the number, get a location and to have her find out whatever she could on Mateo Alejandro as quickly as she could, they took the SUV and left the scene.

“I hate going in places blind.”

“You mean like running shoulder first into a house where there’s shooting?” Shy asked, while she reloaded her Berretta.

“That’s different.”

“Of course, it is, Michael,” Shy said, patronizingly, and put her gun b

ack in her purse.

When they arrived at the house, Black put the car in park and turned off the ignition. He looked at Shy. Carla couldn’t give them any information on Mateo Alejandro, so there was no way of knowing who he was or what his connection was if there was any at all. They were going in blind; therefore, Black had a question.

“You got a plan or you wanna just go old school?”

“Run shoulder first in there and start shooting?” Shy shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“So what’s the plan?”

Shy opened her door. “I’m working on it,” she said, and got out. They walked up to the house and Shy told Black to keep out of sight while she rang the bell. It took a minute, but the porch light came on and the door cracked open.

“Yes?” the elderly man asked through the chained door.

Shy smiled. “I’m sorry to bother you so late, sir. But my car broke down in front of your house,” she said, and pointed at the SUV. “And my cell is dead. Can I use your phone so I can call an Uber.”

The man looked at Shy and then to the SUV parked in the street. The door closed and she could hear him taking the chain off. She glanced at Black and he readied his weapon. When he opened the door, Black put a gun to his head.

“Mateo Alejandro?”

“Yes,” the frightened man said.

“We’d like to ask you some questions. Can we come in?” Shy asked with her gun in her hand.

He nodded his head and showed them in. Moving slowly, Alejandro led Black and Shy into his living room and asked them to sit. He offered them a drink, which they declined, but he fixed himself one before he came and sat down.

“What were you and Ezequiel Simmonds meeting about?” Black asked.

“Where is Ezequiel?”

“Unavoidably detained,” Shy said.

“Are you familiar with Camilo Patiño?” When neither Black nor Shy said a word, Alejandro continued. “His daughter, Renata was kidnapped, and a meeting was held which was instrumental in securing her safe return. That was because the two factions of the Comodoro’s met to settle matters.”

“Who kidnapped her?” Shy asked, but Alejandro continued without answering.

“After the successful returned of Patiño’s daughter, they met again to expand on that prior success. At the second meeting the Comodoro’s divided up the major United States distribution points; Pérez Ferreira took New York City and his uncles took South Florida and Miami.”