Page 22 of Lau Ahi
“This new case threw a wrench in your plans, huh?”
I leaned back against the sofa trying to stretch out my limbs. Alec was shorter than I was but not by much and even he had been working out the knots in his neck. “One amongst many.”
“Then we do what we’re hated for: use every resource to solve this shit quickly so you don’t have it holding you back.”
“You act like it’s ever that easy.”
“Plenty of people walk away with open cases.”
“I ain’t plenty of people so you knew before you said it that shit wasn’t gone fly. Besides, I ain’t ever let another man’s mediocrity determine the limits of my excellence. So that ain’t something I could do and live with myself.”
He grinned as if he’d been trying to hype me up and I did my best not to roll my eyes at him. “So, your solution?”
“Just like you said, solve this shit fast and then get the fuck out.” Alec raised his bottle in a silent toast still smiling. Just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean the resources that have been previously provided for you are going away.”
“Just say that you gone miss me, O, and leave that shit at that. Being all unnecessarily effusive and shit. You've got my back the same way I've got yours. Nothing else needs to be said. Y’all will handle the high-level shit and we'll do the dirtier work. Ain’t nothing changed.”
“You make us sound like some bitches.”
“If the shoe fits—”
“Shoe this dick, Vega.”
He laughed at me using his nickname, which was his mother’s maiden name. He was hiding in plain sight since his family’s drug business operated under a different name to everyone outside of their most trusted circle. He worked for the very government that said it was attempting to eradicate the drug problem.
Not with the number of lawmakers on the cartel’s payroll.
“What you make of all of this?”
I rubbed at my face thinking over what we’d already learned and why it had me uneasy. We’d taken the time to review the cases together before we’d headed back to my condo. Although we wouldn’t include anyone else on what we had going on until we had solid information, we at least pretended to follow the rules so that everyone could stay off Cochran’s back.
“Something about it ain’t right.”
“Glad your gut ain’t letting you down. I peeped that shit almost immediately.”
“It’s too—”
My brain couldn’t find the right word to describe how all of this felt. I wondered if this was the burnout that agents spoke about. I didn’t think I’d get there. The arrogance that I differed from others kept me from believing this job would break me. But my immediate reaction to this case set me on edge. Maybe it was the impatience to be done with the bureau and get on with my life but it felt strange.
Sensing my confusion he sat forward as though my words would solidify something he was also thinking. “Too what?”
“It’s too convenient. Too damn loud and too messy. This shit might be political because whoever snatched her wants the fanfare and the attention.”
“I was thinking the same but still couldn’t put a finger on why I felt that way. Snatching her up right now feels like a setup but I don’t know what for.” Alec leaned back, the weight of his own words driving his actions.
“You know this place is about to go to hell in a hand basket anyway since we’re having another administration change. The sooner you find your way out of DC the better, Alec.”
He finished his beer with a smile, as if my warning was laughable to him. “Unlike you, I don’t mind being the Trojan horse. But I have family I can trust to ensure that our shit is going well.”
“You don’t ever want to just reap the benefits of the shit you’ve been sticking your neck out to ensure goes smoothly all this time?” Alec was only in for his family the same way I was but he didn’t seem as frustrated with his situation as me.
“Is that why you doing this? So that your ass can have a damn vacation?”
“Hell nah. The work I’m doing right now ain’t shit compared to what I’m about to be engaged in. Dealing with cases is a picnic. When I move on, I gotta handle the bullshit of two families and that ain’t something I’m looking forward to.”
“So why now?”
“Besides Pappy’s ass being old? I want the ability to move. To be who I am without wondering how I appear to somebody else. Having to worry about blowing my cover gets old. I’m ready to just be me. It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to just be out. Not titles or jobs to look good for. No hiding when shit needs to be done. I miss that.”
