Chapter 42: Double Agents?
Zander
This is a f*****g mess. As soon as I saw what was in the box, I knew we were screwed. I had
already done my research on the cartel as soon as I found out what Kyle was really up to. I must admit, I am a little worried by what the agents said. I told the police officers that we
aren’t living there anymore.
If what agent Johnson said is true, then the local police can’t be trusted. I found Ricardo and
filled him in. As expected, he already knows about this cartel. He always does his research
first. This man is very good at his job, and that is why I only use him. Agent Johnson was
talking to Liz when we walked back in, and I noticed the way agent Perez was watching their
interaction.
It was a little weird, but it’s the nature of his job to be observant. Ricardo fills them in on all the
protocols he has in place, and they leave with him to check it out and to see the panic room.
Agent Johnson seemed very interested in the panic room, while agent Perez was just
observing. I can’t get a read on him at all. I am such an i***t, I forgot to tell Liz about the panic
room. I also need to add her to the biometrics before we go to bed.
“Are you okay?” I asked her and pulled her into my arms. “I don’t know Zander. This is really
messed up.” she says and closes her eyes while I hold her. She is right, this whole thing is a
f**k up. “Does this mean that I will have to stay in the house at all times?” she asks.”
Probably, but we will have to hear what they decide.” I say and she frowns.
I
“I still haven’t even found Mary. Now I can’t go to the park and look for her. And what about my
bar exam and the other interviews I still need to do for Felicia?” she asks. “We will figure all this out, Liz. My main priority is your safety,” I said. I held her in my arms until they came back.
to speak to us.
“Mr. Caine, I have to admit, I am
very in
with your security,” Agent Perez says. “Thank you, my past requires me to always be ready.” I say and he nods like he understands. Maybel they did their digging. “Can you please show me where your bedroom is? I would like to see
the layout from there to the panic room.” Agent Perez said, and I nodded.
He follows me out, while the others stay behind. “I know what happened to your grandparents.
I just started at the FBI when they were murdered. I started working in our violent crimes
division. I asked to be removed from the case because it was too horrific for my first case. I
also know about the attempted home invasion of your parents‘ home.
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Chapter 42: Double Agents?
I am telling you this so that you know that I take this very seriously. I won’t let anything happen to you and Elizabeth. But I need something from you Mr. Caine and I hope you will give it to me.” agent Perez says when we are far enough away from the others. I looked at him
and I still couldn’t get read on him. “And what is that?” I asked him.
“I need your trust. I need you to listen and do as I say. We can handle this quickly so that no one gets hurt, but I need you to trust me,” he says. “I feel like there is more you aren’t saying.” I
say a
and he looks at me. “Very perceptive. It may be hard for you to trust anyone right now, but our goals are aligned. I want to put a stop to this cartel so that no one else gets hurt, and so
do you.
I asked to be put on the case when I heard you were involved. I couldn’t help your family then. I
was too green. But I can now. That case still haunts me.” He says as we enter my room. He
looks around before he closes the door and turns to look at me. “Are you ready to hear what I
have to say?” he asks me and I nod. I don’t know what is going on, but I am curious to know
what he is up to. I am not sure if I can trust him, but I will hear him out.
He was nearly done explaining to me, when there was a knock on the door. I opened, and
agent Johnson was standing there. He looks inside and gives agent Perez a suspicious look, before he turns to me. “Everything okay here?” he asks. “All good, agent Perez just mentioned
that he started at the FBI the same time that my grandparents were murdered.” I say.
“Yes, I also know about that. The suspect was number two on our wanted list at the time. I am
sorry for your loss, Mr. Caine.” Agent Johnson says. Hmm, they sure did their background checks. “Thank you, I am grateful that I was too little to remember much.” I said and they both
nodded.
“I actually came to look for you to let you know that th
first two agents that will be staying here with you have arrived. For now, there will always be two agents with you. And we are both happy with the security measures that you have in place,” Agent Johnson says, and I nod.
“We need to discuss further with our team, and then we will tell you exactly what will happen
moving forward. For now, both you and Liz cannot leave the house until you hear from us. You will have to see your clients via video call for now. The cartel obviously knows about you, so
you are at risk too.” Agent Perez says, and I nod.
I
“Okay, we will be heading out. We will be in touch soon.” Agent Johnson says. “Thank you for everything,” I say and he nods. We all walked downstairs, so I could meet the two agents that would be staying here. They are both male and they still look young. Agent Perez frowns when
he sees them, and I think I have finally figured him out.
Chapter 42: Double Agents?
While agent Johnson’s back is turned, and he is talking to Ricardo, agent Perez hands me a phone and shows me to put it away. I immediately put it in my pocket. f**k, I can’t believe this mess we are in. It’s so much more complicated than I could’ve imagined.
My phone rings and I see it’s Chris. “Hey, can I call you back in a few?” I ask, and he agrees, so I hang up. I have been waiting for his call, but I need to get rid of them first. When they leave, Liz shows the two agents that are staying to two rooms close to ours. Agent Johnson said to keep them close, but it doesn’t even matter. The walls are so thick they’re nearly soundproof.
I called Ricardo with me to my office and called Chris back and put the call on speaker. “Hey Chris, what news do you have?” I asked. “Not good Zander. Facial recognition software shows Martha and Keira meeting with Kyle at an abandoned warehouse. I went to check the place out, and he was definitely staying there and left in a hurry. He left many things behind.
I haven’t been able to pick up the trail again. But the software is running 24hours a day and I will get an alert as soon as there is a hit. I also have news about Liz’s aunt’s case. I sent my findings to Commander Carlson already, and he is on it. There were only five black vans in the area with an eagle sprayed on the hood. One was the emblem of a security company, named
Eagle–eye security.
There was a report made of a missing van around the same time as the accident. The kicker
is that Elaine was the receptionist at that exact company. They never found the van or the person who stole it.” Chris says. “That is great work Chris. Stay on Martha. I have a feeling. she is behind this new threat. Please check if she has any ties to the cartel. I also have a side.
job for you.” I said, looking at Ricardo and he quirks a brow.
“Sure boss,” Chris says. “I need all the information you can get me on an agent Keith Johnson,
as well as agent Alvero Perez. They are both in the white–collar division at the FBI.” I say and
Ricardo gives me a look. “Will do, I will be in touch.” Chris says and hangs up. “What is going
on, Zander?” he asks me and I fill him in on everything agent Perez says.
“Damnit, this is bullshit, Zander. How can they rope you into this?” Ricardo asks. “If it means keeping Liz safe, I will do it.” I say, and he doesn’t look happy, but he nods. “I am moving in too.
I can’t leave you to face this alone.” He says and I smile. “Moving in together is a big step, and
I am already engaged. I don’t know how my fiancé will feel about it,” I say, and he chuckles.
I
“Now isn’t the time for your terrible jokes. You do know how dangerous this is going to get, don’t you?” he asks and I nod. “I know, but I can’t just walk away.” I say and he sighs. “Are you going to tell Liz?” he asks me. “I will, but not yet. I will wait to hear from Chris.” I say and he nods. “I will see what I can dig up too,” he says.
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Chapter 42 Double Agents?
I feel a vibration in my pocket and I frown, because my phone is in my hand. Then I remember
the cellphone Perez gave me. I took it out and saw there was a message. I opened it and
showed it to Ricardo, and it read… ‘This is an encrypted line. Don’t trust the two that are
staying with you tonight. We will communicate via this phone. Be careful.”
“I noticed the way he frowned when he saw the two men. They look very green.” Ricardo says
and I nod. “I noticed the same. I feel like I can trust him, but let’s see what you and Chris dig
up.” I say and he nods and leaves the office. I also leave and go find Liz.
Before I do anything else, I need to add her to the biometrics for the panic room. I find her in
the kitchen getting dinner ready. This would’ve been so perfect if there weren’t two strangers
in the house. I steal her away and quickly add her fingerprints to Jojo’s system.
I also showed her where I keep the computer with Jojo’s program on, if anything goes wrong. We just left my office when one of the agents came walking along. “Try not to disappear, we need to keep you safe,” he said. Hmm, yeah right. But I will play along. “Okay, no problem. Let’s have dinner and then we will call it a night. Liz had a long day.” I said, and both he and Liz
nodded.
