One look at Alex told him that the operative wasn’t a hundred percent, but he knew the odds as much as Malco did. Their options were limited and waiting for the cavalry wasn’t one of them. Following the wall, Malco stopped at the corner to peek around it.
Kasten was with two men, one was the fake cop who’d arrested him and bludgeoned Alex. They faced at least three guns and unknown blades or back-up nearby.
Malco gestured his findings to Alex, who tapped his back in acknowledgment.
Kasten was sitting at a makeshift table, a laptop in front of him. He said something to his men, snapped the laptop closed, and picked it up as he went for the door.
Although unable to act, letting Kasten out of his sight ate at Malco—all he wanted was to kill the man with his bare hands. It took all his self-control to keep back and wait, but with Alex’s weight becoming heavier on him, he had to make a choice so Kasten would live… for now.
Malco had to tear himself away from trying to come with a plan of attack when he felt Alex begin to fall. He turned on reflex and grabbed Alex before he hit the ground and made a ruckus. From his glassy eyes and pale, sweaty face, it was clear Alex was about to lose consciousness again. Malco was on his own as far as getting them out.
If only he had a phone. Conscious of their dire situation, Malco returned to check on their jailor when a shadow coming through the main door caught his eye. Before he could search for cover, a new shadow appeared, this time wearing a cowboy hat and Malco relaxed. The only operative he knew that wore a cowboy hat during an op was Wolf Murdock. That meant the Agency had found them, and a rescue was about to go down.
Knowing the drill, Malco moved fast, taking Alex by the armpits, and pulling him back. It was perfect timing, as an explosion sounded around the corner. Malco covered his friend with his body, trying to keep an eye on what was going on. The sound was deafening with gunfire echoing around him, making it impossible to pinpoint the direction it was coming from.
Just as it died down, he heard footsteps running. Malco braced himself against the wall until he recognized Emme, quickly followed by Shane.
“Malco! Alex!” Emme went to them, holstering her weapon as she dug into her backpack, getting her medical kit. “Shit. You’re both bleeding. We need to get you to the hospital.”
Malco brushed her hands aside, leaving her to take care of Alex, as he accepted Shane’s hand to get to his feet. “Kasten is gone, we need to find him before he disappears. Or he offs himself like the coward he is.”
Shane nodded, and opened his mouth to speak but touched his earpiece instead. Malco wanted to take a gun and go after the corrupt cop, but he doubted he could run with his reopened wound.
“We saw him exiting the building, and Nicholas went after him. He and Wolf are on their way back with Kasten, there’s no way he’s getting a get-out-of-jail-free card if we can help it.”
As if on cue, the main door open opened to Nick’s and Wolf’s tall silhouettes framed an overpowered, cuffed, and squirming Kasten.
“Let me go! You have no right to take me like that! I’ll sue your asses for this!”
Both agents dropped him unceremoniously to the ground, with some force, not that Malco minded.
“We have every right to bring you in as we were appointed by Chief Randall for that task.”
“The DA will hear about this!”
Shane smiled as Wolf and Nicholas picked Kasten up again and brought him forward. “You’re obviously talking about DA Pool. Let me reassure you that you’ll be reunited with him very soon. As we speak, the rest of our team are taking him in, including Ms. Flores and all your other accomplices.”
Kasten all but spit at the news. “You have nothing on me, and that whore lawyer of yours has filled your head with nonsense.”
Malco’s fist connected with the man’s chin, causing Kasten’s eyes to roll, and he slumped in his captor’s grasp.
“I bet that felt good.” Wolf smiled while Nicholas shook his head.
Malco couldn’t deny it. “I was tired of hearing his voice.”
Shane slapped his shoulder, but the impact reverberated to his side, and when he pressed his hand over the pain, it returned bloody.
“Hell, Malco. That wound has reopened. We’re taking Alex to the hospital and you’re going with him.”
“No, I need to see Frida.”
His boss shook his head. “I made sure your woman is protected. As we speak, there are two pairs of eyes on her. Anyway, everything will be over in the next couple of minutes.”
With a frown, Malco helped carry Alex to the waiting car so Nicholas and Wolf could escort Kasten to the police station. “What do you mean the next couple of minutes?”
Emme giggled. “Let’s take care of you first, then I’ll lend you my phone, so you can watch it.”
Frida’s hand shook slightly as she stood in front of the podium of reporters and prepared to make the speech of a lifetime. It had cost them time, but after much thought, it had been agreed by the team that this was the best plan.
They’d split into three teams to locate Rina and Pool, who were together at Rina’s mother’s house. Kasten’s sister Nicole, who’d been at home, and finally Kasten himself, who was at the unit with Malco and Alex.
With help from the Chief and internal affairs, they were ready to move on all the names she’d picked up from her hours of investigation. The third team consisting of Shane, James, Mercy,
