My cell rings. “Go ahead, Sullivan,” I say, rubbing my cat's head.
“Lobos, I know I told you to get some rest, but I need you to come down to the station.”
“Funny, I just on my way there.”
“See you when you get there.” I hang up the phone and look down at Isis. I pick her up and kiss her on the back of the head before sitting her back in my chair she rolls over on her side and meows.
***
Stepping off the elevator, my 16-year-old niece, who has long bleached curly hair and wearing her dark brown tennis shoes and black jeans along with a black Mass Effect Shirt. Ingrid and my niece love that game series. In fact, it was Ingrid who bought her that shirt for her last birthday. She looks at me and smiles, rushing up to me and playfully punches me in the arm. “Izzy, what are you doing here? Where’s your mom?”
She rolls her eyes and grins. “Dang, Dev. Nice to see you too.”
She still rolls her eyes at me, god that shit annoys me.
“What do you need? I’m busy.”
“I came here to see if you were coming to your brother’s concert tonight at 8pm. It’s at the Amalie Arena.” Shit, that’s tonight? Goddamn, I been so spaced out on my dirty little habits and work; I totally forgot this was the night he performs.
“You tell Raul I will be there to watch him rip that shit up.” Raul has made quite a name for himself in the music business. His band the Hellraisers rose to fame pretty quickly, which is surprising considering he is good but not that good in my opinion, but he managed to make it so good on him.
She beams a bright smile. “Well, I hope so. He hasn’t seen you in four years.” Shit doesn’t seem like it’s been that long? Time is never on our side when we’re absorbed in work.
“I guess time got away from me, huh?”
“You think. Look, it’s cool. Just try to make it to his show this time.”
“If you see him before I do, tell him I’m really sorry, and I’ll try to be there. I’ve just been so busy with work, you know.”
“Dev, I get it, but don’t let work consume you to the point you forget to live.”
I wrap my arms around her and kiss her on the cheek. “Don’t ever change, little one. Now, where is your mom?”
“I took a cab here, Devi. I’m 16, not 6.”
I place my hands on my hips and smirk. “Oh well, excuse me, miss grown-up, but did you bring enough money to pay your way back home?”
She laughs nervously. “Yeah about that, I need some money to get back home.”
I shake my head and pull out my wallet. “Here you go, you little shithead,” I say, laughing.
“Thanks, Dev, I’ll see you tonight.” She turns and walks briskly to the elevator.
I stroll down the hall, entering the bullpen. Jack gazes at me, puzzled. “Hey, Devi. Did you know Jason took some time off?”
“Yeah, I told him to. He needs time to grieve.”
“Ah, okay. Well, it looks like I’m working alone on this case again, but no worries. I’ve solved cases by myself before. Oh, by the way, I have bad news for you, I think the FBI is finally snatching the Moonlight case from you.”
Fuck! I guess it was long overdue anyway.
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, I saw a man in a suit enter the LT’s office. He looked like a government agent of some kind.”
“Well, shit. Time to face the suck, I guess.”
He pats me on the shoulder. “Aww, cheer up. I’m sure Drake ain’t the only psycho out there.” He sits back down at his desk.
I enter the LT’s office where a man with brown hair and a weather-beaten face is talking with my boss. “Ah come in, Detective Lobos. This is Agent Conroy.”
He nods and smiles. “How do you do, Detective.” He extends his hand.
“British accent? I’m going to go ahead and say you’re not FBI. So what are you? Scotland Yard, MI5?”
He grins. No, Detective. I am not FBI, Scotland Yard, or MI5. I’m an agent with MI6.”
I lean against the wall folding my arms. “Okay, is 007 here to steal my case?”
A cackle erupts from his mouth. “Good heavens, I walked into that one. I’m here because of the Moonlight Killer or David Drake, Agent David Drake. Specifically, my former agent.”
Sullivan leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Former Agent?” he says, with an undercurrent of skepticism.
“I’m curious. How exactly did you know Tampa PD was after Agent Drake?” I say, giving him a sidelong glance.
“My contacts in Interpol informed me that Tampa PD was pursuing a former agent of mine.”
I scoff and shake my head. “So it is more than just speculation. He is MI6, and you guys supplied him with the fake passports?”
“Again, former agent. He went mad started spouting ludicrous claims about how the rich are to blame for the world’s problems. He became obsessed with the bible as radical zealots do. And as for the passports, those are his old cover names he used when he was with us.”
I cross my arms and lean against the wall behind Frank’s desk. “Give us a bit of a history of his career.”
“Under normal circumstances, I’d tell you it’s classified, but my director ordered me to be open with the Tampa Police Department. So here it goes. We recruited him out of the SAS, and for five years, he showed such promise as an agent and now this.” His voice arrogant to the point I
