Izzy snickers. “Damn, if you keep getting shot, you won’t be able to go through metal detectors. You’ll end up on the no-fly list.”
“Gee, thanks. Even when your aunt is injured, you still find a way to be a shit.”
“Oh, come on. You didn’t seriously think just because you’re in the hospital I was going to stop being a shit, did you?”
“Well, a girl can hope, can’t she?”
“Izzy, you see what your Tia has been through. Do you still want to be a cop?”
Leave it to my sister to find every angle to sway people away from their goals.
She smiles at me and back at her mother. “Yes, I do,” she states confidently.
I smile at her. “That’s my brave girl.”
“So how much longer you going to be in the hospital?”
“Well, thankfully, the bullet just scraped the bone as it exited, so they gave me antibiotics, painkillers, and Anti Inflammatory pills. So, at least by tonight.”
“So all this was linked to the CIA’s deputy director and Senator Green?”
“Yes, and MI6 in England.”
“Do you think they’ll get any prison time?”
“For murder and conspiracy to commit murder, sure, but the rest of that shit is just media hype. Treason and espionage were thrown in there to enhance their ratings.”
“Good. We don’t need that kind of shady shit in the government.”
“They’ll just put another corrupt shit in there to take his place.”
“Truth.”
Izzy shrugs. “So, what now? I mean, you solved the case.”
“My boss is probably going to insist I take it easy for 30 days before he lets me come back to duty.”
“Devi, I think that is wise considering what this case has put you through.”
“Yeah, my arm is sore as fuck, so I think I could use some time off.”
“Well, Devi, we just came by to check on you. I wanted to see how you were doing, and well, you’re still Devi, so that is good enough.”
I smile. “Take care, you two. And, Izzy. Keep studying.”
“I will. Don’t worry.”
***
An hour passes, and Jack and Frank, along with Ingrid, steps into the room.
“Well, shit. I can’t seem to get away from you three ticks.”
He stuffs his hands in his pockets, trying to hold back laughing. “Oh, well, fuck you too, Devi.”
“I don’t think your wife would like that very much, Frank.”
He rolls his eyes. “Anyway, the evidence you gave the Chief, the Federal Prosecutor, says it was a shot right through the heart. He and all the people involved will be nailed to the wall.”
“About time, the system actually did its fucking job. How’s Jason?”
Ingrid lowers her head. “He is calm now. But that poor man is going to need a boatload of therapy before they let him work cases again.”
“It’s good to know this won’t cost him his job. He’s a damn good cop.”
My LT stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Honestly, I can’t say when he’ll be ready to go back into the field, but for the time being, he will be riding a desk.”
He’ll hate riding a desk, but it beats losing his career or prison.
“What about Drake?”
“MI5 and the FBI ruled Drake was just as much a victim as the people he killed. The Feds are flying him back to the UK. Where MI6 will put him in retirement and give him and his sister a new identity. He won’t face any charges.”
If I brought up my partner shoved a 12 gauge in my face and threatened to shoot through me, Jason would be fired and probably brought up on charges. Lucky for him, I don’t tote the line for the Rat Squad.
Chapter 29
I pay a visit to the dive pub, the Raging Leprechaun. Three days of no Alcohol intake has done me good, it’s made me savor my Scotch more. My shoulder aches as I raise the smoke up to my lips, taking a drag. My cell rings. “Hey, Raul. What’s up?”
“Prepping for as concert in Miami at the Jackie Gleeson Theater.”
I take a sip of my drink. “Sweet. I should be able to make it to this one.” I take a drag and exhale smoke. “As I have no case at the moment.”
“Good. I have some VIP tickets for you if you can make it.”
I flick a piece of ash into the ashtray. “Sure, I’ll be there.”
“Fucking awesome, sis. I’ll see you when you get here. The concert is tomorrow at 8pm, that’s Saturday.”
“I know, Bro. I’m not that drunk yet.”
He laughs. “Just checking. Anyway, peace out.”
I hang up the phone and take another drag from my smoke, staring up at the TV, they’re showing my picture on the news still hailing me as a hero cop who stopped the Moonlight Killer and exposed a corruption ring within the CIA and MI6. The bar patrons turn to me, clapping and cheering. “Officer, drinks are on the house for the day,” he says, bringing me another double of Scotch.
Well, at least they didn’t bust out singing For She is a Jolly Good Fellow.
This case and Drake is out of my life now. Good riddance. Downing a few more glasses of Scotch, I light up another cigarette and hear a voice in the booth behind me. “Special Agent Devora Lobos oh wait, its Detective Devora Lobos now. You really took a pay cut.”
I crane my neck and sigh. My old boss came all the way from Miami to see me.
Sometimes the past refuses to stay in the past.
“I’m not an Agent anymore, Tanner. So if this is an attempt to get me to come back as your little infiltrator, you wasted your time.”
He sits down
