Mission: Impossible to Deny (The Impossible Mission Romantic Suspense Series Book 7) - Jacki Delecki (great novels of all time txt) 📗

“Why would the cartel torture Tex? Our theory that they killed him for information about Snakes Ahead isn’t holding up. With Charlie alive, they have no reason to torture him. Are you coming to the same conclusion that he was murdered because he was looking into Charlie’s death?”

“They most likely wanted to know what had he learned about Charlie’s death and who he might have told.”

“I’m still having trouble grasping that Charlie is alive and working with really bad guys.”

“I am too. And he wasn’t my friend. Once we talk with Wainwright, I’m calling for backup. Now that we know that Charlie is alive and can tie to a motive to Tex’s murder, we need to proceed cautiously. We have to assume the cartel has an informant in the police department who reported that we were at Tex’s and made a visit to the police department. And although I’m confident of my abilities, I’ll need reinforcements to protect you from the Sureños.”

“When did you plan to share your plan with me? Before or after you called the CIA?” He loved the flash of fire in her eyes. He would never stop wanting to annoy this woman. It was some strange neuroses that would only be cured by sex with Darcy.

“I was trying to give you a little time to adjust to the shock of learning that you grieved for a friend’s death that doesn’t exist before I hit you with the protection detail.” Her skin pinked up, and her lips compressed. “I’m sure once I make the call, the Jenkinses will be alerted. I would have already done it if we hadn’t spent so much time at the police station. And I don’t want us to be late for the meeting with your professor.”

He was grateful that she didn’t belabor the reason that the meeting with the police chief ran over was because of his shock at the chief’s revelation. He had made Detective Barley repeat the information several times. Reeves had to be convinced that his friend was alive before he left. First, he had to adjust to the idea that Charlie had been murdered, and now that Charlie wasn’t dead but most likely faked his death.

After the car accident, Charlie had been taken to the hospital in an ambulance. He had been pronounced dead in the ER. The body had been immediately cremated, and his ashes spread over the ocean. The ER records, including the name of the private funeral home that picked up his body for cremation, had disappeared. And with only his drug addict mother as family, no one had questioned any of the details.

“And I thought you’d be more amenable hearing it from your boss than from me.”

“I’ll text Nick now. They’ll be rolling before we’re finished with Wainwright. Did I mention that the professor loves to talk? Don’t get him started on the computation theory of the mind. But, on the upside, he loves good scotch.”

He reached into his jacket and texted Nick. “Miss your ugly face, asshole. And nothing to Emily of why I’m in Palo Alto.” When had he become a Neanderthal like the Jenkins brothers?

“How would I get Wainwright started on computational theory when I know nothing about theories of computers and how they relate to the mind? And don’t change the subject. I thought you’d fight me on the backup. Why the sudden change?”

“Nope. I’m not a fool. I’ve had enough experience with organized crime and the cartels to know that no matter how skilled you are, you have to even the odds.”

She would be royally ticked if she knew he was agreeing with the extra security to protect her. She was prickly about proving herself. Now that the threat had gotten real, he wouldn’t risk any harm coming to her. And the only reason he didn’t fight her reasoning about being distracted in her professional role was that he never wanted to be the reason that Darcy got hurt or felt that she failed.

His phone pinged. He read Nick’s text. “What the hell? The Jenkinses are already in the air and en route to Palo Alto. Your boss sent Richard the ballistics report. The gun that killed Tex had previously been used in a Sureños execution. I’m kinda surprised that Richard hasn’t called me. I’m sure once he heard that the cartel was involved, he called in the troops. God, I hope it isn’t both Lars and Finn with Nick. The odds of not having a fistfight when three Jenkins brothers are in the same area code are slim.”

Darcy’s knuckles turned white from her tight grip on the wheel. “That’s bullshit. I’m the field agent on the ground, and Richard Dean hears before me … and from the director. Marwick is micromanaging this because of your relationship with Dean.”

Her phone pinged, and she glanced at her phone on the console next to her Sig. “I’m probably now getting the results.”

“But if they knew you were in the meeting with the police chief, they went above you to get the security in place—to give you the protection you need to do your job and keep investigating.”

“It doesn’t help my outrage if you’re going to be reasonable. But you are owned by the ‘man.’”

He was in big trouble. With all the shit going down, all he could think about was kissing her smug little smile until she melted. The idea of never kissing Darcy again was more of a loss than learning that his college friend was a criminal, possibly a terrorist. And what did that say about him?

She pulled over in an empty parking spot and reached for her phone. “I need to read this.”

With her attention focused on the phone, he could appreciate all the details that made Darcy Wilson irresistible: the freckles on her nose, the mole next to her mouth that he hadn’t spent any time worshiping, and the red highlights in her perfectly arched eyebrows.

“Did you know that Tex had a heart condition?”

“He