Page 69 of Honor ’N’ Duty

Li-Mei opened the outer door, revealing a large green metal box inside.

“Something’s come up. We have to leave. Now,” he added, wanting to emphasize the point but not get into it front of Li-Mei.

“Okay.” Laia rolled her lips inward, trying not to let her disappointment show, but he saw it. “I’m sorry, Li-Mei, but we’ll have to come back another time.”

“All right. No worries. We’ll be here when you’re ready.” Li-Mei closed the brass outer door, turned both the keys, then handed Laia her key back.

“Thank you,” Laia said in a strained voice.

“We’ll be back in a few days. Thanks.” Kade touched his hand to the small of Laia’s back, urging her from the vault ahead of him.

“What just happened in there?” she practically growled as he held open the glass door.

“The prosecutor said we need a search warrant.”

“Why?” she asked in a quiet voice that was screaming with exasperation. “I have the key, and the box is in my name. I just want this to be over with.”

When he’d unlocked the vehicle, she yanked open the passenger door and got in. When they were both inside, Kade explained the AUSA’s rationale behind obtaining a warrant, ending with, “It wasn’t my call to make. There’s a protocol for this, and we have to follow it. To the letter.”

“Seems like there’s a protocol for just about everything in your world.” She busied her hands, petting Smoke, and he could see Hurricane Laia was about to whip into a frenzy.

“Laia.” He turned to her. “There’s nothing I want more than for this to be over with so we can go back to our lives.” No, that was a lie. He didn’t want to go back to his old life. He wanted to start a new one. With her and Rosa. “So we can see where this thing between us takes us.”

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. “I’d like that.”

Those three little words were all it took. The thundercloud that had been hovering over their heads broke open, and a warm ray of sunshine seemed to burst from his chest. Maybe they really could make things work between them.

He started the engine. Just before driving from the lot, he glanced in the rearview mirror at the bank Josh had been so proud to manage. And just like that, warning bells began clanging in his head.

Along with the nagging gut feeling that cutting the cord between Laia and the cartel wouldn’t be easy.

…

Manny was waiting for them when they arrived at the DHS office. “Hey, Smoke.” Smoke wagged his tail and presented Manny with his paw.

If only Laia could feel so happy to see the man. He’d effectively slammed the brakes on what she’d been hoping would be a day of celebration.

“Well?” Manny stood from where he’d been playing footsie with Smoke. “Let’s see it.”

Kade unslung the backpack from his shoulder, pulled out the ledger, then handed it to Manny.

“And the key?” he asked. “I want to get these booked into evidence right away, then get the money geeks looking at the ledger.”

Reluctantly, Laia pulled the safe deposit box key from her pocket and turned it over.

“Thank you,” he said. “I know this is difficult for you, and we appreciate your help. Let’s go to my desk and you can sign the paperwork.”

“Me?” Laia asked as she followed the agent down the long corridor to his cubicle. “Why do I have to sign anything?”

“Because the ledger and the key were found on your property,” Kade answered from behind her. “The chain of custody has to reflect from whom the government receives anything that gets used as evidence.”

“Oh.” More protocol. And yet another trail leading directly back to her doorstep.

“Manny is going to sign you up as a CI—a confidential informant. Anything with your name on it, and anything you actually sign, will be locked up in a safe. The chain of custody will only have your CI number on it. Have a seat, and I’ll walk you through this.”

Manny indicated for her to sit in his chair. On the desk in front of her were various forms with red Xs telling her where to sign.

One document was a Background Questionnaire and the other a Confidential Informant Registration. As she took the pen Manny handed her, her mind began to go numb. None of this seemed real, but it was. Horribly real.