31. Natalia
THIRTY-ONE
I gazed at my reflection in the yacht’s bathroom mirror. The memory of last night with Dante still lingered on my skin, a delicious ache that reminded me of the passion we’d shared. I closed my eyes, savoring the recollection of his hands on my body, his lips trailing fire across my skin...
“Focus, Natalia,” I muttered, shaking off the haze of desire. As much as I longed to lose myself in thoughts of Dante, I had more pressing matters to attend to.
Val’s revelation about a mole in the DEA had turned my world upside down, leaving me questioning everything I thought I knew. The idea that someone within our ranks had been feeding information to Ricardo Reyes for years made my stomach churn. How many operations had been compromised? How many lives had been lost because of this traitor?
And then there was Ted Morrow, my handler and the man I’d trusted implicitly since joining the DEA. The grizzled veteran had always been a steadfast ally, a rock in the tumultuous sea of undercover work. But now, doubt gnawed at the edges of my certainty. Could he be involved? Did he know more than he was letting on?
I grabbed my purse, double-checking that my gun was securely holstered inside. As I made my way across the yacht’s deck, the Miami sun beating down on me, I steeled my resolve. I was going to get answers, one way or another.
The drive to the restaurant where I was meeting Morrow seemed to take an eternity, my mind racing with possibilities and scenarios. I rehearsed what I would say, how I would approach the subject without tipping my hand. If Morrow was involved, I couldn’t risk alerting him to my suspicions.
As I pulled into the parking lot of the upscale bistro, I spotted Morrow’s beat-up sedan parked near the entrance. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of my car and made my way inside, my heart pounding in my chest.
Morrow was already seated at a corner table, his weathered face creased with concern as he caught sight of me. “Ramirez,” he greeted me, his voice gruff but warm. “Glad you could make it.”
I slid into the seat across from him, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Wouldn’t miss it, sir,” I replied, my tone carefully neutral. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to catch up face-to-face and not just a zoom call.”
Morrow nodded, his eyes searching my face with an intensity that made me wonder if he could sense the turmoil roiling beneath my calm exterior. “Something’s up with you,” he said, leaning in closer. “You pulled the plug on the operation like I said, right?”
I hesitated, weighing my words carefully. I wasn’t ready to reveal Dante’s willingness to help take down his father. “Actually, sir, I came upon something,” I began, my fingers toying with the edge of my napkin. “I’ve uncovered some information that could have serious implications for the entire investigation.”
Morrow’s brow furrowed, his expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. “What kind of information, Ramirez?” he pressed, his voice low and urgent.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. “There’s evidence to suggest that there’s a mole within the DEA,” I said, my eyes never leaving his face as I watched for any sign of recognition or guilt. “Someone who’s been feeding information to the Reyes cartel for years.”
Morrow’s reaction was immediate and visceral. His face paled, his eyes widening in shock as he leaned back in his chair. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered, running a hand through his thinning hair. “Are you sure about this, Ramirez?”
I nodded, my gut clenching at the raw emotion in his voice. Either Morrow was a damn good actor, or he was genuinely blindsided by this revelation. “I have reliable intel,” I confirmed, keeping my voice low to avoid being overheard. “It explains a lot of our failed operations, including the warehouse raid that got Matt killed.”
At the mention of my former partner, Morrow’s expression darkened, a flash of pain and anger crossing his features. “Goddamn it,” he growled, his fist clenching on the table. “If that’s true, if someone in our ranks is responsible for Matt’s death...”
He trailed off, his eyes meeting mine with a fierce intensity. “We need to tread carefully here, Ramirez,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “If there really is a mole, we can’t trust anyone. Not even our own people.”
I nodded, a small part of me relaxing at his words. If Morrow was involved, he was putting on one hell of a performance. “What do you suggest, sir?” I asked, leaning in closer.
Morrow’s eyes darted around the restaurant, as if checking for potential eavesdroppers. “We need to keep this under wraps for now,” he murmured. “Continue your operation with Reyes, see if you can uncover any more information about who might be feeding them intel from our side.”
I hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing my mind. “Sir, with all due respect, shouldn’t we bring in Internal Affairs? If there’s a traitor in our midst...”
Morrow shook his head vehemently. “Not yet,” he insisted, his voice brooking no argument. “We don’t know how deep this goes, Ramirez. For all we know, the Internal Affairs could be compromised too. No, we need to handle this ourselves, at least until we have more concrete evidence.”
I nodded, my mind racing with the implications of his words. Was Morrow truly looking out for the integrity of the investigation, or was he trying to cover his own tracks? The doubt that had taken root in my mind refused to be silenced, even as I wanted desperately to believe in the man who had been my mentor and ally for so long.
“Understood, sir,” I said, forcing a note of conviction into my voice. “I’ll keep digging, see what else I can uncover.”
Morrow reached across the table, his weathered hand closing over mine in a gesture of reassurance. “Be careful, Ramirez,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion. “You’re in deep with some dangerous people. If they get even a whiff of suspicion...”
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat at the genuine concern in his eyes. “I know the risks, sir,” I assured him. “I’ll watch my back.”
As we finished our lunch, making small talk about inconsequential matters to avoid arousing suspicion, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was standing on the edge of a precipice. The ground beneath my feet felt unstable, shifting with every new revelation and unanswered question.
Walking back to my car, I felt the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. Who could I trust? Dante, the man I was falling for despite my better judgment? Morrow, my mentor and ally? Or was I truly alone in this fight against corruption and betrayal?
One thing was certain – I was going to get to the bottom of this, no matter the cost. For Matt, for justice, and for my own peace of mind. The truth was out there, and I was going to find it, even if it meant burning everything I thought I knew to the ground.
The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped out onto Valentina’s floor, my mind still reeling from the day’s events. The hallway stretched before me, a gauntlet of identical doors that seemed to mock my confusion and frustration. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of Val’s apartment, rapping my knuckles against the wood in the familiar rhythm.
Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Valentina’s smirking face. Her dark hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and she wore an oversized NYPD t-shirt that hung off one shoulder – a souvenir from our academy days.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Miami’s most notorious undercover hottie,” she drawled, leaning against the doorframe. Her eyes narrowed as she took in my tense posture and the shadows under my eyes. “Damn, chica. You look like you’ve been through the wringer. What’s up?”
I didn’t waste time with pleasantries, just pushed past her into the apartment. “We’ve got a problem, Val. A big one.”
Her brows furrowed, but she didn’t miss a beat, shutting the door behind me with a firm click. “Alright, lay it on me. But first, you look like you could use a drink.”
Before I could protest, Val was already moving towards her kitchen. I paced the length of her living room, my fingers twisting nervously as I tried to organize my thoughts. The apartment was quintessentially Val – a mix of sleek modernity and controlled chaos. Case files were scattered across her coffee table, and a half-eaten pizza sat on the counter, evidence of another late night poring over evidence.
Val returned with two glasses of amber liquid, pressing one into my hand. “Okay, spill. What’s got you wound up tighter than a two-dollar watch?”
I took a deep breath, then launched into my story. The words tumbled from my lips in a rush as I filled her in on Morrow’s infuriating dismissal of my suggestion to bring the information about the potential mole to Internal Affairs. I told her about my growing suspicions, the nagging feeling that something was very wrong with him.
By the time I finished, Val’s eyes were blazing with righteous fury. She slammed her glass down on the coffee table, sending case files scattering. “That asshole,” she hissed, her fingers curling into tight fists. “If there’s a mole in our midst, we need to smoke them out and make them pay. Not sit on our asses and continue as if nothing had happened. What the fuck!”
I nodded grimly, grateful for her unwavering support. “Exactly. But we need to be smart about this, Val. We can’t just go in guns blazing.”
She snorted, rolling her eyes. “Since when have you been the cautious one, Ramirez? Where’s that badass spirit that used to get us into so much trouble back in the day?” A mischievous grin spread across her face. “Remember that time as rookies we snuck into the evidence locker to ‘borrow’ that fancy tech for our off-the-books stakeout?”
Despite the gravity of the situation, I couldn’t help but crack a smile at the memory. “Yeah, and I remember spending the next month on desk duty as punishment. But this is different, Val. We’re talking about uncovering a mole, a traitor who could be embedded deep within the agency. One wrong move and we’re fucked, or worse.”
Val’s face sobered, her fiery bravado tempering into something more focused, more strategic. She flopped down onto her couch, patting the spot next to her. “Alright, so what’s the plan? And don’t give me any of that ‘we should wait and see’ bullshit. I know you’ve got something cooking in that devious mind of yours.”
I sank down beside her, running a hand through my hair. “We start by feeling out our contacts, the ones we know we can trust implicitly. See if they’ve noticed anything off, any whispers or rumors that could point us in the right direction.”
“I’ve already gone through all of them,” Val interjected, frustration evident in her voice. “Nothing, zip, nada. It’s like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands.”
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. “Okay, so we need to dig deeper. What about our CI network? Anyone been acting strange lately? Suddenly flush with cash or nervous about meeting?”
Val’s brow furrowed in concentration. “Now that you mention it, there’s this one guy – Julio. He’s been a reliable informant for years, but lately... I don’t know. Something’s off. He’s been dodging my calls, and when I do manage to get him on the phone, he sounds... scared.”
My pulse quickened. “That could be something. We need to talk to him, face to face. But we’ve got to be careful. If he is connected to our mole, we can’t tip our hand.”
Val nodded, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of the hunt. “I’ve got an idea. There’s this dive bar downtown where Julio likes to hang out. We could ‘accidentally’ run into him there, keep things casual.”
“Good thinking,” I agreed. “But what about Morrow? That stubborn jackass is just going to keep stonewalling us, isn’t he?”
Val’s face darkened. “Fuck Morrow. If he’s not going to help us, we’ll do this on our own. We don’t need his permission to do our jobs.”
I hesitated, torn between my instinct to follow protocol and the burning need to uncover the truth. “I don’t know, Val. Part of me still wants to believe he’s on the level, that he’s just being overly cautious. But the other part...” I trailed off, shaking my head. “I don’t know who I can trust anymore.”
Val reached out, gripping my hand tightly. “Hey, you can trust me, chica. Always. We’re in this together, no matter what. Partners, remember?”
I squeezed her hand back, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. “Partners,” I echoed. “And that’s why I need you to have my back on this, Val. We’re going to have to play this close to the vest, keep our cards hidden until we know exactly who we’re dealing with.”
Her eyes glinted with determination, a feral grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Just say the word, Ramirez. I’m locked and loaded. We’ll find this mole and make them wish they’d never even thought about betraying the badge.”
A small smile tugged at my lips as I nodded, already feeling the burden shifting, becoming more manageable with Val at my side. “Alright, let’s get to work. We’ve got a traitor to catch and a whole lot of asses to kick.”
Val stood up, cracking her knuckles with an exaggerated gesture. “Now that’s more like it. So, what’s our first move, partner?”
I rose to join her, feeling a renewed sense of purpose coursing through my veins. “First, we need to have a talk with Julio. If he’s our link to the mole, we need to know who he’s talking to, where he’s going. Then we hit that bar, see if we can’t loosen his tongue a bit.”
Val grinned, already moving towards her bedroom. “I’ll grab my gear. You know, for a minute there, I was worried you’d gone soft on me, Ramirez. But this? This is the badass partner I know and love.”
As Val went to gather our equipment, I stared out her window at the Miami skyline. Somewhere out there, a traitor was hiding in plain sight, threatening everything we’d worked for.
“Ready to raise some hell?” Val called, emerging with a duffel bag slung over her shoulder.
I turned to her, a determined smile playing on my lips. “Let’s do this. We’ve got work to do.”
The neon sign of “The Rusty Anchor” flickered dimly in the humid Miami night. Val and I sat in her beat-up Chevy, watching as Julio stumbled into the seedy bar.
“Showtime,” Val muttered, killing the engine. “Remember, we’re just two gals out for a drink. Nothing suspicious.”
We sauntered into the bar, the stench of stale beer and desperation hitting us like a wall. Julio was nowhere to be seen.
“I’ll check the back,” I murmured to Val. “You take the bar.”
I pushed through the crowd, my eyes scanning for our target. As I approached the restrooms, I caught a glimpse of Julio slipping into the men’s room.
I signaled to Val, who nodded and made her way over. “Ladies’ room’s full,” she announced loudly. “Guess we’ll have to use the men’s!”
We burst into the bathroom, catching Julio mid-snort, a line of white powder disappearing up his nose.
“Jesus Christ!” he yelped, stumbling backward.
Val’s hand shot out, grabbing him by the collar. “Hello, Julio. Fancy meeting you here.”
His eyes darted between us, panic setting in. “I-I can explain?—”
“Save it,” I cut him off. “We need to talk.”
For the next twenty minutes, we grilled Julio mercilessly. He babbled about drop-offs and coded messages, but nothing we didn’t already know or suspect.
“Come on, Julio,” Val growled, her patience wearing thin. “There’s got to be more. Who’s the mole?”
Julio’s bloodshot eyes widened. “The mole? I-I don’t know anything about a mole!”
I leaned in close, my voice low and dangerous. “Think harder, Julio. Your freedom depends on it.”
He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I swear, I don’t know who it is. But...” he hesitated.
“But what?” I pressed.
“There’s this agent I’ve seen snooping around a lot. More than usual, you know? Always asking questions, making deals.”
My heart rate quickened. “Who, Julio? Give me a name.”
He licked his lips nervously. “Agent Morrow. I’ve seen him all over the place lately. It’s like he’s everywhere, man.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Morrow? It couldn’t be. And yet...
I exchanged a shocked glance with Val, whose face had gone pale.
“You’re sure about this, Julio?” Val asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded vigorously. “Yeah, yeah. Morrow’s been all over the place. It’s weird, you know?”
The implications of what Julio was saying crashed over me like a tidal wave. Morrow, my handler, the man I’d trusted with my life... could he really be the mole?
As we left Julio trembling in the bathroom, my mind was reeling. If Morrow was the mole, it explained his reluctance to pursue the lead, his insistence on maintaining the status quo. But it also meant that my entire operation, my cover, everything I’d worked for, was compromised to the enemy himself, Ricardo Reyes.
Val gripped my arm as we stumbled out into the night air. “Nat,” she said, her voice tight with concern. “What are we going to do?”
I stared out into the street, my world tilting on its axis. “I don’t know, Val,” I whispered. “But if Morrow is the mole... we’re in deeper trouble than we ever imagined.”