Chapter Ten
CACHI
My Sunday had turned into hell. It was as simple as that.
As I sat in a plain and cold room, waiting for Agent Wallace to come in and ask more questions, all I wanted was to see Rex.
I missed him and now I thought I knew why he hadn’t called.
He’d been involved with work, which was more important than me, especially if his job at the FBI was hunting down very dangerous men who sold drugs and carried huge guns.
I didn’t know exactly what Rex had done during what Special Agent Wallace called an “operation,” but it involved taking down a very dangerous drug cartel.
I’d overheard him talking about it with the other agent who was questioning us while we were sitting on the curb.
Everything had happened so fast before the man climbing out of the back of the car had been shot right next to me.
It had taken several minutes to understand exactly who he probably was.
He’d been similar to the polished, rich men I’d seen leading cartels in the movies, but that hadn’t meant he was actually a drug lord.
Just because they spoke Spanish and their wives wore diamonds, didn’t mean they weren’t dentists and lawyers.
Still, I wanted to kick myself for being so naive.
I’d had no idea that any of the men I’d seen driving up with guests, were part of a drug cartel.
That was very scary. I’d gotten an odd feeling from some of them, but I hadn’t questioned anything.
The job was simple; I wasn’t doing anything wrong and I needed the money.
And even though I’d answered both agents honestly, we’d still been brought down to the FBI offices.
I was very upset. I didn’t understand why because I’d told them everything I knew.
I felt terrible, wishing the whole time that Rex would come in and tell me he was taking me home.
Instead, it felt like hours had passed while I sat all alone.
I couldn’t imagine where they’d taken Marcello, although the building was huge when they brought me in through a side entrance.
We’d been taken up in a freight elevator with all the other valets and put in separate rooms. I was still dressed in blood-soaked clothes which left me even more upset.
After an hour, I’d put my head down on my crossed arms and dozed until finally the door was opened.
I glanced at my watch and was surprised to see that more than three hours had passed since I’d been put in the room.
When I looked up, Special Agent Wallace was there.
He’d changed into a suit and tie, and I noticed the contrast between his clothes and the way I was still dressed.
He had a folder in his hands and when he sat down across from me, he didn’t greet me with warmth or even scorn.
He simply opened the folder and began pulling out photographs, sliding them across the desk to me.
“Tell me who you know.”
I looked down at the photos. They were all pictures of Hispanic men, ranging in age from thirty to sixty. I picked them up one by one, examining the faces and setting them aside. When I’d gone through all of them, I glanced up at the agent. “I don’t know anyone.”
He sat back in his chair, studying me. “You don’t know any of these men?” He jabbed at the table where the pictures lay.
I shook my head. “Like I say before, I get valet job from Marcello. I don’t know anyone except Marcello. I hear him tell you that too.”
He stared at me, seeming to size me up, trying to decide—in my opinion—how much I was lying about.
I shook my head. “I no lie to you.”
He said nothing, sat forward, and opened the folder again. He pulled out a picture and slid it over to me. “And this man? What do you know about him?”
But I couldn’t answer. All I could do was stare down at the corpse of the well-dressed man who’d gotten out of the car which I’d been called to park.
What was left of his head was nothing but mush.
I was pretty sure I was wearing half the man’s brains in my hair.
My hands instantly covered my face as the tears came.
I was shaking my head when I heard the door open.
I didn’t look up because I didn’t want to see anyone.
I’d had enough. If I took one more look at the carnage, I was afraid I would throw up right there.
“Cachi? You’re still here?” I didn’t immediately react as he took several steps toward me.
Something was snatched off the table. “What the fuck is goin’ on here?
” That time, I dropped my hands, looking at Rex.
His expression was one of rage as he looked down at the picture Agent Wallace had put on the table.
“Agent Monroe?” Agent Wallace said. His icy tone couldn’t be missed. “Get out! You’re interfering with this interrogation.”
Rex looked at me, probably reading the expression of horror on my face, saw my tears, and instantly bent his head to closely examine the picture of the corpse. He shoved it toward the agent. “Why you showin’ somethin’ like this to him?”
He shrugged. “I wanted him to identify the man in the photo,” the agent replied cooly, sounding innocent.
“Hard to do without a face,” stated Candy flatly.
Wallace looked uncomfortable for a moment.
“He already told you and your partner that he knew about the job from his friend, who, along with all the other valets, went home hours ago.”
Wallace looked up at him with a smug smile back on his face. “Your point, Monroe?”
I watched Rex’s mouth tighten to a thin line as his face darkened. “My point is, you’re keepin’ this man in an interrogation room after he’s already told you everythin’ he knows.”
“You don’t know that.”
“What’s going on here?”
Rex’s fierce-looking captain stood at the door. Rex thrust the picture at his boss. “Wallace is showin’ him this shit!”
The captain took the picture out of his hand, looking at it and then pinning Agent Wallace with a glare. “Why is Mr. Adams still here? All the valets were released hours ago.”
Wallace glared right back. “Because he seems to know Castillion. Of course, I’m going to keep his interrogation until I’ve cleared the others.”
Rex grabbed me by the bicep, practically lifting me out of my chair. “We’re leavin’.”
Wallace jumped to his feet. “Now wait just a minute. We’re not done in here.”
“Yeah, you are,” Rex shot back. “Is he under arrest?”
“No! I’m interrogating him.”
“Were you mirandarized, Cachi?” asked Rex.
“No.”
“This man was brought in for questioning, not an interrogation, Special Agent Wallace,” the captain said.
I could hear the ice in his voice. “That was done at SAC Bradley’s okay after you made a stink about it.
As you already know, all the valets were questioned at the scene.
They shouldn’t have been brought down here to begin with, but my wishes were overruled.
This man has already told you over and over that he knows nothing about the guests at the party.
” He looked at me and glared back at the agent.
“And you haven’t even let him change,” he growled.
He was really angry. “You’re done here.”
“But I need to ask—”
“You’re done, Wallace.” The captain looked at Rex. “Cachi’s car is still at the scene.” He turned to me. “He said you drove, correct?”
I nodded. “Si, I pick Marcello up from his house.”
The captain nodded. “He told me as much.” He turned to look at Rex. “Please arrange for Mr. Adams to get home. I know he’ll want to change as soon as possible.”
“Will do, Candy,” Rex said, pulling me out of the room.
He said nothing as he walked me down the hall and back to the freight elevator. “Sorry, Cachi. I can’t take you to the main elevator dressed like that.”
“Is okay, Rex. You take me home?”
“Yeah, I’m takin’ you home.”
“You take me to your house, Rex?”
“No, I’m takin’ you to your house. Your mama will be worried.”
I shook my head as I checked my watch. It was nine. “No, Rex. My mamá…she see me like this and she will freak out.”
He looked over. “Shit. You’re right. Okay, you can shower at my house. I’ll lend you some clothes and then I’ll take you home.”
“Gracias, Rex.” I sighed softly, so tired now, I felt like I could barely stand.
The elevator stopped and Rex pulled up the gate.
We left by the same side door where I’d been escorted into the building by Agent Wallace.
I smiled as soon as he unlocked the ugly, green door on his car and waited until I’d climbed into the front seat.
This time I recognized the scent of Lola’s shampoo, something I hadn’t been able to place before meeting Rex’s sweet, little dog.
I wondered how often he took her places because it was obvious that he did, if her scent lingered.
He got into the car and turned to me, reaching out to touch my cheek. My breath caught as he ran the back of his knuckles down the side of my face. The look in his eyes was devastation. “Look how close you come to—” He stopped, looking away as he dropped his hand.
I immediately reached for his hand, taking it in both of mine. “Rex, I’m fine.” My words came out shaky as he stared down at our clasped hands. He closed his fingers around mine and then looked up at my face. His expression was tortured at best. “Rex, nothing happen. I’m fine.”
He shook his head. “That ain’t true. You could’ve been killed. Those men who hired you were very bad men. You understand, don’t you, Cachi?”
I nodded. “Si, I understand, pero, I do not know them. I only know Marcello. I tell Agent Wallace ten times, but he no believe me.”
His face darkened with a deep frown. “Well, he should believe you. You could no more be a part of any cartel, than I could.” He squeezed my hand and blew out a harsh breath. “I don’t get the hard on Wallace has for you.”
I cocked my head to the side, not understanding. “No, Rex, Agent Wallace, he no want to fuck me. He hate me.”