39 CONNOR
“I think Youssef made it pretty clear he doesn’t want you here anymore.” Mohani was nursing a drink at the bar. The place was empty—it wasn’t even nine in the morning yet.
I sat down on the stool next to him and pulled his glass toward me.
“Trying to start a fight? You don’t need a reason for one.” Mohani stood up. “We can do this right here, right now.”
I downed the contents in one gulp and slammed the glass on the counter.
“You know, Mohani… I’m a good cop. Maybe that’s the only reason you’re not dead yet.” I stared him down. “When I came here, I was sure you were a bastard.”
“Try your luck. If I lose, don’t worry. I’ll say I started it.”
“I’m still talking,” I growled. “Sam didn’t tell me what you did to her, but I can imagine. Because you’re a fucking sadist. You enjoyed humiliating her. Dominating her. But you got obsessed when you realized you were being used. That’s why you accepted the proposal.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mohani replied. I stared at him.
“After that night, I came back here. I wanted to make you pay for what you did, but you’d already left. Actually, I saw you leaving in an old car. But I was dealing with so much shit, and protecting Sam was the only thing on my mind.”
I held his gaze.
“Then Ahmed showed up with a nice car and said it was from the evidence locker. More specifically, lot 972… you know what lot that is, don’t you? Classic sports cars bought illegally that came through BMC, right? Yeah, I thought so.”
I pulled out the sheet with a series of emails exchanged between Mohani and BMC.
“Sam found this when we were here. While you were playing your little game, feeling like a big shot.”
Mohani didn’t respond. His nostrils flared as he tried not to give anything away.
“What drew you to her? The resemblance to Samantha, or the disgust you felt at being rejected?” Mohani’s fingers moved toward his waist. But not fast enough to escape the infrared dot in the middle of his chest. “I told you I was a good cop. When the girl at the front desk mentioned the old car, I knew it was you… but I needed proof. I wouldn’t come here without it.
But I didn’t have to look hard because you got caught…
not by me, but by Samantha. She got you again. I just had to connect the dots.”
Mohani looked around like a cornered animal, puffing out his chest as if he could intimidate me.
“I keep wondering what she offered you to convince you, but the truth is, it doesn’t matter.
She’s dead, and you’re going down for the armorer you so kindly killed to cover for your lover.
For Mr. Omar, the man who knew too much about BMC and Azur’s business.
For the girls you offered up like sacrificial lambs.
And for Bob. My best friend—the man whose death I swore to avenge with blood. ”
“Are you here to kill me or arrest me?”
“Depends on how badly you want to die. Because I can do both,” I murmured. “With pleasure.”
Mohani raised his chin.
“I won’t stay in jail. This isn’t the United States.” He smiled.
I smiled back. This was the best part of being a good cop.
“You’re right… it’s not.” I walked to the door.
“That’s why I’m taking you back with me.
Here’s the thing, Mohani—you’re now an accomplice to murder, and your little girlfriend Isis Maddox and her father were wanted for murder in several countries, making this whole case FBI jurisdiction.
” FBI agents stormed in through multiple entrances.
“By the way… they’re the ones taking you for a ride. Enjoy the trip.”
“I’m coming after you and your damn girlfriend!” Mohani shouted as the FBI agents handcuffed him.
“I’d love to see you try,” I replied, descending the front steps toward the SUV parked across the street. I tapped on the window. It rolled down, and I recognized the best smile in the FBI. “How’s the adjustment to the FBI going?”
“You know how it is… same job, different bosses.” Trevor smiled. “At least this one has hair.”
“Thanks for returning my call.” I shook his hand. Trevor is one of those guys you want on your emergency contact list. I met him when he was still a CIA agent, and now he runs his own team at the FBI.
“I’ll always be grateful for what you did for us in Afghanistan.” He saluted, and I returned it out of respect. “Now get in—I’ll give you a ride to the airport before you miss your flight and Gretta comes to get you herself.”