Chapter Twenty Karmen
The following morning, just as the sun starts to rise over the Potomac, we arrive at the address Reid gave us. It’s a nondescript building located on the outskirts of the city. There are no windows, just a door that swings open the moment we step out of the vehicle.
I immediately recognize both men from the photos I’ve seen of Benson’s family.
One is much older than the other, but no less handsome.
Both men are about the same height, well over six feet, same as the man standing next to me, but where Benson’s hair is more of an espresso brown and cut short, Reid’s is a bit long and unkempt, tousled and sprinkled with sun-kissed highlights.
His fading tan is undoubtedly due to his living near the beach.
He’s wearing faded blue jeans and a gray T-shirt, the stock of his holstered gun peeking out from the inside of his black leather jacket.
The older man has a haircut like Benson’s, short and tidy, with the same dark, rich color.
He wears blue jeans, a crisp white button-down, and a navy sports coat.
These men couldn’t be more different in appearance.
However, you can certainly tell they are related because they all share the same dark ocean-blue eyes.
When my gaze swings to Benson, his mouth is somewhere on the ground. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Is that any way to greet your ole man?” The older man asks in a gruff tone, immediately pulling his son in for a hug.
“I’m just a little shocked, Dad. I wasn’t expecting you.”
He slaps his back a couple of times, holding him tightly before saying, “I should have been here sooner.” The emotion in his voice has my chest aching.
From what Benson has told me in the past, they’ve always been a close family; even though he and his siblings are scattered across the States, they keep in close contact, and they all visit their parents regularly.
“But what about Mom?” Benson asks as his father releases him.
“Your mother is fine. Reese is with her.”
Reese is Benson’s younger sister, Ryker’s twin. God, I can’t believe I remember that.
“But Dad,” he protests, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Don’t, son. It was hard enough to leave her as it was, but it was either I get my ass down here and check on you, or she was going to, and you know damn well I wasn’t going to let that happen. You know how stubborn she can be.”
He nods, a knowing smile tilting his lips. Benson once told me that his parents were fiercely protective of them all growing up. It seems being adults hasn’t changed that. I can see the love and admiration reflected in his eyes as he looks at his father.
When his dad’s focus lands on me, his smile grows. “This must be Karmen.”
I offer him a smile and my hand, but he engulfs me in what can only be described as a bear-hug. My arms hang limply at my sides. I’m not sure what to do with them or how to feel about the fact that this is the first time I’m meeting him and he’s hugging me.
“Dad, let her go. She’s not a hugger,” Benson scolds, quickly apologizing for his father.
“She is now,” he declares, squeezing me tighter. “Thank you for helping my boy.”
I awkwardly lift my arms and wrap them around his waist, hugging him back. My eyes burn as a swarm of emotions threatens to overtake me. I swallow around the lump in my throat. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Cunningham.”
“Please, call me Neil,” he insists, releasing me.
“Excuse my dad. He can be a bit emotional sometimes.” Reid grins, offering me his hand. “I’m Reid, by the way.”
“Same,” I say, shaking his outstretched hand.
Reid secures the door before leading us further into the darkened space.
We descend a set of stairs into a basement.
When we reach the bottom, he scans his thumb, opening a heavy black door.
Two massive desks dominate the space, flanked by multiple computer screens and several larger TV screens mounted on the concrete walls.
There’s even a coffee area set up in the corner.
“Shit, Reid, you’ve only been here twelve hours,” Benson says, shaking his head in disbelief.
Reid grins. “I’m a resourceful man.”
“I’d say so.”
“Benson, this is Oakley Lawter. The brains behind this entire operation. He made all this happen.”
“What’s up?” he greets, standing from his chair behind the massive desk. “Nice to finally meet you, man.”
“You too. Thanks for all your help on this.”
“Anytime,” he says with an easygoing smile.
Oakley Lawter is the son of Rowdy Lawter, president of the notorious MC Brothers’ Keeper, based out of Dallas and well-known for doling out vigilante justice.
They offer protection to those who need it and can afford it.
Sometimes that protection is paid for with money, and other times with favors or other means.
Nothing in the underworld is free.
In the cyberworld, Lawter is a renowned hacker, better known as Cipher on the dark web.
He’s revered as one of the best hackers in the world.
He’s hacked into numerous security systems, including sophisticated government systems such as the Pentagon, causing millions in damage.
While serving time in prison, Lawter was able to negotiate his release in exchange for working for the FBI under Reid’s command.
“This is my partner, Karmen,” Benson states proudly.
Not his girlfriend. Not his woman. Not his submissive.
His partner.
His equal.
I smile, shaking Oakley’s outstretched hand, his grip firm and respectful.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Ma’am?” I chuff a laugh. “You can’t be much older than me.”
“Sorry,” he shrugs with a sheepish smile. “It’s a habit.”
Well-mannered and polite, he wears black from head to foot.
Tall and broad, every inch of his exposed skin is covered with tattoos except for his face, which is disarmingly handsome.
His jaw is sharp, and his features are well-defined.
He looks like a rogue Clark Kent, if Clark Kent were a total biker badass, with sharp baby blue eyes shielded by black-framed glasses and a deep dimple in his right cheek.
His easy smile immediately puts me at ease.
He walks around the desk, standing in front of the bank of monitors, sleek tablet in his hand. A few swipes later, several documents populate the screen.
Reid steps forward. “Oak was able to decrypt all the files from Ashford’s jump drives.”
Benson and I share a look, and I inhale in a quiet breath, bracing myself for the worst.
“Ashford has been running this operation for years. The funds he earns from the sale of the product back to dealers are then funneled through his multiple shell companies. He’s stashing the money in several offshore accounts in the Caymans and Luxembourg, and he’s been working with a network of drug traffickers for years, using his power and influence to protect their operations. ”
“Ensuring investigations are buried, and any whistleblowers are silenced,” Oakley adds.
“Exactly,” Reid confirms. “You’re not the first person he’s tried to frame. You’re just the first ever to discover his secrets.”
“But why me? Why target me?” Benson asks.
Another image pops up on the screen, and I instantly recognize the mugshot.
“Mateo Salazar, head of the La Vibora Negra Cartel,” Benson says.
“The Black Vipers,” I say, knowing exactly who they are.
“I arrested his brother a couple of years back,” Benson says. “Seized about four million dollars in product. We did everything we could to get his brother to roll on Salazar and give him up, but he took the fall for it all.”
Reid nods. “Ashford and the Salazar crew went to work right away, infiltrating your department, hacking phones and other devices to gain enough intel to blackmail and intimidate potential moles, including Gainey and Parker. And Ashford began his plan to not only fuel his laundering operation but also to help exact revenge for his new business partner.”
Benson runs a hand through his hair, his body tense, jaw ticking with frustration and anger.
“Gainey and Parker were having an affair. We found hundreds of text messages and photos exchanged between the two of them. That must have been what they used as leverage to get their cooperation.”
“Fuck,” Benson murmurs, gripping the back of his neck.
“You weren’t the only one being targeted. We uncovered evidence involving narcotics units throughout other precincts in the city and a fuckton of dirty cops on his payroll. He knew you couldn’t be bought, so he had to find another way to get rid of you.”
Anger rolls through my body.
“What about the chief? Foster? Did you find anything indicating their involvement in this?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest, attempting to tamp down my simmering anger.
Not only is the man whom I thought was my father a lying piece of shit, but he’s also played a part in trying to destroy the man I love.
“Nothing,” Reid says, blowing out a frustrated breath.
“Foster had nothing to do with this,” Neil says with conviction from the other side of the room.
“Dad,” Reid starts, his voice calm but firm. “I think we should still be cautious of anyone outside of this circle,” he says diplomatically.
His father gives him a hard look but nods in agreement. “What’s the move?”
“We have enough evidence to arrest Ashford and send him to prison for a long fucking time. But we need more evidence if we are going to take down Salazar, too. There is nothing directly linking him to any of this. We need a confession.”
“And how do you plan on getting that?” Benson asks.
Reid’s gaze shifts to mine. “How do you feel about wearing a wire?”