Dark Deeds Read online

  “Care to explain?”

  “I received a picture last night, of a woman who was obviously a captive.”

  “What?” Damian was alarmed. “From the Circle?”

  “I don’t know. It’s not really their style, and there was a cryptic message on the back, kind of like the ones your SSAM Fan likes to send. It wasn’t signed like your notes, or Becca’s. But it was the brand on the woman’s arm that caught my eye. It was the mark of the Circle.”

  “What else?” He could see there was more.

  “There was the letter C inside. It indicates the Chicago arm of the organization. But my sources say that arm shut down years ago.”

  Damian felt chills go up and down his arms. Had Samantha been branded in a similar manner? “Take my offer. Come to Chicago and investigate, alongside Becca. How about committing to one week?”

  Long enough for Damian to figure out who was threatening Becca because of her investigation, and why...and to make sure the SSAM Fan wasn’t going to hurt her. He had his best computer guy, Einstein, working on tracing the various texts and emails they’d received.

  But that wasn’t Damian’s only agenda. He hoped Becca would find someone to settle down with for a lifetime. Diego could be her anchor, if she’d let him. She deserved that, especially after all she’d been through...and what she’d be going through now that James Powell had been released from prison. He knew all about that part of her past, though Becca was unaware he knew. He kept tabs on anything, or anyone, who might harm his agents. Which was how he also knew about the emails she’d received from James over the past few days. There were many reasons he wanted Diego around...

  “Can you get a week off from the department?” Damian asked Diego.

  “I’m just getting off probation,” Diego admitted, scowling. “Not sure they’d appreciate me leaving.”

  “Find a way. Tell them about this photograph, and maybe they’ll push you to go to Chicago.”

  “Becca won’t appreciate my interference, I’m afraid.”

  “Find a way to work with her. You’ll have to be persistent. She has some serious walls around her heart.”

  Diego’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You know why, don’t you?”

  “Yes. I thoroughly inspect the backgrounds of all of my hires, though she doesn’t know I know. But I recommend you get her to tell you, don’t dig it up yourself. You’re looking to build trust, after all. It’ll take patience.” And maybe a bit of cunning.

  Diego looked concerned, but the glint of challenge lit his gaze. “I’m your man, sir.”

  Chapter Eight

  Saturday, 9:16 p.m.

  Manhattan

  The SSAM Fan slipped the rectangular gift onto the table, slightly apart from the rest of the silver-and-white-wrapped wedding gifts, then merged into a group of guests before anybody noticed. He was enjoying this cloak-and-dagger stuff, sneaking around right under the SSAM agents’ noses. With each successful covert contact, he was proving himself worthy.

  He wanted to find Samantha’s killer just as passionately as SSAM did. Even if they went about it in extremely different ways. They took a psychological approach to studying their prey, just like him, but where they focused on one murderer at a time, he looked at the bigger picture. Why people like him were compelled to kill.

  His gaze surveyed the room, but nobody seemed to pay him any attention. And if a pair of eyes happened to land on him, they usually moved on within seconds. Anonymity was probably the sole advantage to being a slightly overweight, balding man in his late thirties who lived at home with his mother. And to having a camera in front of his face most of the time. Unless his subject was a drama queen looking for attention—and those people didn’t notice him because they were so into their own worlds—people tended to look away from cameras.

  Even if anybody noticed him, this was his life, his destiny, and he was determined to embrace it. Why else would his job allow him to be here? He had a unique skillset, perfect for today’s festivities.

  And perfect for helping Becca. He’d already set up a couple of special interviews when he got back to Chicago that would be invaluable to her...he was certain of it. She would soon be begging to meet him and express her appreciation.

  And with the picture he’d left for Diego, the man would see his value, too. He’d see that the SSAM Fan was a better partner for Becca than Diego could ever be. The Fan had access to clues Diego never knew were there.

  He hadn’t gotten up the nerve to approach Damian with his ideas yet...he was too imposing a figure...but perhaps he could talk to Becca. He looked for her, moving among the guests as he did so, but she wasn’t in the big ballroom. Diego was seated with Damian. Becca’s date was on the dance floor, with someone else. His eyes narrowed as he saw how close the man was holding the woman in his arms. Catherine Montague. She wasn’t a SSAM agent, but as Damian’s administrative assistant, she was an integral part of the organization.

  And she was having way too much fun with Becca’s date.

  Outrage and protectiveness—on Becca’s behalf—rose up, filling his chest. She was a sweet woman, an agent of justice, like him. And, like him, she deserved to be treated so much better.

  * * *

  After Diego left her in the coatroom, Becca stared at his phone for a long while. If she pressed Send, who would be on the other end? And would she want to hear what they had to say? Curiosity ultimately got the best of her.

  “Hello?” Selina’s voice answered.

  Becca was flooded with relief. “Selina? You’re okay?”

  “Who is this?” Her voice was wary now.

  “It’s Becca. I was just calling to check on you.”

  “How’d you get my number?”

  “I guess we have a friend in common.”

  Selina’s voice softened. “He’s wonderful, isn’t he?”

  Becca was starting to realize just how wonderful. Diego must have kept his identity a secret from Selina, only giving her the Diego Sandoval name as it was connected to the Circle. Not revealing his identity as a true hero.

  Becca had shown Diego nothing but doubt, but he’d given her the gift of knowing Selina was okay.

  After a couple minutes of checking in with Selina and reminding her of precautions she should take to be sure she wasn’t followed, as well as leaving her phone number again for emergencies, Becca gave herself time to regain her normal rhythm before leaving the coatroom. Diego’s rapid retreat had left her stunned, not only because it had sounded like he was saying goodbye forever, but because he’d finally given her the last piece of the puzzle. His gesture had gone a long way toward proving she could trust him. Was he asking for her trust in return? He had saved Selina, so whatever his purpose in posing as a mole for the Circle, her gut feelings had been confirmed. Diego Sandoval was a good guy.

  Which left her with muddled emotions.

  For a while after hearing Diego’s name connected with the Circle, she’d been flooded with memories of a time she’d been so involved with a man that she hadn’t seen the truth staring her in the face. The trauma with James Powell had impacted her entire adult life. Though she was proud of who she had become since, she’d never again open herself up to that kind of hurt...the kind that came from letting people get too close, too fast.

  In the ballroom, she spied Diego and a jolt of awareness went through her like electricity...quickly followed by alarm when she realized he was sitting with her boss. With heads bent close together, the two of them looked to be discussing something serious. Diego had left her hormones in a twisted mess. What was he up to now? Telling Damian about her investigating the Circle this afternoon? If so, she’d kill him. He might be a good guy, but he wasn’t allowed to interfere with her career...just as she didn’t want to interfere in his.

  She walked past the gift table, and a photograph nestled beneath the ribbon of a silver-wrapped package caught her eye. She moved closer, making out the details without touching the package or shifting the ribbon. I
t was a picture of a wall—the wall with the six-foot Circle emblem painted on it.

  Prickles of alarm moved through her. Such a gift was too subtle for the Circle. Would the SSAM Fan leave this among the wedding gifts? Why?

  To show that he can. To get your full attention. To prove he can be as up-close and personal as he wants, whenever he wants.

  She angled her body so she could survey the room. In her absence, she’d missed the cake cutting...people were milling about or seated with plates of cake. The dance floor was half-full. A photographer stood on the sidelines, capturing the energy on film. She recognized him as the man she’d bumped into in the lobby earlier, just outside the elevators. A bartender remained at his station, scowling as he wiped down the bar. A couple hotel staff members were collecting empty plates and glasses off of the tables. But she didn’t see anyone who didn’t belong. Of course, there were nearly two hundred guests, so she could easily miss an important face. Hell, she didn’t even know what—or who—she was looking for.

  Becca headed toward Damian’s table. Diego still sat at his side, apparently lost in thought, but his earlier anger and frustration seemed to have dissipated.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” she said as both men looked up.

  Damian’s welcoming smile slipped as he noted the expression on her face. “What is it?”

  “I think he’s been here, sir. I think the Fan left a gift on the table over there.”

  As she and Diego followed Damian to the table, she slipped Diego his phone. “Thank you...for Selina.” For giving me peace of mind, and for reminding me I can trust you. All of that was too much to say with her boss within hearing.

  He acknowledged her gratitude with a nod. A small smile reassured her that he was close to forgiving her for her doubts.

  At the table, Damian examined the box without touching it. Becca stopped by his side. “That’s a picture of a wall inside the building where the Circle holds the people it steals for human trafficking.”

  “Here in New York?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Apparently, Diego hadn’t told Damian where she’d been that afternoon. She felt more gratitude toward him.

  “But you think this is from the Fan.”

  “It’s his style.” And if this was from him, the Fan had been at the factory sometime that day. Suddenly, she was glad Diego had shown up and dragged her ass out of there. She might have expected to run into Circle thugs, but this Fan was unpredictable. What did he want? “Should we open the box?”

  Damian looked to Diego as if he should be included in the decision. What had transpired in those few minutes she’d delayed her return? Sure, Diego knew about the SSAM Fan’s notes, and he was linked to Selina, but he was ultimately an outsider, not a part of the agency. Like Cinderella, he’d be returning to his apartment, to his life, at midnight, when the party was over. Part of her hoped he’d turn into a pumpkin. She hated pumpkin. It would be easier to leave him behind tomorrow.

  “Yes,” Diego said. “But be aware that he might be watching.”

  Becca let her attention slowly wander the room again, as if she was just interested in observing the party. Again, nobody seemed to be paying particular attention to her or their table.

  Damian turned his back to the room so that he could pull a handkerchief from his pocket, using it to keep his prints off the package as he discreetly slipped off the bow. He read a note carefully scripted on the back of the photo. “Congratulations to the happy couple. And congratulations to Becca for this lead. It’s been a pleasure, even from afar, to watch the SSAM family celebrating how life goes on, even when those lives are painted with death and destruction. You give me faith in happy endings, and justice for all. It’s signed The SSAM Fan.”

  “Creepy,” Diego commented.

  “Even more personal than before, though, at least for him,” Becca said. Deep in thought, she nibbled on her bottom lip. When she caught Diego watching her with interest, she promptly ceased. “Painted might refer to the case that Noah and Vanessa were involved in. In addition to knowing about my meeting with Selina, he knew about the wedding this weekend.” And somehow he’d followed her to the building today. She certainly hadn’t seen anyone there except Diego. She caught his gaze and knew he was thinking the same thing. This man was watching her every move. Fan, indeed. The man had definitely crossed the stalker line. He was familiar with past operations. And he had an inside track to their personal lives.

  “How did he immerse himself in all of these places, leaving the notes, without notice?” Becca asked.

  “There are a couple hundred guests here,” Diego pointed out. “It wouldn’t be so hard to blend into a crowd, or even just slip in and out, if nobody was watching for you.”

  “I’ll ask the hotel for any video surveillance of this area,” Becca said. “Maybe we can see someone delivering this gift.”

  At the mention of the package, Diego handed Damian a pocketknife to carefully slit open the tape. Again, Damian used his handkerchief to handle the box. The gift had been meticulously wrapped. Inside, there was what looked like a CD case with a printed cover that was a collage of familiar faces.

  “These are all SSAM agents,” Damian told Diego.

  The title printed across the middle proclaimed the disc a Salute to SSAM Heroes.

  “I’ll schedule a meeting at SSAM first thing Monday morning,” Damian said. “That should give me some time to view this and Lorena can put together a profile. I’ll see you both at the airport in the morning.”

  Becca looked from Damian to Diego, alarm blooming and bouncing around like a fireball in her stomach. “Both, sir?”

  “All indications are that the Circle is too dangerous to investigate alone, so I’ve hired Diego to come to Chicago and help out.”

  Becca gaped at Diego. “And you accepted the job?”

  Why? The word was on her lips, but she pressed them together rather than air any more of her personal issues with Diego in front of her boss. Not because he would hold it against her, but because, in his quiet, protective, fatherly way, Damian would do everything he could to help smooth things over.

  But when Damian’s attention was elsewhere, Diego leaned in close to her. “I can see the wheels turning. Give the hamster a break and just accept that I’m your new partner.”

  The goodbye he’d said in the coatroom apparently hadn’t been real. Becca let her confusion show. “Why would you accept this position? You could easily go back to your life and I could go back to mine.”

  “Where you’ll continue to risk your neck for the people you care about.” The hardness in his voice softened with a sigh. “I know you mean well, but you don’t seem to give your own safety much credence.”

  “And if I promise I’ll put my safety first?” She was desperate to get him to back off. Before this trip, knowing she’d spend a large portion of this weekend in his company, she had reinforced her defenses. They’d taken a beating over the past twenty-four hours. But working together for a whole week? Those walls would buckle. And she couldn’t let him in. Too much was at risk...so much he didn’t even have a clue about.

  “No deal. You always put others first. So I’m going to be there to put you first. I’m going to stick very, very close to you, Becca Haney.”

  Saturday, 10:18 p.m.

  Manhattan

  “Aren’t you going to say anything?” Becca asked as Diego followed her into her hotel room and started poking around, assuring himself the place was empty of boogeymen. He’d been quiet since their encounter in the coatroom, and they finally had a chance to talk about his work with the Circle, and why he accepted Damian’s proposition to spend the next week in Chicago. Instead, he seemed to have retreated within himself.

  “All clear.” He handed her the key card, then the gun he’d relieved her of when he’d fake-arrested her. “Keep it near you during the night.”

  “The Fan hasn’t seemed dangerous. His notes seem to indicate he wants to help. I’m not sure I need a bodyguard.”


  “He’s a stalker, Becca,” Diego said with infuriating patience, as if talking to a child. “And that doesn’t even include the risks you’re undertaking with the Circle investigation.”

  “Maybe I should hire the SSAM Fan as my partner,” she teased. “He seems to want to help, and he won’t demand to be near me twenty-four/seven. And then we’d know who he is. Everything would be wrapped up with a bright red bow.”

  Diego stepped close. “You may get your wish if we don’t figure this out together. But for the next week, I’m your partner. Your only partner.” His gaze touched on her lips before he took a step back. She licked her lips, wishing she could taste him there.

  You are in such trouble. Forget keeping Diego away with her defenses. She’d have a hard enough time keeping her hands to herself.

  “We have to talk.” Diego moved away from her and sat in the chair in the farthest corner from her. Out of reach. This was going to be a serious talk.

  “Yeah, we do.” She plopped down on the bed. “You basically admitted you work for the Circle, but are actually undercover for law enforcement.”

  “A special task force, actually. Inter-agency. I only know my supervisor, FBI Special Agent Todd Garrison, but there are apparently several officers—FBI, DEA, ICE, local law enforcement and possibly others—working different angles in various cities to figure out who’s at the top of the pyramid. We could have taken out several operations, arrested dozens of criminals, but our objective is to get to the head of the snake. Unfortunately, the man is secretive as hell, and his lackeys refer to him only as Boss. I don’t know anybody else in the group except my supervisor, who you talked to, and the same goes for each member.”

  “So you can’t hurt each others’ covers, but you also can’t determine friend or foe.”

  “Exactly.”

  It sounded so...lonely. Becca’s heart twisted for what he must have been going through these past few months. Despite his large family, he’d felt alone last summer, when she’d met him, because his mistake had nearly cost the Sandovals justice in Natalee’s murder case. Their affair had been a brief reprieve from reality, but when she’d left, he must have returned to work under a dark cloud of suspicion based on the mistake he’d made, which was further compounded when he’d purposely perpetuated the dirty cop image.