Chapter 4 - The Badge Behind the Serpent
Dante took Cass to a Moretti-owned warehouse near the river.
She expected criminals.
Instead she found accountants, security personnel, lawyers, and several men who looked as though smiling required written permission.
A large man named Marco approached.
“Boss.”
His eyes moved toward Cass.
“This her?”
Dante nodded.
“The waitress.”
Marco stared.
Cass stared back.
Finally Marco said, “Respect.”
“Thank you.”
“You really took out Kincaid with cookware?”
Cass shrugged.
“It was nearby.”
Marco laughed.
“I like her.”
Dante did not.
“Find everything about Daniel Miller.”
Marco’s smile vanished.
“Already working.”
An hour later, documents covered a conference table.
Daniel had been investigating Victor Krell.
His last contact inside law enforcement was Detective Robert Hayes.
Cass pointed at the photograph.
“Him.”
“You know Hayes?” Dante asked.
“He came to our house after Daniel died.”
“What did he say?”
“That Daniel had gotten involved with dangerous people.”
Dante’s expression hardened.
“He wasn’t warning your family.”
Cass understood.
“He was checking what we knew.”
Marco entered.
“We found something else.”
He placed a photograph on the table.
Victor Krell.
Robert Hayes.
Together.
Cass stared at it.
“When?”
“Three weeks before Daniel died.”
Dante stood.
“Where’s Hayes now?”
Marco hesitated.
“Outside.”
Cass looked toward the warehouse doors.
“What?”
Marco continued.
“He came voluntarily.”
The doors opened.
Detective Hayes entered with both hands visible.
Dante’s men surrounded him.
Hayes looked at Cass.
“You look like Daniel.”
Cass crossed the room.
“You killed him.”
“No.”
“You betrayed him.”
Hayes swallowed.
“I tried to save him.”
Dante stepped forward.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Hayes looked at him.
“Victor has something you need.”
“What?”
“Your organization has a traitor.”
Dante became completely still.
Hayes continued.
“That’s how Victor knew you’d be alone at the diner.”
Cass looked at Dante.
“You told someone?”
“Only three people knew.”
Marco frowned.
“Me. Nico. Anthony.”
Hayes nodded.
“One of them sold you.”
“Which?”
“I don’t know.”
Dante moved closer.
“Then you’re useless.”
“No.”
Hayes looked at Cass.
“I know where Victor keeps the evidence Daniel collected.”
Cass stepped forward.
“Where?”
“An old storage facility near Cicero.”
“Why tell us?”
Hayes looked exhausted.
“Because I’ve spent six years pretending I didn’t help get a good man killed.”
Cass stared at him.
“That isn’t redemption.”
“I know.”
“Then what is it?”
“A chance to finish what your brother started.”
Dante looked at Cass.
“This could be a trap.”
“It probably is.”
“You still want to go?”
Cass thought about Daniel.
Then she nodded.
“Yes.”
Dante sighed.
“Of course you do.”
Cass raised an eyebrow.
“Problem?”
“No.”
He reached for his coat.
May you like
“I’m beginning to understand why you smashed a coffee pot instead of running.”
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