Read Online Operation Date With Destiny by Karlene Blakemore-Mowle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Karlene Blakemore-Mowle
Ads: Link
before her, arms folded across his chest, legs planted firmly on the ground as he wait ed patiently.
“ Two weeks ago I got a phone call that my parents had been killed in a car accident, ” she told them briskly. The memories of that dreaded call still made her feel like throwing up. That alone had been enough of a shock to deal with , but when her thoughts had immediately gone to her brother and she ’ d asked about his whereabouts , the line had gone alarmingly quiet. No one had found a kid either on the scene or back at the house. He ’ d simply vanished. That ’ s when she knew Tre ’ ago had her brother.
“ Tre ’ ago had my parents killed and kidnapped my brother. I managed to track him down to here . This is where his head of security , a guy named Bart Rothman, keeps an eye on his drug manufacturing lab. ”
“ Tre ’ ago ’ s in prison—he ’ s got a life sentence. How the hell does he still run a drug ring from his cell? ” Del asked.
Destiny gave a bitter snort. “ He ’ s got people planted everywhere. He knew his time was running out when you guys turned up alive after he thought he ’ d pinned you with that weapons heist seven years ago. You were supposed to be dead . That ’ s when he prepared for the worst. He owns people and he ’ s smart. He ’ s got money hidden in bank accounts all over the world. The IRS will never be able to track down half of what he has. ”
Del ’ s eyes narrowed. “ If you know so much why haven ’ t you gone to the authorities and told them? ”
“ Because I don ’ t have any evidence to give them. I only found out about this place when I came over to see if I could find Jackson myself. That ’ s when I discovered the drug lab. I recognized the man in charge as my…as Tre ’ ago ’ s head of security. ”
“ I don ’ t get it— ” Johnny shook his head. “ —how does he keep people on the payroll? Why don ’ t they just take off with his money? He ’ s in prison—he ’ s never getting out. What ’ s to keep them working for him? ”
“ Like I said…he owns them. He does what he did with Jackson—steels the people they love and holds them for ransom—or kills whoever isn ’ t useful to him anymore. Most people—especially the people around here , are so frightened of him and so poor, they have no choice but to work for him. It makes no difference if he ’ s in prison or not. Tre ’ ago is a powerful man who knows how to keep people loyal to him…through fear. ”
“ So back up a bit. Why did he kidnap your brother? It ’ s not even his kid right? And why kill your parents? ” Johnny said.
“ That ’ s not the issue here. Getting Jackson out of that place ASAP is what ’ s important. So let ’ s just cut the chit chat and do what we came here to do. ” She went to turn away but Johnny caught her arm again. “ I would suggest you stop doing that if you want to keep your limbs intact, ” she bit out through tightly clenched teeth.
“ What aren ’ t you telling us? ”
“ If you want to clear your name—stop asking questions and do your job. ” She shook off his hold and hoped the four Marines didn ’ t detect the fragile thread that seemed to be unraveling at an alarming rate inside her. Just hold it together girl for a little while longer , she told herself firmly.
****
Tupper knew she was hiding something more…although he wasn ’ t quite sure he could handle any more surprises right now anyway—but he ’ d figure it out sooner or later.
“ I guess the big question is do we trust her? ” Tate asked quietly, voicing what everyone else was thinking.
“ She seems legit—I mean if the kid is being held in that compound—then it would explain her big hurry to push this along, ” Maloney shrugged.
“ Willow ’ s going to keep digging and see what else she can find, ” Del said as they sat scattered around their camp making last minute preparations to their kit and getting a few minutes
“ Two weeks ago I got a phone call that my parents had been killed in a car accident, ” she told them briskly. The memories of that dreaded call still made her feel like throwing up. That alone had been enough of a shock to deal with , but when her thoughts had immediately gone to her brother and she ’ d asked about his whereabouts , the line had gone alarmingly quiet. No one had found a kid either on the scene or back at the house. He ’ d simply vanished. That ’ s when she knew Tre ’ ago had her brother.
“ Tre ’ ago had my parents killed and kidnapped my brother. I managed to track him down to here . This is where his head of security , a guy named Bart Rothman, keeps an eye on his drug manufacturing lab. ”
“ Tre ’ ago ’ s in prison—he ’ s got a life sentence. How the hell does he still run a drug ring from his cell? ” Del asked.
Destiny gave a bitter snort. “ He ’ s got people planted everywhere. He knew his time was running out when you guys turned up alive after he thought he ’ d pinned you with that weapons heist seven years ago. You were supposed to be dead . That ’ s when he prepared for the worst. He owns people and he ’ s smart. He ’ s got money hidden in bank accounts all over the world. The IRS will never be able to track down half of what he has. ”
Del ’ s eyes narrowed. “ If you know so much why haven ’ t you gone to the authorities and told them? ”
“ Because I don ’ t have any evidence to give them. I only found out about this place when I came over to see if I could find Jackson myself. That ’ s when I discovered the drug lab. I recognized the man in charge as my…as Tre ’ ago ’ s head of security. ”
“ I don ’ t get it— ” Johnny shook his head. “ —how does he keep people on the payroll? Why don ’ t they just take off with his money? He ’ s in prison—he ’ s never getting out. What ’ s to keep them working for him? ”
“ Like I said…he owns them. He does what he did with Jackson—steels the people they love and holds them for ransom—or kills whoever isn ’ t useful to him anymore. Most people—especially the people around here , are so frightened of him and so poor, they have no choice but to work for him. It makes no difference if he ’ s in prison or not. Tre ’ ago is a powerful man who knows how to keep people loyal to him…through fear. ”
“ So back up a bit. Why did he kidnap your brother? It ’ s not even his kid right? And why kill your parents? ” Johnny said.
“ That ’ s not the issue here. Getting Jackson out of that place ASAP is what ’ s important. So let ’ s just cut the chit chat and do what we came here to do. ” She went to turn away but Johnny caught her arm again. “ I would suggest you stop doing that if you want to keep your limbs intact, ” she bit out through tightly clenched teeth.
“ What aren ’ t you telling us? ”
“ If you want to clear your name—stop asking questions and do your job. ” She shook off his hold and hoped the four Marines didn ’ t detect the fragile thread that seemed to be unraveling at an alarming rate inside her. Just hold it together girl for a little while longer , she told herself firmly.
****
Tupper knew she was hiding something more…although he wasn ’ t quite sure he could handle any more surprises right now anyway—but he ’ d figure it out sooner or later.
“ I guess the big question is do we trust her? ” Tate asked quietly, voicing what everyone else was thinking.
“ She seems legit—I mean if the kid is being held in that compound—then it would explain her big hurry to push this along, ” Maloney shrugged.
“ Willow ’ s going to keep digging and see what else she can find, ” Del said as they sat scattered around their camp making last minute preparations to their kit and getting a few minutes
Similar Books
