Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(43)

John slammed his fist against the railing. “We might be able to use it. If we could find it.”

“What do you mean? It’s in the evidence room. I heard the deputies talking about it under their breaths in the bar.”

“That reassures me. Anyone could have overheard them.”

“So what’s missing?”

“Several confiscated files. Neil Wexler was the investigator in charge. He says he hasn’t touched the evidence in months, but the log shows he signed it out at the same time he checked out the files from the bus terminal shooting. Now, everything has vanished.”

“Shannon Devlin’s case files, too?”

“Yes. It looks bad for Wexler, no matter what he claims, and Tower has a grin that turns my stomach. The fallout is going to be fierce.”

Gabe studied his boss’s grim expression. “What do you want me to do?”

“As your commanding officer, I want you to ratchet up the pressure on your contacts. We need someone to break, whether it’s the cops you’ve been watching or a Gasmerati insider. I want this investigation closed. And not just for the criminal reasons.” John rubbed his neck. “I feel like I’ve aged five years sleeping on that damn couch. If I want to salvage my relationship with your mother, I’d better get you out of the undercover business fast.”

The knots in Gabe’s shoulders tensed up. What he’d wanted for months, and now just what he didn’t need.

He followed John back into the house to find everyone except Joy gathered in the living room. The sounds of her playing in her room echoed down the hall.

Deb stood against the wall, watching the byplay, her face curiously devoid of emotion. What had his mom said to her? What had Deb told his mom? A lump formed in the base of his gut.

Anna strode to Gabe and stared up at him, her green eyes flashing with an expression he’d seen all too often his senior year of high school.

“I’m tired of secrets, Gabriel. Secrets hurt. I’m tired of being hurt, too, by people who withhold information from me . . . for my own good.”

And he’d been keeping secrets from his mother since he was eighteen.

She grabbed Gabe’s hands in hers. “I get that you and John are cops and can’t tell me everything. Your father was the same way, but this is different. I almost lost you more than once this last year. Consider me need-to-know, whenever you can, because I’m not letting silence destroy this family. I won’t go through that heartache again.”

She whirled on John. “Why is it that you sought out my son to be the one undercover?”

“I volunteered,” Gabe hissed.

She turned to him in bewilderment. “But why, after everything that’s happened this year?”

“Because it was the only way I could stay a cop.”

Jazz gripped Luke’s hand. “Oh, Gabe. If only I’d—”

Gabe whirled on her. “This isn’t your fault, Jazz. Your weapon was sabotaged. I don’t blame you for anything that happened, but . . . I. Am. A. Cop. It’s all I ever wanted to do. I need to see this through. I need my family to be safe. Let me do my job.”

“Oh, boyo,” Anna whispered, her hand going to her mouth.

“Mom, stop.” He sighed.

Luke approached and laid his hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “Why didn’t you come to me for help? My investigations cover a lot of the same ground.”

Gabe turned to his family. “I couldn’t make your position more dangerous. I may not be SWAT anymore, but I can end the threat of Gasmerati and Tower. I can protect my family this time and make up for not seeing that Steve Paretti was a traitor.”




Ashley groaned when she saw the avatar she’d been assigned. Obviously a guy had been playing this game before her and designed this . . . supposedly erotic woman. She was clad in a football jersey, pads, and short-shorts. The woman turned and smiled seductively, her computer-generated breasts too big, her waist too small, and her hips too . . . something. Her fist pumped in the air, and all the loose lady parts jiggled enticingly.

Gag.

She glared at Niko. “I can’t believe you’re forcing me to play this bimbo.”

“We don’t have time to change anything. The Warden wants you to break Level 88 on this computer today. It’s imperative.”

Ashley tugged on the computer headset. “It’s BS, that’s what it is.”

Forty-five minutes later, the screen went blank and an orchestra of music sounded through the system. Ashley waited, gazing at the screen. Had she made it?

A spinning sun exploded.

“Congratulations, warrior! You’ve reached the pinnacle of Point of Entry VII. Level 88! You’ve earned a chance at the bonus game.” The voice dropped. “Now you must take the oath. Swear to each other what you do, what you see, will never be revealed. Swear it!”

Niko appeared at her side out of nowhere and keyed in a few strokes. “Skip all that. Go straight to the mission.”

The screen darkened and the music ended. Moments later, the mechanized voice droned. “Let’s begin your next challenge . . . there’s a traitor in our midst. An important man is being blackmailed for inappropriate behavior and being forced to misuse his power. Your job is to find the evidence the blackmailers have hidden to use against him so he is safe. There are four hundred and thirty-five doors. You must find the evidence by unlocking several special keyed sequences. Are you up to the challenge? You have two hours. No longer. Unlock the right door. Break the code. Find the proof. Nail the blackmailer.”