“But it’s plausible. Not only that, it’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“We have no proof. No evidence. The problem with organizations like Mona Hill’s is that she knows a lot of secrets about a lot of people, many of those people with a lot to lose. We need to convince the AUSA that we have probable cause for a warrant and not just a fishing expedition. I don’t think we’re even close. I’ll take it to Juan, it’s his call.”
Tia returned. “Okay, we’re set on the guard.” She glanced over at the nurse’s desk to where a young man stood waiting. “Mr. Rabb?” she said.
He turned, obviously surprised to see the three of them conversing. “Detective. I just want to make sure that the girl I brought in last night was okay.”
“She’s resting,” Tia said. “She’ll make a full recovery.”
He approached them with a shy smile. “I guess I wouldn’t be able to see her?”
“Not now,” Tia said. “I’ll give her your contact information if she wants to reach out to you.”
“You don’t have to. She just reminded me of my little sister. I feel better knowing she’s okay.”
“We’ll walk you out,” Tia said, leading the way. “Ignore the two grumpy feds.” She glanced back at Lucy and Barry with a grin. “They’re probably as hungry as I am.”
Rabb thanked Tia and they parted ways in the lobby.
Tia said, “He was a good Samaritan. Not everyone would stop for a gunshot victim, I’m sad to say. But I wasn’t lying—I’m starved. It’s nearly two. Let’s go to Mi Tierra. It’s not far, and it’s my favorite place. Good food and cheap. Too bad we’re on duty, because they make a wicked margarita.”
*
Brad Donnelly picked up Ryan Quiroz at FBI headquarters that afternoon.
“What’s the story?” Ryan asked as Brad pulled out of the parking lot.
“Body found in Atascosa County. Two gunshot wounds in the leg, one in the back of the head. Blood type AB positive—the same as the shooter who got away at our crime scene.”
“ID?”
“No, but the M.E. said there were gang tats, and the estimated time-of-death fits.” Brad tossed Ryan a file. “Ballistics from the crime scene.”
Ryan opened the file. “They confirmed the guns were from the stolen shipment based on the ammo?”
“Yep. The shipment of guns that Vasco Trejo sold to Tobias. At least, that’s what we think was going on based on a partial conversation.”
“Something you overheard when they captured you?”
Brad hesitated, then nodded. Lucy had overheard the conversation, but he couldn’t say that. “Basically, Tobias was furious that Trejo had lost part of the gun shipment to Kane Rogan’s mercenaries. He wanted his money back.”
“How many guns are still out there?”
“A lot. Rogan was only able to retrieve two trucks but suspected that twice as many disappeared with Tobias or his people.”
“And some of the guns that Trejo controlled—ostensibly to sell to Tobias—killed Tobias’s people.”
“If Sanchez’s team joined Tobias.”
Ryan said, “Why would Tobias sell guns to one of his rivals? And since Trejo is dead and Rogan thinks Tobias had the guns, why would he kill his own gang?”
“Maybe he sold them to a rival group, who then turned on Tobias.”
“But there’s been no retaliation. This case is giving me a headache.”
“It’s too fucking quiet. It’s making me itchy.” Brad paused, then added, “ATF is taking over as primary. They say since it’s an international gun incident, it’s theirs.”
“That really sucks. A million dollars in drugs and they walk in? None of the guns were found on scene.”
“They’re wrong, and it’s going to get in the way. This isn’t about guns, this is about the cartels and their growing foothold in southern Texas. It’s a power play, pure and simple. I think they took it because the DOJ doesn’t trust us after Nicole. We’ve had bureaucrats up our ass for two months.”
“Did you talk to Rollins?”
Brad’s hands clutched the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. “Sam told me she was a cold bitch, but she goes beyond cold. She wants witness protection. I just can’t figure out if she really has valuable intel, or if she’s just playing us.”
“What did she say?”
“If the remainder of the Trejo/Sanchez gang was taken out, Tobias allowed it or did it himself.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why would Tobias want to take out his own gang? And leave the drugs?”
“Distrust, skimming, loyalty issues.”