High Stakes Gamble Page 5

  “About a week ago. Then all hell broke loose here at work. And after getting the flu, I lost track of time. Finally yesterday, I realized how long it had been and started calling.”

  “You didn’t have any messages from her? None at all?”

  “One saying she’d found a good babysitter for Noel while she got the packing done. She hates anything that upsets her normal routine so she did mention that her life had spiralled and was crazy. Then nothing. Aurora, it’s not like Carly. If I don’t call every second day, she’s on to me, riding my ass about keeping in touch. I told you that her and Noel, her little guy, are intending to move here to Vegas, right?”

  “Like a millions times. It’s all you’ve been talking about for months! You’re lucky to still have each other. I think it’s a great idea.”

  “Carly and Noel are all I’ve got left of my family and I hated moving away even for the short time it took me to get settled and find a place we could share.”

  “Since you shouldn’t be at work yet anyway, why don’t you go see what’s wrong. If you need a loan for a plane ticket, it’s yours.” Aurora knew that Lisa used a lot of her wages helping her sister with expenses and never seemed to have enough cash.

  “If I don’t hear anything soon, I might have to take you up on your offer.” Lisa beamed at Aurora then spoiled it with a sneeze. “Tank ew, Wory. You’re—”

  “Don’t mention it and for Chrissakes, I’m begging here. Don’t call me Wory!”

  Snickering while fishing out more Kleenex, Lisa grabbed her phone and punched in numbers she knew by heart.

  Aurora left her to her phone call and went over to Ham’s desk, waiting till he finished his two-finger plucking the keys on the computer. Finally, he looked her way, his bushy eyebrows creased with frowns.

  “So, did they come up with anything on those licence plates yet?”

  He answered with a shrug. “Yeah and they were all bogus. For instance, the difference between two of them was between a C and an O.”

  She sniffed with disgust. “A bit of paint and voilà.”

  “That’s what I figured. Meanwhile, the other numbers registered to a truck fitting that description were all stolen. The driver’s license numbers used were phony also. One thing though, an operator at the Nellis scale said he remembered the driver as being a heavy-set Asian guy. He also said the prick stuck a bag in his garbage and the stink drove him to check. It was a pile of dirty diapers. Said when he told the driver he could take the crap with him, the bastard acted as mean and miserable as they come.”

  With a voice that could chop a block of ice in half, she answered. “Having a personality disorder is one thing. Kidnapping kids and shooting a cop in cold blood goes way past being miserable and into the psychotic.”

  “You got that right. This is one scoundrel I’m gonna be happy to bring down.”

  “I get that I don’t have to ask, but you know me, I can’t help myself. You did send someone out to retrieve the bag of diapers and to bring the he scale operator in for the sketch artist to work with him, right?”

  “Sure. But he says he only got a quick glance and the sun put the guy’s face in the shade. We’ll do the best we can.”

  “Good.”

  Ham’s keen glance checked her over. “Hey, you look kinda weird today. Anything you need to talk about? You coming down with the flu, too?”

  “Nah! Just didn’t get much sleep.” She tried not to flinch from his concern and set him off.

  He sat up straight, and with his eyes narrowed, he searched hers until she looked away. “Son-of-a-bitch! He’s back, ain’t he? Want I should shoot him for you?”

  “Nah! I already tried. Even with a gun pointed at him, he doesn’t scare that easy. Let’s not waste our time talking about the bastard. I let him see Lily and he left. End of discussion.”

  Ham continued to stare until she threw him the don’t-mess-with-me look she was so famous for. It still took a few seconds for him to back down and change the subject.

  “Speaking of our little angel, how did she take you dropping her off at Deb’s this morning?”

  Tension fading, Aurora rested her hip on the edge of Ham’s overflowing desk. “Are you kidding? She loves Deb.”

  “Mattie said to tell you if you’re ever stuck she’ll be glad to take her also. She loves the babe and since our three are at school all day now, she’s suffering from mommy-with-no-baby-to-cuddle syndrome. At least until I get home from work, that is.” His suggestive wink said it all.

  “Eww! Like I’d take a chance on leaving her with you two? I’d have to pry her out of your arms with a crowbar every night.” Aurora felt the smugness of pride flow over her and had to turn away before Ham could see the pleasure on her face. “By the way, I called Raoul last night.”

  Ham stiffened and the softness fled. “Still don’t know why you two are so tight. He heads up the Hermanos and has his hands into all kinds of illegitimate crap.”

  Aurora almost explained that she balanced his usefulness to his being jailed, then decided not to. Over the last year, Raoul had helped her solve a few messy situations that she knew wouldn’t have ended without his help. Plus, as the sole caregiver for his little sister, Rosa, who relied on him in every way, he needed to stay free.

  Rosa, blinded and assaulted by the monsters from the rival gang who’d kidnapped her, without Raoul, would be pretty much at the mercy of foster care. And for Aurora that was unthinkable.

  Beside, once Aurora had saved Rosa’s life, she pretty well had Raoul eating out of her hands. So as long as his gang didn’t step too far out of the box, she’d play the game. After all, there was no doubt in her mind that the minute he disappeared another hombre would step in and probably it would be someone who wouldn’t play to her rules.

  Ham’s chair creaked as he got comfortable and she realized he waited patiently for her to continue.

  “It works just fine this way, O’Hampton,” she teased. “If he crosses the line, I’ll be the first to cuff him. He gave me some intel that I phoned in to Ray last night. Has he been to see you yet?”

  “No but he called to say he was ready for you, want I should get him here?”

  “Don’t bother; he’s on his way now.” Aurora had caught sight of the curly red-headed stickman heading in their direction, his baggy camouflage pants doing little to hide his lack of hips. The grin he wore, while he bounced toward them, spoke volumes to his fondness for her.

  She tried not to return his smile since it normally encouraged him to veer into personal stuff. Instead she kept a straight face and asked with a serious attitude. “What have you got for me?”

  “Good to see you Aurora. How’s Lily?” He stood there looking at her like they were at a freaking family picnic or something.

  Aw hell! She’d have to rebuild her shoulder-chip. Since having the baby, everyone in the frigging place had turned into a pal. With her voice sounding distinctly pissy, she answered. “Lily’s fine. What about the Chang-Lee’s?”

  Recognizing her mood, he snapped to attention and started reading from the report he held in his long spindly fingers. “There are two of them—half brothers. One was born in Kowloon, name of Chu, the other in L.A called Leon. They have the same father, Han Chang-Lee. Both sons in their mid-thirties have formed an alliance and set up a crime network that’s become a syndicate of corruption, and violence. You name it and they’re into it. Brother Chu, who went to UCLA, fled a few years ago and is a person of interest after being implicated in multiple murders. He’s rich and powerful and his extradition from China will never take place. Of course we know he won’t step foot back in this country on his own so we can nab him. But from what I can make out, he’s the commander and chief.”

  “You figure they’re behind the baby snatching taking place lately? Why would they be involved in something so rudimentary? And white children, I don’t get it?” Perplexed, she asked and expected an answer.

  “I guess I forgot to tell you the name of their under
ground enterprise. It’s called “Demand, We’ll Supply.” Anything goes: weapons, drugs, human trafficking. In fact every form of corruption and subversion has been linked to this family. If there’s a requirement for white babies anywhere in the world, their motto says you pay the money and we’ll fill the order.”

  “Okay, we need to see all cargo manifests that look iffy going in the direction of L.A. Therefore highway patrol needs to be at all the weigh scales leaving the city and we need to close down those escape routes. I know we already have officers watching for trucks with that description but we need to double them. Also have the choppers patrol all unlikely routes for a twenty-year-old white Peterbilt. Plus, Ray, you better send this info on to the Feds but if you happen to get extremely busy over the next while and don’t get it done right away, well then…” She shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry, we screwed up.”

  “Can do.” His head bobbed up and down, his golden-reddish hair resembling a platter of skinny, curly fries bouncing all around.

  Aurora thought for a minute and then asked. “Did you come up with an address?”

  “In L.A., sure. But nothing here.”

  “What about any links to some of the Chinese mafia here in town?”

  “Nothing. Dead end.”

  Aurora’s face brightened. “Where’s Mother Ling hanging out nowadays?”

  Ray looked confused until Ham interrupted. “Good call, Aurora. That old bag knows everything going on in her community and can be helpful if you bring her a gift. Last I heard—she was still in the slammer.”

  “Swisher Sweets Wine cigarillos. Right?”

  Ham nodded. “You want her total focus, I’d bring two boxes.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Enjoying the drive to the prison, and the unusual quiet, Aurora had time to think about Kai. As long as she’d kept him out of the equation, her life had finally morphed into a happy kind of routine.

  Her main concern, Lily, who’d settled in with Deb and Alec like a puppy in a litter, would be just fine for as long as Aurora felt she needed to help out at work.

  She glanced over at her partner whose mumbling caught her attention. It seemed strange not to have Lisa—who kept working her cell, trying to get a hold of her sister—pummelling her with weird bits of knowledge, starting each sentence with “Did you know?” or “I read something interesting last night…,” blah, blah.

  Not that Aurora really minded Lisa sharing her interesting tidbits. It was more her constant dribble about her friends and their most intimate life details that freaked her out. That’s when Aurora cranked the radio up. Lately, she had the feeling that Lisa made most of it up just to piss her off. She smiled. Not that she’d ever admit she was on to her. Why spoil her fun?

  A glance out the rear view mirror and the noise beginning in her head snared her attention. A black Dodge Charger had been steadily gaining on them and she just knew it spelled trouble.

  “Shit, Lisa, we’re being tailed.” Aurora saw two people in the Charger. “Those pricks are making me nervous.” Wheeling her SUV like a demon consumed, she hit the siren to clear the other few vehicles from danger. Then she slammed her foot onto the gas pedal while at the same time she pulled her gun in readiness. “They’re coming up on the left.” As per routine, she called in their location and the details of what was soon to go down, then felt slightly better knowing back-up would be on its way.

  The sports car had dropped back for a passing truck which gave them a few seconds. The approaching busy section worried Aurora. She slowed down slightly. Better to settle things now.

  In a move as athletic as a performer from Cirque du Soleil, Lisa wrenched her seat all the way back and then lowered it to almost a prone position. Using the dash like a spring board, she pushed first with her knees and then with her feet to slither into the rear seat. Rolling down the window slightly, she drew her gun and with a gleeful note in her voice and she said, “Let ‘em come.”

  “Girl you sure do have the moves.” Since the first day they began working together, Lisa constantly surprised the hell outta Aurora. In a good way! Aurora threw her a smile in the mirror and caught Lisa’s expression of staggering concentration. Depending on her young partner had become second nature to Aurora. It felt great to work with someone trustworthy and capable… and fun.

  “Comes from being a jock.” There was a teasing note in Lisa’s voice.

  Aurora smacked the steering wheel. “The blabbermouth told you.”

  “Well sure. The boss warned me you might take pot-shots at my extracurricular interests but admitted you didn’t really hate sports. You just weren’t athletic yourself, and so you didn’t understand the incredible skill it takes.”

  “Shutt uup!!! He didn’t?” Aurora said.

  Lisa grinned toward the rear view and Aurora knew she’d been had. “Okay get ready,” she continued. “Here they come. Check out the Uzi on your side.”

  Sure enough, the front wheels were almost in line with the rear window when Aurora wrenched her wheel, trying to force them off the road. Didn’t work. The other driver had skills also. He’d braked and countered.

  Two men were clearly outlined when she quickly turned her head to catch a glimpse—two men and one big mother of a gun.

  And they were gaining once again. Sending up a quick prayer for help and a message of love for Lily, Aurora waited till they were somewhat closer and then wrenched the wheel once more, hoping it would work this time. Tires squealing and gravel flying resulted… but the black car hung on and again loomed.

  Her maneuvers earned them a round of gunshots, which missed doing any fatal damage thanks to Aurora’s skill behind the wheel.

  Lisa fired her gun at the shooter, which gave them precious seconds. But all too soon the predators pulled alongside again, moving like a rocket blasted from a launcher.

  “We haven’t a hope of outrunning them with their horse power,” yelled Aurora. “Where the hell is a cop when you need one?”

  Laughing wildly in agreement, Lisa answered. “Right here, Partner! Cover me, will ya?”

  Aurora nodded, levelled her gun and shot toward the Charger, hoping to keep them too busy taking cover to fire back.

  Lisa, with her body outlined in the window, took dangerous seconds to correct her aim, and then she shot out the front tire of their pursuer’s vehicle.

  One second the car raced parallel with theirs—and the next it was airborne, flipping over and over. Sand, dry grass and cacti flew in all directions while the Charger’s motor screamed its distress. The smashing glass added to the cacophony that shrieked the death of the beautiful machine.

  Aurora slowed down, did a u-turn, and drove close to where the bashed in crumpled pile of steel had rolled to a stop—upside down. The wheels were still spinning and the dust hadn’t yet settled. But there weren’t any movements, no bullets flying and no chance in hell anyone would walk away from the accident still breathing.

  Approaching sirens could be heard. Good, thought Aurora. They’ll have a job when they arrive. We’ll leave them to take care of the paperwork and call the medical examiner.

  She turned to check Lisa and smiled her thanks. “Nice shooting, Calamity. Now, we have a meeting with Mother Ling.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The women’s correctional center was a fairly new building but the inmates were the same no matter what their surroundings. Not born to be prison guards like some people are born to be doctors or golf pros, nevertheless the guards worked there because there were jobs.

  Similar to working in a plant, they had shifts, office politics and an atmosphere they tried desperately not to take home to their families. This was not a fun place to be, but it did keep food on the table and paid the bills. As Aurora and Lisa walked through the halls to the room Ham set up so they could speak with Mother Ling in private, they visited with one of the assistant wardens who Aurora knew quite well.

  “How’s the Pups program coming along, Sally?” Aurora had spent some time at the prison t
he year before with one of her arrestees and had set the young woman up as one to be allowed a pup to train. It had worked out beautifully.

  “Your girl Jenny is one of the best we have. She works with the dogs as if she had canine blood herself, canniest trainer we’ve ever had.”

  “She told me she’s gotten her GED and has signed up for the Computer program.”

  “Yep, she’ll be one of the internees we won’t see back here.” Chuckling wryly, she added, “Now Mother is a whole different story.” They’d come to the room where the interview would take place, and waited while Sally unlocked the door and held it open. “She’ll be brought down directly. You must have some tough questions for the old bird?”

  “What makes you say that?” Lisa asked.

  Aurora dropped her head to her chest playfully.

  Sally laughed and pointed at the two boxes of cigarillos clutched in Lisa’s hand.

  “Two boxes.” Sally winked at Aurora before she closed the door behind her.

  Lisa noticed Aurora’s grin and threw the boxes on the table. She stuck her hands in her pockets in disgust. “I should have kept my mouth shut.” Peevishly, Lisa folded her long legs into one of the chairs and crossed her arms.

  Sympathy, not often allowed and certainly seldom shown, made Aurora touch Lisa’s arm. “Hey cool it! You’re not yourself. Have you gotten any messages yet?”

  “Still nothing.”

  “Soon as we’re done here, I’m taking you to your place to grab a bag and then to the airport. Not sure if it’s because you’re jumpy as a virgin bride, but I’m feeling unsettled about the situation myself.”

  Before Lisa could do more than nod happily, the door unlocked and an old Chinese woman shuffled in as if she had chains around her ankles. A uniformed guard followed close behind.

  The vile grubby slippers the prisoner wore looked like two leopard kittens had glued themselves around her tiny feet. They gave her a slightly comical appearance that disappeared as soon as a person looked into her eyes.

  Never one to underestimate a foe, Aurora respectfully stood and gestured to the only comfortable chair she’d just vacated.