watched him like a hawk. A young black man moving through the bureau was still a sight to see. He constantly fought for tenure and rank and she knew that each case was highly scrutinized.
“I can and I will if you can’t uncover what is needed.”
Camille placed a hand on the counter and tapped her finger to calm her nerves. She meant no disrespect, but she planned to identify the information needed to close the case.
“You know the number of children that have potentially died because of conflict diamonds. They’re moving millions of dollars in diamonds and you’re willing to let it go just like that?” Camille snapped her finger for emphasis, but she knew if she failed to produce evidence it was all over.
“You have to put some fire under your ass and get this case closed. You are going to have the local authorities in on the case, and if they realize who you are, your identity could be compromised. I’m not willing to bet your life on a hunch.”
Camille began to pace. She knew he was right, but she wouldn’t cry. Urgh.
Derek continued, “They’ve slipped through the fingers of the authorities for a while. That’s the only reason we’ve allowed you to hang around this long. Get something Camille and get it now or I’ll remove you.”
Camille froze. Two years for nothing. Nothing ! They’d pull her just like that. She heard him release a sigh that sounded somewhat like a low growl.
“You know I don’t want to do this right?” he asked, but she was unconvinced.
“Yes,” she answered through clinched teeth.
“You have through the end of this week to get me something, anything that shows me that you’re capable of closing this case. To help you I will call in a couple of favors.” This was going from bad to worse.
“I got it,” she said trying to thwart his attempts to bring in another agent.
“No, apparently you don’t. I know you can do this, but I can’t risk it. What if this leak is local? We all know there are some political issues here. How else could they get millions of conflict diamonds past customs? Now, once the local authorities start investigating, you will have to reveal what you know. You’ll be walking around Houston with a bulls-eye on your back. I won’t risk that.”
“Derek, I can do this.” It came out more like a plea.
“I know you can, that’s why you’re there, but I’m going to make some calls. I’ll be in Houston tomorrow morning. Like I said, put some fire under your ass, and get this thing moving. I’ll see you at our usual meeting place in the morning at nine.”
He hung up in her face. What the hell just happened? She dialed Ashanta’s number as she rushed to her room to get dressed. She had to talk with Ashanta before homicide detectives got to her.
* * *
Derek hated forcing Camille’s hand, but he had to. He needed information without jeopardizing her safety. He searched his cell phone database and pressed, Send .
“Yo, man, it’s Derek. I need to call in a favor.”
Chapter 6
Marc sat in the lobby of the Hotel Indigo impatiently tapping his fingers on the table while keeping his eye on the double bay of elevators several feet away. He agreed to meet with Derek, however according to his watch he was running fifteen minutes late.
Marc signaled the waiter for his check as he finished the last of his coffee. He glanced down at the check on the table, shifting forward to remove his wallet from his back pocket. He removed a ten-dollar bill and laid it on the table as he stood to leave when a woman waiting for the elevator captured his attention. He sat back in the chair, resting his elbows on the table. He recognized her face, but he couldn’t place her.
Is that Camille? That couldn’t be her. Could it? What would she be doing here? The woman was attractive in a simple way. She wore a basic black suit with her hair in a matronly bun.
“I can and I will if you can’t uncover what is needed.”
Camille placed a hand on the counter and tapped her finger to calm her nerves. She meant no disrespect, but she planned to identify the information needed to close the case.
“You know the number of children that have potentially died because of conflict diamonds. They’re moving millions of dollars in diamonds and you’re willing to let it go just like that?” Camille snapped her finger for emphasis, but she knew if she failed to produce evidence it was all over.
“You have to put some fire under your ass and get this case closed. You are going to have the local authorities in on the case, and if they realize who you are, your identity could be compromised. I’m not willing to bet your life on a hunch.”
Camille began to pace. She knew he was right, but she wouldn’t cry. Urgh.
Derek continued, “They’ve slipped through the fingers of the authorities for a while. That’s the only reason we’ve allowed you to hang around this long. Get something Camille and get it now or I’ll remove you.”
Camille froze. Two years for nothing. Nothing ! They’d pull her just like that. She heard him release a sigh that sounded somewhat like a low growl.
“You know I don’t want to do this right?” he asked, but she was unconvinced.
“Yes,” she answered through clinched teeth.
“You have through the end of this week to get me something, anything that shows me that you’re capable of closing this case. To help you I will call in a couple of favors.” This was going from bad to worse.
“I got it,” she said trying to thwart his attempts to bring in another agent.
“No, apparently you don’t. I know you can do this, but I can’t risk it. What if this leak is local? We all know there are some political issues here. How else could they get millions of conflict diamonds past customs? Now, once the local authorities start investigating, you will have to reveal what you know. You’ll be walking around Houston with a bulls-eye on your back. I won’t risk that.”
“Derek, I can do this.” It came out more like a plea.
“I know you can, that’s why you’re there, but I’m going to make some calls. I’ll be in Houston tomorrow morning. Like I said, put some fire under your ass, and get this thing moving. I’ll see you at our usual meeting place in the morning at nine.”
He hung up in her face. What the hell just happened? She dialed Ashanta’s number as she rushed to her room to get dressed. She had to talk with Ashanta before homicide detectives got to her.
* * *
Derek hated forcing Camille’s hand, but he had to. He needed information without jeopardizing her safety. He searched his cell phone database and pressed, Send .
“Yo, man, it’s Derek. I need to call in a favor.”
Chapter 6
Marc sat in the lobby of the Hotel Indigo impatiently tapping his fingers on the table while keeping his eye on the double bay of elevators several feet away. He agreed to meet with Derek, however according to his watch he was running fifteen minutes late.
Marc signaled the waiter for his check as he finished the last of his coffee. He glanced down at the check on the table, shifting forward to remove his wallet from his back pocket. He removed a ten-dollar bill and laid it on the table as he stood to leave when a woman waiting for the elevator captured his attention. He sat back in the chair, resting his elbows on the table. He recognized her face, but he couldn’t place her.
Is that Camille? That couldn’t be her. Could it? What would she be doing here? The woman was attractive in a simple way. She wore a basic black suit with her hair in a matronly bun.
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