Page 14 of Four Cards Exposed

Susan could see the man believed his own words—knew also that his chosen line of work resulted in women and young children dying every single day.

He leaned down to give her a hug, enveloping her in his large frame. She tensed, then tamped down on her fear because Milena might have been nervous, but she wouldn’t have been afraid of Guerrero. She would have been hopeful. A desperate woman, running away from a hopeless experience, she would have seen Guerrero as her last chance.

“You don’t have to worry, Milena. I’m going to protect you. It’s what your brother would have wanted.”

Susan nodded, not trusting herself to say anything.

He opened the door to her car and folded himself inside. Susan did the same on her side and took a deep breath, steadying herself before starting the ignition. Ever since she’d been locked inside the trunk, she had some trouble with closed spaces, and sharing the small space with Guerrero wasn’t helping matters any.

“You’re shaking,” he observed. “You’re not using, are you?”

“No. I’m clean,” she said. She thought of the dead woman lying in the morgue.

“Good. Make sure you stay that way. We’re meant for bigger and better things.”

“Where… where should I go?”

“Drive into the city. We’re going to meet some friends of mine.” In his hand, he held a small paper snake.

Susan nodded and started driving. A part of her was shocked that this had all been so simple.

5

* * *

James

James’s jaw dropped to the floor. The boat was not what he was expecting.

He’d been expecting a small, dirty ferry, or perhaps a trawler, smelling thickly of unburned fuel oil, its paint chipped where the boat met the water. He’d imagined the boat would be old and worn, much like the garage and bar Sean Moore owned in a shady area of town.

Instead, he found himself staring at a small but shiny cruise ship, the kind James imagined would sail around exotic destinations, up to the Caribbean in winter and the Mediterranean in summer. Not that James had ever taken that kind of holiday. In fact, he hadn’t taken a day off in the nine years he’d been with the Bureau.

Maybe I should, once this is over.

“You look surprised, Jay. What do you think?” Sean asked, smiling.

James aimed for impressed.

“This baby’s yours, Mr. Moore?”

“All mine. I got it from a man who couldn’t pay his debts, and I knew immediately I couldn’t get rid of it. Some day, I’ll live on this ship and travel the world.”

James made a noncommittal sound.

“Forty balcony suites, plus room for the crew. Of course, nobody’s going to be sleeping in the suites tonight. This isn’t that kind of trip. Come on board and take a look,” Sean said, leading James up the gangway. “I made some modifications to the atrium and the lounges.”

James didn’t have to fake his surprise as they made their way into the ship. The enormous chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the polished cascading staircase were perhaps the only thing remaining in what must once have been the ship’s atrium.

The rest of it was all new, and one hundred percent Moore. There were dozens of slot machines, gaming tables, and multiple bar areas. In the back, James could see several glass-walled poker rooms.

He’s converted the atrium into a casino.

The space was currently empty except for three men standing next to the staircase. James recognized the first one as one of Moore’s men. The second one was Miguel Mendoza, his slim frame dwarfed by the man standing next to him.

Him, James recognized.

Daniel Guerrero.