Page 65 of Viper

Eden: Search Warrant was just requested to be signed by Judge Brown and it’s likely coming your way now. Detective Dirk Wagner is the person who brought it forward along with the city prosecutor Rico Cooley. Basis was guns and drugs on the property. I have another case to sit on, but please be careful.

I don’t have long to get some answers.

Bullet: On it. Thanks, Eden.

Cryos: Thanks, Eden.

Viper: Thanks, baby girl. I know that was hard, but don’t worry. We’ll be fine. I’ll text you later.

Well, it’s done. Now I have to hope I made the right decision. I gather my things, lock the phone back up in the filing cabinet and then pocket the key again. When I unlock the door, and walk out, I almost run hard into Detective Wagner. “Oh, I’m sorry,” I gasp out. “Guess that’s what happens when I’m in a rush.”

He looks at me with cold eyes, looking at me and then the door. “No problem,” he finally says. “Probably be quicker if you left the door unlocked and open.”

I still at that, and then I pull myself up to my full height and pin him with as cold a look as I can. “Detective, I believe you are well aware of the rules in this building. Any time records are being put away or I am handling sensitive documents, the doors are to be closed and locked to prevent anyone from coming in and seeing something they shouldn’t.” Part of that is bullshit since not many people do it, but I have been known to do it in the past, and that can easily be verified. “And I don’t appreciate what you’re insinuating. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m running late and I need to get to court.”

“Right, my mistake,” he says calmly, holding up his hands. “I’m just making a point is all. Didn’t mean any offense.”

I nod, and then I sigh and make a big deal of relaxing. “No, I’m sorry. It’s been a very long day and I’ve worked through my lunch, so I’m a bit hangry and cranky.”

He smiles at me and nods, but his eyes never lose their cold, directness. “My wife’s the same, so I get it. No harm done. I’ll let you get on your way.” He steps back and motions for me to go ahead of him.

I smile at him, turn, lock my door, and then quickly glance at my watch for extra effect before I turn and rush down the hall. I glance over my shoulder when I’m further down the hall, and see that Detective Wagner is still staring at my door, like he’s considering breaking in, but then he starts walking and a small breath of relief slips from my lips.

I pray that Viper will be alright, but I can’t think about it right now.

TWENTY-FOUR

VIPER

I should have known Rose was up to no good the moment she stepped out of the kitchen in that getup.

The one thing about knowing what’s coming, means we’re ready when the cops show up. Nothing is out of place, and everyone is milling around normally. The only woman on the premises is Rose, and the moment she heard what was happening, she went into the kitchen and started baking. Said that the smell will help ease some of the tension. Personally, I think she’s probably in there adding some arsenic to the cookie dough, but what do I know.

They come in with sirens blazing. Four cop cars and one SWAT team show up. Bullet nods at me subtly, and then he, Sniper, and Shadow head out to greet them. The rest of us sit around and wait, while Kaleb is behind the bar cleaning glasses. It’s a few more minutes before they all come in, including the cops. The SWAT team is behind them, guns pointed down,. “Brothers,” Bullet calls, making us all look over at him in surprise. “Everyone outside,” he orders. “Cops got a warrant they want to execute. Got the lawyer on his way.”

“Damn it,” Milk moans, making a production of scowling at the cops and pausing the game he was playing. “I was about to kick his ass too,” he says with a jerk of his thumb at Twigs who scoffs at that and shakes his head. Then they head for the door. They don’t even react when the cops search them. Since they each have a gun, both of them indicate their concealed weapons permits, and the cops hold on to the guns before sending them on their way.

“What about Rose?” I ask Bullet easily as I make my way toward the front door. “She’s in there baking those cookies we asked for.”

“I’ll get her,” Bullet says.

“Not without an escort,” a hard looking cop says firmly as he makes his way inside. He’s not an officer, and I instantly know this is the Detective Wagner that Eden mentioned. The message I erased off my phone the minute it came in. Cryos already wiped our phones of any mention of Eden or her messages to me, so we’re covered on that end.

“No need,” Rose says brightly as she comes out, looking like a fifties housewife in some sort of frilly apron, her hair now up in some sort of bandana with just a few curls escaping to frame her face, and a warm smile on her face. It’s hilarious to look at, especially considering she’s wearing her cut and a low cut tank top. In her hands are trays of freshly made cookies that smell heavenly. “Gentlemen,” she says brightly. “I apologize for the state of the kitchen. You’ve caught me baking. So be careful of the oven because it is still very hot.”

Detective Wagner looks at her suspiciously. “Set down the tray,” he orders her, indicating the table closest to her. Rose shrugs and expertly maneuvers the tray to one hand, pulls an oven mitt off with her teeth, before she sets it on the table and then the tray on top of it before pulling off the other mitt. She’s got everyone’s attention, and I don’t miss the knowing look between Bullet and Sniper. She’s making sure to keep their attention as the rest of us file outside, no one searching us, too enraptured by the woman with the baked goods and gorgeous face and body.

Once she’s straightened, Detective Wagner stops her before she can head for the door. “Not so fast,” he grunts at her. “Legs spread and arms out.”

Rose looks up at him, and Bullet lets out a curse, plus a sound that’s a mixture of a growl and a grunt. His eyes are cold as ice as he steps forward. Sniper stops him with a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t, Prez,” he whispers.

Rose arches a brow at the Detective and slowly complies. Detective Wagner moves forward, but before he can touch her, she says sweetly, “Isn’t it policy that a female officer is supposed to search a woman?”

“Does it look like I have any female officers here?” Detective Wager barks at her. “Now shut up.”

“Excuse me?” Rose says primly, looking down her nose at him. Looks like someone has gotten some lessons from Leonora. Even Detective Wagner hesitates. “Detective, I don’t think we’ve met, and I’ve done nothing to be spoken to so rudely. Now, if you’d like to search me, you may, but you will do it without being rude, is that understood?” She sounds like she’s scolding him, and shocker, he listens and frisks her without another word. When he’s finished, she arches a brow and asks, “Now was that so hard?” Then she turns on her heel and heads for Bullet, who instantly pulls her in and walks out.

Shadow and Sniper stay inside with the detectives, only two are allowed per the warrant. The rest of us lean against the fence on the other side of the driveway. We’re casual, calm, and unfazed at the amount of law enforcement milling around and getting into things.

---