Page 58 of Donovan Blake: Adrenalin

“Good to meet you, Donovan. I’m Special Agent Randy Miller,” the agent replied walking into the room with his men following. “What’s the status?”

“Everything’s secure. I don’t know the name of the guy on the ground but he works for Manny Trubello. He must be one of his bodyguards.”

“I’m his s-security chief,” the gangster stammered, “and I n-need a f-fucking ambulance.”

“What’s wrong with him?” the agent asked. “He looks terrible.”

“He suffered an electric shock. I did it with my dress,” Phoebe piped up from the couch. “Should I call an ambulance?”

“He needs to answer a couple of questions first,” Agent Miller replied. “What’s your name?”

“Lenny—Lenny M-Marino.”

“Why are you here?”

“M-Manny’s s-stuck in the v-vault. He c-called me f-for help.”

“Yep, I see the texts,” Donovan interjected. “In fact you exchanged messages just a couple of minutes ago.”

“We have great timing,” Agent Miller remarked. “Give me the phone, Donovan, let me take a look. Jim, Chad, move him into another room, and ladies, you need to leave as well.”

“But I really want to see this through…here…as it happens,” Phoebe exclaimed. “I won’t get in the way.”

“Phoebe, do as Agent Miller says,” Donovan said sharply.

“There’s a suite just down the hall,” Candy offered. “Can we wait there?”

“Does the door lock?”

“Yes, Agent Miler, most of the doors in this mansion have locks.”

“Then that’s fine. Agent Rockford will stay with you. Rocky?” he called. “Go with them and make sure no-one goes in or out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Though Phoebe shot Donovan a pleading stare silently asking to stay, he softly smiled and shook his head. But as she walked past him and out the door, she glowered at him over her shoulder before disappearing into the hall.

* * *

After Lenny Marino was carried out, Donovan gave Agent Miller a full report.

“I don’t know how you deal with a guy carrying Alexi Koslov’s political clout,” he finished. “He’s bound to have all kinds of connections in high places.”

“My first question is, have you seen him commit a federal offense?”

“No, but as Sam probably told you, we know—or at least we’re fairly certain—he’s here to buy The Alexandrite Empress. But we can’t prove that, and being taken to see it isn’t against the law.”

“You’re absolutely correct. We need to catch him and Manny Trubello actually making the deal.”

“Can you put surveillance equipment in this office quickly?”

“Yep, we’re equipped to handle that. Won’t take long at all.”

“Great. When it’s up you simply text him as Lenny, we get the door open and take off, then film them making the deal.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll message him now and let him know I’m working on getting the door open. Maybe we should bring your girlfriend back in. If Manny gives us any trouble she can give him a zap,” Agent Miller said with a chuckle.

“How do you know she’s my girlfriend?”

---