Page 88 of The Perfect Stranger

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Nina Cross among many things was a good actor.

She took everything I’d said earlier in her stride and showed no resentment for it. Knowing there was a better time and place to seek answers, she hadn’t enquired.

Nina Cross was incredible.

Now, with a laptop in front on the large mahogany table she sat under the scrutiny of Gabriel and Felix. Felix was a man I trusted. A man who if shit went south, would have my back.

“I’ve told you before, I can’t help you,” she said adamantly.

Gabriel was having none it, and knowing her expertise was in Criminal Division, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering, it would take some convincing that her skills weren’t up to scratch.

She warned him of the risk of transferring large sums.

He already had backup. A Singaporean bank exempt from the FATCA agreement.

She was playing her cards. Stalling, just like I’d asked, but he’d done his research.

“Now, from your account you need to send through a request to the Cuban National Bank for the transfer of funds,” Gabriel urged.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, eyes finding mine for the briefest moment.

“No need to stall, hermosa,” Gabriel growled. “This will happen whether you cooperate or not. It just comes down to how much pain you can bear.”

Every time he threatened her, I came up with a new method of torture he would experience before I ended him. Nina entered her username and password and waited. Her chest was coloring which told me she was nervous. I watched, teeth clenched tight as Gabriel stroked her neck.

Access denied.

Gabriel saw red and Nina, was left genuinely flustered.

“Do it again,” he demanded.

She did so, and we all waited, all on edge.

“Fuck!” Gabriel bellowed when seeing the same message.

Nina, confused why she had been locked out of the FBI portal, apologized. Yet it fell on deaf ears.

He turned his hate to Nina. A hand wrapped around her throat forcing her and the chair backward to the floor before delivering a backhand across the face. I reached for my Glock ready to explode the fucker’s head but a hand on my arm stopped me.

Felix understood what was transpiring, even if he didn’t know the full history.

He also knew Gabriel needed Nina.

Pulling his cell from his pocket, Felix stood and addressed Gabriel, effectively distracting him from further violence.

“She’s telling the truth. Here,” he said, holding it high for Gabriel to read the article on the screen. These words seemed to tame his wrath.

“Well, well, well. Looks like you were telling the truth.” He smiled, loud and obnoxious. “Turns out you’re America’s most wanted.”

They’d pinned everything on Nina. The media was just as ruthless as the cartels involved. The convenience store footage had been doctored showing an image of her Glock pointed at one of the men. Quotes from angered middle-aged hotel owners labeling her a menace and a troublemaker.

Her own agency wanted her in connection to Garcia’s death.

She was devastated.

Confused.

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