Page 64 of More Than Nothing
The registration process took nearly two hours. Multiple times, Elenie wondered what the hell she was doing. There were questions about her personal history, her current knowledge of Frank’s criminal activities, colleagues, movements, and as much detail as she could give on past offenses. Dorsey asked about her social life (pretty non-existent) and her connection to Roman Martinez (complicated). Elenie tried to answer as simply and honestly as she could.
As the agent laid out the DEA’s expectations and discussed what was needed, Booth pinned her with a stare that reeked of his resistance to her involvement. Elenie’s head ached. The nerves she’d been trying to ignore began shredding her intestines. Especially when Dorsey started talking about recording devices and mobile forensic tools, two-party consent and the eavesdropping statute.
This was her life now. She was Elenie Dax, diner waitress and nemesis to the criminal fraternity. She served pancakes and ice cream sundaes, had wrapped her legs around the waist of the local police chief, and was signing up to feed information to the DEA.
What. The. Actual. Hell.
“This wouldn’t be happening if Chief Roberts was still in office.”
Elenie’s hand stilled on the CI Agreement in her lap, pen poised above the signature strip. She looked at Booth. “I’m very glad he isn’t, sir.”
“Not a fan of yours, is he?” Mistrust coated the statement like buffalo sauce.
She tipped her chin. “That goes both ways.”
“I worked with him for years and I had no reason to doubt his views. He served Pine Springs long enough to know his town.”
“Sometimes a fresh view gives a clearer picture.” Elenie pressed her knees together so neither Booth nor Dorsey would see the tremble.
“Chief Martinez is not involved with this operation. You will not be keeping him in the loop or running to him for backup. Understood? He can pass on information as a last resort and that’s it. You say you’re friends. He says you’re friends. We’ve taken that under advisement only because this is a small damn town and everyone knows everyone. But you use any personal connection to him in the wrong way and you’re out.” Booth unwrapped a stick of gum and folded it into his mouth.
Dorsey’s calm voice broke in. “Moving forward, we need to trust and depend on each other. It’s the only way to ensure your safety. And that is the ultimate goal, above and beyond gathering information.”
Booth grunted. “But you’re no good to us if you can’t nail Frank Dax and his associates. We want results.”
“I wouldn’t have said I can do it if I didn’t think I had a chance.” Elenie kept her eyes on Dorsey.
The agent nodded. “I believe you can,” she said.
Elenie scrawled her signature across the agreement and handed the papers over. Dorsey held out a cell phone. Honestly, now she was making a collection of them!
Booth met Elenie’s eyes in the rearview mirror again and started the car. “In my experience, criminal informants think they’re VIPs when really they’re just a royal pain in the ass.”
Double life or not, Elenie was back in the diner as usual for her shift the next day. She stacked a tray with the empty glasses, cups, and plates from a recently vacated table, her head all over the place, focus shot to pieces. Fortunately, Diner 43 was all but empty, bar Peggy Winterburn and old Mrs. Elliott who sat chatting together in the far corner.
Placing the tray on the counter, Elenie turned back to the table with a cloth and found Craig leaning against the wall.
“Hey, Ellie.” He flashed her a smile of white teeth and empty promises.
“Hi, Craig.” As she did every time she’d seen him recently, Elenie compared him to Roman and noted the million ways in which he came up short.
“Looking hot in your uniform, babe. Polo shirts bring me out in a sweat. They remind me of sports and gym skirts at school.”
She met his mocking eyes with careful gray ones that hid how many fucks she gave. “I’ve got stuff to do, Craig. I’ll have to chat later.”
He caught her arm as she tried to walk past. “I have a couple of business dinners. One on Thursday and one on Saturday. I need you to come with me.”
“Oh?”
“They’re networking meetings and I could use a date.” He grinned. “Fortunately for you, I’ve chosen to support the underprivileged and blown out everyone else in my little black book.”
She looked down at the cloth in her hand so he wouldn’t see the roll of her eyes. “Great. Give me the details and let me know the dress code.”
Craig pulled her closer and ran a finger along her lower lip. Elenie was tempted to bite it. “It’ll be smart during the evening, but you can take off as much as you want afterwards, babe.” When she tried to step away from him, his hand gripped tightly enough to leave a mark. “Maybe we should renegotiate our business terms. I’m not sure I’m getting all the benefits I could be.”
He walked her backward until she was pressed up against the wall. Trying to avoid his breath in her ear, Elenie smacked the side of her head on a wooden shelf. He was crowding her so closely she could count the hairs in his nostrils. She wished for the luxury to knee him in the balls.
“Dammit, Craig. Were you bullied in those gym classes or something?” Elenie blew the frustrated question through tight lips. “Why do you always have to be such a dick?”
