Page 24 of Deadly Target
“The backpack,” Olivia said.
Roman nodded. “Several fibers and the zipper were recovered from the blast site. They happen to match those from another car bombing two months ago in Oceanside. Polly, my CSI expert, caught the similarities. She also did some cross-matching and discovered this particular brand of backpacks has been used by the Suarez Kings for running drugs across the border, and carrying their own shake and bake meth labs.”
‘Shake and bakes’ consisted of a two-liter bottle, cold pills, and a couple noxious chemicals. Drug users loved the simple method, but it was highly explosive, much like the more complicated meth labs.
“They’re recycling the drug backpacks for bombs?” Emma asked.
“The last one was used to take out Giada Russo.”
Olivia sucked in a breath. Giada was Frankie Molina’s little sister.
Taz lifted his head and came to sit beside her, nuzzling his nose against her arm. She petted him absentmindedly. “The Kings killed Giada? I thought her case was unsolved.”
“It was,” Roman said, “until now. The problem is we don’t have an individual to arrest. Like I said, no actual fingerprints, DNA, or witnesses. But I’ve forced the local detectives to reopen the Russo case and I’m trying to get some FBI involvement.”
Because the woman involved was a known criminal, like her brother, the cops weren’t all that eager to solve Giada’s murder.
Victor sat forward. “I’ll make sure the investigation becomes a top priority.”
Roman turned to Emma. “Giada Russo was the sister of high-ranking mob boss Frank Molina. The two of them worked like a team up-and-down the West Coast for several years under the guidance of Gino DeStefano until Giada married Tony Russo. The Russos stayed under the radar, supplying military grade weapons to various motorcycle gangs and survivalists. We’re not sure if the Kings were purposely trying to take her out, or simply send a message to her brother.”
Emma stacked her papers neatly. “What kind of message? Is Molina interfering with the cartel’s business?”
“That’s what we’re hearing through the grapevine.” Roman pointed at Olivia. “As I’m sure Deputy Marshal Fiorelli can explain in more detail, Gino DeStefano and his right-hand man, Frankie, want to stamp out the Suarez Kings and use their infrastructure for the same businesses—drugs, money-laundering, and human trafficking.”
“It’s easier than starting from scratch,” Olivia added, “which is what Gino and his made family have been trying to do for many years and failed. The Mexican gangs, motorcycle gangs, and other enterprising criminal syndicates have made it extremely difficult for the traditional Italian mafia bosses to take over. Giada probably broke completely with Frankie when she married Tony Russo and he continued supplying the motorcycle gangs and survivalists with guns.”
“Olivia, our own rock star agent here, has played a huge part in stopping them as well,” Victor said.
Olivia had challenged every guy she’d dated, although few, searching for her soulmate. She’d refused to settle, or maybe she’d simply been terrified of having a lasting relationship. Her father’s ghost hanging over her shoulder never helped either. Maybe that was why she constantly sabotaged herself and couldn’t even remember that last guy’s name. Although there’d been few men on her dance card, no one had measured up to her ideal.
Until now.
One of her biggest fears was not being special. Silly, but true. She was always trying to prove herself in her work, in her life. Hearing Victor’s compliment made her feel more than special.
But also a tad embarrassed. Did he mean it? Or was he saying it because…
Because he’s sleeping with me.
Taz laid at her feet again, shoving himself against her leg. Oh, she needed to get over herself already. Maybe in the end, it wasn’t the men in her life who’d never measured up —
Maybe it’s me.
Taz started snoring. All eyes were on her, and heat flushed her cheeks, her throat constricted. She once again reminded herself to stop overanalyzing everything and just go with it. “I do what I can.”
Roman’s phone rang and he glanced at the caller ID. “That’s one of the reasons I’m glad you’re here, Olivia. Everything we’ve uncovered so far points to the Suarez Kings being involved in both hits against Victor’s taskforce. If things are heating up between them and DeStefano’s Fifty-seven Gang, I want you on board. I already have a call into my boss at Homeland. I want to put together a special taskforce to investigate these crimes, and I want you on it.”
He didn’t wait for her response, standing and walking away as he answered his phone.
Olivia looked at Victor, then her watch. It was getting late and she had a two-hour drive, more if traffic was bad, to Carlsbad. And when wasn’t it between here and there?
He understood her code. “I know you have a meeting, but let’s talk afterwards, okay? I’ll get the details from Roman about this new taskforce and fill you in.”
They all stood, and Olivia mentally smiled at the thought of Navarro getting wind of this. “Of course. I’ll call you when I’m done.”
The dog jerked upright from his sleeping position and nearly tumbled over himself as Olivia shifted and pushed the chair in. She said her goodbyes to Emma and headed for the door behind Victor.
In the hallway, he tugged her close. “I’ll walk you out.”
