Page 16 of Marked for Danger

“It’s a popular place.” Riedell nodded. “And Valdez is a smart man. Especially when it comes to business and money.”

“He owns several rental properties in town, does a lot of charity work, rubs elbows with Denver’s rich and powerful…” Cam shot her a look and a muttered, “You get the idea.”

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with Olly.”

“For months now, the Feds have suspected Valdez of running a major trafficking business right here in Denver,” Hunt explained, his expression intense. “We’re talking drugs, weapons…sex.He has known ties to a local Mexican gang who go by the name Los Reyes.”

“The Kings.” Izzy translated the Spanish name easily before looking up to meet Hunt’s serious gaze.

“You speak Spanish.” The comment came from an impressed Cam.

Izzy nodded silently, her eyes still on the stoic FBI leader. “So this Valdez guy is near the top of Denver’s social food chain.” They’d made that point clear. “I still don’t understand what this has to do with Olly.”

Or me.

“My team’s had two fresh bodies drop in our laps in the last six weeks.” Grady’s boss laid out two new pictures, the lifeless faces of two young men lying dead on what she assumed was an autopsy table. And then, “Number three was discovered today.” He placed a third picture out for her to see. “All three men were executed with a single bullet to the back of their brains. And all three men have known ties to the Los Reyes.”

Another picture. Another life. All three cut down decades too short.

Izzy closed her eyes and turned her head despite knowing it was too late. The faces of the dead had already solidified themselves in her memory.

Just like so many others.

“See that warehouse there?” Riedell reached across the desk to point at the section of building seen in the photo’s background. “It’s owned by Valdez. According to our intel, your brother has worked there for the past two months.”

“You said Dante Valdez owned one of the hot restaurants in town, as well as several other properties?” Her question was posed to the room.

SAC Hunt answered with a deep and gruff, “So?”

Placing the photos back onto the still-open file folder, Izzy settled back into her chair. settled back into her chair. “So it stands to reason he employs several legitimate men and women to run the day-to-day operation of those businesses. Wouldn’t you say?”

Because she was starting to understand at least part of why she was here.

They think Olly’s involved in a human trafficking ring.

“You sure that fancy degree of yours didn’t come from a law school?” Cam quipped.

The attractive woman’s tone was lighthearted, the curved smile lifting her ruby lips holding no ill-will or sarcastic feel. But Izzy wasn’t in the mood to joke. Not about this.

“I’m just pointing out that a few photos of my brother at work doesn’t mean his association with Valdez is anything less than the up-and-up.”

“You’re absolutely right,” SAC Hunt agreed. “Which is why your brother is still walking around a free man.”

“That and the fact that you clearly have no solid, undeniable proof of Valdez’s criminal activity,” Izzy shot back. “Otherwise he’d already be in prison.”

“And when it comes to Valdez, the case against him has to be airtight.” Cam rested a gentle hand on Izzy’s forearm. “That’s where you come in. Or more accurately, that’s whereOllycomes in.”

“Olly?” She frowned. “How can my brother help?”

“The FBI has been watching Valdez closely over the last few months,” Hunt finally got to the point. “We have eyes on him, each of his businesses…and every employee we believe might possibly be involved in the off-the-books stuff.”

“It’s why you’re here.” Sgt. Riedell stared back at her. “Our most recent homicide victim is a twenty-one-year-old kid named Juan Gomez. He was forced to his knees and shot in the back of the head by another young man by the name of Alvarez Torres, a Los Reyes gang member we currently have in custody.”

“According to Mr. Torres, it was Dante Valdez who ordered the hit.”

Cam said this as if it explained everything, when in reality it left Izzy feeling even more confused.

“That’s good, right?” She turned to the other woman with an expectant look. “This Torres guy…the one you’re holding for Gomez’s murder…he can testify to the fact and put Valdez away for good.”

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