Family_Ties_by_Lisa_Gray

Chapter 4-2

Shortly after two o’clock the FBI agent called back. Evan put the call on the speaker phone in the conference room so Lacey could hear as well. To Evan’s disgust, Jablonski seemed gleefully delighted by the whole situation.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Are you sure they didn’t give you any clues on why this union is so important to them?” the agent asked yet again, probing for any nuance Evan might have unknowingly gleaned.

“No. I’ve told you everything they said—which was not much. You’re the one with all the resources. Don’t you have any information on what they’re doing?” Evan was losing what little patience he had left.

“Well, I can’t discuss the details, but we are aware that there has been contact between the Dwyers and the Sokolovs, a Russian crime family. But this is the first we’ve heard that the Carmodys are also involved. It’s my personal opinion they hope to create a triad of families to control the whole city and maybe the state as well. Nessa Carmody is a power-hungry, heartless woman. And I’m not going to allow her to birth a new criminal empire.”

“So why don’t you just arrest them and stop them from destroying my life?” Evan complained.

“Mr. Dwyer, we sympathize with your situation, but until they do something illegal, we can’t move against them. And from our perspective, the fact you’re being brought into the families is a heaven-sent opportunity to get inside information. You’ll have access we couldn’t dream of getting.” Jablonski sounded positively giddy at the prospect.

Alarm bells were going off in Evan’s mind. He needed more reassurance than what Jablonski was providing. “I don’t know. This sounds dangerous. Why don’t I come to your office and discuss this further?”

“Oh, no. That’s not necessary,” the agent said airily.

That didn’t sound right at all. Evan asked slowly, “So you don’t want me to make a formal statement, sign a complaint, meet with your division agents?”

“No, we need to keep a very low profile here. We shouldn’t be seen together—for security reasons. The Carmodys have too many friends, too many informants. Can’t risk revealing your part in the plan until it’s successful.”

Evan’s budding uneasiness burst into full bloom at that last statement. “My part in the plan? Exactly what is my part supposed to be? ‘Cause I’m not an undercover spy, you know.”

Jablonski chuckled. “Relax, Evan. Just go ahead and sign the prenuptial agreement. You don’t have to worry—it goes into effect only if the marriage actually takes place, and that’s the last thing we would want to happen.”

“Okay, that’s good, but why?”

“Spousal privilege. We’re going to need your testimony when we bring charges against the Dwyers and the Carmodys. We don’t want their lawyers limiting your testimony because one spouse can’t reveal information about the other. So there can be no legal marriage between the two of you.”

“Well, that suits me just fine.”

“So, all you have to do right now is keep your appointment with Mrs. Carmody on Monday.”

“Am I going to be wearing a wire or something?” Evan hoped not—he’d never be able to pull that off.

“No, nothing like that at this point. I’m hoping to get authorization for you to plant a bug for us, but we don’t have enough to get a warrant yet for that. For now, keep your eyes open, find out everything you can about what’s prompting this family merger. We will contact you when we’re ready for the next step.” And with that, the conversation was apparently over.

Evan and Lacey stared at each other in the sudden silence.

“Well, that was odd,” she said.

“What part?” Everything about this was odd. And it was quite clear Evan’s well-being came in a distant second to the FBI’s dreams of a headline-grabbing arrest.

“The part where he doesn’t want you at his office. And the part where he seems a little too eager to implicate the Carmodys in this massive criminal empire he’s envisioning.”

“Yeah. I thought that was very weird. I have no love for the Carmodys, but I think he’s got a blind spot about them. He’s obsessed.”

“So do you think you can trust this guy?” She looked worried.

Evan dragged up a rueful smile for her. “I don’t think I have a choice. I’m fresh out of other options.”

Lacey sighed. “Well, I guess we work with what we have. But I’m not giving up.” She reached out and plucked a cookie from the plate.

Evan blushed and grabbed her hand before she could take a bite. “Um, Lacey, I kind of dropped those on the floor.”

She eyed the cookie critically for a moment and blew on it. Then she shrugged and sank her teeth into it, humming in appreciation. “You don’t turn down really good chocolate just because you have to pick through some dirt to get to it.”

Laughing for the first time since the morning meeting, Evan said, “Okay. If that was meant as a life lesson, it’s a bit vague.”

Lacey grinned. “All I mean is, you should keep an open mind when you meet Danny Carmody. Since they so kindly offered him to you on a platinum platter, go see whether he’s worth having.” She stood. “Now I have to run or I’ll be late for class. Call me if you need moral support before Monday.”

Evan absently waved a goodbye as he thought about her words. Despite being involved in this whole mess, Danny was an unknown. Perhaps Lacey was right—maybe he should withhold judgment. He picked up a cookie and bit into it. The rich, dark flavor flooded his mouth with pleasure.

Lacey might have a point.