Lost (Book 6 of the Forbidden Series)

14

Miami Florida…

The waterfront was quiet in the early morning. Zeke stood beside Jared as the Columbians entered the warehouse. His grip tightened on the semi-automatic rifle in his hands. “Easy Zeke.” Jared smiled placing his hand on his shoulder. “It’s only business.” Besides being a sexist lot, the Fiends were notorious racists. If it hadn’t been for the quality of the Columbians’ product, Jared and his crew would have shot them where they stood. But in the world of business, it didn’t matter the colour of one’s skin so long as their money was green.

Unlike the Fiends the Columbians were well dressed in their fine suits and slicked back hair. The one to the left sort of reminded Zeke of Tony Montana in Scarface. “Mañana mis amigos americanos.” The greasy man up front smiled as he removed the Cuban cigar from his thin lips.

Zeke lifted his rifle, the boss in his sights. “Let me shoot him.” He grinned eagerly.

Jared placed his hand on the barrel and forced Zeke to lower his weapon. “Perhaps you should try English when you’re dealing with Americans,” Jared suggested stepping forward. “My boys don’t like it when they don’t know what’s being said.” He said stroking his gun. “After all it is rude, and I know you greasy Spics don’t want to offend.”

An annoyed look passed between the Columbians at Jared’s insult. “You are lucky your money is good, or I would have you gunned down for such insults.” He snarled glaring Jared down.

“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll let my trigger-happy friend test out his new rifle,” Jared warned. “Where is our product?”

The Columbian snapped his fingers, and the man to his left opened a briefcase. Inside were three bricks of grade-A cocaine. Zeke watched as Seth pulled out a switchblade and stabbed one of the tightly packed bricks. He removed the blade and ran his tongue along the white powder. He then looked at Jared and nodded.

“The rest is sitting in a shipping container G-three-twenty-five. Where is my money?” Jared snapped his fingers, and Nick tossed a black hockey bag at their feet. One of the Columbian’s squatted down and unzipped the bag quickly counting the cash inside. He then nodded, and their leader smiled. “Pleasure doing business with you, amigo.” He said placing his cigar between his lips, a cruel smile curving the corners of his mouth.

Jared held out his hand, and the Columbian handed over the key to the shipping crate while his man picked up the hockey bag. Suddenly the warehouse was surrounded. FBI, DEA, and the local PD swarmed the warehouse. It happened so fast they had no chance to run, and those who tried were face down on the concrete and handcuffed quickly.

Shocked and awed Jared turned around to stare down the barrel of Zeke’s gun. “What the hell is this?” He demanded outraged.

Zeke flashed a wicked grin. “FBI, you’re under arrest.”

“FBI!” Seth snapped as another agent lifted him from the ground in handcuffs. “You’re a cop? We were friends! How could you do this to us?” He snarled as they dragged him off to the patty wagon. Zeke felt pain of guilt. He and Seth had been friends, and he did regret what had to happen, Seth had chosen this life. This whole thing was of his own making. Zeke kept his rifle on Jared until Kurt cuffed him and sent him packing.

Trading his rifle for his department-issued Glock Zeke felt relieved it was over, and he was himself again. He accepted the vest Kurt offered him identifying him as an agent so the other officers would not arrest him along with the others. “I believe this is yours,” Kurt said proudly handing over Zeke’s badge. He took it in his hands and enjoyed the weight of it. It felt good to have his shield back. “What do you say we book these guys, finish up the paperwork, and get you to New York?”

***

Westchester New York…

Kat walked into the media room of her mansion pulling on the white silk gloves that went with her long black gown. Keith had asked her to accompany him to a charity banquette to raise funds for affordable housing. After seeing so many mothers with children living out of that motel in Tennessee Kat realized just how important the cause was. She was prepared to donate a hefty sum.

“Keith will be picking me up right away, and I should be back around two or three, so please don’t wait up.” She announced to Beth and Rolland who were seated on the couch watching the news.

“Of course, dear,” Beth said smiling up at her. “You have seen a lot of that handsome Mr. Farewell.” She observed.

Kat grinned at the old woman’s mothering tone. “Well Keith and I have a lot in common, and he is a wonderful man. I like him very much.”

“Well, you two have a good time. We will likely be going to bed after this.” Beth said. “So, you will have your privacy when you come home.” She said suggestively.

Kat shot her a wicked smirk. “Beth, behave.”

Rolland shook his grey head. “Drugs, all the time, I tell you it was not such a problem when I was a boy. Now you have all these complicated government stinger operations trying to catch people who sell poison to children.” He complained referring to the report on the television.

Kat grinned, the old man had spent more than most his life in America, and still, he got common phrases wrong. “I believe it’s a called a sting, not a stinger.” She corrected.

“Still those boys should be paid extra for the danger they put themselves in, with all the guns and the bullets. Five officers lost their lives.” He complained.

“I’m sure most of them do it for the thrill,” Kat said looking up at the broadcast and suddenly sitting down on the edge of the armchair. She could not believe her eyes. There on the screen was Zeke in the middle of a huge drug ring takedown. Only he wasn’t in handcuffs. He was wearing a bulletproof vest labelled FBI and escorting some men that looked familiar to her away in handcuffs.

She was stunned and unsure of what she was seeing. Was it possible that Zeke this whole time had been a federal agent? Had that been why he was so secretive? They’re wrong about me; she remembered him telling her the last time they had spoken. He had wanted to tell her then, but he had not been able to. She had put him in an impossible position and hadn’t realized it. This was why he could not have come with her, why he could not tell her what she wanted to know.

A frightening realization dawned on her. How close had she been to danger in Tennessee? How much had he protected her from? Because of him, she had walked away safely from what could have been a very dangerous situation. Suddenly Kat felt very guilty for all the animosity she had been harbouring against Zeke these past few months. She had felt used and betrayed when all he had done was try to shield her from the reality of his life.

“Is something wrong bambina?” Beth asked noticing how enthralled Kat had become with the broadcast.

“Are you not well?” Asked Rolland with concern. He came to his old feet with great effort to check her temperature with a hand to her forehead.

“No, I’m fine,” Kat said rising to her feet. “It was just interesting.” She said hearing the buzzer that let her know someone was at the gate.

“I shall let him in,” Rolland said shuffling to the front door.

Kat tried to shrug off the unexpected news she had just learnt. Zeke was long gone from her life, and she was glad to know he was doing well and unharmed. But she needed to move on with her own life now. She had been spending more time with Keith Farewell, and he had begun to express more of an intimate interest in her. He was an old-fashioned gentleman who appealed to her. Taking her to social gatherings asking to escort her around by the arm and offering her flattering compliments. Keith had not even tried to kiss her as of yet although she was sure he had wanted to on more than one occasion.

Keith was a man who believed in taking things slowly, and after her whirlwind affair with Zeke, slow was probably a good idea. Kat did not need to lose her head again. At least with Keith, he understood the importance of avoiding scandal. Plus, they both came from the same side of the tracks with money and culture and enjoyed many of the same things, the art gallery, the opera, and the ballet. So, it wasn’t heated and electrifying, regardless she and Keith were much more suited to each other.

She walked out the front door as the black limo pulled up in front. The driver walked her from the house to the limo and opened the rear door for her. She smiled and thanked him as she climbed in and greeted Keith. He was looking dashing in his tux with his Kennedy style haircut and winning smile. “You look stunning this evening.” He said taking her hand and kissing it.

“Thank you; you look very charming yourself.” She smiled.

“You will be the most beautiful woman at the banquette.”

“And you Sir, are saying all the right things,” Kat said as the limo began to drive. Kat would enjoy herself this evening she vowed. She would not allow Zeke’s memory to ruin her night.

“Is there something amiss?” Keith asked seeing she was distracted by her thoughts.

“Oh no, there was this news broadcast before I left and it was just distracting.” She admitted.

“You are so caring to be moved so much by the news,” Keith said admiring her. “Will you be donating to the cause? Which one is it? I shall donate as well.” He offered.

Kat didn’t have the heart to admit the real reason it had distracted her. “There was a big drug bust down south. Supposedly a big win against the country’s war on drugs.”

“An admirable battle,” Keith commented. “Good men and women of our fine law enforcement putting their lives on the line to keep that poison off the streets.”

“Yes.” Kat agreed. “It can’t be easy.” She said looking out the window. Keith continued about the city’s position on the war on drugs, and she pretended to listen half lost in her thoughts. She found herself wondering what Zeke would do now that he was no longer tied to Tennessee.

She supposed legal proceedings still bound him. She thought about going to see him, but now that he was done she would not know where to find him. No, she thought sternly, she had to forget these silly notions of Zeke. That time was over, he was out of her life for good, and that was the end of it. She needed to stop being so silly, to focus on her future and quit dwelling on the men in her past.