Loving the Buster//Brian O'Conner

Seven

They take us to the police station. Brian is put in a different room than me.

"So, how long you been in South Florida?" the guy asks.

"A while," I tell him.

"Before that?" the guy asks. I don't answer. "We know you're Maricruz Alvarez. You spent most of your life in LA."

I still don't say anything. I turn as I hear the door open. Finally Brian of all people walks into the room with a middle aged black guy.

"Brian?" I look at him curiously. "What the hell is going on?"

"This is my old boss," Brian tells me.

The man reaches his hand out to me. "Agent Bilkins."

I shake it curiously. "I'm still confused."

"I hear you used to run with Dominic Toretto, you were a part of his crew," Bilkins says.

"It's not against the law to be friends with someone is it?" I question.

"It is against the law to rob 18 wheelers," Bilkins counters. "From what I've heard you know how to race."

I smile. "I'd like to think so." I turn to Brian. "What is this about?"

"They need you to drive," Brian tells me.

I shrug my shoulders. "What's in it for me?"

"You get us to Verone, your record will be cleared," Bilkins tells me.

I look to Brian and he nods. I sigh. "Sign me up."

I sit in a briefing room with a bunch of dudes. You'd think there would be at least one female agent here. The screen in the front of the room has information on a Carter Verone.

Agent Markham stands in front of the screen. "Carter Verone. Born in Argentina. But he's lived most of his life in Miami. Now he owns the biggest import/export business in the state. You see unfortunately, the cartels have been successful getting drugs into Miami. But they've had a hard time gettin' the cash out. We've been surveilling him for a year, but we've never been able to put him and the money together. We've swept his house, his warehouses..."

"Nothing," Bilkins says. "Customs here has done a great job of getting us this far. I'm just here to help get them over the top."

"I was able to get an agent in undercover working travel and logistics for him. Recently, Verone put her in charge of finding some new drivers," Markham tells us.

"Right. Although we can't confirm her status right now," Bilkins reminds him.

"You think she's flipped?" Brian asks.

"She's one of mine," Markham states. He seems angry that Brian would even suggest such a thing. "She's all right."

"She's been in with Verone nearly a year. Even lives at the compound with him now," Bilkins states.

"Look, it was the FBI's idea to bring you in here. I'm against it. But we need some good drivers that can put this asshole and his money together. You're gonna roll with Agent Dunn here." Markham points to a young guy standing beside him.

"And if I don't?" Brian asks.

"Well, here's a list of the laws you broke in L.A." Bilkins hands Brian the sheet of paper. "Obstruction of justice, aiding and abetting. You know the rap sheet. Now, we can make this all go away in the interest of justice, if you're willing to play ball."

"Yeah." Brian flips through the sheets of paper. "So what's the idea here? Dunn, Alvarez, and I are supposed to be street racers?"

Markham nods. "That's right."