Fatally Yours

Chapter 3

•INDIANA•

I pressed the button on top of the coffee maker, and the machine whirred to life, filling the small plastic cup below with the rich, dark beverage I crave every morning to start the day.

I don't know about others, but there's just something about the coffee at work that hits differently. I could skip breakfast at home and just look forward to coffee at the precinct because, for some reason, it just makes me feel better.

After getting my coffee ready, Mel suddenly appeared next to the machine, also getting hers done, while I took a sip of mine in silence.

Before I had the chance to speak, two guys entered the station. One was a brunette, about six feet tall, with a mustache and a goatee. The other looked Wasian, with jet-black hair, and was almost the same height as the first guy.

They were both wearing casual clothes, but there was nothing casual about the way they carried themselves. The badges hanging around their necks were enough to identify them as federal agents.

I paused mid-sip and watched as they stopped by the front desk. The officer working there greeted them, and then they started walking upstairs.

"Who are those guys?" Mel asked, voicing the question in my head.

"They're obviously from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But the real question is, why are they here?"

"Reece!" A deep voice called from the top floor, and both Mel and I looked up at the same time.

My uncle peered over the railing, his stern face directed toward me.

"My office, please," he said, jerking his head to the side where his office is, silently urging me to come quickly.

Mel suddenly turned around to face me, her confused expression matching my own.

"Any idea what that's about?" I shook my head.

"No, but I'm about to find out."

After discarding my leftover coffee, I went upstairs to my uncle's office and knocked on the door before entering. As I had expected, the two gentlemen I saw earlier were already seated inside.

My uncle gestured for me to come in, and the two guys gracefully stood up and faced me.

"Gentlemen, meet Detective Reece. Detective, this is Special Agent Hawke and Agent Wilder. They're with the FBI," my uncle said.

I flashed the two agents a tight-lipped smile before shaking their hands in greeting.

"Have a seat, Detective. This is going to take a while, and I will allow these two gentlemen to brief you on why they're here to see you."

Wait, what? They're actually here for me?

I sat on the small couch while the two agents occupied the chairs in front of my uncle's desk, angling their seats to face me.

"Detective, are you familiar with the name 'Valahia'?" Agent Hawke, the brunette one, asked.

"No, never heard of it," I replied.

The two agents briefly exchanged glances.

"We've been investigating this case for two years, and the Valahia Syndicate has constantly appeared on our radar. We were mainly focused on dismantling a couple of drug trafficking rings and small underground illegal organizations until we stumbled upon valuable information connecting every operation to the Valahia Syndicate."

I frowned in confusion. "Okay. So who are they?"

"They're the most violent criminal enterprise in the country," Agent Wilder answered. "They're based here in Los Angeles, but for the past couple of years, research has shown that their operations have been expanding outside the state—all over North America, to be exact."

A chill immediately ran down my spine. Every bit of information they had just shared quickly processed in my head, and I couldn't help but feel the urge to investigate this matter further.

This Valahia Syndicate sounds like big trouble.

"A few of our agents are currently on the job, working undercover to infiltrate their underground headquarters in New Mexico, Illinois, New York, and a few other states," Agent Wilder continued. "Everyone is working overtime to take down the Valahia Syndicate before they advance their illegal operations. But the only problem we've faced so far is finding someone capable of infiltrating their main base here in LA."

Both agents gave me a pointed look, and it took me a moment to realize what they were implying.

"And you think this 'someone capable' is me?" I questioned in disbelief.

"Well, of course. We've read your file. Six high-profile cases with a leading arrest record among your colleagues within four years of your career? Now that is an accomplishment, Detective. No one is as captivating as you in the LAPD, and we wouldn't have come all this way if we didn't think you were capable enough. All we ask is for your assistance in our case. Your safety will be our main priority, and we will guide you throughout this mission until it is completed."

I caught my uncle's eye for a moment, and he gave me a brief nod. He was letting me make the decision on this one because we both knew this mission could either change my life for the better or the worse.

I clenched my fist by my side, my mind already running wild with possibilities. They came here and specifically asked for my help, knowing I would say yes because I would never turn down a good case.

But this one was way out of my league. Can I still do it, though?

Sounds like a challenge to me, and I never back down from a risky challenge.

"Count me in," I declared to both men, and I could see the satisfaction in their eyes.

This is going to be a tough case since they've been investigating it for two whole years and are still stuck at a dead end. It's no wonder they came to ask for extra help.

"We'll be back tomorrow to brief you on what we've found so far," Agent Hawke said, standing up from his seat.

My uncle and I both stood as well, and the two agents turned to him instead.

"Thank you, Chief, for your cooperation. We'll make sure to protect Detective Reece as one of our own. We won't let you down."

My uncle chuckled and shot me a glance.

"You better because if my niece gets hurt, you'll both answer to me."

Agent Hawke and Agent Wilder both chuckled awkwardly, trying to mask their nervousness after hearing that statement.

We all shook hands again and left the office, leaving me and my uncle to stare after them while silently processing everything that had just happened within the hour.

"Think you can handle it?" he asked from behind me, and I turned my head back and smirked at him.

"When have I not been able to handle anything, Uncle?"