BLACK MONEY LOVE

Chapter 14

" I want to know what the hell's been going on." They were in Morales office, but Zack wouldn't sit. He stood behind Roma's chair, his fingers curled tight over the back rung. If anyone had approached her, he would have struck first and asked questions later. He'd already flattened the unfortunate detective who'd tried to hold him back when he'd seen Roma on the deck of the Expatriate with Scott.
With his hands folded on his desk, Morales gave Zack a long, quite look." Perhaps the explanation should come from your countryman."
" Special Agent Donald Scott." The man Roma had known as Scott Trydent sat on the corner of Morales desk." Sorry for the deception, Roma." Though his voice was calm and matter of fact,it couldn't mask the excitement that's bubbled from him.
" You used her." Zack's hand went to Roma's shoulder." You put her right in the middle."
" Yeah. The problem was, for a long time we weren't sure just how involved she was. We knew about your shop, Roma. We knew you were an experienced diver. In fact, there isn't anything about you my organization doesn't know. For some time, you were our number one suspect."
" Suspect?" She had her hands folded neatly in her lap, but the anger was boiling." You suspected me."
" You left the U.S over ten years ago. You've never been back. You have both the contact and the means to run the ring. You keep your daughter off the island for most of the year and in one of the best schools in Houston."
" That's my business."
" Details like that become our business. When you took Jerry Alpha in and gave him a job,we leaned even further towards you. He thought differently, but then we weren't using him for his opinions."
She felt Zack's fingers tighten and reached up to them as she spoke.
" Using him?"
" I contacted Jerry in New Orleans. He was someone else we knew everything about. He was a con, an operator, but he had style." He took another swig of coffee as he studied Zack." We made him a deal. If he could get on the inside,feed us information,we'd forget about a few.... indiscretions. I liked your brother," Scott said to Zack.
" Really liked him. If he'd been able to settle a bit, he'd have made up a hell of a cop.'Conning the bad guys,' he called it."
" Are you saying Jerry was working for you?" Zack felt his emotions race towards the surface. The portrait he'd barely been able to force himself to accept was changing.
" That's right." Scott took out a cigarette and watched the match flare as he struck it." I liked him,I mean that. He had a way of looking at things that made you forget they were so lousy."
That was Jerry, Zack thought. To give himself a moment he walked to the window. He could see the water lapping calmly against the hills of boats.
" What happened?"
" He had a hard time following orders. He wanted to push them too fast too far. He told me once he had something to prove, to himself and to the other part of him. The better part of him."
Zack turned slowly. The pain came again,an ache. Roma saw it in his eyes and went to stand with him." Go on."
" He got the idea into his head to rip off the money from a shipment. I didn't know about it until he called me from Acapulco. He figured he'd put the Head man in a position where he'd have to deal personally. I told him to stay put,he didn't listen. He came back to Cozumel and tried to deal with Manchez himself. It was over before I knew. Even if I'd have known,I can't be sure I could've stopped it. We don't like to lose civilians,Mr. Alpha. I don't like to lose friends."
The anger drained from him degree by degree. It wouldn't have been so like Jerry, Zack thought. An adventure, the excitement, the impulsiveness.
" Go on."
" Orders came down to put the pressure on Roma." Scott gave a half laugh that had nothing to do with humor." Orders came from both sides. It wasn't until after your trip to Acapulco that we were sure you weren't involved in the smuggling. You stopped being a suspect and became the decoy."
" I came to the police." She looked at Morales." I came to you. You didn't tell me."
" I wasn't aware of Agent Scott's Identify until yesterday. I knew only that we had a man in the inside and that it was necessary to use you."
" You were protected," Scott put in.
" Look, Morales---"
" This will be discussed later. You have my thanks and my apologies," he said to Zack and Roma." I regret we saw no other way."
" So do I," Roma murmured,then turned to Scott." Was it worth it? I hope you understand that I never want to see you again." After closing her hand around Zack's she managed a smile.
" I appreciate what you told me about my brother. It makes a difference."
" I'm recommending him for a citation. They'll send it to your parents."
It'll mean a great to them." He offered his hand and meant it.
" You were doing your job---i understand that. We all do what we have to do."
" That doesn't mean I don't regret it."
Zack nodded. Something inside him was free, completely free.
He only turned his back.
" Goodbye, captain."
Morales stayed where he was.
" Goodbye, Mr. Alpha."