Free Absolution by Diane Alberts Page B

haven’t
already. We don’t want him coming for her.”

Chapter Six
     
     
    Joseph had a tail. He’d suspected it a block
ago. After a sharp right turn, followed by a left, he knew his
suspicions to be true. It appeared the Cartel had tracked them
down. The question that burned in his mind, however, was whether
they’d found Eva. After he lost the shadow, he would ascertain
whether her whereabouts had been compromised. He dipped into an
alleyway and drew his weapon, not waiting long before the man who’d
followed ducked into the dimness. He pistol whipped the fool on the
back of the head with a quick, decisive swing and stepped over the
unconscious body.
    Sprinting back to Eva, heart racing in fear,
he called his superior and informed him to send two uniforms to
pick up the unconscious fucker and hold the man for questioning.
Doubtful the Cartel’s soldier would give them much, but it would be
worth a shot. He holstered the Glock 22 and rushed to the
hotel.
    Their room door stood open, and a quick peek
inside showed all of Eva’s belongings still in her bag. If she’d
left out of anger instead of force, she would have grabbed her
purse.
    “Fuck!” he bellowed and kicked the door. Damn
it, they had her. If she wasn’t dead already, she would soon wish
she were.
    He sprinted out of the hotel and hopped in
his car to speed to Hugo’s house. When he arrived, he marched past
the staff and guards, who all rushed out of his way and shot him
horrified looks as he swept by. If they hadn’t recognized him from
his numerous past visits, he knew they would have taken him to the
ground within seconds of his entry. He stomped into Hugo’s office
without bothering to knock and found him sitting at the conference
table, reading the paper with a mug of coffee at his side. Upon
seeing Joseph, the old man leapt to his feet, peering over Joseph’s
shoulder.
    Hugo paled and, grabbing Joseph’s shirt, he
shoved him against the fireplace. “Where is she, you son of a
bitch?”
    Gritting his teeth, Joseph didn’t bother to
fight back, even though his head slammed against the brick. He
needed to be reprimanded, to have someone in his face. How could he
have let the Cartel take Eva right out from under his watch? What
the hell had he been thinking, leaving her alone in the hotel? She
was his responsibility, and he’d failed her like a piece of shit
rookie. If Hugo felt the need to try and kick his ass, so be
it.
    “They got to her when I went for breakfast.
She’s been gone no more than an hour.”
    “You left her alone ?”
    “At the time, it seemed better than bringing
her out in public or ordering delivery. I didn’t want to risk
discovery.” Joseph’s heart pounded, and the roaring in his ears
oddly reminded him of the ocean during a storm. He needed to stop
explaining and find Eva before they ran out of time. He brought his
hands up between Hugo’s forearms and shoved out, breaking the old
man’s grip on his collar. “Tell me everything you know. Now.”
    “You’re off the case. I’ll bring in someone
capable of finishing the job. You, obviously, were not the best
option.” With a scowl, Hugo turned to grab the cordless phone on
his desk.
    “Son of a bitch!” Joseph grabbed a clock on
the mantle and catapulted it across the room. It shattered into
hundreds of pieces.
    “What the hell?” Hugo spun to face him,
astonishment on his features and the phone in his grip, the dial
tone sounding.
    Joseph stared at the broken pieces of the
clock in shock. How the hell had he allowed his temper, his agony,
to get the better of him? He needed to focus on saving Eva.
Gritting his teeth, Joseph flexed his fingers and faced Hugo with
renewed determination. He wouldn’t allow his emotions to get the
better of him again. He couldn’t afford any more stupid
mistakes.
    “Get a hold of yourself, agent,” Hugo
warned.
    Joseph strode over to him, grabbed the phone,
and disconnected the call before tossing the receiver back