Free The Betrayal by Jerry B. Jenkins Page A

wiry and rugged. You got the impression he had seen it all.
    Boone had always counted on Jack’s being transparent, honest, direct. No bull. He opened his mouth, truth came out. If it hurt, it hurt, but you never had to wonder where he stood.
    And now he was hedging? Even through his Percocet and OxyContin fog, Boone felt on high alert. This was so out of character for Jack that the man seemed almost needy. Boone was desperate to know what Pete had on Haeley, if anything. But he never wanted to owe a thing to Jack Keller.
    â€œOkay, so you’re going to make me do this,” Boone said, “this vulnerable man thing where I tell you what you really mean to me? Do I have to convince you I’m still trustworthy?”
    Jack stared straight ahead as he drove. Boone let the question hang there, and it clearly embarrassed his boss. That was all right. The man didn’t have to answer. Not saying anything was answer enough.
    â€œBecause I’m willing, Jack. Listen, you’ve been the best mentor a cop could have. You taught me everything I know. I would no more do or say anything to hurt you than I would surrender my badge. If anything, I’m hurt that you even have to ask for assurances, but if that’s what you need, that’s what you’ve got.”
    Keller cleared his throat. “I appreciate that, Boones, and I only asked to be dead sure you appreciate how dangerous this is.”
    â€œGot it. Now we okay?”
    â€œâ€™Course. We’ll always be okay, no matter what happens.”
    â€œWhat’s going to happen, Jack?”
    Again the boss hesitated and Boone felt it in his gut. “It doesn’t look good, Boones.”
    â€œFor Haeley, you mean?”
    Jack nodded.
    Boone tensed. His legs felt tingly and his good hand was balled into a fist. “I’m listening.”
    â€œJazzy Villalobos is cutting a deal.”
    Boone went blank. “I’ve got to tell you, Jack, that was the last thing I expected to come out of your mouth. What in blazes does Jazzy Villalobos have to do with Haeley? And how can he cut a deal? Candelario had to have spilled so much on him before the grand jury that—”
    â€œVillalobos is already out.”
    â€œYou serious?”
    Jack nodded. “He’s turning state’s evidence.”
    â€œWho’s he going to rat on? PC nailed him along with all the rest of ’em.”
    â€œHis nephew was your shooter.”
    â€œThat kid was a Villalobos? I mean, we all knew he had to be DiLoKi, but—”
    â€œAnd Jazzy is willing to tell where the kid got inside information, enough to almost kill PC. You were just in the way.”
    â€œAnd what, he’s going to claim some connection with Haeley?”
    â€œIndirectly.”
    â€œI’m lost.”
    â€œWe all are, Boones. But doesn’t it make sense that this kid being in exactly the right place at the right time and almost taking down the biggest canary the Chicago PD ever had means he had inside information? How many people knew where Pascual was and when he would be moved?”
    â€œPrecious few.”
    â€œHow many, Boones?”
    â€œI guess just the five of us. You and me, Pete and Fletch, and Haeley.”
    â€œEven the undercovers who went with you that night didn’t know where they were going. They just followed you.”
    â€œIt doesn’t make sense that any of the five of us would leak that information, but least of all Haeley. What’s in it for her?”
    â€œI have no idea, Boones. But on some log sheet for the file, she wrote just enough information for the wrong people to have, and they got it.”
    â€œAnd we know this how?”
    â€œI saw the copy Jazzy gave to Pete.”
    â€œA copy?”
    â€œClaims it was shot with a cell phone, right off her desk.”
    â€œBy . . . ?”
    â€œHe’s dangling that tidbit. Before he gives up too much he’s parlaying it into