Incriminating Evidence (7 page)

“We’re regrouping at the safe house to talk about next steps.”

“Will I be able to go back to my normal life now? I miss Tiger so much and my simple apartment with my things. I may not have a lot, but at least what I have is mine.”

“That’s one of the things we’re going to have to talk about. Ian is coming over, as well. I wanted to get input from him on how to move forward.”

“Because if I go after Ana, you think it will still be dangerous for me.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind.”

“We still don’t know if Ian is going to be on board with another prosecution of the Hernandez family right now.”

“Which is why we need to talk about it.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I want to make a case against her, but I need to make sure it’s a stronger one than this was. And I’m also not looking forward to continuing my life on lockdown. I miss Tiger. I miss my quiet life.”

He knew what she wanted to hear, but he would only tell her the truth. “Your life may never be so quiet again.”

She groaned.

“We can talk about all of this at the meeting. Just try to relax on the rest of the way over.”

* * *

Relax
, she thought. That would be a nice concept, but the word wasn’t part of her vocabulary. As she looked into the eyes of her boss as they all gathered around the large dining room table at the safe house, the last thing she was feeling was relaxed.

Brodie, Zach and Ian all had a lot of ideas, and she wanted to make sure her voice was also heard. She had to be careful, though, because at the end of the day, Ian was still her superior and she wasn’t in a position to make demands on him about her assignments.

“Before we really jump into moving forward, I just wanted to say something at the outset,” Ian said. “Jessica, you took on a very tough assignment and really put on the strongest case you could. The entire office is proud of your efforts.”

“Thank you, Ian. That means a lot to me.” And it did. The affirmation felt good after the disappointing results.

“It’s important that you don’t take this verdict personally. We all knew it was an uphill battle after Denise’s murder. And frankly, it would’ve been a tough case even if Denise had been alive to testify against Simon.”

“I understand. We have to do the best we can with the evidence we have.”

“Exactly. But I realize we’re gathered here tonight to talk about next steps,” Ian said.

“Right,” Zach said. “The FBI is currently conducting a threat assessment to determine how best to proceed with regard to Jessica’s security.”

“And that is a top priority for me,” Ian said. “What are you guys thinking right now? I know you’re doing a formal analysis, but this will impact my thinking on what happens next regarding the Hernandez family.”

Brodie leaned forward. “I don’t think anyone at the bureau thinks that Jessica is totally in the clear. This family holds a grudge. Yeah, they won this battle, but there’s a larger war out there.”

“Do you really think they’d be so blatant as to go after Jessica again? Especially after all that has happened?” Ian asked.

“I do,” Zach responded. “But that actually dovetails into something else I know we all wanted to talk about—building a case against Ana.”

“Do you have a plan?” Ian asked.

“If we really want to go after Ana, then we have to understand that Jessica will still be in danger. Assuming everyone wants to move forward, I’ll continue to provide for her personal security. And we’ll work this case together.”

“That’s an interesting game plan. Given Jessica’s knowledge regarding the Hernandez family, it only makes sense that she’d continue as the prosecutor on any follow-up litigation. What’s the FBI’s position on Ana’s investigation?” Ian asked.

“We’ve got a lot of action going on,” Brodie said. “Ana’s knee-deep into the same things as her brother. Plus we believe with a bit more digging we’re going to get the hard evidence to tie her to drug trafficking. Not low-level distribution-type stuff, but major movement of product. We have a confidential informant that is extremely close to bringing us something that could make the strongest case possible against Ana.”

“If we go down this path, I would want this to be a highly collaborative effort between our office and the FBI. And I will not assign Jessica this case if the FBI decides to pull her security. It’s just too risky. So that’s an absolute nonnegotiable.”

“I doubt that’s going to happen,” Brodie said. “I don’t think we’d consider doing that given the level of danger. The issue will more likely be how much security is assigned to her.”

“I don’t need a full security team, guys. If Zach and I are going to be working on the Ana investigation together, he’s totally able to handle anything that could come up.”

Ian looked at her. “So I take it, Jessica, that you really want to move forward and continue to work on matters related to the Hernandez family?”

“Absolutely.” She knew what she was getting into, but she believed so strongly that this family had to be stopped.

“Then assuming you have FBI security in place and are working jointly with them to build a case against Ana, I will approve it.”

“Thank you, Ian.” She felt a resurgence of excitement. She might have lost against Simon, but there was still another fight to be had. And she intended to take down the Hernandez family once and for all.

SEVEN

Z
ach organized his paper files and laptop on the dining room table of the safe house. Much to his relief, he’d been given the go-ahead by the higher-ups to stay with Jessica and continue to provide for her security. And even better, he had the big green light to push forward on the investigation of Ana Hernandez. He felt as a team, he and Jessica could put together a rock-solid case.

Jessica also seemed excited about the prospect of working with him. And that made him happy. They were different in many ways, but they both had the same passionate drive.

Jessica walked into the room with her laptop in her hands. “I’m ready to work,” she said.

“Great—me, too.” Zach adjusted the screen on his computer.

He looked over at Jessica as she took a seat. Her blond hair was hanging loose down her shoulders this afternoon. Often he found himself looking at her not as part of his security detail, but as a woman he cared for. He could actually see her in his life once this case was over. Because the more he got to know Jessica, the more he liked her. And he already had a tremendous amount of respect for her after only a short time. Although his feelings for her went beyond respect.

“Where do you want to start?” she asked.

“From the ground up. Everything we each know about Ana Hernandez. You want to kick us off?”

“Sure.” She consulted her notes on her laptop. “Ana is thirty years old. Single and maintains at least two known residences. One near her family’s home in Coral Springs and another on South Beach. She owns a dry cleaning business and a deli-style restaurant. My latest research indicates that she also just put an offer in on another piece of real estate. I don’t know what plans she has for that.”

“Interesting. What have you uncovered on her ties to illegal activities?”

Jessica cocked her head to the side. “She’s not as bulletproof as her brother or father. I think if we drill down hard enough on the financials, we’ll find at the very least enough evidence to substantiate a money laundering charge in conjunction with her businesses. But if we’re going after her, I don’t want to bring only money laundering charges like I did with Simon. I want the drug trafficking to be a part of it. That’s what really makes this a bigger and better case.”

“Well, if our FBI confidential informant comes through, then we might have the drug-trafficking angle against Ana. Our CI didn’t have as much access to Simon, but he is close to Ana. We know for a fact that she’s orchestrating some pretty complex drug-smuggling operations, but it’s just a matter of gathering the evidence to prove it. Which is harder than it sounds since there’s always different levels of middlemen that are involved to protect the family.”

“Given all that’s happened, you have to wonder if they’re going to be a bit more cautious from here on out?”

“Or after the acquittal, they’re even more confident and think that they’re above the law and untouchable. They’ll be emboldened to do whatever they want because they think a jury will never convict them.”

“Let them get arrogant,” she said. “That will only increase the likelihood that we’ll catch a break. How much do you know about the CI?”

“He’s built up credibility over the past few years working as a CI for the FBI. But he hasn’t been in a position up until this point to bring in something major. It takes years working for the Hernandez family before you get to the level where you’d have access to the type of information that we need to build our case. But now they’ve put him in charge of negotiating with suppliers and that gives him access to information regarding the drug trafficking.”

“And how long has he been working for Hernandez?”

“Fifteen years.”

“And what makes someone like that turn?” she asked.

“It’s different for each CI. Sometimes it’s the hope that they can take their families and start over with brand-new lives in witness protection. But that’s only reserved for the ones that bring in the most valuable evidence. For others, they get tired of the lifestyle or feel like they aren’t treated fairly or compensated enough. I don’t know yet what our guy’s motivation is, and I’m not as concerned about that as I am about what he can actually bring us.”

“I can imagine that a lot of guys make promises but then aren’t able to follow through.”

He nodded. “And, yeah, that’s when things can go south quickly, especially if there’s ever any doubt about the CI’s allegiance to the family. Mick Hernandez has standing orders. Shoot first and worry later about whether it was the right thing to do. His iron-fist method of ruling ensures that most of the people that work for him wouldn’t even consider turning against the family.”

“Harsh but highly effective.”

“You’ve seen it with how they’ve gone after you, Jessica.”

“Yeah, I know. All of this makes me think our CI has to have a strong source of motivation for risking his life. I hope the FBI has a solid plan in place to protect him.”

“Of course. We don’t take this lightly. Everyone is fully involved and engaged.”

“Okay. So back to our original topic of discussion. I’ve told you what I know. Now it’s your turn. What information do you have on Ana that you can share?” she asked.

“The drug trafficking is where the bureau has focused their attention. We’ve gathered lots of intel—the issue is going to be connecting the dots and shoring up the evidence. We believe Ana is using her legitimate businesses as a cover to run drugs throughout the city. She’s building a highly sophisticated transportation network, and there’s been a lot of activity at the loading docks. Yes, she has legitimate business products coming in via ship transport, but we believe that’s only part of the story and that drugs are coming into the country this way. And that the Hernandez family is trying to up its game to become a top player in the drug business.”

“If they’re doing so well with their other illegal efforts, then why even bother with the drug trafficking?” Jessica wondered.

“Because there’s so much money to be had there. They’re not going to leave that type of cash on the table. Yes, it means they have to shift up some of their business models, but it’s clear to me that decision has been made. Granted, I’ve only been working this case a short time, but I’ve read every file I can get my hands on, and I’m constantly reviewing the intel reports.”

“We had limited evidence on the drug business for Simon’s case, but there wasn’t anything concrete to put before the jury.”

“Once you get in the drug business, it amplifies all your other work. I know Mick runs a casino business. Gambling and drugs go hand in hand,” Zach explained.

“You might as well start looking into weapons trafficking, too.”

“The FBI has, but so far nothing on that front. I think all of their effort right now is on taking over as the largest distributor in the city and beyond, for that matter.”

“You can’t run a large operation like that under the radar forever.”

“Yeah. It’s a matter of when, not if,” he said. He hoped it would be sooner rather than later, but Jessica was right. This thing was going to get too big for Ana to hide in the shadows forever. “We were both thrown right into the middle of this thing. But now it seems like we’ve been working together on these cases forever.”

“I know, right?” She smiled.

He felt his heart constrict for a moment as he once again realized how much he enjoyed spending time with Jessica. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve been in the FBI for much longer than I have, but then there are times I realize that I still have a lot to learn.” He paused. “Even beyond my obvious misstep in court.” He still was having a hard time moving past that.

“You should be proud of yourself, Zach. In my opinion, you’ve risen to the occasion in every way.”

“Thank you for saying that. I could say the same thing about you and then some. You’ve really shown no fear, Jessica. It’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. How you’ve faced down the Hernandez family even when you’ve been attacked and threatened.”

“It’s because I don’t rely on myself for my strength, Zach. I rely on God.”

“I really admire your faith. I like to think that I’ve grown a lot in my faith over the years, but you’re showing me that I still have a ways to go.”

“In what way?”

“You have a total reliance on God. Or at least it seems that way to me. I have trouble really letting go and letting God take control. Even when it’s my strongest intention to do so, there are times I get off track and just start doing things my way.”

“It’s not easy, Zach. And my background made me rely on Him because He was all I had. There was no other option. No parent or friend looking out for me. No person that I could confide in or trust. I knew so much hardship and pain that finding my faith literally meant the difference between life and death. I completely believe that with every part of me. But I’m far from perfect. I get stubborn and focus on doing things on my own, too. It’s not just you.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “I fully recognize that I’m self-sufficient and probably a bit too self-centered. But I’m working on it.”

She shook her head. “You have a warped perception of yourself. Since I’ve met you, you’ve been totally selfless, not selfish.” She reached out and grabbed on to his arm.

He couldn’t help but be affected by her warm touch. Especially with the knowledge of her past and understanding what it took for her to be close to him like that.

“And I’m enjoying our partnership,” she said. “Don’t discount the fact that I can learn things from you, too.”

He liked the sound of the partnership they had. “I can tell how passionate you are about your beliefs. If anything, that just makes me like you even more. I consider you a friend, Jessica.” In his mind, though, he wanted more than friendship between them.

* * *

Later that night sitting in the living room, Jessica brought up a subject that had been weighing on her since their earlier conversation. “I want to meet the CI,” she said, looking into Zach’s eyes as she made her request.

“Jessica, that’s not the smartest idea. We can’t have him come here. There would be far too much exposure. And it’s too dangerous to have you meet him elsewhere. If anyone saw you together, he would be as good as dead, and the target on your back would just get bigger. Our case would be severely impacted if we lose the CI. So it’s just not something that’s going to happen.”

“If he could get to the safe house undetected, though...” Wasn’t the FBI supposed to be good at that? Getting people places without others knowing? Operating under the radar?

“I’m sorry, Jess. You can debate me all you want, but this particular item is nonnegotiable.”

She laughed. “So now I’m Jess?”

“Sorry. Guess you don’t like that nickname?”

“The nickname doesn’t bother me. It’s the part about non-negotiation that does. Are you sure we can’t come to a middle ground?”

“Not on this. And, anyway, even if you could win me over, this isn’t my call since I’m not running the CI.” He paused, and his eyes softened. “Tell me what you think meeting him will tell you that you can’t get from the FBI side.”

“I like to be able to validate a witness’s credibility myself. Face-to-face. With the FBI involved, everything is sanitized.”

“I don’t want you to think the bureau is holding back information. Whatever we know, you now know. The only difference is a face-to-face meet is off the table at this point. Obviously, if you end up charging Ana and you move forward with the prosecution, then you’d be meeting with the CI just like any of your other witnesses to prepare him to testify.”

“Yeah, but the entire analysis of the case may hinge on the CI’s testimony. If I can’t evaluate him myself, then that could lead to problems down the road.”

“I see your perspective, but security concerns are going to trump the legal ones. That’s just the way it is.”

“What about a virtual meeting? Where I can at least see him and talk to him?”

“You are a tough one, Jess.”

“There you go again.” She couldn’t help but smile. She actually enjoyed being called Jess. She’d never really had anyone call her that. Mainly because she didn’t let people get close enough to her to allow for that type of familiarity. But with Zach she seemed to be breaking her normal rules. Instead of the nickname bothering her, it actually made her feel close to him in a way she’d never experienced before.

“I wasn’t even thinking about an electronic meeting. I’m sure there are still risks with setting that up, but I’m willing to at least pitch the idea to Brodie and see what he thinks. The problem is that I don’t know if there’s anything that would make him want to take a risk in compromising our guy. Maybe once we pull him out and have him in protective custody if it comes to that.”

Even though she wanted to interview the CI for herself, ultimately she knew that Zach was right. None of them could afford compromising the informant. And she definitely didn’t want that on her conscience if something went wrong. “All right. I’m sympathetic to your point. And obviously the last thing I’d want to do is to risk the CI’s life or well-being.”

“Good. Sounds like we’re in agreement then for the time being.”

“Maybe not for long.”

“Uh-oh,” he said. “What else do you have for me?”

“I want to scope out some of Ana’s businesses.”

“Scope out?”

“Yeah, as in go there and see things for myself.”

“You do realize that you’re not an agent, or even a detective, right? You’re the prosecutor.”

She smiled. “Yes, I’ve very aware of my role, but I’m working with you. We’re supposed to be a team. We need to see what’s going on for ourselves. Especially the shipping operation and the transportation networks she has set up near the marina.”

He cocked his head to the side. “You’re really interested in stepping into danger, aren’t you?”

“You said we were going to investigate. To be able to do so, we have to get out there—we can’t stay shut up in here forever. I’m not saying that we should be reckless or take unnecessary risks, but we need to get a bit more aggressive in our investigation. Maybe we’ll notice things out there which will lead us to investigate other facts or leads.”