The missing piece of the puzzle fell into place when Brandi mentioned that Roger’s daughter was helping him traffick girls from all over Chicago. Cameron reviewed a file Trenton had sent her on the young girl listed in Bishop’s system as “Loretta A.”
“You could give the info to your father since he clearly suspected Dr. Oakley of being up to something,” Trenton suggested.
“So, you want me to tell him we’ve been following him,” Cameron clapped back. She contemplated changing the meeting spot since she’d been waiting for almost ten minutes. Jason should’ve been here by now.
“Uh, no. Jason is a great choice.” Trenton chuckled before ending the call.
Jason texted her forty-five minutes ago to say he was on the way, after she requested to see him. She glanced at the time on the dashboard again, wondering if he had trouble stepping away from the case at the office. Scanning the area, the same black Lexus that had driven away moments before Daron’s guy got in position, rolled up the block and parked on the corner.
Cameron sighed, then used a device to shut down the community center’s security camera and slid out the Charger. It’s going to be that type of night, I see.
She positioned her body as if she was looking at the main street but kept her eyes on the woman creeping up on her in the shadows.
“They mentioned this was your favorite spot, but when I got the call that you were here, I couldn’t believe my luck.” Pebbles slid under the woman’s feet as she stuck close to the brick wall, trying to stay out of the camera’s range. “Do you know they tried to demote me from acquisitions to processing the girls because I didn’t know Tracy wore a tracker? They even threatened me and tried to kill me once they found out I was trying to sell my service to someone else.”
“Did I ask you for your life story?” Cameron turned toward the voice, positioning her hand near a weapon.
“Oh, but Daron came to my rescue. I should have known it was a setup when Bobby didn’t just issue a threat and leave.” Alisha stopped where the dirt met the sidewalk. “But he played the game well, shooting back as if Levi hadn’t made it happen.”
“Oh, so you’re Queen Bee,” Cameron said since Alisha seemed to have established her own set of followers. “I’m surprised that you’re not with your father at the hospital.”
“I’m trying to be Daron’s queen since you don’t seem up for the job.” Alisha gave her a wicked smile. “And if that evil man, Roger, is in the hospital it means he finally got what he deserved.”
“Daron and I are good.” Cameron grabbed the wand in one hand and the gun in the other. “You and I, not so much.”
Alisha advanced, pointing a Glock at Cameron with her other hand in the pocket of her jacket. “Don’t move. My boys warned me about you.”
“Evidently, you didn’t listen to them. You picked the wrong time to come for me.” She chuckled, knowing the bodysuit she wore would protect her unless Alisha shot at her head or hands. Then she’d have a big problem.
“If it’s because Daron’s expecting you at his place. Don’t worry. I’ll reappear in his life shortly after your funeral.” Her facial expression was solemn even though her eyes were still lit with mischief. “A powerful man like that with a woman like me at his side, we’d be unstoppable.”
“Daron’s your power grab?”
Cameron shifted seconds before the gun fired a bullet that deflected off her arm. She slammed the wand across Alisha’s weapon, then her face.
Alisha grunted as her other hand came out of her pocket with Mace, spraying.
Cameron knocked the can out of Alisha’s hand but the mist hit the side of her face. She punched Alisha in the jaw, while her eyes burned. She and Alisha coughed as the Mace lingered heavily in the air. She swiped Alisha’s feet from under her, then followed her to the ground. Cameron placed a Ruger in the center of Alisha’s forehead as she wiped the mace from the side of her face using the jacket.
“Don’t,” Jason shouted.
“Lucky ass.” Cameron backed up. She never intended to shoot her, at least not with a real bullet, maybe knock her out for a while. Her brother seemed to have a knack for coming in at the eleventh hour and making sure low life’s survived.
Alisha reached for her ankle.
“But you’re not.” Alisha lifted the gun and pulled the trigger twice.
“No.” Jason whipped out his weapon and shot Alisha in the chest.
The first bullet hit the wall just behind Cameron but the second one caught her in the gut. Cameron stumbled backward. Her shoulder hit the bricks as she felt the burn where the bullet hit. Jason kicked the gun away from Alisha’s body then leaned over, feeling for a pulse.
Jason called for help, giving the location. He snatched Alisha’s weapon from the ground and rushed over to Cameron. “Is this your idea of retirement?”
“Retirement hurts,” Cameron murmured. “If I was planning to do dirt, do you really think I’d invite my FBI brother to the party?” Cameron was glad she was doing Daron a favor this evening. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been dressed for the occasion.
“Did you think I was going to shoot you?” Jason lifted her jacket to see the bullet wedged into her armored jumpsuit.
“Let’s just say I’ve been getting a lot of unexpected visitors.” Cameron didn’t want to tell him that she was on the premises when he arrived to take down Levi, Marquise, and the dirty judge.
“Could it be that you’re dating a suspected criminal?” Jason stared at the bullet lodged in the brick.
“This trouble has nothing to do with his past and everything to do with him tracking down that missing girl, when law enforcement couldn’t.” Cameron didn’t want to mention The Castle. Jason would think Daron was working with the criminal element and want to bring him to justice. She couldn’t have her brother getting in Daron’s way.
“Damn Cam, how about you take some time to focus on your new facility?”
Cameron kept her eye on Alisha, since there was movement in her chest, although faint. “You want me with him.”
“What?” His face crinkled into a scowl as his hazel eyes narrowed. “Why do you say that?”
Cameron snickered. “You shot my biggest competition.”
“If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have. I’m going to keep her ass alive by any means necessary.” Jason ripped off his jacket and used it to apply pressure to Alisha’s wound, scanning the area. “Where is that damn ambulance?”
Cameron chuckled at the seriousness etched in his face. “Before your people arrive, I was trying to give you the lead on Miss Alisha there and a few more individuals.” Cameron pulled out the baggie and opened it so he could grab the flash drive.
The siren sounded closer. “Don’t go anywhere. I can’t make this disappear and I need you to get checked out.”
“How am I supposed to explain the Kevlar?” Cameron looked back at the wall. At least he could say Alisha took a shot at him and an informant, which would be technically true.
“Go.” He slipped the flash drive into his pocket and returned to applying pressure.
“Let’s do lunch.” Cameron moved toward the Charger. “I need to talk to you about dad.”
Jason’s jaw dropped, but he didn’t get a word out before she disappeared.