“How can you be sure?” Hooper said.
She shrugged. “I just know. I got a sense that he’d be calling again.”
John said, “Shauna, maybe this is too much right now. You tried to hide it, but I could tell his calls upset you on Monday.”
“Only because he kept calling. Three dates, that was it, and he doesn’t let go.”
Hooper said, “He may think you have information about Jason Butler. Davis wants his investment list.”
Shauna frowned and tried to remember her dates with Austin. “Maybe,” she said.
“What do you remember?”
“Our first date—he talked about Jason. I kind of dismissed it, and I don’t remember what we talked about, but he was interesting in my relationship with him. I thought, at the time, it was because Jason had just gotten out of prison and had been written about in the papers. Including how I cancelled the wedding. God, I feel awful about that.”
She looked from John to Hooper. “I’ll do it. If Austin had anything to do with Mack’s murder, I want him caught. It’s a charity ball—nothing’s going to happen, right?”
“We have the event covered, and we won’t let you out of our sight,” Hooper said.
“You think he’s dangerous—to me?”
“He doesn’t want to be caught,” Hooper said. “I wouldn’t send you in if I didn’t think it was safe, but there is always a risk.”
Shauna considered she may have bitten off more than she could handle. But Jason had sacrificed years of his life and his reputation to catch these criminals, and she was only sacrificing one night. Plus, she’d practically be surrounded by cops.
“I’m in,” she said.
#
That morning, John Black had called Sam and asked him to meet at FBI headquarters. Now, Sam sat in the office of ASAC Dean Hooper and listened to the Fed explain that Shauna was now going to spy on a known criminal.
Sam stared at John Black as if he were a traitor. “You’re sending a civilian undercover?”
“Shauna is only there to keep tabs on Davis and make sure Jason’s cover isn’t blown,” John said.
“You don’t know her like I do. She’s volatile. She has a temper. And you told her that Davis may have killed Mack? You think she’s just going to let him wine and dine her?” The thought of Shauna being in the same room with that slime made Sam’s skin crawl.
Hooper said, “We have never been able to get this close to Davis. This is the best chance we have of finding out exactly how he’s laundering money. Once I know how, I can follow the money trail and nail him. It might take a little time. This operation is information gathering only.”
“You expect her to gather information as well?”
“No. That’s Jason Butler’s job.”
“You spent last night explaining how dangerous this guy is, now you want Shauna to go in and be his date.”
“It’s a charity ball. And we’re not leaving anything to chance. I have a suite. I have undercover agents staking out the bar and photographing everyone who comes in, and she’ll be wired.”
Sam didn’t like any of it, not only because Shauna wasn’t a cop. She now knew that Jason Butler wasn’t a crook. That not only was he innocent, but he willingly sacrificed his freedom and his reputation for what? Justice? There had to be another reason Butler was doing this.
Shauna had cared about him—loved him, at least at one time. She was engaged to him. And the only reason she wasn’t married to him now was because he’d been arrested and sent to prison. He’d already reached out to her—what if he wanted her back? When he was a criminal, Sam knew Shauna wouldn’t go back to him, but now? Not only was he not a bad guy, but he might be considered a hero.
Not to mention he was good-looking and rich.
John misunderstood his concern and said, “I’ve brought in the people I most trust, she’ll be safe, Sam.”
“And she already agreed,” Hooper said. “I understand there may be some extenuating circumstances—”
Sam didn’t know what John had told the fed, but he said, “Friends. We’re family friends.” He nodded. “Tell me what you want.”
Hooper said, “I want Austin Davis and everyone else at Coresco & Hunt in prison. If I get them on money laundering and tax evasion and fraud, terrific. If Detective Black gets them on murder and conspiracy, great. I honestly don’t care how they go to prison, as long as the conviction stands. I believe Jason Butler is the only way I’m going to get an in. His cover has held, and Davis will not be able to resist bringing him in.