* * * *
“I have to see him. We’re going. I don’t care how, but I’m going to see Frank. When can we leave?” J.J. asked as Conway, she, and Lincoln joined Brook and Calder in the living room. They’d just told her about Frank, and that he was in critical condition, and that he had been shot.
“Whoa! You’re not going fucking anywhere,” Calder stated firmly.
“Didn’t you hear what we just said? Dooley disappeared. He’s on the run. He’s a fucking wanted man, and he hired someone to kill Frank. That means he could have sent others to kill you,” Lincoln added.
“You don’t know that. You sent all the information to the feds and the people that your friends believe to be trustworthy. They’re already raiding Dooley’s office, confiscating his files, and going over all the evidence. Multiple people have been arrested and will be charged. We can head to Nevada. I can see Frank. I need to see him.” She raised her voice.
“Why? Why the fuck do you need to see your commander? Can’t you just let things fall into place? He wouldn’t want you to come see him with your life still in danger,” Conway said.
“I have to see him. He could die and then what?”
“You could die, J.J.,” Brook added.
“You don’t understand. Frank is the only family, the only friend and connection I have left.”
“Connection to what? The fucking police department, the people who turned on you, what? Who?” Calder asked in frustration.
“To Anthony. Frank is all I have left of Anthony,” she yelled back and then covered her face with her hands and then her mouth. They just stared at her.
“Explain,” Conway stated in his very authoritative manner. She looked at him.
“Frank is Anthony’s uncle. If he dies…”
Brook pulled her into his arms and hugged her.
“Fuck. This just keeps getting more and more complicated,” he whispered.
“Hey, you’re not alone. If something happens to Frank, or if Frank pulls through, either way, you are not alone. You have us now, and we have you,” Conway told her as she pulled back from Brook. She looked at each of them.
“We need to go there. This has to come to an end. All our ducks in a row, all the evidence submitted, my testimony told, and it ends, forever.”
The room was silent and then Conway spoke.
“Looks like we’re heading to Vegas.”
Chapter 10
When they arrived at the hospital, there were agents and officers providing security, and J.J. spotted Janelle. She walked over to her and they embraced.
“Oh, thank God that you’re safe. Frank was so worried,” Janelle stated.
“How is he doing, Janelle?” she asked, knowing that Janelle cared about Frank.
“He’s a tough bastard. He’s hanging in there. Every day looks promising. Why don’t I take you up there to see him?” She placed her arm around her and then Conway stopped them.
“Whoa, where are you going?” he asked.
“I’ll take her up,” Janelle said.
“It’s fine. That’s Frank’s girlfriend, and she’s one of us,” one of the detectives stated.
“Meet me up there,” J.J. told the men and then headed toward the elevator with Janelle. They got in and J.J. saw that Janelle was carrying and was in that stance of hers she always did when she was getting ready for something. She was a good cop, and always in protective mode.
“Those guys are huge. Are you sleeping with any of them?” Janelle asked.
“What?” she asked, kind of surprised by the comment. Janelle pressed the button and the doors closed. As soon as the elevator started to go down instead of up, J.J. had a bad feeling. She stepped forward.