He let himself out the front door, crept along the face of the unit, and hugged the wall as he rounded the corner. Thankfully there were large cedar trees along the side of the property, which gave him cover.

As he approached Miguel, a car without headlights swung into the alley and stopped a few feet from his brother-in-law.

The man in the bulky coat who’d become a frequent visitor got out, a hat pulled low on his forehead. As usual.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I got stuck in traffic.” The guy joined Miguel and handed over a packet. As usual.

“No problem. I only got home a few minutes ago myself.” Miguel stuffed the parcel in his jacket. As usual.

“Out having fun?”

“I wish. I had a job to do—but unfortunately it didn’t go like I planned.”

“What kind of job? I thought you were working for us.”

“I am. This was a personal job. You remember the man I told you about, who was trying to set up my friends in Mexico and was shot in the raid? The one they identified after I sent them his photo?”

“Yeah. Martinez.”

Eduardo’s heart missed a beat.

Dear Father in heaven!

Did he mean Zeke Martinez? The Spanish teacher from Ivy Hill?

Now the reason for the photo Miguel had demanded became clear.

Except . . . if Martinez had been in Mexico trying to shut down a drug ring, he wasn’t a teacher at all. He was a law enforcement officer, working at Ivy Hill undercover.

Why?

“I decided to take him out. Payback for my friends. But he had a gun—and he used it. Once a Fed, always a Fed, I guess.”

His brother-in-law had tried to kill Zeke Martinez?

The other dude uttered a string of obscenities that scorched Eduardo’s ears.

“Hey, man—it’s no big deal, okay?” Miguel sounded conciliatory—and puzzled. “I’ll get him next time. No harm done.”

“Plenty of harm was done, you idiot!” More curses followed, and the other guy stalked away.

“Hey!” Miguel lunged after him. Seized his arm. “What’s your problem, man? Why do you care if I waste a cop? It’s not like those guys are friends of yours, either.”

“No, they’re not—but this will cause major trouble for our operation. And my boss is going to be very unhappy. You may just have cost yourself the second-in-command position I was grooming you for after he retires.”

“How? Why?” A thread of panic wove through Miguel’s voice.

Eduardo didn’t wait to hear any more. He’d learned enough to know what he had to do.

Ducking low and using shrubs for cover, he worked his way behind the visitor’s car. Peered at the license plate. Memorized the numbers and letters.

Then he hightailed it back toward the house, staying in the shadows as his mind processed the conversation he’d heard.