Prologue

"Joe! Good to see you!"

"And you, Tim." Joe gripped the other agents hand and slid into the booth seat opposite Tim, his nose twitching as the aroma of coffee and pie washed over him in waves. He tried to ignore his rumbling stomach. He set a small manila folder on the seat next to him. He sighed when he saw Tim's eyes fix on it greedily and picked it up. Holding it tightly in his lap. "What's this all about Tim?"

"Do you want something to eat? The pie here is fantastic!" Tim's eyes stayed focused on the folder, almost without him realising.

Joe waved his hand in front of Tim's face. "Nah, I'll get something later. What's going on?"

Tim blinked at the hand in his face, shaking himself enough to look at Joe. "I need help with a case."

"What case?"

"You ever hear of the Church of the Repentant Sinner?"

Joe slumped back in his seat, pinching the bridge of his nose. "A little. Supposed to do quite a lot of good in the likes of Farmington and Vista Heights, aren't they?"

Tim snorted. "My fucking ass! We think all of that's just a cover. We think that the Church is up to it's grubby little armpits in extortion, vigilantes, arms dealing, drugs, and God alone knows what else." He gave another brief snort of laughter at his own joke. "All the usual shit you'd expect a law abiding, God fearing organisation to be involved in." He lowered his voice. "We think that the Reverend McNeill has at least one murder on his hands." He snorted again, bitterly. "Some minister."

"And you want me to put one of my guys in the middle of this mess. See what they can find out?"

"Exactly. You got any scenarios you can use?"

"Maybe." Joe closed his eyes, thinking. Then nodded. "Yeah, I gotta a couple of ideas that might work out." He drummed his fingers on the table, ignoring the brief rattle of cutlery. "Let me talk to my guy, see what she says and I'll get back to you."

"This is a big case for me, Joe. We've been closing in on this prick for a while now, I cant afford to let this slip."

"It's not my call to make, Tim…"

"I know, Joe. It's just…I've been after this evil bastard for so long. I need this one, Joe." Tim leaned back, shaking his hand. "You haven't seen all the shit I've got Moses McNeill connected to. I just need that one piece to…"

He closed his fist.

xxxXXXxxx

Darnell strolled into the diner.

Keeping his sunglasses on, his back to the wall, he glanced about the restaurant. Trying to block out the smells and the sounds…

There.

He swaggered through the diner, trying to loom as large as he could, his shoulders pushed back, his chest out, both waitresses and customers leaning out of his way. Most of them moved back willingly enough, trying to avoid the smell of the docks attached to his clothes and skin. He sat down in the seat recently occupied by another agent.

His handler grinned. "I swear Darnell, that routine gets funnier every time you do it."

"It's easier to stay in character if I don't go out of character." Darnell drew out his accent. "Helps me to think."

"Very true. What do you got for me?"

"Next shipment is due in the next six or seven days." Darnell grinned a gold stud in his tooth glistening in the dim light. "We're supposed to unload the crates from the barge into the warehouse. Michael Benson and his boys go through them, take the gear away, load them onto lorries." He flexed his shoulder, grimacing. "Cant say I'm looking forward to that bit."

"How do they know which crates has the merchandise?"

"I don't know. I'm still working that bit out. I'm just trying to make sure I get overtime that night. I'll work the rest out later." Darnell took a mouthful of Joe's coffee and stood up. "I'd better get back."

"Okay, Darnell. I'll let LAPD know." He tapped his finger against Darnell's chest. "Be careful. You hear me?"

"I hear you boss."

xxxXXXxxx

"You better have something for me Joe." Heather sat down in the booth. "I got to tell you, I'm getting pretty damn sick and tired of cooling my heels."

Joe laughed and slid the folder across the table. "Don't worry, I got something for you." He watched as she picked up the folder, flicking through it, stopping to glance at the photos. "His name is Frank Mulholland."

"Who is he?"

"Local politician." Joe lit a cigar, carefully blowing the smoke away from her. "He's small fry, but he's ambitious. LAPD's had their eyes on him for a while. He's trying to buy nominations."

"Which party?" Heather's eyes flicked from the folder to Joe's face.

Joe barked a laugh, sending fragrant clouds of cigar smoke over the table, ignoring the indignant coughing coming from the couple behind them. "Republican of course. Dontcha know that all the real bastards are republican?"

"I knew there was a reason I voted Democrat." She closed the file. "You want me to in there, don't you? What's the character?"

"His assistant quit. You're her replacement."

"How do you want me to play it?" Heather leaned forward, ignoring the smoke. "Sexy, flirty, provocative, yet maddeningly professional?" Her accent and manner changed as she ticked off the points. Getting into character already. "Just that little bit out of reach, making him wonder what he has to do just to crack my cool?"

Joe stubbed out his cigar. "Something like that."

"I like this girl already."

xxxXXXxxx

"What'd you got for me Joe?"

Her excitement and enthusiasm was almost contagious. Joe sighed and picked his hat up, pulling it down low over his eyes. Made it easier to look at her. "Sit down Lily."

Obediently she sat down. "What's wrong Joe?"

"I got something for you. Local Feds brought it to me." He pushed his hat back, toying with his necklace. "It's your call whether or not you want to run it."

"Okay. What's the play?"

"You ever hear of the Church of the Repentant Sinner?"

She shook her head.

"Supposed to be a religious organisation. Our boys think they're a little dirtier than that. Murder extortion, usual shit."

"You want me to help find out what's going on?" Her excitement was back, flaring up like a match.

"I'm not going to lie to you Lily. It's a risky play. It's going to be a deep cover op, and it's a long game. No breaks. No time outs." He hunted for his cigars, playing for time. "But you're the only one I got who can pull this off and you did great on the Miller case."

Her smile shone in her face. "You think so."

"Yeah. You stayed in character, went with the flow, improvised and we got a result out of it." He lit a cigar. "I think you can do this. I swear to God, I wouldn't bring this to you if I didn't. But it's your call."

Lily didn't hesitate. "Lets do it."

The End of the Prologue.