My head was spinning. Tres' call, Billy's warning both telling me something I had already begun to suspect. I didn't know just how far up the chain the corruption was but I knew some of the key players.

My first suspect... the D.A., who was so eager to have my badge, hoping that they'd catch Myna unawares and close the Ritzy. They were eager to get me out of this game. But things were falling apart fast with the death of Shamus McGinty and the NoLuks stepping up to take that power for themselves, they were in over their heads.

It was no coincidence that it was Myna's recipe they somehow managed to duplicate. They knew my Achilles heel. But who would have access to produce those muffins? Myna did but outside of the occasional tray for friends or family, she never made enough to support an entire distribution operation, especially not one that could supply two cities. For that you'd need a factory.

My eyes widened. Factory... it was Donavan's job to shut down the Baker's Tin! If Tres was working with Ms. Grace to discover the truth no wonder Smith targeted him. I wouldn't be surprised if Smith's new look wasn't compliments of Tres and not the NoLuks like he suggested.

Now that I think of it. Donovan looked mighty surprised to see me walk into his office. His plan must have been to send me into NoLuk territory in the hopes that they would do his dirty work for him. I take the Big Sleep and problem is solved.

No wonder Donavan argued the point of giving me additional men to hunt down Xiao and KanBo. It was his operation all along. Who knew how many of them were on the take.

Tres said I could trust McCarty. Billy was definitely on the outside in the clubhouse. I had to sit down. It was all coming together. It all began making sense...McCarty must have been getting too close to the truth when he went undercover and it was likely Donavan who blew the whistle on him. The Irish taking McCarty out would have taken care of his problem but Mrs. McGinty threw a wrench in the works when she saved McCarty's life.

Donavan however could keep him on the outside by ruining his reputation and with McCarty continuing to take down so many of the competition, with his record of arrests, it was a win-win to keep him around.

Norris came out of the judges office with the warrants in hand. "Got em, boss."

Right... one step at a time.

"Ummm, now what?" Carlos asked.

"We get the bad guys," I said, getting up and walking to the car.

Carlos stopped. "They got an army and we got four men. How is that going to work?"

"I'm working on that part," I said, annoyed that Carlos was wasting even more time.

"This is a suicide mission!"

I took the two steps it took to get in his face. "You scared, Agent Carlos, then you sit this one out. I don't need a yellow-bellied agent gumming up the works. I have sworn to up hold the law and that is exactly what I intend to do."

I walked away and did not turn back. I was glad to hear footsteps behind me. At least I knew Norris was loyal.

Norris gets into the driver's seat looking back only briefly at Carlos who stood at the doorway and watched us drive away.

"He's not wrong you know," Norris said breaking the silence. We were headed back to the hospital to pick up Ray and I was grateful because it gave me a chance to see Myna... one more time.

"I know... but I do have a plan, but it may mean breaking some of the rules."

Norris had to slam on the breaks at the light as he was staring at me open mouthed and not looking at the light that had changed. "Agent Order, are you certain your...umm... you feeling well, sir?"

"Just Peachy," I said and spent the rest of the ride filling him on the details of the new plan. Thankfully, Norris looked much more relaxed by the time we got to the hospital.

I strode into the hospital and noticed there was a shift change. Outside of AJ's door were two Agents I don't remember posting. They both looked tense as I approached.

"Agent Lorne Order," I said, showing them my badge. "Where are my Agents?"

The two Agents looked nervously at one another. "They were needed elsewhere, Agent Order. We were sent to relieve them."

"Badges, now!" I demanded. The one Agent reached into his pocket.

"Agent Order!" Norris pushed me out of the way, pulling his gat and there was a sudden standoff outside of AJ's room.

"Drop you're weapon!" Norris insisted.

It was evident they didn't plan on leaving without a fight and a gunfight in the middle of hospital needed to be avoided at all costs. I pull out my gun and say, "Do as he says, boys. Whatever you're involved in... is it really worth your lives?"

One of them smiled. "You forget, Order. Behind this door is everyone you love..."

"And another Agent," Ray said, as the door swung open and he place his gun against the back of the man's head. "Perhaps if you listened to Ms. Darkly and did your job, you would have realized that when I walked past you both earlier."

Both men dropped their weapons and Norris kicked them down a ways to me. I picked them up. Two more Agents came running up the hall. I knew them to be the ones I posted outside of Madame Yu's room. They must have been told about what was going on by the hospital staff.

"Agent Order! Is everything..."

"Under control, Agent Otto. Take these two into custody."

"You want us to take them to the station?"

"NO!" both Norris and I said in unison, getting a strange look from Ray and the other two agents. "Just put them in a room they can't escape from and keep them under lock and key. One of you stay posted outside of Madame Yu's room, the other is to keep an eye on them," I said.

They nodded and ushered them men out of the hall. I ran into the room, and saw AJ sitting on the edge of the bed. He motioned to the bathroom.

"I told them not to come out until they got the all clear," Ray said, knocking in a musical fashion on the door before opening it.

The first person to exit, nearly tackled me. "I'm happy to see you too, Sweetheart," I said with a slight chuckle. Myna had me in a death grip. I tried to loosen her grasp just a bit to give myself a little more air, but then gave up and just kissed her. She immediately relaxed in my arms.

Then I get the look. "LORNE ORDER! WHAT IN TARNATION IS GOING ON!" she says, hands on her hips, staring me down like the bearcat I know she can be. God, I love her!

"Those Agents outside...I'm not even sure they are really agents. I didn't post them there."

"Well, that makes sense. Those two buffoons seemed to let just about anyone in this room. I had it out with them earlier when they let that "reporter"" Myna said, using air quotes, "in here earlier. They only straightened up their act when I threatened them with you."

"Probably scared you'd call me which would bring me to the hospital, and end their ruse." I said. "The corruption runs deep, Myna. I don't want you returning to the Ritzy tonight. It's not safe."

"I'll stay here with Loren and AJ," she said, I noticed she kept looking at my face. I subconsciously touched the gash. She pulled my hand away.

"It'll give you more character," she said with a smile, causing me to smile back.

"I don't know what I've done to deserve you, Love but I hope to continue to earn that smile and that look of yours, each and every day."

She blushed and I pushed my next venture out of my mind. I will come back to her. I must.

"I'm going to have Madame Yu moved out of ICU, to a more secure room, especially since I'll only have one man posted there. I would like you, girls to stay with her."

The protests immediately started.

"I'm not leaving AJ alone!" Loren said.

"He won't be alone. Norris and Ray will stand guard."

"And what?! You're going into NoLuk Territory alone? This isn't the wild west, Lorne. You're not some lone gunslinger. We are talking about going up against the entire Asian Mafia!" Myna said.

"I don't plan on it, Myna. I have made arrangements for back up," I lied.

Her eyes narrowed on me, but I played my best poker face. I could tell she didn't like it, may have even been suspicious but she conceded."

"Come on, girls. No sense staying where we aren't wanted!" Myna said.

Loren gave AJ a kiss and then hugged him. "Be safe," she whispered.

"You too," AJ said. When his eyes met mine over Loren's shoulder, I could tell he knew I was up to something. Thankfully he was smart enough to play along.

Gyn walked out with Norris who was taking them to arrange the new room and Loren caught up. Myna was about to walk past me and I can tell she was angry, concerned, both...

"You're not going to wish me safe?" I ask of her and she stops at the door.

She slowly turns around. "Just come back to me Lorne or I swear I will NEVER forgive you."

I take the few steps to close the distance between us. "You have my word, if it's God's will, there won't be anything to stop me from getting back to you."

Myna nodded, she knew this was the most I could promise given the situation. "I love you," she whispered.

I stroked her cheek with the back of my hand. "Now and forever, Myna. No matter what happens."

She had tears in her eyes when we kissed I could taste the salt of her tears. She quickly turned away from me and caught up to the others.

I sighed, closed the door and looked at AJ. "I need your help." I don't think anything I could have said would surprise him more.

"Sir?"

"It's a mess, AJ. The plot runs deep. Not just involving the NoLuks and the Irish but the cops and now possibly the Feds. I believe the Commissioner has been corrupted and manipulating everyone and everything. I have my warrants but I have no men. He refused."

AJ looked at me, his look intense. "There is no back up?" 

I shook my head. "Even if there were, by the time they got here, Xiao and KanBo will be long gone or have taken over everything. I can't let that happen. Is there anyone still loyal to Madame Yu?"

"I don't have that answer but Wong would. Gyn mentioned that you brought him and his brother back with you."

I gave Ray a pointed look. "I'm on it." Ray left the room.

"I want to come with you," AJ said.

"I don't know AJ."

"I know you are only thinking of your sister, Sir but I have the best knowledge of that place and I owe it to Madame Yu to help you bring Xiao and KanBo to justice."

He was speaking my language. I sighed, it won't be easy getting you out of this place."

AJ smiled. "I know someone who can help with that."

AJ was about to explain when Norris came back into the room with Gyn in tow. "What she doing here?!" Both AJ and I said.

Norris just grinned at us sheepishly. "She insisted on coming. She knew something was up and threatened to say so if she wasn't permitted to tag a long. She even convinced Ms. Darkly and Loren to let her go... saying, they certainly didn't need that many woman watching over Madame Yu and she wished to stay by AJ's side. They didn't argue, in fact, it seemed to make them feel better. So I said, I'd bring her back to AJ's room."

"I helped last time, Sir. I can help again."

"I don't like it, Gyn. You've got your whole life ahead of you. I can't justify you risking yourself like this."

Gyn looked at AJ. "We're family." was all she said and all it seemed she had to say.

"She goes," AJ said, he looked at the young woman, and nodded towards the door. "Go get auntie."

Gyn immediately brightened, grinning from ear to ear and ran from the room.