“No shit,” I said, “the guy who was throwin’ the quinceañera for his daughter the day Mars killed Castillion?”
He nodded. “The very same. It turns out that Hernandez had been a paid informant for that questionable agent for a long time. The agent listed him under a totally different name, had been paying him an informant salary which most probably went into the agent’s own pocket. He was also collecting tons of money from Hernandez to put a bug in his ear about DEA operations whenever he thought he could get away with not telling him the whole story. He was basically another double agent, just like Turley was. He didn’t want to get caught by the DEA the way Turley had, but once he learned of our Op last night, he went to his boss and confessed the whole thing.”
“Why would he do that?” I asked. “Did he think he’d enjoy federal prison?”
Candy chuckled. “He cut a deal. He asked the DEA for protection from the cartel.”
I nodded. “Makes some sense considerin’ Los Lobos would’ve skinned him if they found out first.”
“Probably,” he said. “So anyway, he figured he might’ve been blown when we killed Castillion, and like you say, eventually would’ve been killed by Hernandez.”
“So, he just turned himself in?”
Candy nodded. “He fell on his sword and told the higher ups.”
“I guess he figured he’d rather do jail time in a U.S. Federal lockup facility than die at the hands of the cartel. Them cartel dudes can get pretty medieval when they find a rat.”
“That’s true. I’m really glad we didn’t bring the DEA in on our operation until after it was all said and done. Who knows what he would have spilled?”
“Nothin’ good.” He nodded. “So, seriously, do you think we’re done with this? I mean…” I hesitated for just a second. “Um, what’s gonna happen with the valets’ families now?”
He sat forward in his chair as a massive grin spread across his bearded face. “I figured you’d want to know.” I nodded. “We’re letting them return to their homes and businesses now that the danger from Aguilar and his distribution network has been neutralized. The threat came from them, not Hernandez and Los Lobos.”
I breathed a massive sigh of relief. “I’m so glad Cachi, his family, and all them others can go home now.”
“I am too.” He cocked his head to the side as he studied my face. “And just what are you going to do with all that time off now that you’re on the mend, Rex?”
I dragged my gaze away from him, looking down to my lap where I twisted my hands. When I looked up, he was watching me closely. “You think he’ll forgive me, Candy?”
“For sending him away and lying about how you really feel about him?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
He smirked. “What do you think?”
“Uh…I don’t know. I was pretty shitty to him.”
“Yeah, well, since he constantly tells everyone on the team that he loves you, every time he calls to see how you’re doing, I think it’s a fair bet, he’ll accept your apology.”
I felt my eyes widen. “He-he’s been talkin’ to everyone?”
He nodded slowly. “He’s called every guy on the team at least once. And every time someone stops by to see how he’s doing orbrings him groceries, he or his mama sends food back for you. So, I’d venture to guess, that means he forgives you.”
I shook my head as realization dawned on me. “The food the team kept bringin’ me at the hospital.”
He laughed. “What? You thought everything they brought to the hospital was cooked by the guys? Don’t be stupid. You’re the team cook. The rest of those guys can barely boil water.”
“Cachi sent it?”
He nodded. “Most of it, yeah, except for a few dishes they managed not to burn. He’s been cooking alongside his mama, just for you. Of course, we can’t discount the In-N-Out and other fast-food Mickey brought you. He knows you love it and needed a change of pace now and then.”
I shook my head. “Shit. I really was a total asshole to him…to you guys too, especially Alain since he was with me the most.”
Candy laughed. “You know everyone loves you like a brother and trust me when I say this, we all understand your predicament.” I nodded. “So, what are you going to do?”
“I guess I’m gonna go out there and thank all of ’em again for puttin’ up with my selfish, shitty ass, and then…yeah, then, I’m gonna ask ’em for one last favor.”
He stood up. “What’s that, Rex?”