Undercover cop Dan Hudson is framed for blackmail and kicked off the NOPD force. Enraged about that, and the fact that his lover refuses to stand by him, Dan moves to Denver, where he becomes Dirk Steele. He finds a job working for the Powells, who are pawnbrokers ... and fences. When he proposes to them that he put together a team to steal on demand for the Powells’ less than legitimate clients, a deal is struck and the team is formed. The team consists of Maverick, a thief; Tripp, a street kid who shoplifts to survive; and Fey, another street kid who is an excellent pickpocket and petty thief. Now the question becomes, will the team succeed? And, equally important, will the attraction between Dirk, who has sworn off love, and Maverick -- whose credo is only down and dirty sex -- grow into something more? Or will they remain just 'friends with benefits'? Time will tell as the team takes on increasingly difficult jobs and a man from Dirk's past shows up who could possibly throw a monkey wrench into the works.

Wrong Side of the Law

“Yeah. Sorry. I had to take Maverick home first. And not one word out of you,” Dirk added when Jesse smirked.


“Your life. Live and let live. How did it go last night with the…test drive?”


Since there were a few people wandering around the shop, Dirk knew why Jesse had phrased it that way. “Everything ran smoothly, just as we hoped. No unexpected pings or rattles.”


“Good to know.” Jesse gave him a thumbs-up and went over to talk to a man carrying a camera case, who was looking hopefully at him.


For the rest of the morning, things proceeded as always. When there was a lull, soon after one, Dirk went over to the cage to talk to Mr. Powell. He gave his boss the same report that he’d given Jesse, but in more detail since there was no one close enough to hear him. Then he asked, “Can you find us a fairly simple job for starters? Something at a house? I don’t want them tackling a well-protected art gallery or jewelry store until they have a few easier jobs under their belts.”


Chapter 26