I just finished Book 10 of the FBI Agent Jade Monroe Live or Die Series by C.M. Sutter: Blood Bank. FBI Special Agent Jade Monroe and her seasoned partner, Lorenzo DeLeon, are thrust into a race against time when a rash of brazen bank robberies sweeps through Milwaukee and the neighboring counties. During their relentless effort to restore safety to their community and bring the culprits to justice, the FBI team encounters the ultimate blindside. Will they be able to outwit the cunning crew of thieves before it’s too late?
Jade and Renz start in a conference room with Taft, the regional Forster. And about 40 agents are discussing the bank robberies that have taken place. Even with multiple agents on the case, the robbers haven’t been stopped. They’ve raked in tons of money and have taken their first victim, a security guard.
Renz’s assessment of the group was right. He suggested they must be military because of their stealth, precision, and calmness. We later learned that they are indeed Navy SEALs. The 9-person group had never been caught because of their detailed execution. And now they’re ranking in buckets of money.
But shooting the security guard wasn’t part of the plan. And they knew the FBI would be adding them to the Ten Most Wanted List. But they also want to get their payday. And Patrick comes up with what he thinks is a sure-fire plan. Rob the processing plant where armored trucks take the money they pick up. It will take a couple of kidnappings and some major work. But they do say that being greedy is always a criminals undoing.
Their plan is in motion, led by Pat. They kidnap one of the armored truck drivers, Stan, and Pat takes him to his basement. Before asking him a bunch of questions, Oat told him that he wanted honest answers and that he knew everything about him and his family. It was definitely a threat. Pay begins the questioning. Stand appears to answer honestly. But he’s just a driver, which means he doesn’t know everything. They all decide things are too risky and agree to keep robbing banks. And to keep the heat off of them, they will grab the agent tomorrow.
Using a rouse, they kidnap Maureen at her home. Now it’s up to her agents to find out everything they can to save her. What they learn is that her son and daughter are entitled brats. Did her kids have something to do with it? What the agents don’t know is that Maureen has been tied up and duct taped. She studied them, even though they were covered in black from head to toe. They were smart.
Most of the agents think the kidnapping is due to a prisoner who was let out. But Jade thinks it’s the bank robbers. And the bank robbers use the kidnapping as a distraction to go after more banks.
Another problem for Pat. He went to tell Stan he’d be released soon, and while trying to escape, Pat knocked him to the floor. He hit so hard that he wasn’t unconscious; he was dead. Two deaths now at Pat’s hand. Things are quickly getting out of control. And since his buddies would think he’s a loose cannon, he had to dump the body. But how would he explain his busted nose? He ended up coming clean with them, and as he suspected, his role as leader was dwindling.
I love how Jade comes home and confides in her sister Amber and their friend Kate. And that they’ll discuss the cases with each other over Amber’s home-cooked meals. Also love that Jade is sticking with her feeling that Maureen’s kidnapping is due to the bank robbers, even though no one else agrees with her. I also love her distaste for the media. Vultures, she called them. And she’s right.
Pat feels like he’s being squeezed from the group. They’re going back to 3 3-man teams. He doesn’t get a vote. So now he’s making plans so that he’ll have the last laugh.
And with a sudden burst of good luck, Amber happened to take a pic in front of a new burger joint that’s near the bank. And in that picture was a still of the kidnapper’s van. Obviously, scouting out the bank. The robbers and kidnappers are one and the same.
The FBI team, sheriffs office, and SWAT all planned to pretend to be bank employees. That’s how they’ll take them down.
However, Pat called the bank to tell them it would be robbed. He wanted to stick it to the group. He told Taft she’d be going home, then went to another robber’s house to steal his cash. He did the same at houses 2 and 3.
The team’s plan went off flawlessly. Even with the man who called to say there was a robbery about to take place, they were prepared. Without a shot being fired, all 3 robbers were taken into custody.
The 3 robbers aren’t talking. But that’s ok. Pat gave the police everything they needed: names, addresses, and Taft’s location. She safe!
And Pat? He’s on his way to the Maldives. No extradition treaty with the US. Plus, he sent a ton of money to Stan’s wife.
As for Maureen, she held the largest party ever. Agents, friends, neighbors, everyone. They were indeed one big family.