Dixie Under Siege (A Warrior's Passion Book 2)

by Natasza Waters

  At the end, Josh turned off the monitor, then placed his attention on Blanchard. “I’m not sure whether or not you knew Dixie had a camera system in the house. I’m guessing, you did. A man with your career accolades would only risk everything for a good reason. In your case, love.”

  Blanchard still resisted, so Josh started, “Here’s what I think happened. You met Melodie when you first charged her for possession a couple years ago. Eventually, you gained her trust and learned what her father and brother had done to her. Even with her addiction, something about her drew you in. You watched her suffer and tried to convince her to leave. But she was too afraid.” Josh swerved his gaze to Melodie. “You wanted out, but knew your father and brother would never let that happen. And you loved this guy too much to bear seeing him die if he got involved.”

  Blanchard slowly shifted his hand to the left and covered Melodie’s quivering fingers. “She was trapped.”

  “Yeah, we know. From the traffic cams, we also know it was Melodie who drove her father to the Ardon Corporation office from the airport, arriving just before seven-thirty. The cameras show Chandler and Gethsemane entered the building around seven-fifteen p.m. The perfect storm of coincidence. The senator and Melodie showed up to see the new office, but Senator Kallis didn’t expect to see Gethsemane alive. The senator and his son, according to Melodie, had experienced a riff. My guess is the senator wanted Gesem dead because she’d figured out his involvement in human trafficking, and Chandler needed Gesem to draw Dixie.”

  Josh was dying to ask the obvious question. Who’d killed Chandler? But that’s not what he was in this room for, so he refrained—for the moment.

  “In order to save Melodie, you sacrificed yourself, Detective, and allowed the senator to use your position as a cop when he needed to clean up a mess. You earned his trust, not because you were dirty, but to stay close to the woman you loved. And you waited.”

  Blanchard closed his eyes. The look reminded Josh not of regret but one of relief.

  Josh sincerely felt sorry for these two. “You waited patiently until you saw an opportunity to get her out from under her family’s thumb.”

  Melodie cleared her throat and inhaled haltingly. “Don’t, James. Please.”

  Blanchard had obviously heard enough and knew that whatever unfolded now was a roll of the dice. He leaned and kissed her on the cheek. “It’s time, sweetheart. We’ve come to the end of the line.”

  Tears gathered in her eyes. “I’m not worth it,” she whispered.

  Blanchard’s blue eyes filled with tears. “You’re wrong, baby. You are worth everything to me.”

  The detective turned his head to look at Josh. “I know we will both have to pay a heavy price, but I had no other choice.”

  Josh shot a look at the one-way glass. “Go on.”

  “You’re right, I did wait. Two, long years. Then Melodie called me in hysterics the other night. Her brother was dead and the senator had taken the naval officer. I knew with Capt. Reynolds involved, the NCIS would be, too. But I needed you, Commander, as well. I told Melodie to use Chandler’s phone and send Dixie the text to come downtown. Chandler had stalked her for years. She had motive to kill him and I used that to our advantage. Melodie brought me the murder weapon and I removed the serial numbers, then had her dump it in Saxton’s toilet, hoping like hell it would be found and NCIS would arrest her.”

  This was all ringing true to Josh, so he didn’t interrupt.

  “I convinced the senator to insert me into Dixie’s investigation. He didn’t want his son’s death to lead the cops to him or Melodie.”

  A desperate man did desperate things if pushed into a corner. Josh asked, “Did the senator ask you to kill his daughter?”

  Blanchard nodded. “The only way to protect Mel was to have her arrested.” He blinked, then said, “I knew the system, but I couldn’t defeat a man like Kallis. He’s way too powerful. The only thing I could do was manipulate the outcome so that the Navy got involved.”

  A hard knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Lt. Manchester leaned in. “The senator and his entourage are here. He wants to send his lawyers in to play defense for Melodie.”

  All eyes shifted to the woman. Blanchard had risked a lot for Melodie. Depending on how far gone she was psychologically, she could either destroy Blanchard’s rescue attempt or grab the lifeline he’d carefully crafted.

  The detective cupped her cheeks in his large palms. “Baby, we are inches away from freedom. Believe in me a little longer.”

  “Melodie?”

  She turned her gaze toward Josh.

  “Did you murder your brother or Captain Reynolds?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Did your father murder Captain Gethsemane Reynolds and bury her body on the Kallis estate?”

  She swept the tears from her cheeks. “I didn’t see him do it, but that was his intention.”

  Josh darted a look Manchester’s way, then said to Melodie, “It only takes one person to change your whole life. This guy,” he pointed at Blanchard, “he believes in you so much, he’s willing to throw away everything he’s achieved. You’ve been abused since you were a little girl. If you can find it in yourself to trust someone, I’d trust this man.” Josh remembered what Kayla had told him. “He’s the guy who’ll walk through Hell to find you and lead you through the fire. All you have to do is take his hand.”

  Melodie blinked and turned a tearful gaze to Manchester who waited at the door. “I don’t need my father’s lawyers.”

  Blanchard released a deep gust of relief and wrapped her in his arms.

  “Where is Dixie’s weapon?” Josh asked.

  Blanchard kissed Melodie, then said, “I hid it in the evidence lock-up room, here in this precinct.”

  ****

  Josh joined Dean and Lt. Manchester in the hall and closed the door.

  Manchester said, “You ever decide to leave the Navy, I’ll have a job at NCIS waiting for you.”

  He grinned. “Thanks, I’ll remember that. What’s the next step?”

  Det. Dean nudged his head toward the room they’d just left. “Let things cool down in there a little, then go back in and get the story of what happened to Chandler. I think she’ll be ready to talk.”

  The lieutenant’s cell rang and he lifted a finger while answering the call.

  “Yes.” Manchester’s brows popped. “You’re sure?” He shook his head as if shocked. “All right, thank you.”

  He slid the cell back into his chest pocket. “That was Dr. Toland. He finished Capt. Reynolds’ autopsy and received some preliminary test results.”

  Josh waited for the punchline.

  “The good doctor solved the riddle of who killed Chandler. The forensic technicians found gunfire residue on Gesem’s fingers.” He grinned. “It can only mean one thing. She went down fighting and took Chandler with her before the senator took her life.”

  Josh grinned. The recon Mace and Tinman had learned from the janitorial crew confirmed there had been an altercation in the Ardon Corporation office. Pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Chandler and the senator had argued. The senator or Chandler had pulled a weapon. During a struggle, the weapon ended up in Gethsemane’s hands and she didn’t waste time. She had her own revolver and kept her skills sharp by going to the range on a routine basis. The doc had said the grouping in Chandler’s chest had been tight. Like the lieutenant said, she’d gone down fighting.

  “Nice job, Gesem.” Josh closed his eyes and nodded.

  The senator waited in a conference room with his lawyers when Josh followed Lt. Manchester to the table.

  “Where’s my daughter?” Senator Kallis asked gruffly, wearing a dark suit and looking every bit a polished politician. He grilled the lieutenant with a sharp glare.

  Josh and Manchester took a seat. This silver-haired sonofabitch wasn’t going down easily. In fact, probably not at all, unless a miracle happened.

  A psychopath with a pedigre
e, just like his son.

  “We’re very sorry for your loss, Senator,” Manchester stated, adjusting himself in the chair.

  “Our family needs time to grieve, yet you’re excavating my estate.”

  Puncturing the senator’s shields wouldn’t be easy. Josh wasn’t certain he could do it. A man like Kallis had no weakness. He wouldn’t crumble under pressure. A guy like him lied with conviction, raped his daughter without remorse, and watched his son die, probably without a tear.

  “Did you know your son was a serial killer, a rapist, and a stalker?” Manchester asked calmly.

  The lawyer, in his late sixties, sitting to the senator’s left, shook his head. “It’s a large estate. Anyone could dump a body there. Now, I’d like to see Melodie Kallis.”

  Josh refrained from showing any emotion. This was a game of psychological warfare and at the moment, if he opened his mouth, he wasn’t certain what would come out.

  The lieutenant fired back, “She has declined your services. As for Chandler, his past assault charges suggest his guilt. Yet, we’re not here to discuss your son. My concern is who murdered a decorated naval officer that worked with you, Mr. Kallis. Her name is Captain Reynolds.” He paused and added in a friendly tone, “Smart, talented lady.”

  The senator glared at the lieutenant, his watery blue eyes hiding an evil soul.

  Manchester waited a few beats. “You see, she had the wherewithal, once she’d learned you were involved in human trafficking, to leave a trail we could follow.”

  The old man’s shoulders lifted when he snorted out his disdain. “Miss Reynolds had some far-fetched ideas.”

  The fact that he’d referred to Gesem as Miss, instead of her rank, signalled to Josh the man’s contempt.

  Det. Dean stepped into the room. “They’re here.”

  Manchester grinned. “That’s good. Timing is perfect.” He stood and pushed in his chair, then gripped the leather headrest. “Mr. Kallis…”

  Josh hid a grin when the lieutenant served the senator a return volley by not using his title.

  “The United States Navy believes you are responsible for the murder of Capt. Gethsemane Reynolds. But that will only be one of the charges laid against you this evening.”

  The door flung open. Admiral Austen led a team of agents who flooded the room.

  Lt. Manchester nodded and stepped back so Ghost could take center stage. By the senator’s increasingly angry glare, he knew the admiral.

  “Nice to see you again, Kallis,” Ghost greeted. “I wanted to be present today to wish you a fine farewell. These good men and women from Homeland Security are here to take you into custody on multiple charges of human trafficking. The Ardon fleet has been seized. All your assets are frozen.”

  The senator rose. “I highly doubt that, Austen. If you have anything more to say, I’m sure my attorneys are willing to listen, but I’m not.”

  A DHS agent stepped up to the senator. “Turn and face the wall, Senator.”

  When the senator tried to push past the agent, he shoved Kallis face first against the wall, while other agents removed his lawyers from the room. With his aging cheek smashed against the drywall, handcuffs were snapped on Kallis’s wrists.

  “You obviously forget how much power I hold in DC. You’re gonna regret this, Austen.”

  Ghost chuckled. “I never regret bringing down a piece of shit like you. With Melodie’s statement that you repeatedly raped her—your own daughter—we’ll add incest and pedophilia to your string of charges.” He roughly turned the senator to look him straight in the eyes. “You’ll never see daylight again, you fucking prick.”

  The DHS agents dragged a struggling and shouting senator from the office.

  Josh rose and the admiral approached, then shook his hand. He always knew Ghost had connections, but to rally Homeland Security and put cuffs on Kallis meant the admiral had undisputable proof and far, far more clout than Josh had ever imagined.

  “Admiral, you never mentioned what your new position was.”

  Ghost grinned. “No, guess I didn’t.” He patted Josh on the shoulder. “I hear they’re releasing Dixie. You’ll probably want to be there when that happens.”

  He shook his head in astonishment, but had no intention of looking a gift horse in the mouth. “Yeah, think I’ll do that.”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Dixie’s heart fluttered with excitement when Josh walked into the Erotic Bean at five p.m. Sabrina finished wiping down a table in the alcove near the front door and followed him.

  Uniform or not, his aura wafted with masculinity. Wearing a black t-shirt and comfortable-fitting jeans, his thick biceps and confident stride made her heart swell. Josh hadn’t ditched all his country roots, evidenced by his well-worn cowboy boots.

  “SITREP?” Dixie asked, using the new lingo she’d learned from the SEAL wives.

  He grinned at Sabrina, who rounded the counter and untied Dixie’s apron.

  “What’s going on?” Dix asked, glancing at her employee.

  “You’ve got a date.” Sabrina lifted the neck strap over Dixie’s head, then draped the black apron over her forearm.

  “Sorry, lady, but I don’t swing that way.”

  Sabrina snorted. “Not with me. With him.”

  A date with Josh? “Can’t. I’m busy.”

  Josh arced a brow and surveyed the coffeehouse. “You need a break from the sound of grinding beans.”

  The steady stream of customers had thinned, but plenty of people lingered in her shop. “Sorry, Josh. I have orders to catch up on and some paperwork.”

  He rotated his wrist and glanced at his watch. “We have just enough time if we leave now. Truck’s out front.”

  “I can’t just drop everything at your command.”

  Josh’s chin lowered and he eyed her. “Sabrina has the Con. It’s been a week since your release and we’ve both been playing catch-up. It’s time to take a break.” A minute grin slid across his lips. “Humor me.”

  She wished her pulse would stop thumping erratically whenever he smiled at her.

  Sabrina winked at Josh as if she knew the plan. “I got things covered here, boss.”

  With another glance around her business, a stab of guilt made her pause.

  The creases at the edges of his eyes deepened. “Promise, you’re going to like this.”

  “I have bills to pay. Don’t you have a tango to catch or something?”

  Josh laughed. “Tango! You really did learn a few things from the wives.”

  Sabrina used both hands in a shoo motion. “Get going.”

  Dixie drummed her fingernails on the counter. “I’ll go this time, but we’re not making this a habit. You can’t just waltz in here and expect me to drop my responsibilities.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Josh said.

  After collecting her purse and hanging her apron in the office, she met Josh outside. He stood by his truck with the passenger door open. After stepping into his pickup, she asked, “Will I be back by closing?”

  He chuckled. “Unlikely.”

  ****

  After a quick, twenty minute-ride south on the I-5, Josh took Exit Two before they reached the Mexican border.

  “Where are we going?” Dixie asked.

  They’d left the city limits behind and drove along a rural county road with more green space than cement. Horses and cows grazed on stubbles of grass in the fields. The road skirted the hillside on their left and the pavement became increasingly unkempt with deep cracks and potholes.

  “Almost there,” he said and glanced across his broad shoulder at her.

  They passed a sign that indicated a state park lay ahead. Josh stopped in a gravel-covered area interspersed with mounds of wild brush. A strong, salty breeze struck Dixie when she opened the door. Thirty feet away, she eyed a blue Ford truck and white horse trailer. Outside, two saddled pintos waited.

  “You’re kidding me.” What was he up to?

  Josh smiled and wrapped an arm a
round her shoulders, guiding her toward the man wearing a cowboy hat who’d stepped out of his truck to meet them.

  “Josh Hunter?” the wiry guy with a deeply tanned face asked.

  Josh ran his hand down the neck of one of the horses. “You bet. Nice looking animals.”

  She’d had a pinto with sable brown patches as a girl and Josh knew that.

  Close to the ocean, the wind whipped Dixie’s hair into a frenzy and she retrieved a band from her right jean pocket, bundling the mop into a ponytail.

  The cowboy offered the reins to Josh. “This here’s Oats,” he said, motioning toward the horse on the right with a white face and a brown spot around his left eye, “and the other is Jigsaw. Both geldings like the water, so don’t be shy gettin’ their hooves wet.” He put a finger to the rim of his cowboy hat. “I’ll be back in two hours.”

  Josh shook his hand. “Appreciate it.”

  The guy nodded. “No. Thank you for your service, sir.” He turned and headed for his truck.

  Josh led the horses a few feet from the trailer. “I haven’t seen you smile like that in fifteen years.”

  How could she not smile? “I don’t know what to say. This is an amazing surprise.”

  “Glad you think so. Beach is that way.” Josh pointed to a trail off to their left. He shifted his head, looking at each horse. “Jigsaw or Oats?”

  She grabbed the reins of the pinto that reminded her the most of her old horse. “Jigsaw.” Recognizing his name, the horse gave a soft nicker. “I haven’t ridden since I left home.”

  Josh drew Oats away so she could mount. Dix placed her shoe in the stirrup and hoisted her butt into the firm swell of the saddle.

  Josh quickly mounted Oats. “Some things you never forget.”

  She snorted. “Are you referring to riding a horse or riding something else?”

  An absolutely heart-palpitating smile eclipsed his features. For a split second, she caught a glimpse of the carefree guy Josh used to be before becoming a warrior and shouldered so much responsibility.