by Kathy Harris
He nodded. “Sophie loves you. And I’d say she’s reacting to your stress.” He rubbed the Newfoundland behind her ears. “So let me ask you this, has anything unusual happened inside your home lately?”
“We had a break-in next door. The police were all over my place that night.”
“She’s probably reacting to that. And . . .”
The veterinarian waited for her to continue.
“Because of the break in, there has been extra security around the building.
The veterinarian finished her conjecture. “I think you’ve figured it out. Sophie’s home—her secure place—and her routine have been upended recently. I’m guessing she’s uncertain how to respond to it.”
“So . . .” Danni studied the dog. She was now lying with her eyes closed between the two of them. “What should I do?”
“What would you want someone to do for you if something like that happened?”
“I’d want to be reminded that it’s going to be okay.” Danni thought about how Caleb had reassured her over and over. “I guess I need to make sure Sophie knows she can trust me to take care of her through this. Right?”
The veterinarian smiled and nodded. “Yes.”
“Do I need to pay you a personal counselor’s fee, as well as a veterinarian fee?”
He laughed. “No, it’s just part of my service to longtime clients.”
“I appreciate it, Dr. Bradley.”
“If you’d like, while you’re in the process of making a few changes, I can give you a homeopathic supplement for Sophie that will help her relax.” He looked at Danni over the top of his glasses. “If that doesn’t work or she gets worse, let me know.”
“That sounds perfect.” Danni’s phone vibrated in her pocket as she stood and reached to shake this doctor’s hand. “Thank you again.”
“I know you’ll work everything out. You’re a smart young woman. Take care of yourself.”
He offered her a reassuring smile and opened the exam room door.
“I’ll take care of myself and Sophie. I promise.” She led the dog out of the exam room. “We’ll get through this.”
After paying the bill and purchasing the small bottle of tincture the veterinarian had prescribed, Danni loaded Sophie in the car. It had turned out to be a beautiful day. She rolled down all the windows and opened the sunroof, after starting the car and buckling her seatbelt. Then she pulled her phone from her pocket to see who had called.
Rob Evans.
She hit redial, and Rob answered on the second ring. “Hey, babe. Thanks for calling me back.”
“I’m better at it than you are.”
“Nice to talk to you too.” He sounded genuinely hurt.
“Sorry.” But she wasn’t.
“I couldn’t wait to tell you my news!”
“What?”
“I’ll be home tomorrow.”
“Oh.” Danni flinched, and then reminded herself to be happy. “That’s great!”
“Can you take Sunday afternoon off for lunch and to look for rings?”
“I—I guess so. Jaycee shouldn’t mind, but let me talk to her.”
He laughed nervously. “She probably would, if you tell her why. She’s never liked me, you know.”
“Her bark is just worse than her bite.”
“Well just in case. Let’s keep your ring as our little surprise until you show it to her. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Hey, I need a little more enthusiasm than that. I’m asking you to marry me, you know.”
“I’m sorry, Rob. I’ve just got a lot of things on my mind. I had to take Sophie to the vet this morning—”
“I can’t wait to see you. I’ve got more good news I’ll share with you tomorrow.”
“Sounds great.”
“I love you, Danni.”
Danni’s phone beeped with another call, and Caleb Samuels’s name appeared in the window.
“Rob, I need to go. It’s my other line.”
“Okay, but I want you to think about something. I want you to reconsider my suggestion to elope. Maybe to the Caribbean? Maybe next month.”
What? “I thought we’d agreed to have a big wedding . . . in January. I’ve already started to make plans, and—”
“I guess I’m just ready.” His voice wavered. “You know me, I may take a while with something, but when I’m finally ready—”
Call waiting beeped again.
“I’ll think about it.” She bit her lip. “We’ll talk about it this weekend. Okay?”
“Okay. See you then! Bye.”
Danni’s hands were trembling. How many times had she hoped that Rob would ask her to marry him? And now that he had . . . it didn’t matter. She connected the second line.
“Hi.”
“Are you okay?” Caleb asked.
“Not really. I was just on the phone with Rob. It’s been a busy morning . . . And I’m just now leaving the vet with Sophie. She’s still acting funny.” She told him about her unsettling night, and what the vet had told her, rattling on and on.
Caleb listened patiently until she was finished, and then asked, “Is she going to be okay?”
Danni thought about her answer. “Yes. As soon as I am.”
“That’s why I called.” He hesitated. “I just walked out of a meeting with my team, and we think something big is about to go down.”
Danni took a long breath and steadied herself. “I’m ready,” she said. “For whatever it is.”
CHAPTER 37
Midmorning – April 19
Caleb knew he couldn’t talk candidly on an unsecured line. “Do you have time to meet me at your place before you go to the restaurant?”
“Sure. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“See you then.” He turned his truck toward downtown Nashville. Sleep could wait. He owed Danni the truth. And a choice.
Glancing into his rearview mirror, he ran his hand across his beard. It had been two days since he had shaved. But it would have to do. She might as well know now that being involved with a law enforcement agent had consequences.
Twenty minutes later he waved to the agent on duty and walked to Danni’s condominium door. He tapped lightly. She answered almost immediately.
“I knew you’d be here on time.” She smiled, nodding to the other agent in the hallway.
Caleb stepped inside the apartment, and Sophie greeted him with a wag of her tail.
“Hey, girl. I hear you’ve been to the doctor this morning.”
“She’s just about ready to take her first dose of medicine. Come on into the kitchen.” Danni turned toward the dining room, and Caleb followed. “Can I get you something to eat?”
“No. But would I be imposing to ask for a cup of coffee?” He stopped at the dining room table and pulled out a chair with a view into the kitchen.
“No sleep, huh?” She engaged her coffee pot. “How do you do it?”
“What?”
“Work with no sleep.”
He scrolled through his emails and muted his phone before setting it on the table. “About the same as you.”
“But God will get us through this.”
He prayed she was right.
A few minutes later, Danni and Sophie walked into the dining room. Danni was holding something that had the dog mesmerized.
“Sit, Soph.” The Newfoundland immediately landed on her furry bottom, wiggling with excitement.
“What has her so stirred up?” Caleb leaned back in his chair, tired but revitalized in Danni’s presence. He could get used to coming home to a beautiful woman and her dog.
“Liverwurst.” Danni winked. “It’s my go-to cover-up for doggie medicine.”
“Lucky dog.” Caleb chuckled and watched as Danni added a few drops of something to the meat. “What is that?”
She capped the vial in her hand and gave it to him. “Homeopathic. My vet says it will calm her nerves.” She held out a golf ball size of the processed meat. Sophie t
ook it from her hand, devouring the meat quickly.
“Here, one more piece for being such a good girl.” Danni gave the dog an untainted piece and patted her on the head.
Sophie grabbed the second bite and took off for another part of the house, and Danni took a seat next to Caleb.
“What do you have to calm my nerves?” she asked. “Or is your news going to upset me more?”
He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “May I have my coffee first? Then I’ll give you the full rundown.”
“Sorry, I forgot.”
He handed her back the vial. “And no medicine for me thanks.”
A few minutes later, Danni returned with two coffee cups, his light and hers dark.
“I’m ready,” she said, taking her seat.
He took a sip. “What I’m about to tell you is, of course, confidential. But the feds now have someone on the inside with enough information to put Ramirez behind bars for a long, long time.”
Danni’s mouth dropped open.
He continued. “Before you ask, it has nothing to do with Rob. This informant is involved in a different aspect of Ramirez’s operation.”
“Okay . . .” She paused to think about what he had said. “So what does this have to do with me?”
“A lot actually.” He studied her. “Your assistance is no longer needed.”
“Wow.” Danni’s hand flew to her mouth, and she sat back in her chair, not speaking.
He sat quietly, waiting for her to process the information. If he knew her like he thought he did, she would realize what was missing. In a few seconds, the light came on in her eyes.
“Let me see if I understand.” She drew an imaginary line on the surface of the mahogany table. If Ramirez is put away for a connection over here.” She tapped one side of the line. “What happens to this side of his operation?” She pointed to the other side of the line.
“It will likely go away because the source, the mastermind of the operation, will be in prison.”
She nodded. “Then most likely the other people, those involved over here . . .” She pointed to the other side of the line again. “They won’t be prosecuted?”
“You’re correct.”
“Which means that Rob—and anyone involved in the distribution of the drugs—will not be charged?”
“Could happen.”
She thought for a minute. “That’s not right.”
Caleb smiled to himself. He’d bet she would come to that conclusion. He shook his head. “I know.”
“Are you giving me a choice?”
“Yes.” She was not only beautiful; she was smart.
Her hand flew to her mouth again, and her eyes grew moist. Caleb watched as the decision battled within her, but he knew what she would do. At least he hoped he did.
“I can’t stop now. Not when we’re this close. We are close, right?”
“Yes, but you do have a choice.”
She shook her head. “No. Not really.” She stared into his eyes, her expression set. “For the sake of Michael, Rachel, and everyone who has been hurt by these people, I want to help.”
Caleb nodded, hesitating before he spoke. “You realize that means Rob will likely go to prison.”
She held his gaze.
“For a long time.”
She nodded and clutched her trembling hands. “I know. But he’s no better than anyone else. If it’s proven he’s involved, he should be punished.”
Before Caleb left, Danni told him that Rob would be back in town for the weekend.
“He asked me to go with him on Sunday to pick out rings.” She searched for the right words, but there were none. “Caleb, I’m not . . . I don’t—”
He held up his hand to stop her. “I know. But don’t let him know that. Not yet.”
She willed herself to relax.
“Don’t break your cover. It’s important you respond normally to him. But there’s no need for you to lie or do anything misleading.”
“Okay.”
“As cliché as it may sound, your heart will lead you. Don’t overthink it.” He searched her face and covered her hands in his. “The important thing is not to commit to the wrong thing.”
“If you mean don’t commit to marrying him, there’s not a chance.”
Not a chance whatsoever.
She was hurt. And disappointed. Rob had stolen her future—the future she once thought they would have together. This should have been one of the happiest days in her life, but now that it was here, she wanted to run from it.
Of course she was capable of playing along. Looking at rings wasn’t a commitment. And if she could get important information from Rob, information that would be instrumental in saving lives and families, she could be completely committed to that.
Caleb cut into her thoughts. “Depending on how much he shares with you in the afternoon, we may fit you with a wire before dinner that evening, assuming you go out to dinner with him.”
She nodded. “I’ll make sure we do.”
“It’s your job to try to get details that could help secure a conviction against him, and the many others involved in the cross-country drug distribution ring Ramirez has set up.” He hesitated. “I know that’s difficult for you to think about.”
“It’s easier than it was.” Her thoughts drifted again to the people who had been hurt by the Nashville operation. And that included Agent Jamie Wade, who was now recovering at home. Each of them—all of them—deserved to be vindicated. And potential victims deserved the chance to be spared the agony. “I’m ready to do my part.”
“You’re making a difference.” Caleb stood to leave. “I’ll check in with you soon.”
“Good. I need your encouragement.”
He stopped just short of the door. “What are you going to tell Jaycee?”
“How much can I tell her?”
“Want me to meet you and her for coffee after the restaurant closes tomorrow night? We can talk about it together.”
“Great.” Danni planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for walking me through this. For making it as easy as it can be, considering the circumstances.” She stepped back from him and felt her face flush. “You’re a special guy.”
“And you’re an important part of this case.” He hesitated. “But you’ve become an important part of my life too.” He grimaced. “I need to take Zach to the park Sunday afternoon. That’s where we’ll be when you and Rob are together, and we’ll be praying for you.”
“I wish Sophie and I could go with you. It would probably do her a lot of good.”
“There will be time for that soon.” He reached to take her hand, hesitated, and then left.
Rob took Cassia’s hand and kissed it. “I’ve enjoyed the last few days. I hope you won’t be a stranger.”
She smiled in her shy but provocative way. “And I hope we will have that opportunity soon. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you.” She glanced toward the bus, where Hank was seated in the driver’s compartment in preparation for their drive to another city. “You and your staff have been very accommodating.”
Something about that thought irritated Rob. She and Hank had become cozy. Of course, there was no way that brute of a man could win the affection of a beautiful woman like Cassia.
A pang of insecurity struck. Hopefully he wasn’t losing his charm. It would be good for him to return home tomorrow. To see Danni and to start making plans for his future as a man of leisure. Retired at thirty-five. But married?
He had some adjusting to do.
CHAPTER 38
The Next Day – April 20
Ramirez called as Rob was packing for his trip back home. Tonight’s show would be his last before the bus deadheaded to Atlanta and Rob would fly back to Nashville.
“Yes, sir.”
“I have your arrangements made.”
“My arrangements?”
“For your last job.”
“Oh, yes, sir. That didn’t take long.”
“We’ve been in the planning stages for a while. I have an unusual pickup for you. This one is just outside Nashville.”
“Really?” Rob had never made a connection in or around Middle Tennessee. It had helped him avoid suspicion from authorities in Nashville and kept him more than an arm’s length from local narcotics thugs.
He had hoped to keep it that way. Although, with this being his last job, there should be no reason for concern.
“Where?”
“That’s still to be determined, but I want you to be prepared to stay in Nashville until I call you again.”
Rob didn’t understand, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Except for the honeymoon trip he was planning in May.
“We’ll need your coach too.”
“It will be back in town by Sunday. After the drop-off in Atlanta.”
“We’ll also need Danielle.”
“Excuse me, sir?”
“I want her to make the pickup with you.”
“But I don’t see the point in that. She has nothing to do with my—”
“Robert, please.” Ramirez interrupted. “Danielle has everything to do with this. Not to mention I’m fully aware that you’ve had her hiding money for you.”
“But she doesn’t know . . .”
“Then what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. At least we hope it doesn’t.” Ramirez chuckled. “Because if you don’t deliver her at the same time you pick up the goods, I must unfortunately eliminate her from the happy little picture.”
Rob remained silent.
“You don’t want that, do you, Robert?”
“Of course not.” Fear rose in his gut. If they would kill Danni, they would come after him too.
“Of course, you don’t. Because if she dies, you’re going with her.” The man on the other end of the phone talked as matter-of-factly about his potential demise as most people talked about the weather.
“I don’t understand why there’s a need to bring her with me.”
“First of all, because I said so, Robert. And, secondly, I want to meet the woman who has obviously taken your heart, if not changed your ways.” Ramirez laughed. “You’re a bit of a playboy for someone who’s almost married.”