by Kathy Harris
Danni decided she’d better check on Rob and serve the coffee before she made her final move. She filled a mug to the brim and took it into him.
“That looks great. Thanks, babe.” He smiled and resumed his channel surfing.
She returned to the kitchen, wiped her brow with a napkin, and tossed it into the trashcan. Finally, she took a deep breath. She could do this. Slipping the vial from the spice drawer, she unscrewed the lid, which was attached to an eyedropper. If five drops worked for Sophie, they should work for Rob.
She squeezed the bulb once and a drop of tincture fell into the pudding. Four more squeezes and . . . oops. Two drops fell into the pudding for a total of six. Should she try to spoon the extra out? No, that would risk not giving him enough.
She would go with it. Hopefully he wouldn’t fall asleep before she had gotten what she needed. She returned the vial to the drawer and picked up both parfait glasses, carrying hers in her left hand and his with her right hand. When she walked into the living room, Rob didn’t even look up. She set her dessert on the side table next to her chair and took a step toward him.
As he reached for it, the doorbell rang.
CHAPTER 42
When Danni opened the door, her heart took a plunge. Four men stood in the hall holding guns. And badges.
“Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, ma’am,” one man said before charging past her. Two more followed him, leaving Caleb standing in the hallway. He nodded at her and then rushed in behind the other men.
She spun around in time to see Rob drop the remote.
“Are you Robert Evans?” One of the men now stood over him.
Rob nodded.
“Mr. Evans, you’re under arrest for transporting narcotics across the state line with the intent to sell.”
“What?” Rob looked to Danni. “Do you know anything about this?”
She stood there, holding his parfait in midair, unable to respond.
“Please stand up, sir.”
He obliged, shaking his head.
“Cross your wrists behind your back and turn around.”
“Get your hands off me,” Rob protested. “I have a right to an attorney.”
“Yes, sir, you do. And we’ll be happy to provide a phone. But first I need to read you your rights.”
“Danni!” Rob screeched, his back to her. “You had something to do with this, didn’t you?”
She walked to the nearest chair and braced herself against it.
“No.” The word came out as a whimper.
Caleb stepped to her side. He was with her. She could do this.
She straightened her shoulders. “This is your mess, Rob, not mine.”
“But I’m innocent, babe, don’t you see? I’m being framed.” He turned in her direction, his face contorted and red.
“If you’re not guilty, I’ll fight right along beside you.”
The muscles in Caleb’s jaw tensed.
Danni directed one final vow to Rob. “But if you’re guilty, I’ll help them put you away.”
Before he could respond, the arresting officer grabbed him by the shoulder and propelled him forward, and for the second time today Danni witnessed a broken and bitter Rob Evans. The charm was gone. The expensive clothes didn’t matter. And fear clouded his striking blue eyes.
As the officer led him past her, Rob shook his head, and then looked away. “You will regret this.”
Danni slumped, but Caleb caught her. He took the parfait glass in one hand, holding her upright with the other, and walked her around the chair. Setting the dish on the side table, he eased her into the chair.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
She nodded, praying she wouldn’t faint. Hoping if she did that she would wake up to find this was a nightmare. But remembering Zach, she knew it wasn’t. For his sake, she fought to maintain her consciousness. She couldn’t put any of this behind her until the boy was home safe.
Caleb escorted his fellow agents to the elevator.
“We’ve got this,” Langley told him. “Take care of the girl.”
“I appreciate it.” Caleb slapped him on the shoulder in celebration of their victory. A bittersweet one in light of the circumstances. Zach was still being held, probably hundreds of miles away, and his safety depended on how they handled the next twenty-four hours.
If they didn’t keep Evans’s arrest a secret, Ramirez might react. And a sudden defensive move could be deadly for Zach. They were better off to let Ramirez’s plans play out, to let him show his hand. Then, with the combined resources of the Feds and the TBI, they could stack the deck in their favor.
At least that was what he hoped.
When he returned to Danni’s condo, she was still sitting where he had left her. He settled into the chair beside her.
“Are you okay?”
She tipped her chin toward him. “I’m not sure what just happened.”
“We received new information.” Before he could explain, movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. He turned to see Sophie amble into the room. The dog stopped and stared at him. “She looks relaxed.”
“Tincture,” Danni said. “I was about to give some to Rob.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.” She waved away the question. “Tell me why you’re here. I thought I was—”
“The Feds got to his bus driver. They intercepted him en route to deliver a load of narcotics in Atlanta.” A cell phone caught Caleb’s attention. “Is this Rob’s?”
She nodded.
He slipped it into his pocket and resumed his explanation. The driver confessed everything, explained how the operation worked, gave them times and dates, and showed them the goods. He basically sold Evans out in exchange for a lighter sentence.”
She clasped her shaking hands. “So Rob’s going to prison?”
“Yes, for a long time. I’m sorry.” This couldn’t be easy for her. Whether she liked Evans now or not, she had loved him at one time.
“Don’t be.” She stiffened. “It’s his doing. Zach is my concern.”
“That’s why I’m here. I think I can get more out of Evans than you were.”
The corners of her mouth formed a faint smile. “My interrogation skills are lacking, aren’t they?”
“It’s not that. We have leverage now. Securing the bus driver’s statement and a hundred pounds of cocaine can make all the difference.”
“That much?”
“Yes, over a half billion dollar’s worth.”
“No wonder Rob was planning to buy a house on Woodmont Boulevard.”
Caleb startled. “When did you find that out?”
“Today on our outing. He took me to see it. It was supposed to be my wedding present.”
His expression darkened. “I’m afraid most guys couldn’t offer you something like that.”
Danni held her left arm out to him. “Take it off.”
When he didn’t move, she persisted. “Take the recording device off my wristband. She pointed to it with her free hand. “I don’t need it anymore, do I?”
“No, you don’t. I’ll disable it for you.” He detached the device from the plastic band, neutralized it, and slipped it into his pocket.
“Were you about to say something you didn’t want recorded?”
“Just that I can’t be bought. Not with drug money. Not when I know about it anyway.” Her green eyes searched his face. “I just want you to know that a big house isn’t important to me. I figured that out this afternoon.”
“I knew that,” he said. “Probably even before you did.”
CHAPTER 43
The next morning – April 22
The following morning at eight o’clock sharp, Caleb called.
“Are you still at home?”
“Just about to leave.”
“Stay there. I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes. Evans heard from Ramirez this morning. I’ve arranged an impromptu meeting for everyone on our team.”
So
that was why Caleb had taken Rob’s cell phone.
Timely as usual, Caleb knocked on her door in almost exactly twenty minutes. He looked tired, but he had to be with the weight of the world and a young boy’s life resting on his shoulders. Interestingly, her personal insomnia had somewhat eased now that Caleb was firmly entrenched in her life.
“Where are we going?” She asked as she climbed into his truck.
“The Criminal Justice Center, also known as the county jail.”
“Can’t say I’ve ever been there before.”
“Hang with me, baby. I’ll show you the world.” Even if he was tired, he still had his sense of humor.
She glanced his way. “I would love that.”
Caleb reached across the console to take her hand in his. “I hope you mean it.”
He pulled into a parking spot marked “official vehicles only” and walked around to open her door.
“Why are we meeting here?”
His expression sobered. “Because we may call Evans into the meeting. Can you handle that?”
“I guess I don’t have a choice.”
His smile reached his eyes, and he helped her out of the truck.
Danni tugged at her jacket as they walked inside the two-story red brick building. This was a different world from the one she had been living. And she had the feeling it had become as much a part of her future as it was her present. She glanced at the handsome man walking beside her.
Caleb opened the front door of the Davidson County sheriff’s administrative offices, which was adjacent to the Hill Building Detention Center. He acknowledged the guard at the front desk and greeted Martin Ridge, who appeared to be waiting for their arrival. It was the first time Danni had seen him since the game of good cop, bad cop at police headquarters three months ago. Hopefully he had a better feeling about her now.
He greeted her. She nodded. And Caleb grabbed her elbow and escorted her down the hallway, through a security door, and into a second corridor. This place made the police headquarters look like a swanky resort. The gymnasium-like acoustics amplified every sound, from the click, click, click of her heels on the tile floor to the rustle of Ridge’s suit.
Caleb, however, appeared to move effortlessly with a confident, deliberate gait. He fit in perfectly here but still rose above his environment. Danni had no doubt that, despite the terrible circumstances that had catapulted him into this life, he had been created for it.
They stopped just short of the end of the hall, and Ridge opened the door to a small conference room on the left.
“Everyone else is already here,” he said, inviting Danni to walk ahead of him.
As she entered the rectangular room, more than a dozen men and women looked in her direction. Caleb steered her to the nearest chair and took the seat to her right. Ridge sat on her left. It was like having her own personal security team.
Jamie Wade, who was sitting directly across the table, greeted Danni with a smile, but there were no other familiar faces. The seat at the head of the table was empty. Was it for Rob?
Within a few seconds, the man sitting next to Jamie called the meeting to order. He introduced himself as Sam Wiley of the FBI. The men to the right of him were also FBI. Two other men worked with the DEA. Another was with ATF—the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Despite a knack for remembering names, Danni couldn’t remember any of them, except Wiley, by the end of the introductions.
Caleb took the floor to introduce her. He praised her for her courage and explained that without her help they might not be this far along. At the end of his monologue, everyone applauded.
“I’m not sure how much I’ve done.” She directed her words to Caleb.
Wiley stood and walked to a white board behind him.
“For those who don’t already know, and I believe all of you do, with the possible exception of Ms. Kemp, Ramirez called Evans this morning, which is exactly what we had hoped would happen.” He made an imaginary mark in the air. “Score one for the good guys.”
Everyone laughed.
“Are we ready with the audio?” He directed the question to the man at the far end of the table. “Let’s roll it. This is the recording of that call.” He signaled the tech to begin.
Robert, I now have the final arrangements.
Okay.
Rob’s voice wavered. Danni almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
In two days, I want you to meet me on a farm near the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. It’s the vacation home of a country star who is on tour right now, so we’ll have our privacy. Be there at three o’clock in the afternoon, and bring your bus. I will have the merchandise with me, along with two special guests.
Who are the guests? It was Rob speaking.
Do you remember the lovely Cassia Noelle?
Yes.
I’ve learned that she has been working for both sides. In fact, I’ve had more than one security breach in the past few days. Shortly after your driver delivered product in Atlanta, my facility there was raided. Did you know about that?”
No, sir! Not at all. Breaches aren’t good.
Breaches aren’t good, Evans. And, unfortunately, you’re the common denominator in both.
I know nothing about them, sir.
I will need to talk with your driver.
Yes, sir.
Also on the plane will be a boy by the name of Zachary. He’s a fine young man. His mother will be sending a stipend for his return.
You kidnapped a child?
Robert, I would never do something like that. You need to trust me.
An evil laugh from Ramirez made Danni’s skin crawl. How could Rob have been working with such a wicked man?
I do trust you, sir.
Along with the bus and driver, I need you to bring your lovely bride-to-be.
Yes, sir.
Caleb grimaced and tucked his chin.
Is everything clear?
Yes.
Robert. I’m going to trust you not to share this with anyone.
Yes, sir.
Especially the authorities.
I would never do that, sir.
Once this delivery is done, you may retire with my blessing. It will be your independence day.
That sounds great, sir.
By now you should have received a text with directions to the property.
Got it now, sir.
I’ll see you in two days, my friend.
The call disconnected, leaving silence in the conference room. Wiley stood and walked back to the white board.
“Here are the bullet points from the call.” He picked up a maker from the tray and made notes as he spoke.
“Ramirez will be on site. He will have two hostages with him. One is an FBI undercover agent. The other, we believe, is our missing boy, Zachary.”
Wiley moved his marker down the board and wrote, a possible exchange of merchandise. He scanned the faces in the room. “This is never going to happen, folks. That’s not what this is about.”
He put down the marker. “Ramirez may have summoned three people and asked that authorities not be notified, but we believe this is about killing as many people as possible. Not just those he’s summoned, and the hostages, but as many law enforcement officers as he can draw into the fight.”
A deathly hush filled the room.
Wiley walked back to the table and took a seat. “I’d say he knows we’re on to him and that we’re taking him down one operation at a time. Or at least he fears that. And he wants retribution.”
When Wiley opened the planning discussion, Caleb took the lead.
“Before we talk details about the best way to fortify the farm and to preempt, or at least limit, a deadly strike from Ramirez, I’d like to suggest a female agent fill in for Danielle on site.”
Jamie Wade raised her hand. “I’d like to do it.”
“You have a baby!” Danni protested. “I can’t let you put your life at risk, again, for me. Besides, you have blond hair.�
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Jamie chuckled. “Hair color is subject to change without notice. Have you forgotten that I’m a hairdresser?” She grew serious. “And this is my job. I’m trained to stay safe. You don’t have that kind of training.”
“But I got myself into this. I should be the who takes the risk.” Danni looked to Caleb. “I don’t want anyone taking my place.”
Caleb’s stomach churned. He couldn’t let her do this. “Ramirez is leading you into a trap. You don’t understand.”
“I do understand. And I want to finish this myself.”
CHAPTER 44
Two days later – April 24
Caleb watched as Danni stepped confidently aboard the traveling coach. He had to hand it to her, she didn’t seem to be bothered by the task at hand. The woman was determined, even downright stubborn, when she set her mind to something.
On the other hand, Robert Evans, who, along with his guard, waited to board behind her, stood on one foot and then the other. He looked a wreck. Incarceration hadn’t served him well. To keep news of his arrest off the street, he had been held in solitary confinement for the past few days. He would soon find that was easy compared to life in the general population.
Sam Wiley boarded next. He had Evans’s cell phone with him in case the drug boss called with a location adjustment, which would be a smart move for the bad guys and a potentially deadly one for Caleb’s team.
Ridge followed Wiley, then Jamie Wade, and Caleb boarded last, pulling the door closed behind him and acknowledging Hank Porter, who was already belted into the driver’s seat. Because of his classification as a flight risk, he’d been fitted with a GPS bracelet around his ankle.
Evans, on the other hand, was wearing leg irons.
“What have you done to my bus?” He bellowed as he hobbled to his seat.
“Sit down and shut up.” Wiley said. “We had to go through it. Sorry if we didn’t put everything back the way you like.”
“My attorney will hear about this. I thought if I cooperated, you’d treat me better.” His guard directed him to the sofa, then took a seat beside him.