by Anne Hagan
“Was that luck or are you just that good?” Jason asked. Everyone laughed.
“It was sheer, dumb luck, my friend. That’s the best kind, isn’t it?” Everyone shook their head or nodded. “Anyway, he was able, unwittingly, to give me some background information that’s helpful to our case and I’ll get to that another time, but he’s holding out on some other info. I’ll be working on him a bit harder.”
I sat back and looked around the table. “So, what else do we have?”
“I tried to ring Webb twice,” Mel spoke up. “I couldn’t get through the gatekeeper there. She would only tell me he’s unavailable. I only left one message to return my call since we’re trying to play this low key.”
I nodded. “I just hate that we have another agency tied up in this case. What a friggin’ mess! Let’s hope no one in their custody is talking about anything; counterfeiting, smuggling or otherwise. Unfortunately, one or more of our three they’re holding is probably singing like a damn canary.”
Mel hung her head. I jumped back in, “Sheriff, that isn’t your fault. You were doing your job and, by doing so, you’ve helped break our case open for us.”
“Sorry. I’m just frustrated all the way around, with the whole situation.” She let out a long sigh and then continued, “Anyway, Holly and I have been working on looking into Chappell affairs. If our combined knowledge is enough,” she gestured around the room, “and I think it is, we can subpoena the farm financials and Delores’ personal financials. A phone wiretap on both Delores and on Heath Jr. would be helpful too.”
“We wouldn’t want a local judge – even a federally appointed one – to order those. We don’t want their lawyers getting wind of anything or of anyone in their pocket, so to speak, tipping them off.” I turned to Tim. “Contact Gene and see if we can get the subpoenas for financials and the wiretap ordered under RICO.”
“Roger, boss!”
“I could do so much more if I could get back to Morelville and just talk to people casually, even to her. She doesn’t know we’re onto her. She surely doesn’t know your team is here.”
“Hmm. While that may be true in normal circumstances, don’t you think you’ll draw a lot of attention since the shooting incident – people asking questions…?” I trailed off.
“People around here are nosey no matter what. Everybody knows everybody’s business. I’m probably more conspicuous by my absence. Besides, Dawes took two shots at me the other day right there in town. Already, no one’s talking about that anymore and…well, I would think…”
I waved my hand at her. “Okay, Sorry. Look, I don’t mean to cut you off. You’ve made a good point. Let’s talk about it offline and see what we can work out.” Mel sank back in her chair but she nodded her assent.
“Ron, Phil, we need to get you out of here and airborne. Tim, if you’ll ride with Jason to the hotel that would be great. Mel and I will work out some plans for tomorrow.”
Tim looked at Jason. “I gotta get with Gene and get the subpoena and wiretap stuff going first.”
“No problem. I’m working on some background stuff, given that we know our targets now. I’m also going to see if I can dig up – quietly - any sort of route scheduling for that trucking company too.”
“Good thinking. Great work everyone. Ron, be off! It’s going to be dark in about 2 hours.”
“Right boss!”
I couldn’t help but smile again. Then, I turned to Mel and, keeping the smile on my face, I said, “Let’s talk in your office.” I’ve got to get her loosened up. I need her help but I don’t need her making me tense and hampering the team.
“Do you want to get out of here?”
“Hell yes!”
I grinned. “Listen, we’re staying at a hotel in Cambridge. The four guys are double bunking. Since I’m the only female this trip I have a room to myself. If you don’t mind sharing…with me…” I caught the look of surprise on her face.
“The room Mel, not a bed.”
“Of course. Yes, I accept the offer. I’d bunk with one of the guys – in his room, not his bed – if it meant not having to sleep here another night!” She breathed a sigh of what could only be relief.
“Well then gather up your stuff, tell who you have to tell, and let’s figure out how to sneak you out of here.”
“I don’t need to tell anybody anything. Where are you parked?”
“Down the street behind a repair shop. I don’t need to draw any attention pulling in and out of here repeatedly.”
“There’s a bay door at the back of this building where we get deliveries from time to time. You won’t be able to get through the gate to the bay door but I can wait for you behind the gate and you can do a quick pick up. It’s doubtful anyone is watching that but, if anything looks suspicious to you, just drive on by.”
“Okay. I’ll head out then after I look in on Tim and Jason. See you in a few. Keep your chin up girl. We’re going to work this out!”
Chapter 24 – Two to Tango
I watched Dana’s profile as she drove.
“You’re staring!”
“You’re beautiful Dana.”
She blushed. Turning to me she said, very quietly, “Thank you. Mel, I… Don’t make me regret…”
“Hey, no pressure! I was just stating a fact.”
She sighed. “Look, I’m not going to deny that I feel something for you. I do. But, well, there are two things at play here. One, and most importantly, I’m here to do a job and I need to do it. I’m majorly stressed out about this op right now. I need to focus and get this done.”
“Dana, you don’t have to do it by yourself, you know. You have, from what I’ve seen, an amazing support team plus the full power of your agency and, of course, whatever you need from my department.”
“I know, I know! It’s just… well… I’m in charge this time and whenever I’m the lead on an op, I always feel like I have something to prove. This one has been such a struggle from the word “go” to get anywhere.” She grew quiet and appeared to be completely lost in thought.
We were silent for a few minutes then I remembered what she had started to say. “What’s the other thing?”
She turned her head to look at me. “Huh?”
“You said there were “two things at play”. What’s the other thing?”
“Nothing. Just forget it.”
“Dana?”
“What?” She sounded exasperated.
“You can talk to me you know; friend to friend. You don’t have to hold in whatever it is that you’re holding in.”
She looked at me for a few seconds and then focused on the road again. “It’s been a while since I’ve had any sort of friend to confide in. My work keeps me on the road and it consumes my life.”
“No one in Chicago, where you’re based that you can talk to…hang out with?”
“Outside of the past week or so, I’m really not there much. I don’t even have a place there. I have a roommate I share an apartment with in Cleveland temporarily because my last assignment was a long term one in that area and now, well, I have this. She’s pretty cool but I rarely see her. She’s with Customs too but she has a desk job.”
“I see.”
“No. You really don’t.” She paused, glanced at me and then continued, “I was in a really bad relationship Mel. She was a total control freak. It took me far, far too long to see what was happening and get out of the mess I was in. In the process, I lost my home, a job I loved and most of my friends. It’s been tough the last few years being on my own and starting all over. I’ve spent all my time clawing my way up the ladder and into special investigations and now I just completely lose myself in my work.”
I stayed silent and just let her tal
k.
“I’m just not sure that I’m ready for any sort of relationship right now or if I ever will be. My job isn’t real conducive toward me seeing anyone long term, even if I was in that frame of mind. And, frankly, I’m not the one-night-stand type.”
If I ever find the woman that hurt her, I’ll kill her… “Dana, I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. Now, I’m not going to lie. I definitely have feelings for you. For the record, I certainly don’t want a one-night-stand with you. I’m interested in a lot more, but I understand where you are right now. I’m not going to push you into anything you’re not ready for. Just promise me one thing?”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll accept that you have a friend who is willing to be here for you, no strings attached?”
She nodded but didn’t say anything.
###
Mel
“What is this? We reserved all double rooms!”
“I’m sorry ma’am, we had a reservation system issue and we’re overbooked. Since your room was booked for a single occupant, we changed your reservation to a king room.” The front desk clerk was clearly frazzled but trying his best to be courteous and patient. Dana meanwhile, was exhibiting no such behavior.
I stepped to the counter. “It’s okay Dana.” I turned to the clerk, “I’d like to book my own room. Do you have anything else available?”
“As I said to Ms. Rossi ma’am, we’re overbooked. We’ve been working with the other hotel just down the street to accommodate everyone but they’ve informed us they’re now full as well.”
Dana muttered, only half under her breath, “Must be a damn cow milking convention in town.”
I was tired and I’d had enough. I glared at the clerk, “Just give her the key please. We’ll make do for tonight.” I turned to Dana, “I’ll sleep in the chair or on the floor. At least their floor will be carpeted! Let’s go.” I hustled her over to the elevator and then to our room.
Dana stared at the bed. “It’s huge.”
“Well, yeah. It is a king room, after all.”
“I suppose we could share it…”
“I don’t want to do anything that’s going to make you uncomfortable.”
“I know. Mel, it’s fine. I’m sorry. I guess I’m being silly.”
“No, you’re not. I promise to be on my best behavior. Right or left?”
“Huh?”
“Do you want the right or the left?”
“Oh; dibs on the right!” With that, she marched over to the right side, away from the wall, and dropped her bag. She looked around and then stepped over to the desk and picked up the info binder for the hotel.
“You know what? Now that, that’s all settled, I’m famished. I wonder if they have room service?” She leafed through the pages.
“Doubtful. There’s no restaurant on site. You ‘wanna order a pizza?”
“I could do pizza.”
“There’s a pizza thingy on the TV. Order whatever you want. My treat for putting you out.”
“You’re not putting me out, but I will take you up on the offer.”
“You order. I’ll run down the hall and grab ice and sodas.”
“Diet Pepsi please.”
“Pizza and diet pop. A woman after my own heart!” I grinned and shook my head then I went on about my mission.
I watched in amazement as Dana polished off her fourth slice of pizza. She’d already eaten a side salad and a couple of cheese sticks. She could really put it away.
“Eat up. There’s brownies when you’re done.”
I choked on my Pepsi. “You’re joking right?”
“Where I grew up, clean plates always meant dessert.”
“If I keep hanging out with you I’m going to be as big as a house! Where do you put it all? Why aren’t you huge?”
“I’ve eaten this way since my Army days and I work it all off. I’m always on the run.”
“Army?” I was surprised. “What else don’t I know about you?”
“I only served one tour to get money for college. Mom and dad couldn’t afford to send me to school and I was only making $35 bucks a week washing dishes in a restaurant part time during high school. Everything I’ve done since then built on what I did in the service.”
“And what was that?”
“CID.”
“I see. Wow! Alrighty then.” I shook my head in wonder.
“I do know what I’m doing out there.”
“Dana, I never said you didn’t.”
“You didn’t have to. It’s been written all over your face.”
“Touché. I’m not exactly the hick town Sheriff you think I am either. I’ve been around the block a few times.”
“I never…”
“Stick to catching runaway livestock.” I mimicked her original tone. “Remember saying that?”
She had the decency to look sheepish. “Yes. I shouldn’t have said it. I’m sorry.” She started cleaning up the food wrappings covering our desk turned dinner table.
“Dana, sit back down for a minute. We need to talk about this investigation.”
She leaned against the side of the bed, legs splayed out in front of her, hands folded in her lap and studied me. “I’m just worried about your safety Mel. Muskingum County has already lost one Sheriff at the hands of this gang.”
“He was playing for their team and he either got greedy or he did something stupid. They don’t know that I know what really went down, that I know anything about their smuggling ring or certainly that they’re being investigated. They think I’m only on to distribution of counterfeit money in the county. Now, with three of their guys in custody, if they’re smart about keeping a low profile, and I think they are, they’re not going to be saying or doing squat on that front. It’s no longer a viable business for them in East Central Ohio.”
“I’m thinking the three guys the Secret Service has a hold of will take their lumps and go down without giving anything away or face worse wrath from the gang than they’ll get in any prison. My point is, the whole syndicate will stay far away from me.”
“You may be right about all of that but I’m not sure how we use you to our advantage without giving anything away.” Now, she stared right through me, wheels turning in her head.
“Why don’t you just let me be me? I go on about my life. I go into town, I fill my truck up at the gas station, I pick up my mail at the post office, I buy milk at the store, get a sub at the pizza shop, I check on my sister at the farm and all along the way I talk to people, poke around and observe. Also, I know Delores’ habits. I show up at the post office when she does and I strike up a conversation with her. Simple.”
“Simple?”
“Absolutely! It’s the sort of thing I do every day. Nothing will look any different than any other time. Right now I’m conspicuous by my absence. We want them to think that I think everything is all tied up with a neat little bow.”
Dana was quiet for a minute. Finally, she spoke, “I think it could work. Will you stay in your house though?”
“I’ll play that by ear but that’s probably the best course of action.”
Dana blew out a heavy breath. “While I don’t disagree with that, I’m worried sick what might happen.” She caught my gaze but then dropped her chin to her chest.
“We just talked about this. It’ll be okay.”
She looked up at me. Her eyes were moist with tears but they hadn’t fallen. I’m not good with adult tears. She looked away. I didn’t know what to do.
“I’m being silly again.” She sniffled, “I’m not thinking like a federal agent. I’m thinking like a lovesick puppy…”
Lovesick? Whoa! I stood up and cover
ed the two steps to her then I gently pulled her up from the bed and into my arms. She laid her head against my chest and closed her beautiful brown eyes still shimmering with the wetness of her fear. I felt so protective of her that I never wanted to let her go.
“I’m so sorry Mel.”
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”
“I’m being a big baby.”
“Dana, you care. It’s nice that someone does. It’s been a while.”
She looked up at me and stared into my eyes. I felt like she could see into my soul. She reached a hand up to my neck and pulled my head down toward hers. Our lips met in another electric kiss, just like that day in my garage. I tried hard to restrain myself but my body was on fire.
I finally pulled back, my breathing already ragged. “Dana, we need to stop.”
“Why?” She tried to focus on my eyes.
“Because you said you don’t want a relationship right now and neither of us wants a one-night-stand.”
She stepped back. I was disappointed but glad I hadn’t pushed her. Her words though took me by surprise.
“Sure, now you start listening to me…!” She moved back up against me again. “Mel, my brain is telling me to avoid this and focus on the job but my heart is telling me something totally different.” She took a deep breath then pulled my head toward her again as she said, “For once, I’m going to listen to my heart.”
###
Dana
Mel reached out for me and splayed one hand between my shoulder blades while the other found the curve of my waist. She slid her hand further and cupped my ass firmly, pulling me into her. I moaned at the sensation and Mel devoured my lips to silence me.
Warm hands slid up and down my sides and found purchase on my skin as Mel buried her mouth in the curve of my neck. It was too tempting not to run my hands through that magnificent hair and nibble the perfect earlobe I was presented with, when she did that. My actions caused quite the frenzy as I found myself scooped up and deposited on the massive bed, only to feel unimaginable bliss as her body covered mine.
A hand stripped open the buttons of my shirt. I don’t remember now if it was my own or if it was Mel’s… I do remember the intense heat and moisture of her mouth as it closed around first one nipple and then the other forcing me to explode in need for so much more.