After I showered, I put on a navy blue sundress and attached my thigh holster, my stomach in knots. I stayed with Hope downstairs while Joe showered and changed. When he descended the stairs, he was wearing jeans, a fitted black T-shirt, and a shoulder harness with his pistol strapped to his chest.
“Is it wrong to say you look incredibly sexy?” I asked, my stomach fluttering with more than nerves.
He grinned, but it looked forced. “If I’d known this was what it took to turn you on, I would have quit the force ages ago.”
I got to my feet. “Joe…”
He shook his head. “Let’s take my car. It’s less conspicuous than your truck.”
“Agreed. Do you have the flash drive?”
He patted his pocket. “Jed came through, and I downloaded it while I was feeding Hope. Let’s go.”
“I want to have another vision first.”
“Okay.” He reached for my hand and laced our fingers. “Go for it. Of this morning?”
“That’s probably a good idea,” I said, “but I was thinking about something else.” I paused. While I’d been waiting, I’d realized that Joe was definitely part of this now. Which meant he’d likely be involved in the meeting in some way. It might be possible to get more information from him. “I want to see if I can determine the time or location of the drug deal.”
“Good idea.” He squeezed my hand, then waited.
Closing my eyes again, I concentrated on the question—When and where is the meeting with Hardshaw and the drug cartel? I slid into the familiar gray haze, so I shifted it to another pressing concern—Will Joe get hurt at this meeting with Carmichael?
I had a vision of Joe sitting in a car, and Dermot saying, “That went better than expected.”
I opened my eyes and said, “It goes better than expected.”
His face lit up. “You got the time and place?”
“No, that question didn’t reveal anything, so I asked if you got hurt during the meeting today, and the vision was of you and Dermot in the front seat of a car. He said it went better than expected.”
“Well, that’s one less thing to worry about, right?”
“Well, yeah…” But I didn’t feel less worried. Maybe it was because I’d seen Clyde holding a gun on our baby just last night, or because I was well aware Joe had given up his career to be here with me. Either way, I was wound up.
“Come on,” he said. “We’re gonna be late.”
We put Hope in her car seat, Muffy immediately curling up beneath it, and headed to town, dread growing like a mushroom in my chest. I still hadn’t warned Dermot, although I suspected Witt had. He knew everything, and Joe had convinced him to be Hope’s bodyguard while we were gone. I didn’t delude myself into thinking he’d be pleased, but I was mostly worried about Carmichael’s reaction, especially after his snide comment about bringing Joe. While Carmichael had shown interest in Joe’s offer, I hadn’t seen anything indicating whether he’d accept it.
Dermot was already in the parking lot, leaning against his car, and Joe pulled into the spot next to him. He didn’t look surprised to see Joe. Joe glanced his direction without acknowledging him, then got Hope’s car seat and diaper bag out of the back. Muffy hopped out with him.
“Is Witt here?” he asked Dermot.
Dermot nodded once toward the building. “Inside.”
Joe nodded back, then turned to me. “I’ll take Hope and Muffy in and make sure everything is situated.”
I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I didn’t question him. He took Hope’s safety very seriously. I just took a long moment to say goodbye to them both, studying Hope’s eyes as I told her I loved her.
As soon as Joe entered the nursery, Dermot’s face morphed with outrage. “Have you lost your fuckin’ mind?”
“Maybe,” I conceded. “But Joe presented a convincing argument as to why he should be part of this.”
“You’re smarter than this,” Dermot said through gritted teeth. He shifted his weight and leaned closer. “Carmichael’s gonna chew him up one side and down the other, and then, just for fun, he’s likely to shoot him. There’s no way he’ll incriminate himself in front of the ex-chief deputy sheriff.”
I propped my hands on my hips. “Are you about finished?”
He didn’t respond, which I took as a yes.
“Glad to see you think I’ll let a man run roughshod over me,” I said, seething.
Some of his outrage faded. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
My brow shot up. “Oh? Because that’s exactly what it sounds like to me.” I understood why he was concerned, though, and nothing good would come of sowing more discord between us. Carmichael was likely to pick up on it and use it against us. “I realize the risks, but like I said, Joe makes a convincing argument for being part of my protection detail, and we’ve already thought out Carmichael’s reaction. Joe will appease him by providin’ information the sheriff’s department has on James and other players in the county.”
His brow shot up. “He would freely give that to Carmichael?”
“Jed helped create most of it, so it should be convincin’.”
“There’s no guarantee it will work, Rose.”
“Which is why I forced a vision to see if it would. Carmichael was interested. It’ll work.”
He shot a dark look toward the building. “I don’t like it.”
“Because Joe was law enforcement less than twelve hours ago?”
“Among other things.”
I felt Joe walk up behind me. He pulled a pair of sunglasses from his T-shirt pocket and put them on. “Is there a problem here?”
Dermot’s look grew darker. “Your sudden about-face will be nothin’ but a distraction that will put Lady’s and everyone else’s lives in danger.”
Joe’s back stiffened, but his voice was absent of anger as he said, “Everyone around her has an agenda that involves something or someone other than Rose. I am the only person in this who is one hundred percent behind her.”
Dermot turned murderous. “Are you insinuatin’ I don’t take her safety seriously? I’ve put a lot on the line to stand with her.”
“No,” Joe said calmly. “I know you take her safety seriously or we wouldn't be havin’ this discussion. But you have your own empire to run. Jed has Neely Kate and their baby. Your men have families and worries of their own.” Joe paused. “Rose and Hope are my entire world. I will stop at nothing to protect them. Surely you can see the advantage of havin’ someone with that amount of dedication on her detail.”
Dermot’s expression softened. “It could just as easily be turned against you. They could hurt her to make you talk, thinkin’ you know something.”
Joe gave a slow nod. “I know. But it’s a risk for you too. I can’t believe you would stand by and let someone hurt or torture her. Not after savin’ her and Hope out in that field.”
Dermot pushed out a sigh and turned to face the road. “He’ll use your relationship against you. He’ll taunt and goad you to get a reaction.” He turned to face Joe, his voice hardening. “You can not respond. Do you understand? No matter what the man says, no matter how disgusting or vile, you are to remain emotionless and calm. You are a fuckin’ robot with absolutely no emotions. Can you handle that?”
“I’ve been undercover. I know how to play a part.”
Dermot didn’t look convinced, not that I was either. “When it involves the woman you love? You can just stand there impassively if he starts talking about screwin’ her in the most vile ways? You can pretend it doesn’t bother you? Because he will try to get a reaction out of you, and he’ll keep pushin’ until you snap.”
I couldn’t help but think of Daniel Crocker, and how Joe and I had been in the exact situation he’d described. But that wasn’t going to happen now. I wouldn’t allow it. I shook my head firmly. “I wouldn’t let Carmichael get away with that nonsense, whether Joe was there or not.”
“Agreed,” Dermot said, then shot J
oe a pointed look, “but does Simmons know that?”
Joe tilted his head.
“Lady calls the shots,” Dermot said. “You do as she says, no questions asked. We are backup and bodyguards. I only speak when necessary, and let’s not forget I bring my own contingent, while you, as you pointed out, bring nothing.”
I nearly pushed back on Dermot’s statement, but he had a point.
“Understood,” Joe said.
“Do you?” Dermot countered. “I’m not so sure.” He turned to me. “And you, are you prepared to go against his wishes? Or will you go along with what he wants to protect his masculine pride?”
I narrowed my gaze, my anger reigniting. “I stood up to James Malcolm on more than one occasion and held my ground. I can do the same with Joe.”
Dermot scowled. “We need to go, but I’m givin’ you one last chance to change your mind about this.”
Resisting the urge to shoot a glance at Joe, I said, “I’ve already made my decision.”
“Then let’s go,” Dermot said, reaching for his door. “Simmons, you ride shotgun. Lady rides in back.”
Dermot and I got into his car, but Joe hung back and popped the trunk of his car. He grabbed out a shotgun, then shut the lid and climbed into the passenger seat.
When had he loaded that into his car?
Dermot pulled out of the parking space, and I glanced back at the nursery. Maeve stood in the window, holding Hope as we pulled away. Witt stood to one side with a grave expression. I wasn’t sure if it was from concern over our safety, the responsibility of guarding Hope, or both, but the sight filled me with dread.
No one spoke until we were out of the city limits, then Dermot glanced in his rearview mirror and asked, “How do you plan for this to go?”
“I want to make sure he is plannin’ on behavin’, and if not, we leave.”
“That will be twice you talked to him without findin’ out what he wants. You sure you want to do that?”
“Yeah,” I said, trying to settle my nerves. “I can’t let him think he’s one-uppin’ me, especially not now. He made it very clear he wants help taking down Hardshaw. The timing can’t be a coincidence. In fact, I’d bet good money that he killed Rufus Wilson for the time and location of the meeting, only it didn’t work, and he came to me because he failed. He thinks I owe him a favor, which apparently he’s been hoarding like the guy with the ring in Lord of the Rings, and apparently, this is important enough for him to use it. Couple that with the fact he thinks I know things, I bet ten to one he expects me to get him the date, time, and location of the drug deal.”
Dermot was silent for a few moments. “Yeah. I think you’re right.”
“But there’s more. Remember my vision of him from last year? I thought I was a reluctant participant in his stand-off with James. After our gatherings in the fall, I wondered if I actually would work with him. He’s dangerous, but we have a common goal—evict Hardshaw from the county. I don’t trust him one bit, though, and he seems to be getting bolder by the day. Hitchin’ our wagon to his would likely be a suicidal move. Especially since he’ll likely expect us to go along with him.”
“Shit,” Dermot groaned.
“Subtle shift of power, but it would position him to be the king of the castle once Hardshaw and James are run out of town. That wouldn’t do any of us any good.”
“Is that how you see this endin’?” Dermot asked, glancing in the mirror again. “James leavin’ town?”
“I don’t see him bein’ able to stay.”
“Exactly,” Dermot said, “but I don’t see him runnin’. He’s fought for his dominion, and I don’t see him leavin’ willingly.”
I had a sudden flash of James from those visions I kept having. You thought you could take what was mine, Simmons.
“Unless he had bigger plans,” I said in an undertone, glancing out the side window. “Maybe Hardshaw’s offered him a position workin’ with them.” I resisted the urge to tell him I’d asked James that very thing the day before. But one, I hadn’t told Joe about my visit to Carter Hale’s office, and I didn’t want him finding out like this, and two, James hadn’t answered me. It was speculation at this point.
“I can’t see him takin’ orders from someone,” Dermot said.
“Isn’t that what he’s doin’ now?” I asked. “Takin’ orders from Hardshaw?”
“Yes and no. He’s takin’ orders, but it’s still his men he’s orderin’ around. Still his domain. Once he moves on, he’s just another cog in the wheel. I can’t see him bein’ happy with somethin’ like that, but you know him better. What do you think?”
I turned to face him in the mirror, once more resisting the urge to shoot a glance at Joe. Was this discussion about James upsetting him? For his sake, I was tempted to drop it, but I understood. There was too much on the line for us not to explore every possibility.
“I don’t know what to think. He’s not the man I knew a year ago. That man genuinely cared about the innocent people in this county. He was workin’ on a deal to bring in a small factory to provide jobs. The legal businesses he owned in this county made more than his illegal ventures, but he worried Carmichael would fill the vacuum left by his absence.” I took a breath. “That man wouldn’t be doin’ any of this. He’d be protectin’ his people, the ones he employs and the ones who don’t even know he exists. I don’t know him anymore,” I said, my sadness seeping in. “The man operatin’ now is capable of anything.”
This would be James’ downfall, and no matter what he’d become, it still broke my heart. Still…I had my own conscience to follow, which meant clearing my head and getting ready to meet a madman who had his own agenda. “When we get done with this meetin’, you need to contact the people who pledged allegiance to us last fall. We have to circle our own wagons and let Carmichael know that if he wants to join forces, he’ll be workin’ with us. Not the other way around.”
“We haven’t reached out in a couple of months,” Dermot said. “The others might have fallen in line with Carmichael.”
“Then we need to contact them and find out,” I said, shorter than I’d intended.
“Agreed.”
I could see the entrance to Carmichael’s property ahead, and I took in a deep breath and held it, trying to settle my nerves.
Joe turned back to look at me, my reflection visible in the lenses of his sunglasses. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Fine.” Except I wasn’t sure that was true. Facing Carmichael had always unnerved me, and now I had more on the line. Joe was with me.
“You up to killin’ a man today?” Dermot asked him. “Because that’s what this job entails. Bein’ ready to pull the trigger with no hesitation.”
“I’m fully aware of what this job entails,” Joe said without a hint of confrontation.
“You ready to take on a pile of shit, Lady?” Dermot asked, glancing in the mirror again. “Because you’ll have two strikes against you the moment you step out of the car.” He jerked his gaze to the digital display on the dashboard, which read 9:02.
I felt like I was going to throw up. “I can handle it,” I said, making sure my gun was easily accessible on my thigh. Dermot pulled over on the edge of the newly poured gravel drive and turned off the engine.
Carmichael walked out of his ramshackle house, several men streaming out behind him.
“Have your shotgun ready,” Dermot said, keeping his gaze on Carmichael and his men as he unfastened his seatbelt. “Pointed to the ground but with a round in the chamber.”
“Already done,” Joe said, his body stiff.
“Well, all righty then,” Dermot said, opening his car door. “It’s show time.”
Chapter 22
Dermot and Joe got out of the car simultaneously, with me a second behind. They walked to the front of the car and stopped, waiting for me to take my place in front of them. I forced my hands to hang naturally at my sides instead of balling them into sweaty fists.
Carmichael came to a stop a
bout ten feet away, his four men fanning out around him. All were armed, but none held their weapons on us, which I considered a win. They were the same men I’d seen in my visions of Joe, so at least that part had come true.
He did a double-take when he saw Joe. “I didn’t think you’d take my suggestion that you bring your boyfriend as a challenge.”
Here we go.
I lifted my chin. “I’m not here to catch up on our private lives, although from what I hear, you don’t have much of one. I guess that saves us some time, which means we can get right to business.”
“How’s that little one of yours?” Carmichael asked with a toothy grin. “Hope, isn’t it? Such a cute little thing. I’ve always been fascinated with babies. So fragile.”
I shot him a dark look and slowly shook my head as I swallowed my terror. I wasn’t playing this game. “Obviously you’re a slow learner, Mr. Carmichael, so you let me know when you’re ready to do business. But don’t call me until you’re actually ready.” I paused. “I’m a firm believer in three strikes, and you’re out, and this is your second strike. Gentlemen.” I turned around to walk back to the car.
Dermot and Joe were stone-faced, waiting for me to walk past them.
“Wait,” Carmichael called out. “Don’t be so touchy.”
I paused and turned at the waist to face him. “You have a lot to learn about manners and hospitality, Mr. Carmichael. I suggest you brush up on it before we meet again.”
“We’ll be doin’ our business now,” he growled.
His men lifted their guns, pointing them at me, and Dermot and Joe responded by aiming theirs at Carmichael a half second later.
My heart began to race.
Don’t back down, Rose. You can’t.
I turned around to face him. “Are you really a stupid man, Mr. Carmichael, or do you just put that out there so people will underestimate you?”
He clenched his fists at his sides as his face reddened. He took one step closer. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”
It All Falls Down: Rose Gardner Investigations #7 (Rose Gardner Investigatons) Page 19