by Ali Vali
“You don’t have to talk about it if it’s uncomfortable for you,” Dallas said.
“I’ve wasted too many years being silent about my soon-to-be ex-wife, so I don’t mind.” His smile was unconvincing. Clearly, this would only fester in his mind. “But now isn’t the time for me and my problems. Let’s go pick out some colors for these walls.”
They let Dallas walk with the painter to look at the swatches he’d painted on the walls. “I can’t tell you what to do, Ross, but you need to keep Cain in the loop.”
“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “Like I said, she doesn’t deserve to be bothered with something this trivial, but I don’t need any nasty surprises either.”
“Whatever comes, you aren’t alone in this. You know that.”
“When I came here, I thought I’d miss the life I had for so long. But Cain gave me something I didn’t imagine ever having.” Ross wasn’t a big man, but he seemed to have a big heart when it came to his family. Remi knew the Casey children adored him and her old friend had come to enjoy his company. Ross was nothing like Dalton Casey, but Remi knew his devotion to family was the same. “She gave me my daughter back and so much more.”
Because of that loyalty, Cain would take any threat to Ross seriously. “So you’ve got no idea what she wants?”
“She has a hang-up, but it isn’t something I can give her. I wouldn’t even if I could, so I’m letting my attorney handle it before I bother Cain or anyone else.”
“Do you mind if I talk to Muriel and your attorney about all this? Divorce isn’t my specialty, but I might be able to help out.”
“Sure. I can use all the help I can get. I simply want to put Carol in my rearview mirror permanently.”
“I’m positive that’s a wish we can handle,” she said, and hoped he meant it. Cain’s idea of permanent at times was vastly different from other people’s.
*
“Wonderful as always, Keegan,” Cain said when the owner and chef of Blanchard’s stopped by their table and joined them for dessert, since Ross had left to meet Remi and Dallas. They’d come back at Emma’s request since this would probably be their last outing until the baby arrived, so they’d gotten in one more bread pudding. “And the next time you plan to filet Sept with that sharp wit of yours, call me. That’d be worth driving over to see. I can vouch for her, though, so don’t come down too hard.” She pointed to Sept. “If you kill her, I’d miss her too much and wouldn’t have anyone to deal with my parking tickets.”
“The thought has crossed my mind since she thinks I’m a homicidal killer already, but I’ll try to control myself,” Keegan said, making them all laugh. “Let me know when the new arrival finally gets here, and dinner is on me.” Keegan stood and hesitated. “Care to give me an update on what’s happening with the case, Detective?”
Sept nodded, and Cain swore she saw the beginning of a spark.
“Enjoy your afternoon,” Keegan said, kissing Emma’s cheek before she left.
Cain smiled until she noticed Lou’s expression. The only time he made that face was when a possible threat was nearby. She glanced around the room. The only possibility she could see was the guy toward the middle of the room, eating alone. His suit was a tad too tight, and his shoes were old-school cop. One cop sitting alone shouldn’t have bothered her, but Lou nodded when she glanced back at him. Whoever this was, he wanted to be noticed.
“You guys ready?” she asked, prompting Hannah to jump out of her seat. “Let’s take Mama home for a family movie.” Cain motioned Lou over as she helped Emma to her feet. “Call Ross and make sure he’s with Remi. Then send someone over for him.”
“Will do, Boss. You ready to move?”
“Yeah. It’s starting to get stuffy in here.” She placed her hand on the small of Emma’s back and started to leave, but the guy Lou had been watching got up and headed straight toward them. “Lou,” Cain said in a low voice, and the big man stepped close to Emma.
“This looks like a cozy family outing,” the man said as he hooked his thumbs in his belt, obviously to draw attention to his gold shield. “You gonna use some of that funny Casey humor on me?”
“I’m not the comedian you are, Detective Newsome,” she said, trusting her best guess. His smile disappeared. “Shouldn’t you be out intimidating small children and old people?”
“You’re wrong about being a funny person.” He rocked on his heels as if he were just getting started. “My plans are—”
She moved past, careful not to touch him. The only time she’d talk to this guy was when she had all the facts, and Blanchard’s dining room wasn’t the time to start getting them. “Take us home, Lou.”
“Who was that?” Emma asked after they were in the car. She stared at Newsome standing outside, giggling like some excited schoolgirl.
“That was Detective Elton Newsome introducing himself as a part of the menagerie we’ve got following us around. I’m pretty sure we were supposed to cower in fear.”
“Is he kidding?” Emma spoke freely since the kids were in the car behind them. “What’s his game, you think?”
“I suppose it’s not much different than the guys in the plumbing truck.” She pointed to the large panel van following them. “Believe me, lass, if I could get rid of them forever without losing who I am, I would.”
“Those guys don’t bother me all that much. It’s the lone wolves like this guy that make me lose sleep. They want what they assume is justice, but they’re willing to burn the rule book to get it.”
She nodded and kissed the top of Emma’s head. “I love you, but I’m sure those plumbers are saying the same about me. Rules for some things weren’t my strong suit.”
“You follow the rules when it’s important, my love. That should count for something.”
“It counts with you, and that’s all that matters to me.” She let out a long hmm but couldn’t dismiss the question on her mind. What had woken this guy up now? “So Newsome came to the house and Muriel threw him out, and he’s been pissed about it ever since? Does that seem like the thinking of a crazy person?”
“That’s what we know.” Emma frowned. “I was at the hospital with you, so I never met him. Because I was, I can’t give you any insight into his mental health.”
“It’s hard to believe he’s built a grudge that went off now.”
Emma glanced up, eyebrows raised. “Whether that’s true or not, does it change the way we deal with this guy?”
“History is a great teacher because it gives us a map of places to avoid. Newsome doesn’t strike me as a diabolical revenge planner because he got escorted out. This has to be something else.”
The gates of their home closed behind them, and she helped Emma out of the car, shaking her head slightly when she saw Remi, Dallas, and Ross together. Apparently something had happened, but that they’d waited made it clear it wasn’t an emergency.
“Hey,” Emma said, opening her arms to Dallas. “How’d you like the painter?”
“Great, like you said. Come on. You look tired,” Dallas said, but Cain didn’t move away.
“How about I get you upstairs, and you two can talk swatches,” she said, putting her arm around Emma’s waist.
“I think you’re being a bit condescending, mobster. You have until we get to the bedroom to tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m sure our pal here will fill us in, since I don’t have a clue. The last couple of hours must’ve been interesting, though, since everything was fine at lunch.”
“It’s nothing major,” Dallas said, moving ahead of them. The children had gone up already to change for a relaxing day at home. “Your dad didn’t want to worry you, but Remi convinced him otherwise, so you might want to talk to him.”
“Didn’t want to worry me about what?” Emma asked.
Dallas mouthed “I’m sorry” when Cain stared at her.
“Your mom’s giving him a hard time, so I’m sure it’s nothing much, since it sounds like she’s always giving him
a hard time.”
“I’ll talk to him again, lass.”
“Dallas, would you mind looking in on Hannah for me?” Emma gave her friend an excuse to escape, then turned to her. “I know you don’t like me to stress about anything,” she said as she and Cain kept walking toward their bedroom, “but—”
“Your mother is an old story, lovely girl, so you’re right. I’m not going to bother you with that.” She let Emma go so she could fold the bed cover down and fluff up the pillows. “I loved my parents and now love my children even more. So I’ve never understood your mother. She had only one child to lavish her attention and affections on, and she wasted the opportunity. If she’s looking for forgiveness for those sins, I hope for her sake that God has more stomach for it because she’ll never find it with me.”
“Thank you, my love, and thank you for helping my father through this. We’re both lucky to have you.” Emma sighed and sat, but she didn’t let go of Cain. “I want Daddy to be happy, so hopefully these delays won’t last much longer.”
“If he hasn’t told you, I sweetened the settlement pot for him in case she was wanting more money.” She helped Emma swing her legs onto the bed as the door opened, and Dallas walked in. “She still hasn’t budged, but she won’t exactly say what it’ll take to get this finished either. It’s our bad luck that she’s been able to hold it up with motions from her end. We’ve got plenty of friends here but a limited number in Wisconsin, so now we have to be patient.”
“You have a limited talent for that,” Emma said, making her laugh.
“I can do a fair impression of a bull in a china shop, but I’ll never forget one thing.”
Emma kissed her cheek when she leaned over her. “What?”
“Carol isn’t a good parent, but I’ll never forget she’s your mother.” She gazed at Emma for a long moment. “For that, for you, and for Ross, I’ll be as patient as I need to be.”
Chapter Ten
“Who sanctioned you?” Fiona stared at Elton Newsome with all the suspicion that was making her stomach feel like she was on a fast, jerky roller coaster. Everything he’d said was something she wanted—badly, but her pursuit of Cain Casey had left deep cuts that hadn’t exactly healed. One more misstep and she’d be lucky to be walking a beat on the graveyard shift.
“All you need to know is I’m heading up the investigation, and I’m giving you an in.” He rolled his glass of beer between his hands like it was an uncontrollable nervous habit. The bar he’d picked was more dive than anything else and close to City Park. “I read what happened to you, and you got a bad rap. Agent Chapman was on the right track, but he didn’t have the balls to finish.”
“And you do?” She waved off the waitress again, not at all interested in drinking with this guy.
“Watch your tone. I’ve got something Chapman didn’t.”
“I’m not a fan of dramatic guessing games.” This was a waste of time so she stood up fast enough that Elton spilled a little of his drink. “Good luck.”
“Wait.” He threw a ten on the table and pointed to the door. “Give me five more minutes, and if you want, then you can go.”
The walk to his car was short, and Fiona didn’t recognize the woman in the passenger side, so she stopped. “You might have seniority, but you’re starting to get on my nerves. Who’s that, your mother?”
“Even better. She’s Emma Casey’s mother. Why not hear the lady out and then make your decision.”
She got in the backseat and listened to what Carol Verde had to say and what she wanted. If this guy expected to get any kind of leverage on Cain with this hard, bitter woman, he was dreaming.
“Mrs. Verde, I wish you luck,” she said, opening the door. “You’re going to need it.”
“What the fuck, O’Brannigan?” Elton screamed from the window when she got out.
She whirled on him. “No. What the fuck are you up to? You think Carol Verde testifying before a grand jury that Cain Casey is the evil spawn that ruined her daughter’s soul is going to get you somewhere? Get your head out of your ass and review the case the late Barney Kyle cobbled together. He tried that shit, and not only did it not work, but he ended up spraying a transport van with his brains.”
“Who the hell do you think did that?” Elton yelled.
She cursed herself silently for accepting this asshole’s call.
“If you’re thinking it was Casey, no one was ever able to prove it. And believe me, I read the entire file, so it wasn’t for lack of trying. A case could’ve easily been made against the Bracato family since that’s who Kyle was working for, but there was not one scintilla of proof.”
“It was Casey, and you know it. No one ever proved it because every cop on the force here is like Sept Savoie—in love with that bitch.”
“I know you don’t think I can help, but I’ll do anything to bring this monster to justice,” Carol said, walking up on them and shutting Elton up. “My daughter’s lost to me, but my granddaughter Hannah deserves better.”
“Did Detective Newsome tell you Emma and Cain are expecting again?” She studied Carol’s reaction the same as she did any suspect’s. “And there’s also your grandson. You didn’t mention him.”
“Unlike most, I know when and what battles to fight, Detective. You should learn that early and you won’t be disappointed often.”
Fiona turned and walked away and got into her own car before she got sucked any deeper into this black career-ending hole. Elton’s screaming was easy to ignore, but Carol Verde’s penetrating gaze made her pause before she started her car. Elton did have seniority over her, so she had to play this carefully.
“Fuck,” she said as she pulled away. She could think of only one person to call about this. She found the contact in her phone. “Hey. Got a minute?”
*
The sounds of the city were faint outside the thick walls, but it was hard to completely shut out Bogota’s presence no matter how much insulation your money bought you. Hector Delarosa didn’t want to erase the city completely, even if he could. That background noise reminded him of all that time he’d spent as a boy with an empty stomach but a head full of dreams of what could be.
He’d killed more people than he could have ever come close to fathoming back then, but he’d climbed over all those bodies to the top of the cartel. He would live with those sins since he wasn’t about to give up any hard-earned ground now, but that didn’t come without consequences.
One or more of the fuckers he’d killed was probably coming back to haunt him now. But whoever had dared to steal from him must realize how he’d earned his reputation. If he had to kill half of Bogota to keep what he had, he’d do it with as little remorse as before. Only this time, he wouldn’t stop at just the people who’d been stupid enough to try this. No. This time he’d kill everyone in their family as insurance against any future revenge.
“You can blame me if you want, Don Hector,” Ernesto Igles, his Bogota captain, said. “I’ve had everyone working the streets and nothing. The rumor is that it’s someone from outside Colombia.”
“Who told you that?” He stretched his hand out and looked at it, thinking about how his mother was fond of saying Hector had inherited his father’s hands and quick temper. But he wasn’t like his father, who had drunk himself blind and died in an alley with a knife in his gut. He was always so wasted he probably didn’t even feel it.
“That’s the excuse the man I put over the fields to the north used when he called to say someone had torched three-fourths of the plants.”
Ernesto had been with him the longest, and Hector had never questioned his loyalty—not once. But he wanted to lash out at someone.
“The orders we have are going to make it a tight squeeze, but the inventory we’ve already sent should carry us until we’re able to harvest again,” Ernesto said, unaware of the entire situation. “I doubled the guard around the other six fields.”
“The inventory in the US is gone,” Hector said, closing his
eyes in an attempt to calm himself. It’d been an eternity since he’d felt like a trapped rat. Someone was trying to squeeze him out by making every buyer a potential enemy. No one took kindly to handing over money for nothing. “You can’t stretch that much to make us whole.”
“Who can be that stupid?” Ernesto said as he smashed the palm of his hand with his fist.
Hector smiled, thinking of his old friend and growing up with him as they were both earning their street creds. Ernesto wasn’t a big man, but he always jumped into any fight no matter the size of his opponent. Eventually everyone had steered clear after he’d developed a reputation for the type of ruthlessness that came from a bit of insanity.
“I’ll fucking cut his balls off,” Ernesto said, and Hector believed him.
“Once I find who did this, that’ll be merciful, considering what I intend to do to them. Whoever it is must have the kind of resources that can stretch from here to the US. That should narrow the field for you and the others.”
“You have my word, amigo, that I’ll find them. Once I do, they’ll curse that their parents even met when I’m done with them.”
“Once you do that, call me and let me know before you move in. This had to be the action of more than one person, so I want to make sure we find them all before we go killing anyone. Go tell the others I’m not going to put up with not knowing for long.”
He embraced Ernesto before he left to trawl the streets again for information, and he hoped on his father’s grave it wasn’t someone like Ernesto making this move. Not that he’d hesitate to kill him, but he didn’t have many friends left from those old days of eating out of the trash to live another day—always with the hope things would get better. People like Ernesto not only were loyal but understood where they’d come from and what it’d taken to get here.
“It’s time to show yourself, hijo de puta,” he said. He needed to get out of there, so he called his guard. “Tomas, bring the Jeep around. I want to see the field that got torched.” Maybe the best way to find answers was at the very beginning. The fields were the life blood of all he had, so he wanted them replanted and producing again as soon as possible. “Just bring a few. No need to give whoever these fuckers are a chance to take a free shot.”