In the Heart's Shadow

by T. L. Haddix

  His face white, Garrett mutely shook his head. He unlocked the door and went around to get in the driver’s seat without saying a word.

  Stacy braced herself against the vehicle. The brittle look was back on her face, and Gordon wanted to touch her and reassure her that she was safe. He started to reach out, but she shook her head.

  “Not now. I’ll break.”

  “Okay. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

  She nodded. “I know.” She opened the door and got in. Gordon climbed into the front seat with his brother.

  Garrett let out a breath. “I owe you an apology,” he told Stacy.

  “Because you changed your mind about me or because I was raped? Because if it’s the latter and not the former, save your breath.”

  “I was apologizing for judging you, not for the rape, though I am sorry it happened. But that’s not my sin to apologize for. Pax?” He held out his hand to shake.

  Stacy crossed her arms. “Pax, but I’m not shaking your hand. I already did that once today. I don’t like touching people unnecessarily.”

  “You didn’t mind picking Emma up,” Garrett remarked.

  “She’s adorable. She’s three. I like her.”

  When Garrett’s eyebrows crashed together in a scowl, Gordon snickered.

  “You think that’s funny, huh?”

  “Oh, yeah. It’s going to be fun to watch you try to dig yourself out of that hole you’re in.”

  With one last glance at Stacy, Garrett straightened up, starting the motor. “You have a weird sense of humor. Anyone ever tell you that, Galen?”

  “Once or twice. So talk to us. What’s the big deal about Pam Kirchner?”

  “I’ll do one better than tell you. I’ll show you.”

  CHAPTER 33

  STACY STARTED TO RELAX AS Garrett drove. When Gordon had laughed, she knew she’d handled his brother properly. She hoped Garrett would sincerely give her a chance to prove herself.

  “Charlie told us that you’d arrested Pam back in the winter for possession, but she was let go before her record came through.”

  Garrett glanced back at her. “Yeah. Routine traffic stop. She had some pot, some prescription pain meds without the bottle, some needles. We were in the middle of a flu outbreak at the detention center, and it was over the weekend. We had computer glitches. The perfect storm, really. Because of the outbreak, and since her alias didn’t have a record, she got released on her own recognizance. Friend of hers made bail, and she was gone.”

  “When did you figure out who she was?” Gordon asked.

  “That Monday. The system came back up, and so did her real name. That’s when I was called in.” He paused while turning onto the main road, waiting for traffic to clear. “I’m part of the drug task force that’s been investigating a ring for the last nine months. Drugs, prostitution, the usual. They’ve been operating in a floating house here in Clay County. We got turned onto them after a couple girls made it out and became CIs.”

  “Confidential informants? Given how small Clay County is, population wise, that’s got to be a high-level risk they’re taking,” Gordon said. “How’d you manage to pull that off?”

  “Not easily,” Garrett admitted. “I’m part of a survivor’s support group that meets in London twice a month, and that’s where one of the girls got to know me. They don’t live here in Clay anymore. They’re both in Corbin.”

  “That’s about an hour from here, if I recall correctly,” Gordon told Stacy over his shoulder. “Going down seventy-five toward Tennessee.”

  “Okay. So did your CI approach you about all of it?” Stacy asked Garrett.

  “Yeah. She told me enough that I brought it to my commander, and we went from there. She never would tell me who the ‘madam’ was, though. She was terrified of her. After we arrested Pam and started putting two and two together, I asked her flat out if Pam was the procuress. She is.”

  Stacy felt sick. “How old are the girls?”

  Garrett’s voice was soft. “Nineteen. They were sixteen when Pam brought them into the ring. They got out about a year ago.”

  “So she’s been here for a while, then.” Stacy rubbed the back of her neck, making a conscious effort to force the tense muscles to relax.

  “From what we’ve been able to discover, yes. Not just here, though—all over Eastern Kentucky. She moves around a lot. She’s part of a network, really, of human traffickers. They don’t stop moving for long, and that’s one way they stay under the radar.”

  “I saw some of that with the FBI,” Gordon said. “I’m sure Stacy’s seen it, as well.”

  “I have, though the drugs aren’t quite an epidemic in Leroy the way it is here. How many people are in this ring?”

  “At least six locally. Pam’s pretty high up on the food chain. We know who a couple of the other people are, but we don’t have the evidence we need to make the charges stick. We’re close, though.”

  He turned off the main highway onto a two-lane, twisting road that ran alongside a creek. “If you look over to your right, you’ll see a trailer park coming up here in a minute. One of the houses we have eyes on is in there. We’ve raided it a couple of times, but someone’s tipping them off. We only end up getting the strung-out junkies.”

  “So you have a traitor in your department, too?” The knowledge surprised Stacy and was disheartening. Before this whole debacle with Pam, she would have sworn the sheriff’s department in Olman County was solid. But she was starting to question whether she’d been deluding herself all these years.

  “We’re not sure where the leak is. You have to understand something, though. We’re in a tiny, closed-off community in an economically depressed region. Clay County doesn’t have a lot of natural resource industry. We don’t have a river. We don’t have a lot of coal mines like the counties further up in the highlands. So the people who have money here have a lot of influence. And not everyone who has money is good.” Garrett ran his hand over his hair in a move very much like Gordon’s habit. His distress was obvious, and her feelings toward him softened even more.

  “We have that, as well, in Olman County, but it isn’t as obvious. There are enough good people with influence that it balances out the bad,” she told him.

  “So it isn’t the perfect little Mayberry I’ve been told it is?” Garrett teased.

  Stacy smiled. “It’s not perfect, but it’s a good community. It’s home.”

  Gordon turned to her. “I keep telling Gar to pack up and move, but he’s reluctant. Maybe you can help me work on him.”

  “Maybe he’s happy here,” Stacy said. “Are you?”

  “I don’t know. I’m starting to wonder whether or not I want to raise Emma here. I’ve lived here my whole life, but it’s not the same place it was when I grew up. The region has changed, and not for the better. I don’t see it changing back in the next ten, twenty years.”

  Gordon laid his hand on Garrett’s shoulder. “Seriously, you should come to Leroy. Check the place out. You might be surprised.”

  “We’ll try to do that soon.”

  Gordon ruffled his hair. “I’ll hold you to that.”

  “So what’s been going on with Pam on your end?” Garrett batted away his brother’s hand. “Sounds like it’s been pretty rough.”

  “It hasn’t been fun,” Stacy agreed.

  They brought him up to speed on everything as they drove. By the time they got back on the main road, Garret was scowling. He pulled off the road at a large convenience store. “I’m going to grab something to drink. You two thirsty?”

  “Parched,” Gordon said. “Stacy?”

  “I could use some water.”

  Both men knew people inside. Garrett got away quickly, but Gordon ended up pinned at the counter by two old men in overalls. Garrett touched Stacy’s arm lightly and gestured toward the door. Leaving Gordon to pay for their drinks, they headed outside. He led her to the end of the building, to a picnic table.

  “I really am sorry fo
r the way I reacted earlier.” He sat opposite to her at the table. “It’s been a long, bad week, and I took that out on you. Galen’s right. I do know better than to judge someone based on who their parents are.”

  Stacy rolled her water bottle between her hands. “Given what little you had to go on, I guess I can understand why finding out your brother married me was a shock. I’ve not had to deal with people who know Pam for a long time now. I’d forgotten just how poisonous she can be.”

  “Yeah, that still doesn’t excuse the way I acted, though. I might not know you, but I do know Galen.”

  “Why don’t we go forward, stop looking back at earlier today? I think that’s the best thing we can do, for everyone’s sake.” She reached across the table.

  Garrett accepted it. “Thank you.” He looked around Stacy, eyebrows raised. Whistling low, he smirked. “Oh, this should be good.”

  Turning, Stacy saw that Gordon had had been waylaid again by a tall, stacked blonde outside the door. As she and Garrett watched, the woman moved closer to Gordon, placing her hand on his arm. Gordon backed away from her so quickly that he almost tripped. Garrett snorted.

  “Who is she?” Stacy was not quite as amused as he seemed to be. The woman was a little too pretty, and Stacy was a little too unsure of herself, even still.

  “Mandy Watson. She and Galen went to high school together, and from what I’ve heard, she chased him back then. Since we’ve built a relationship and he’s been coming down here more regularly, she’s been hoping to hook back up with him.”

  “Hook back up?” Stacy frowned at him.

  Garrett backpedaled quickly. “Did I say ‘back up’? I meant hook up with. He’s not been the least bit interested.”

  “Oh, I’m aware he wasn’t a virgin,” she muttered, watching Garrett’s face turn twelve shades of red. Hiding her amusement, she turned back to see Gordon, a harried look on his face, approaching with the woman.

  “Would you kindly tell this lady that we’re married?” Sitting down next to Stacy, he jerked his thumb toward the blonde. “She doesn’t believe me.”

  Stacy beamed at the woman, who had a smirk on her collagen-enhanced lips. “We are. Married yesterday, as a matter of fact. I’m Stacy, by the way. Stacy Gordon.”

  “Mandy. And you’re so cute for playing along, but I don’t believe it. He’s been playing hard-to-get for years now. If he’d been dating anyone, he would have told me.” She moved closer to Gordon, placing a possessive hand on his shoulder. “You’re going to have to give in graciously and come over for dinner. I’ll make it worth your while.”

  Gordon cursed, but Stacy’s focus was on the blonde’s plastic face. She didn’t even remember coming to her feet, but she was standing toe-to-toe with Mandy, or as close as she could, considering the woman’s substantial chest. Moving with deliberation, she picked up the woman’s hand and dropped it away from Gordon.

  “If you lay one more skanky finger on my husband, I will put you on the ground. I trust him implicitly, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stand by and let some flea-bitten, hard-ridden tramp maul him. Do you understand me?”

  Since the woman had a good five inches on Stacy, she understood why Mandy wouldn’t take the threat seriously. She put a hand on her hip and plopped the other down on Gordon’s shoulder.

  Without even thinking about it, Stacy had Mandy’s arm twisted up behind her back, pinned so that moving would be painful. The momentum caused Mandy to stumble, and Stacy helped her to her knees on the soft grass that surrounded the picnic area.

  “Have you pickled your brain with bleach, or have you always been this stupid? I told you, do not touch him.”

  Mandy cursed, and Stacy tightened her grip.

  “Okay, that stupid then.”

  Garrett hurried around the table as Gordon stood, sliding his arm around Stacy’s waist. “You’ve made your point. I think you can let her go now.” He wasn’t pulling Stacy back so much as anchoring her. “She’s not going to do it again. Are you, Mandy?”

  Humiliated, the blonde shook her head.

  Stacy’s temper was well and truly lit. “She can try.” Despite the words, she let the woman go.

  Mandy instantly regained her feet and staggered away, turning to face them. Her skin was splotchy, and when she spoke, spittle flew. “What the hell is wrong with you? I barely touched him.”

  “Yeah, and now I’m going to have to buy a gallon of bleach and try and disinfect him, you skanky—”

  Gordon covered her mouth. She could feel him shaking with laughter, but when she tried to break free, his arms tightened like steel bands. “Oh, no. Let it go. Garrett, a little help here?” he begged.

  Struggling to keep a straight face, he took Mandy’s elbow. “Come on. I’ll walk you back to your car.”

  She jerked away, glaring over her shoulder, but she let him keep his hold the second time he tried. He muttered in a low, soothing tone as they walked away.

  Gordon lifted Stacy and moved to the end of the picnic table, leaning back against it before he let her down to stand between his legs. He kept her tight against him, resting his head on her shoulder. “If I let you go, are you going to go after her?” His voice was soft.

  Stacy’s cheeks started to burn as she realized what she’d done. She shook her head, and he loosened his grip. “I can’t believe I did that. I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what came over me.”

  “I’d say the last few weeks are catching up with you, that’s all. She just happened to push all your buttons at the right time. I have to say, I’m quite flattered. You’re jealous.”

  She turned and leaned into him. “Of course, I’m jealous. You’re my husband. She was hitting on you in front of me. Skanky little twit.”

  Gordon leaned forward and kissed her hard. “I love you.”

  “I love you back.” Stacy smiled, then snorted. “Don’t you dare tell anyone about this. I can’t believe I did that.”

  Garrett rejoined them, shaking his head. Stacy tried to step back, but Gordon wouldn’t let her. Giving in, she relaxed into the embrace.

  “Well, that was fun. I think I talked her out of filing charges by convincing her that hormones had you in their grip. Congratulations, by the way. If anyone asks, you’re pregnant.”

  “What!?”

  At Stacy’s outraged squeak, Gordon laughed harder than she’d ever seen him laugh. When his amusement died down, he had to wipe his eyes.

  She covered her face with her hands. “I guess I owe you a thanks, huh?” She peeked through her fingers at Garrett.

  He shook his head. “Nope. I’d say we’re even. It was worth it, seeing him laugh like that.” He gestured at Gordon. “And as much as I hate to put a damper on the fun times we’re having, let’s get you two back to the sheriff’s department. We’ve still got quite a bit of ground to cover.”

  Back at the office, he showed them his files. “I got permission from my commander to share this information, so we’re good. Here’s where this whole mess gets bigger than just a local problem. According to my CIs, Pam has a setup in place where she gets the girls hooked on drugs, usually meth, and then she takes them to locations close to Fort Knox. One of her associates pimps them out on that end.”

  Stacy couldn’t speak. The thought was so appalling.

  Gordon voiced her question, though. “How many girls are we talking about here?”

  “Over the past five years, which is how long we’ve been able to tie things together? At least fifty. Those are only the girls she’s managed to get hooked that have passed her test for becoming prostitutes. She likes them young, vulnerable, and impressionable.”

  “How young?” Gordon’s jaw was tight, and Stacy could see a muscle ticking.

  “Sixteen, seventeen up. She’s smart enough that she takes advantage of Kentucky’s age of consent, which is sixteen.”

  “And when the girls are used up?” Stacy asked. “What then?”

  Garrett sat back and rubbed his eyes.
“Then they either wind up back here, or on the streets, or dead.”

  The knowledge that her mother was involved in something so nefarious was almost more than Stacy could take. She stood and asked Garrett where the restroom was.

  “Take a right, and at the end of the hall on your left.”

  No one else in the world could make her feel as useless and as worthless as her mother did. When she’d left home at seventeen and started making her own way in the world after facing such a horrible attack, she’d sworn she would never look back and never let Pam do that to her again. She was angry with herself that she was letting Pam get to her so much. She had wildly overreacted with Mandy, and she flushed as she thought about that.

  Stacy didn’t like the temperamental person she was turning into. She was going to have to get a grip on herself and do it fast. She couldn’t be an effective law enforcement officer with that mercurial personality, and she didn’t imagine it would make her a good wife, either.

  CHAPTER 34

  GORDON CURSED LONG AND LOW after she left, exchanging a look with Garrett. “I don’t know how much more she can take. When we find Pam and whoever’s helping her, I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold back.”

  “I didn’t help things today, either. Hearing this can’t be easy on her, and then having people react to her the way I did? I’m sorry, Galen.”

  “Just make it up going forward. She’s already started to forgive you.”

  Garrett turned his pen end over end, his eyes shuttered. “Mind if ask you something?”

  “As long as you don’t mind if I don’t answer if I don’t like the question. Ask away.”

  “Why did you rush into marrying her so quickly? I’m not judging. I simply want to understand. Is she pregnant?”

  Gordon shook his head and stretched his arms up and behind him. “No. It’s hard to put into words. You know a lot of what you learn in law enforcement is ‘trust your gut,’ right?”

  “Sure.”

  “Well, my gut told me we didn’t need to wait. And to be very honest, I didn’t want to wait. She makes me happy, and I want to do that for her. She’s never had that, Gar.”