“What the fuck is wrong with me? You’ve been ignoring me since you got pissed off because I wouldn’t let you get killed.” I raise my voice. I can’t stop it.
“Why didn’t you want me to meet your partner? You talked to him for fifteen minutes, while you acted like I wasn’t in the room.” I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. He groans, “Are you fucking him too, Lani?”
“No, I’m not fucking him. I have never fucked Jamie Johnson.” I say it emphatically. “Jesus Christ, Tony, I haven’t fucked everyone I work with.”
“Then why didn’t you introduce me?” He’s challenging me, and he’s pissing me off. I didn’t think I’d ever be this angry at him. His black eyes are as hot as coals.
I don’t even know how to answer him, but if I don’t answer he’ll think I was trying to disrespect him, or lie about him to Jamie. “You think Jamie doesn’t know about you? You were sitting on my couch, in just your shorts. You think everyone that I work with didn’t see that?” I take a breath, and another, to try to calm myself down. “I’ve never brought in guys to meet the other cops. I never have dinner at their houses with their wives. It’s hard as hell being the only female detective. They treat me differently, especially since my dad is their boss.” I look away, and notice that I only have thirty minutes to be at the Bureau, and it will take me every second of that to get there. “I’m sorry, Tony. I need to go. But it’s not you, it’s them, and I know it sounds stupid but it’s the truth.”
I take a step away, but he grabs my wrist. “Did they meet Burke?”
“After a while, yea. But only after we’d been together for more than a year, and we needed his help on a case.” I shrug. “I’m sorry. Hate me if you want, but I have to go.” He releases my hand and follows me into the other room. When my hand is on the door, I turn to find him right behind me. He is way too big to be able to move that quietly. “I am happy for you, Tony. Everything seems to be going your way, and everything in my life is going to shit.”
I open the door, and he catches me again. “I love you, Lani. We’ll talk more when you get home.” He reaches down and gently but firmly kisses my lips.
“I love you, too,” I say as I pull away, and glance at Riley. “I’m sorry about Agent Gold.”
“Yea, me, too.” He glances from me to Tony. “Me too.” I feel so much dread as I step into the elevator. I do not want to leave, but I know he can take care of himself.
Tony
My shoulder is killing me, and now my heart feels like it’s going to explode inside my chest. I watch her enter the elevator, and as the door closes she puts up her hand to wave at me. Why does it feel so final? I walk over to the phone, because I feel the need to call her. I don’t want the conversation to end there.
I see she’s left me a present. Right beside the phone is the tiniest little gun I’ve ever seen. I have to pop out the magazine to make sure it’s real. It’s just the cutest. It weighs about an ounce. I’m pretty sure if I shot someone with it they would laugh.
I grab the phone, and call her. “Detective Vaden,” she answers.
“Hello, Detective Vaden. Thank you for the present you left me. I feel so much safer now.” I actually giggle when I say it.
“Well, as you reminded me last night, you are trained. Apparently you do need protection, and more than the Bureau can provide you. If anything happened to you while I was gone…” She lets the thought trail off.
“Do you have yours? Because if anything happened to you while I wasn’t there, I’d never forgive myself.” I’m reminding her that I can take care of her. Apparently she needs to hear it.
“I love you, Tony. We’re stronger together.”
“I already knew that, baby. I love you, too,” I reply. Then I hear a beep, and the line goes dead.
Lani
“Who is in the hospital?” My dad is on the other line, so I have to abruptly end the call with Tony. At least I told him I love him.
“Hello, Lani, how are you sweetheart? I am still your father, and I am still worried about you, especially after your home was broken into last night.” By the time he’s finished, I feel sufficiently chastised.
“Sorry, Dad,” I say in a low, meek voice.
“How are you and Tony doing?”
“Did you pick up on the tension last night?” I wish I had been nicer to him last night, but cop Lani kinda took over. I’ll have to apologize to him again.
“I think he was crying, Lani. What did you do to the poor man to make him cry?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say.
“Melanie Grace, I do not like all the secrets. Tell me why Barrett suspended you, and tell me right now,” he demands harshly.
“I’m not a child, Dad. I’m not going to be intimidated by the use of my middle name.” I’m not as angry as I sound. I pause for several moments, and he is silent as well. “He is pissed off that I forged his signature. He’s suspended me until I give up my accomplice, and I won’t do that.”
“Jamie? Who else does he think is going to help you?” He chuckles when he says it.
“Dad, I was sleeping with Lieutenant Barrett.” It’s much easier to say it over the phone. Maybe he’ll forget about it when I see him again. “I’ve slept with most of my CO’s. I thought I could get away with anything while sleeping with my bosses. But I had to tell him it was over when I met Tony, and he didn’t take it very well.”
Dad is quiet again for several moments, and I wonder if he’s maybe had a heart attack or a stroke. “I already suspected. There were rumors, Lani, but I ignored them. You’re a good cop, and there are always affairs between cops. I’m glad you’ve finally settled down, and with a pretty good guy too.”
“Yea, me too,” I admit.
“I’ll talk to him,” he offers.
“Just give me a few more days to figure out the deal with the medical examiner, okay?”
“Okay, sweetheart.” He sounds very conciliatory now. It’s time to ask.
“Dad, who is in the hospital?”
“It’s De Soto. He’s the one who broke into your house.”
“Fuck, he was the one who made all the sexual jokes and innuendos.” I wonder if he planned to rape me before he killed me. I don’t say it out loud, though. I don’t want Dad thinking I’m paranoid. “Who was the other?”
“She’s a female. Her name is Hughes. She’s out of the hospital and in jail now. De Soto had a gash on his thigh from the window, so he had to be sewn up and looked at.”
I groan loudly when I hear that. “Hughes, really? And I fucking liked her.”
“Sorry, Lani. They were both arrested from the beginning of the investigation, and obviously they lost their jobs. I think they probably assume if you and Tony disappear their lives would go back to normal.”
“How were they free then?” I wonder aloud.
“Because they were released on their own recognizance, like most of the other guards who were arrested.”
That means there could be many others out there, just waiting for their chance to strike. I can only think of one thing. “Should we put another guard on Tony?” I’m finally at the FBI office. I grab my stuff and head toward the building. “I’ll talk to Killian about it.”
“Be careful, Lani. I do love you.” He sounds uber serious.
“I love you too, Daddy.” I end the call, and enter the building.
“I’ve already scheduled an appointment to question Hughes and De Soto. If you can keep your hands to yourself, you can come too.” This is how Killian greets me when I knock on his door. I guess I deserve it. “Want to go grab some breakfast?”
“Sure,” I reply with a shrug.
We stop at the diner by the jail. The waitresses welcome me back happily, because I’m probably the best tipper on the force, and most of them flirt with Killian shamelessly, which he eats up. Afterward, we drive to the jail to question Hughes.
I’m dreading this. I actually thought Hughes was one of the good guys. So, since I�
�m anxious, I begin to talk.
“We’re like, a mile and a half from the hotel. If you’d told me you’d wanted to eat, we could have met here. It would have saved me the hassle of driving all the way to Oakville.”
“Because I live to make your life easier, Lani,” he grumbles.
“Thank you again. Really, you’ve been so good to me and Tony.” We’re entering the precinct, and Killian has to explain to the guard at the metal detector why I should have a gun. And I said hello to him practically every day for nine years. It’s a little frustrating. I’m about to lay into a tirade, when I see Jamie heading toward the exit with Peters. He’s right, Barrett did partner him with a bozo.
“Hey, Sexy Sentinel!” Jamie exclaims when he sees me. I roll my eyes, as we perform our super-secret handshake. “What brings you and the Fed ex to your old stomping ground?”
“Have you been waiting for the chance to say that?” I can’t hold in my chuckle, but Killian doesn’t look as entertained I am. “You remember Special Agent Killian Burke, don’t you?”
The men shake hands, then Killian says, “Who’s taking the case of Lani’s break in? We’re here to co-ordinate and question Hughes, and after that De Soto.”
Jamie looks from Killian to me. “You’re fucking with me right now, aren’t you?” I shake my head. “Because we signed Hughes out to Federal custody, about half an hour ago.”
“Holy crap!” Killian exclaims. He immediately pulls his phone out of his pocket, and begins dialing.
“Set up an All Points Bulletin for Hughes, and let your guards at the hospital know what’s happening.” As I speak, I notice Barrett staring at me from the doorway of his office. “And you might want to tell your boss what’s going on, Peters.”
I watch as all hell breaks loose around me. Barrett begins to bark orders, Killian is about to have a meltdown beside me, and Jamie is on his phone, hopefully calling his guards at the hospital. I pull out my phone, and call the one man who I know can straighten all of this out.
When he answers, I say, “Dad, I think you need to come downstairs. Shit is about to hit the fan.”
“Hey, Lani, where do you think they got the idea to fake transfer papers,” Killian asks, after he closes the phone line.
“Burke, I’m not that smart, okay? I saw it in a movie. It wasn’t my original idea.” I frown at him as I say it. I can’t believe he’s going to try to blame this shit on me.
Chapter Twelve
Tony
I’m getting less and less surprised by visitors. At this point, the Secretary of the Navy could be knocking on my door, asking for advice. It isn’t him, though. “Hello, Chief Vaden,” I say as I step back and welcome him into my temporary home. “What brings you here? It can’t be good. Is it Lani?” I motion for him to take a seat, and I sit on the couch, where I’ve hidden Lani’s little gun.
“No, it isn’t Lani. She’s safe. I’m trying to convince her to go to an FBI safe house in Oakville, but she’s refusing.” He sits across from me, and I have to say, he looks very serious.
“Well, if you’re asking me to do something that Lani doesn’t agree with, I’d have to say my answer is no.” I never thought I’d be deferential to the little lady in my life, but Lani is the exception to everything ever. Period.
“Hughes, the female guard who was the get-away driver for De Soto, the guard who broke into Lani’s cottage, has escaped.” His gray eyebrows furrow, and he’s got the same tone in his voice that Lani gets sometimes. She is very much like her dad.
“And what does Lani think we should do?” God, I probably sound like a wuss, but I don’t care. Basically, what Lani says goes.
“Well, she’s raising a ruckus at the precinct, because we’re keeping her there, and she wants to see you.”
I try not to chuckle. “Chief, you’ve had a lot more experience with Lani than I have. But I’m under the impression that Lani does what she wants to do. There’s something else, too. Worthington called earlier, and said they’ve scheduled the Congressional hearing for Monday morning.”
“The day after tomorrow?” I nod my reply. “Does Lani know?”
“Not yet, but we both knew it was coming.” I frown as I say it. “I know she probably won’t be happy about it, but I have to go.”
“You’re right, on both counts. I think, for now, you’d both be safer at the precinct, until we can get you both to Oakville. How do you feel about joining Lani there?”
“That’s fine. Just let me get dressed,” I say, as I look down at my gym shorts.
“Fine, I’ll escort you there myself, when you’re ready,” he assures me, as he pulls out his phone. I can only assume to call his daughter.
I’m nervous as hell, and I never thought I’d be so happy to have new clothes in my life. I’m wearing the olive green cargo pants, with the tan button down shirt, and a brown belt. She has great taste in clothes, for men, anyway. I also have my wallet, for some reason. Maybe we can get me an ID while I’m here, since I have an address. It’s the hotel about a block away.
I rub my left wrist with my right hand, where I used to always keep a watch, then smooth the front of my shirt as I stride into the precinct with Chief Vaden, and the havoc that seemed to be going on before we entered becomes an eerie silence. Nearly every head turns when we walk into the big, open room. Then I see a blonde ponytail at one of the ten or twelve desks in the bullpen, and as I watch she turns toward me. She nods to her dad, before her eyes lock onto me.
I’m not sure if she could even control it, but her eyes move from me to her commanding officer’s door. I refuse to look at the man. Sure I’m curious, but right now I know he’s probably looking at me. My eyes are on Lani, and that’s where they’re going to stay. She purses her lips at her boss, then glances back at me.
“Hi,” I say, when I’m standing right beside her desk. The chair of the desk adjoining hers, the one with the nameplate that says Detective James Johnson, is empty. Her partner must be out trying to catch the bad guys.
“Did Dad brief you on the situation?” When I nod, she continues, “He wants to send us to Oakville. What do you think?”
“I think right now would be the perfect time for you and me to head to the Gulf of Mexico. We could spend a week soaking up the rays, sipping margaritas, and eating key lime pie.” I turn toward Riley, who goes everywhere with me. “You’re invited, too.”
Chief Vaden doesn’t seem to appreciate my humor. Thankfully, his daughter smiles when I say it. “I don’t soak up rays, I burn. But I wouldn’t mind some tequila shots in the sand, under a wide umbrella.”
“Would we have to invite Burke? Because, for some reason I don’t think he’s too happy with me right now.” He’s frowning and practically stomping toward us, but he’s carrying two cups of coffee, so he can’t be that angry.
“Chief, Roman,” he says, as he nods to us. He hands Lani one of the cups. “Would you please convince her that Winston probably isn’t the safest place for her right now?”
“I like Tony’s idea better. He thinks we should all take a road trip to the beach.” Lani says it brightly, and for a moment I think she’s mocking me.
Until Burke says, “I think that’s a great idea. Except, of course, I have a case to close. You two take Riley, and have a good time. I’ll just be up here, I don’t know, trying to shovel a path through this shit storm that I’m standing in.” He’s glaring at Chief Vaden.
“My father didn’t have anything to do with Hughes being signed out. The papers all looked in order, and the person impersonating an agent had a very real looking badge. Inmates get signed in and out of custody all the time.” Lani’s trying to use her best negotiator voice. I think she’s being pretty effective. “My dad…”
“Your father doesn’t need you to fight his battles, Detective Vaden. I can do that all on my own. We’ve got De Soto locked down at the hospital, he’s not going anywhere. And we’ll get Hughes too. She’s only got a few minutes head start on us.” Chief Vaden turns then
, and I watch as he walks toward a door that says Lieutenant Barrett.
It’s worse than I thought. The guy looks like a cross between a professional surfer, a movie star, and an underwear model. He runs his fingers through thick, sandy blonde hair as Chief Vaden talks to him. And then, he glances at me. I’m almost positive I could take him in a fight. He might be five years younger than me, but I have at least six inches, and about fifty pounds on him. I’m just cocky enough to nod at him. He looks away. Hah.
“So Riley, road trip? Can you drive a Sherman tank? Because it seems right now that’s the only way you’re going to keep us safe.” She’s looking up at me. I want to reach out and touch her cheek, but this is her workplace. Here, she’s not my girlfriend, my angel, my everything. Here, she’s Detective Vaden, and I have to respect that.
“Well, thank God we have a SEAL on our team. I say we arm Tony, and let him protect the rest of us,” Riley pipes up. Up until now, he’s been relatively silent. It feels good to finally get some respect. “Who’s hungry?”
“I could eat,” I admit. Lani frowns at me, but I just shrug. “I’m a nervous eater.”
Lani
You know that nightmare you have, when you’re standing in front of the class and you’re nude? This is worse than that, and it’s not a nightmare. In the same room, I have my last serious boyfriend, my current boyfriend, and my former lover. I feel like people are coming from other departments to watch the spectacle.
Connie comes in to bring some papers and sits them on her husband’s desk. I rarely see the two of them interact, except for planning lunch or dinner if they’re both working late. They don’t even work for the same department; Connie works for the county, and Jamie works for the city.
When I catch her staring at Tony, I frown at her. As if she feels the need to explain her presence, she says, “We’ve dispatched all the deputies to look for your escaped inmate.”
Prisoner and Together: All of You series complete set Page 27