by Carsen Taite
She leaned over to lift the box, but Syd’s hand on her back stopped. “Yes?”
“I wish things had worked out differently. Between us.”
Tanner wanted to say something about choices and consequences, but she’d said enough of that. They both had hashed through the end of their relationship with shouts and tears, and she didn’t have the energy for either. Not anymore. So all she said was, “Me too,” before she picked up the box and walked out the door and away from the life Syd had chosen for them.
“Okay, now you’ve told me what you did at Gellar’s house, but I still don’t know what he said to you when he dragged you off to his office.”
Tanner shook off the haze of the past and focused on now. “I wasn’t sure what to make of it at the time. I’m still not, and it’s probably nothing.”
“Quit stalling and spit it out.”
“Gellar is a little suspicious of why you’re here. It didn’t sound like he had anything to base it on, but he asked me to keep an eye on you and report back if you did anything strange.”
“And you didn’t think that you should tell me that right away?”
“He’s suspicious of everyone, and I figured you’re already on notice not to alert him in any way. But Dale and Mary thought I should tell you.”
“When are you going to stop keeping things from me?”
“Syd, it’s nothing. He’s as paranoid as Nixon. Pretty sure Peyton’s already filled you in on that. Nothing new here.”
“That’s not for you to decide,” Syd said, her voice rising. “It’s so like you to think you’re the only one who needs to know what’s going on. When are you going to realize you don’t get to go through life alone? You have to learn to share information with other people, especially when it affects them?”
Tanner drew back and studied Syd’s pained expression, certain they were no longer talking about Gellar. Syd was right. She’d always kept her thoughts close, but she’d always thought she was justified. She pulled Syd close. “Hey, I’m sorry. You’re right. I should’ve said something sooner. I didn’t want you to worry and I didn’t want you to change your behavior because you thought he was watching you extra close because, trust me, he would’ve noticed that for sure.”
Syd relaxed against her side. “That’s it?”
“I promise.”
“Okay, but don’t do that anymore.” Syd looked up into her eyes. “From here on out, the information highway goes in both directions. Got it?”
Tanner nodded. “Got it.” She mentally combed through the other details about the case to see if there was anything else she was holding back. “There’s one more thing, but it’s not something I’ve been holding back. I just found out this afternoon.”
“Spill.”
“I found out the name of the agent who prepared the reports Gellar plans to use for the grand jury. Dale and Mary and I interviewed her at the division office this afternoon.” She told Syd about how Gellar had approached Agent Kelly on his own and enlisted her aid in looking into the task force work behind their backs.
“I don’t get it. How was she able to get access to information the rest of the task force didn’t have?”
“She didn’t. Gellar gave her a list of witnesses, but they’re all made up. We spent this afternoon trying to track down the people on the list, but they don’t appear to exist.”
“What does that mean? Did he pay these people to say what he wanted to make a case against Cyrus Gantry?”
“Paid or threatened, your guess is as good as mine. All I know for sure is that I don’t trust a word in those reports, but I still don’t get what he has to gain by toppling Gantry. If we could figure that out, then I think we’d have the key to solving this case.”
“Something Jade said really stuck with me today,” Syd said. “She has no lingering love for her uncles, but she’s adamant that they weren’t behind Lindsey’s kidnapping.”
“Well, the kidnappers were Barrio Azteca, sworn enemies of the Vargases, but they were asking for Arturo Vargas’s release in exchange for Lindsey. It’s possible they were former Barrio Azteca and had switched over to the Mexican Mafia.”
“Or,” Syd said, “maybe they were trying to make it look like the Vargases were behind the kidnapping. Maybe it was a setup, like the bodies in Gantry’s company truck.”
“That still doesn’t explain Gellar’s angle.”
“No, but it narrows the focus.” Syd shot up straight in her seat. “We need to examine every case that’s been prosecuted involving a Barrio Azteca member in the last two years.”
“You think Gellar’s in bed with the BA?”
“I have no idea, but do you have any better ideas?”
“I guess it’s possible.”
“And you said this Agent Kelly is willing to help us out?”
Tanner grinned. “Willing might be a strong word. I might have suggested to her that an attorney from Main Justice would have her ass if she kept doing Gellar’s bidding.”
“Way to use your resources,” Sydney replied. “Hey, I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t you tell her to keep doing Gellar’s bidding, but report back to us on everything he tells her. No sense cutting off the source before we drain it.”
“You’re so smart. That’s what I always liked about you.” Tanner’s mind drifted back to law school. She’d been plenty smart in her own right, but it was Sydney’s constant pushing that had landed her at the top of the class. Ironic since her grades were one of the things that sealed her position at the FBI. It struck her that she’d never told Syd how much she appreciated her for the motivation she’d provided, and she blurted out, “I’m a better person for having known you. You know that, right?”
Syd looked stunned and Tanner wondered if the compliment was a little too double-edged and a little too late to be of any meaning. “I’m sorry. That was pretty insensitive.”
Syd leaned into her and slid her arm down her thigh. “I get it. I do. You know, when I was at the firm and all that shit was going down around me, I looked around at everyone else and they were all acting like nothing was wrong. I get that they had families to support and loans to repay, and so did I, but all I could think was what would Tanner do?”
Tanner’s heart ached as she pictured Syd, finally in her dream job, on the road to her perfect future with her present crashing in around her. “You did the right thing because you’re a good person, Syd. You’ve always been a good person.”
“Not as good as you. Never as good as you.”
Tanner hugged her close. “It’s not a contest, babe.” The endearment slid off her lips and she didn’t even try to stop it. She looked down at Syd in her arms, close and comfortable, a perfect fit. If she could will away the years between them, would she? Would Syd?
“I should go.”
The three words tugged at Tanner’s heart and filled her with sadness, but she had the answer to her question. No matter what feelings Syd’s reappearance had stirred up for her, Syd wasn’t interested in revisiting what they’d once shared. And that was for the best. In a few weeks, maybe even days, Syd would be on a plane, back to DC and the life she made there, a life where Tanner didn’t exist except as a distant memory. Syd had managed to separate the past from the present, and she’d do well to do the same.
Chapter Thirteen
Syd stared at her phone wishing it was anyone but Herschel Gellar calling. She’d spent the morning at the office, enjoying the fact he’d been out on appointments, leaving her free to comb through the files in peace. Tanner’s warning about his suspicions echoed, and she braced for whatever crazy new idea he might have on his mind. “Braswell.”
“Sydney, it’s Herschel. Herschel Gellar.”
She rolled her eyes at his whisper. Like I know a ton of guys named Herschel. “Good afternoon, Mr. Gellar,” she said, refusing to adhere to his insistence that she call him by his first name. “What can I do for you?”
“I’d like you to come by the house so we can ca
tch up in a more casual atmosphere. How about four o’clock?”
It was three now, which didn’t give her much time to stall her answer. She would’ve preferred more time so she could reach out to Tanner or Peyton for advice. His invitation seemed innocuous on the surface, but set in the context of everything Tanner had told her last night, it was likely replete with pitfalls. She could beg off—there were plenty of potential excuses she could offer—but she wanted to go. Whatever Gellar was up to, he was smart enough not to be conducting it from the office, making it likely his house was home base for operation trouble. She might not have a chance to look around, but if she was in the house again, without all the partygoers and associated paraphernalia, she might get a vibe.
When she was in the car on the way, she picked up her phone and started to call Tanner, but changed her mind. Last night, at Tanner’s, she’d slipped into a zone of comfort. They’d sat close, touched often, and Tanner had called her babe like no years had passed between them. She could close her eyes and pretend they were back in school, still in love where their only worries were passing the bar exam and choosing which big firm would get to hire them. It had taken all the resistance she had not to curl up into Tanner’s arms and time travel back to when things had been right between them.
But time travel was a fantasy, and so were any thoughts that she could ever unwind the effects of time and distance. And so she’d left before she could act on her impulses, but she’d spent the rest of the night alone in her hotel room trying to convince herself that she’d done the right thing.
Today was a new day and she’d regained her focus. She’d find out what Gellar wanted, make some notes, and later she had plans to have dinner at the ranch with Peyton and Lily. No talking to or seeing Tanner today. Distance would help her stay on track.
All the holiday trimmings were still up at Gellar’s house, but it was too early for the lights, and without the valet and constant stream of partygoers, the house no longer seemed festive. She rang the bell and heard the sharp sound of heels on the marble entry clicking toward her. When the door opened, she was surprised to see Amanda Gellar on the other side.
“Sydney, how nice of you to drop by.”
Syd started at the mischaracterization of her visit. This wasn’t a social call; she’d been summoned, but there was really no point in saying so. “Is Mr. Gellar in?”
“He is, but he’s on the phone. May I get you something to drink? Coffee, water, martini?”
Syd remembered the stiff drink she’d downed at the party while Virginia hung on Tanner’s arm, and a sour taste formed in her mouth. “Water would be great.”
“Perfect. Follow me. We can chat while Herschel finishes up.”
Amanda didn’t wait for an answer and headed toward the kitchen. Syd followed, running through a mental checklist of what she knew about the woman. Amanda Gellar, formerly Amanda Kingston, came from money. Her parents had made it big in the trucking industry and she had a trust fund that would last three luxurious lifetimes, especially since she’d chosen to live beneath her means since her husband was in a very public position and it just wouldn’t do to show off their wealth. Rumor had it Herschel had signed a strict prenup. Amanda didn’t have a job outside the home other than serving on the boards of several high-profile charities, none of which apparently required her attention at this particular moment. Syd hadn’t had a lot of time to interact with Amanda at the party, and she wondered what Herschel had told his wife about her.
“You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you. It’s sufficient for our needs.” Amanda pulled a couple of crystal glasses from the cabinet. “You live in DC, right?”
“Nearby in Alexandria. It’s a short commute.”
Amanda poured them each a glass of water from a chilled pitcher in the fridge. “How are you enjoying Dallas?”
“I can’t complain about the weather. Right about now I’d be digging out boots and long coats. I don’t think I’ve even worn a sweater the whole time I’ve been here.”
“Enjoy it, it could change at any moment, but you’re probably safe from snowstorms and the like, at least until after the first of the year.” Amanda looked down the rim of her glass. “Do you think you’ll be here that long?”
Syd raised her shoulders in a who knows gesture, but the question hadn’t felt casual. Before they could get into more depth, Herschel appeared in the kitchen.
“Ah, Sydney, thanks for coming by.” He looked pointedly at Amanda, who nodded slightly. “Let’s go into my office and talk.”
Sydney followed him with some trepidation in light of what Tanner had told her about his suspicions. He’s suspicious of everyone, it’s not just me, she repeated to herself as she followed him to his office.
The office was the same as she remembered it from her brief inspection the night of the party. Gellar invited her to have a seat in one of the padded chairs across from his desk, and he walked over to a small bar in the corner of the room. “Something to chase that water down?”
Syd looked down at the still full glass of water in her hand that she’d taken from Amanda out of sheer politeness and decided to do the same again here. “I’ll have whatever you’re having.” She watched as Gellar poured two whiskeys, neat, and tried not to grimace. “This is a beautiful office. I meant to tell you that the night of the party.” She pointed at the long row of bookshelves on the far side of the room housing what looked to be a large volume of antique books. “I particularly admire your collection.”
Gellar’s well-stroked ego surfaced and he wore a big grin. “I’ve been collecting for years. First edition books dissecting the War of Northern Aggression.” He whispered the moniker for the Civil War in an ironic nod to his own political incorrectness. He pulled a volume from the shelf and handed it to her. Syd feigned interest with a few murmured oohs and aahs before handing it back to him. “They’re in such good condition,” was the only praise she could manage.
“Thank you.”
Syd watched as he lovingly replaced the book in its designated space. Hoping she’d done enough socializing, she got to the point. “Would you like an update on my work so far?”
“I imagine you’re just barely getting started. The task force has been working for a while, and they’ve compiled a ton of material even if they’ve utterly failed at cutting off the Zetas’ operation in North Texas. Arturo Vargas may be in prison, but his brother Sergio is free, and there’s no sign that they are any closer to catching him.”
“The Vargases are known for their ability to hide out, which makes the fact that you were able to capture Arturo a pretty big deal.” Syd watched him puff up at her assessment, pleased to see that tagging him with Arturo’s capture bought her some brownie points. “And the fact you managed to shut down Cyrus Gantry and their money laundering avenue means it’s only a matter of time before their business fades out.”
“Unless they find another way.”
“They already approached their niece, Jade Vargas, and she rebuffed them. I take the fact they were willing to ask her as a sign of desperation.” She raised her glass. “Desperate people make mistakes.”
He met her air toast and drank from his glass, signaling her to join him. She took a small sip and managed not to grimace at the strong burn of bourbon coursing down her throat. The heat gave her the courage to ask, “Why did you want to see me? And why not at the office?”
Herschel set his glass down and steepled his hands on the desk. “Did Agent Cohen tell you what I said to her the other night? About being suspicious about whether there was some other reason you’d been assigned to this office, this case?”
Uh-oh. He knew something, but exactly what was a complete mystery. Syd knew she was walking a minefield. Either that or he was playing an elaborate mind game designed to pit her against the task force members, or at least Tanner. Her brain churned through a list of possible responses to his question, rejecting each one in turn for taking too much risk. The best way to win at poker
was to bluff hard. “Tanner and I have spoken quite a bit since I was assigned here, but she hasn’t mentioned any suspicions about case assignments. I confess most of our conversation has to do with memories from law school. We were both enrolled at Jefferson at the same time but haven’t seen each other since, and we’ve been catching up.”
Gellar nodded slightly. His hooded eyes kept her from detecting if he believed her. She watched him take another drink from his glass, set it on the desk, and lightly drum his fingers on the surface, clearly expecting her to say more. She clasped her hands in her lap and waited him out. She didn’t have to wait long.
“I like Agent Cohen,” he said. “She seems to be trustworthy, but I’ve learned it’s wise not to place too much trust in any one person.”
Syd cast about for some innocuous but responsive reply. “I don’t know her very well, but I agree with your assessment.” Two lies in one, but she didn’t have much of a choice. Besides, it was true that she didn’t know Tanner very well. Not anymore. The little glimpses here and there of the Tanner she used to know were only a piece of the bigger picture, and the person Tanner was now was a stranger to Syd. What she needed to do was point the conversation in the direction of some other topic and make Herschel forget Tanner and any suspicions he might have about either one of them. “Was there something else you wanted to talk to me about?”
“What’s your plan? Long term, I mean. I will be presenting my case against the Vargases and Cyrus Gantry to the grand jury before their term expires at the end of the month. I’ve put it off long enough, but once we go forward, I need to know that you’ve reviewed everything and made sure that any issues have been resolved.”
Syd took a drink and considered her options. This was the perfect time to point out that although he wanted her to clear his case to go forward, he wasn’t sharing all the information he had. She could drop Agent Kelly’s name and see how he reacted, but doing so would likely mess up whatever clandestine plan Tanner and the rest of the group were hatching. She settled instead on a vague reply. “Your team has been working on this for a couple of years, so it’s a lot to review, but I should be finished by next week. I can have a summary for you then that should be a good outline for your grand jury presentation.”