In reality, sin was to blame. And Christ had paid the price for sin. She was no better than Luis. No, she didn’t deal drugs, but in her heart, she was filled with hate and unforgiveness for the crimes against her family and friends. She leaned against the side of the building and took several deep breaths. Lord, I’m so sorry. I forgive Luis and all the others. Please forgive me and help me to remember to give You control, and that it’s best when I let You do Your job and I do mine.
“Hey,” Jeff approached. “How are you doing?”
She leaned her forehead into his chest. “I’m sorry.”
Jeff wrapped his arms around her. “Me too. I shouldn’t have been so hard on you.”
She leaned away and looked into his eyes. “No. You were right. I didn’t realize it going into this, and it wasn’t my intent, but I would’ve had no problem killing him. The man is evil and deserves to die. But that’s not my call.”
Kara only saw compassion in his eyes, no judgment or scorn. She reached down inside her shirt and pulled out the wire. “I’m so glad to be rid of that thing.”
Jeff dropped the wire into an evidence bag and sealed it up. “Me too.”
“Guess what?” Kara asked.
“Hmm?”
She stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arm around his neck, and almost laughed when his eyes widened. “I love you.”
He grinned. “I like hearing you say that.” He kissed her gently. “I love you too. I wish I didn’t have to leave right this minute, but I need to go say good-bye to my family,” Jeff said.
Kara saw sadness in his eyes. Eric, Veronica, and Lauren were all being placed into the witness protection program according to the deal Eric had made with the district attorney. Even though the major players were in custody, there’d be nothing stopping the cartel from hiring someone to kill Jeff’s family before the trial to keep him from testifying. Eric would serve no time for his part in the drug smuggling operation in exchange for his testimony. “You want me to come?”
“No. I need to do this alone, but thanks for the offer.”
“Of course. I’m here if you need someone to talk to.” Kara watched him walk away. The slump of his shoulders spoke a story of its own.
She checked her watch. Right about now two police officers and a DHS social worker would be at Marci’s arresting her and taking her young son to foster care. Hopefully, Marci could be rehabilitated and reunite with her son someday.
Tad walked toward her. “I thought you’d want to know Jake was taken into protective custody. He agreed to testify against the Gonzaleses and give us detailed information about their organization.” He grinned. “We did it.”
Joy shot through her. “We did.” The past hour would go down as one of the biggest busts in the history of the DEA, and she couldn’t be happier to have been a part of it.
Jeff walked through the front door of Eric’s place and found his family gathered around the kitchen table. “It’s time. Are you all packed?”
Eric nodded and stood, extending his hand to Jeff. “Thanks for everything.”
“You’re welcome.” He addressed his niece. “Are you ready for a new adventure?”
She nodded, but her eyes clouded with fear and uncertainty.
“Look at this as a chance to reinvent yourself. It could be fun.”
Lauren nodded. “So this is good-bye?”
He nodded then faced his brother. “I’ll see you at the trial. But,” he turned toward Veronica and Lauren, “it would be too dangerous for them to be there.”
“What about testifying against the Gonzaleses?” Lauren asked.
Jeff shook his head. “I’m not sure about that. We have enough on those two to put them away for the rest of their lives without your testimony. Plus, Jake has agreed to testify.” He opened his arms. “How about a hug?” His family joined together in one big embrace.
Chapter 40
Kara scooted up alongside Jeff on the tarmac in Redmond, with the newspaper in one hand and her suitcase in the other. “Did you see today’s headlines?” She had been surprised to read a quote from the DEA spokesperson that the drugs had been smuggled inside the horses. From what she understood Jake had supplied that bit of information. As it turned out, he had been a huge asset and provided them with enough details to shut down, at least for now, a major drug thoroughfare.
“No. What are they?”
Holding the paper up so that he could see over her shoulder, she read out loud. “One Hundred Arrested in Multi-state Drug Bust.” She pointed to the headline at the bottom of the first page. “Local authorities seize four hundred kilos of cocaine.” She flipped to the second page. “This one’s my favorite. Miami drug lord and local mistress arrested.” She folded the paper and tucked it under her arm.
“Mistress?”
“Marci. I don’t know where they heard she was his mistress, but it makes a good headline.”
“Yeah, but the truth is much different, and a lot more painful for our side.”
Kara folded the paper. Gary had informed them that Marci had been on Alvarado’s payroll only because she’d been involved with Denver. The DEA’s traitor had found it too dangerous to relay the department’s movements to Alvarado and had used Marci to feed the drug lord his traitorous information. From what Kara could recall she’d only seen her on Alvarado’s yacht that one time, but clearly the woman had been in contact with him or her cover wouldn’t have been blown.
Jeff draped his arm across her shoulder. “Enough about work. How about this headline? Undercover and In Love.”
“It has a nice ring to it.”
“Maybe I should’ve become a journalist.”
She laughed. “And miss out on the fun we’ve had?”
He took her suitcase and placed it on the ground beside them then pulled her into his arms. “Working with you has been quite the adventure.”
“Back at you. What do you think’s next?”
“No clue other than this.” He lowered his head and captured her mouth with his.
Now this was her kind of adventure.
The End
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Author Notes
Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed Edge Of Truth. As a baby writer my passion was romantic suspense. Although this book caught the attention of a few publishing houses it was never picked up by one. After going on to publish 21 books both traditionally and independently, I decided it was time to dig out this story, bring it up to date, incorporate all the things I’ve learned as a writer over the past decade, and publish my first romantic suspense. I feel like my career has come full circle.
If you enjoyed reading Edge of Truth, I hope you will review it on Amazon or anywhere you find it listed for sale. I realize writing a review can be intimidating but all that is needed is a sentence about what you liked about the story. There is no need to summarize the story.
I am active on Facebook and would love to connect with you there. If social media isn’t your thing, or if you simply prefer hearing from me once a month I invite you to sign up for my newsletter.
My goal is to publish one book a year in this series. In the meantime I have a couple more books releasing in 2019. The next installment to my Librarian Sleuth Mystery series releases from Mountain Brook Ink in November. If you enjoy romantic mystery I hope you’ll check it out. I also have a Christmas novella releasing in October. It is part of a story world in a series with six other authors. My book is titled Sara’s Gift.
Blessings,
Kimberly Rose Johnson
More Books by Kimberly Rose Johnson
Brides of Seattle
Until I Met You
The Reluctant Groom
Simply Smitten
Melodies of Love
A Love Song for Kayla
An Encore for Estelle
A Waltz for Amber
Sunriver Dreams
A Love to Treasure
A
Christmas Homecoming
Designing Love
The Librarian Sleuth
The Sleuth’s Miscalculations
The Sleuth’s Dilemma
The Sleuth’s Conundrum (Nov. 2019)
Wildflower B&B Romance Series
Island Refuge
Island Dreams
Island Christmas
Island Hope
Contemporary Inspirational Romance Collection
In Love and War
Contemporary Novellas
Brewed with Love
Sara’s Gift (Coming soon)
Edge of Truth Page 24