by Jill S. Behe
“I find you very enticing, sweetheart. And I haven’t been playing Sir Galahad for anyone else, for a while. Besides, I don’t think it matters what they look like. Rosalinda wasn’t even a blip on my radar, and Bea wasn’t exactly a runway model.”
“Just making a point.”
“Is that what that was?”
She squinted across the table. “Shut up, Decker.”
“You know, initially, I was all for this.” Cade gave those around the table a speculative look. “Now? Maybe not so much.” He scrutinized his father’s lady for several more seconds. “You’re actually, voluntarily, going to be the bait for this?”
“It wasn’t an easy decision, believe me. It scares the crap out of me, and I know it gives your father fits, but I can’t see the operation succeeding if I’m not the carrot on the end of the fishing pole. I’m certainly not looking forward to being kidnapped, or zapped with a stun gun, or worse. Let me know if you have any other suggestions.”
“Uncle Levi? You’re onboard with this?”
The man gave a slow nod. “I agree with Decker, but I can also see Teal’s logic.”
Cade sat up straighter in his chair. “Okay, so what do you have in place already? How do we set the trap? Lay it all out for me. Maybe I can add some insight from a different perspective. This needs to end before someone else dies.”
“We have the…carrot, if you will. But I’m thinking, the best way to give the rope a tug, is to figure out a way for Jacqueline to find out that Teal is going to the nursery alone. My men will be in place, inside the warehouse, before she gets there.”
Cade scooted forward, leaning across the table. “The way I see it, a simple solution is to have Teal walk in, but have a female police officer inside, dressed like Teal, to swap places with her. Then have a designated safe place for Teal to hide until it’s all over.”
“Yes, that would be a simple solution.” Decker agreed. “But Jacqueline knows Teal. They’ve worked together for years. I doubt, even if the lighting in the warehouse was muted, Jacqueline would recognize a decoy.”
“Ah. There’s that fly stuck to the gooey side of the tape, again.”
Levi nodded. “Affirmative. And we still need a way for her to know Teal’s alone.”
Cade looked across at Teal. “I’m not a very good fisherman, but it seems to me that you’re going to have to be an exceptionally juicy worm dangling from that hook.”
She grimaced. “I am, indeed.”
“And my father’s going to have a heart attack—metaphorically speaking—before all this is over.”
“Mmm, yes. Probably. Unfortunately.”
The young man turned to his honorary uncle. “What kind of safeguards do you have in place for her?”
“Um. We haven’t actually gotten that far.”
Decker, hand over his heart. “This lady is a very important part of my life. We’ve…actually, she volunteered, but as mentioned previously, she’s a civilian. We as the law enforcement detail should have her safety and well-being first and foremost during this entire operation. I’m sure she will be wearing a safety vest under her coat, like the rest of us on the team.”
Cade’s eyebrows rose. “You’re part of the sting?”
Teal and Levi snickered as Decker’s face paled.
“Uh, well, yes, as a matter of fact.”
“In what capacity?”
“Levi deputized me a while back.”
“I’m aware of that. I also know you had special…powers, while in the Marines, and that other agency. I don’t know exactly what powers, but Superman had quite a few.”
“Well, uh. When I, uh, left the Marines, I had a specialty. Don’t figure it was a special power, though. Bracken somehow knew about it, and hired me, mostly, for it.”
“Come on, Dad. I already know that much. What’s your super power? Geez. This is like pulling molars without novocain.”
“Believe me, it’s just as painful from my end.”
“And? So?”
“I was a sniper.”
“A—? Holy shit! That’s—” Cade’s eyebrows almost touched his hairline. “Huh. Of course. Now it makes sense. The gun they gave you. That was yours. The one you used— Mom knew about that?”
“Yes. And she’s also the reason I’m…semi-retired.”
“Yeah…semi. You mentioned the semi part before.”
“I haven’t been given official retirement papers, yet.”
“Then they could call you back at any time? Oh, so that’s how you’re still in contact with that Gavin guy. Right?”
“Yes, and yes.”
“You sly dog!” He gave his old man’s arm a punch. “My dad’s a super sniper spy. How cool is that?”
“Cool?”
“Well sure. It was great growing up with a super Marine for a dad. Envy of every kid in my class at school. But now, geez. I could have milked that for—”
“Cade.”
“Ah. Yeah. Sorry. Mundane idol worship. I get it.”
Decker laughed, feeling foolish and exhilarated. His son didn’t think he was a monster, and wasn’t ashamed, or horrified. How about that? “I had doubts about your reaction.”
“Doubts?”
“That maybe you’d hate that part of me.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Now I sound like a sniveling idiot.”
“You never snivel, dad. But, hate? Are you kidding? I’m stunned, sure, but damn proud, too. So, go on. What’s—? Oh, well, now I understand. You’re going to be in sniper-mode.”
“Um, yeah. I’ll be in position.”
Teal spoke up. “By the way, since Decker mentioned it, I will be wearing a vest, yes? I’m all in favor of the wearing of one. Please?”
“You will be. I’ll make sure of it.” Levi jotted a note on his pad. “That part of the plan, having my men already in place, out of sight, when you arrive, is ready to go.”
“Yeah, you mentioned that earlier.” Cade, still juiced about his father’s occupation, nodded. “You’re going to get permission from the owners to be in there after hours, right? And let them know what could, potentially, happen?”
“Already taken care of. And we have the budget in case of…collateral damage.”
“The bitch may have stolen the rifle—and it would be good to know how she pulled that off—but I still have my Remington 700.”
“You think that’s how it will go down?”
Decker shrugged. “I’m going in as a sniper. I always go in prepared for the worst case scenario. If it happens, it happens. I’m hoping it won’t come to that, but will be prepared, just in case. I never take an assignment lightly. The consequences, if it ends badly, weigh heavy.”
Cade sat back. “Okay. Sounds like most everything’s been worked out, but one. How are you going to get her there? Or, will she be there ahead of Teal?”
“We have discussed that angle, though briefly.”
“The whole operation hinges on that detail. I’d say it needs to be addressed, ASAP.”
“We went with Levi and I faking a callout to a domestic dispute.”
“Whoa. Wait.” Cade held up a hand. “Why would you go on a police call with Uncle Levi?”
Decker and Levi exchanged a glance.
Levi shrugged.
Cade threw up his hands. “She may be an insane idiot, but she’s not stupid. It will have to be believable.”
“It is. She’s aware that your father’s been helping the police investigate the recent killings.”
“Okay, but only for that, right? I mean, he’s not an actual police officer, so he wouldn’t go out on a routine domestic call. Would he? No. Probably not.” Cade shook his head. “Hang on. Didn’t you tell me that this girl, Brooke, was being released sometime soon?”
Decker answered. “Possibly Wednesday.”
Levi was nodding. “Ah yes, young Grasshopper. I see where your mind is going with this. But I promised Brooke we’d be her police escort out of the hospital.”
“Even bette
r, with one small change. Why not arrange for this Brooke’s release Tuesday evening? That way, this bitch will think you’re at the hospital Wednesday morning, but in reality, you’ll be at the nursery waiting for her to show up.”
“Huh. Kid’s got some smarts.”
Teal, too, was nodding. “And makes a lot of sense. I like it. And, I could innocently mention that the two of them are going to be busy that morning, and Decker won’t be chauffeuring me out there and back.”
“We can only hope she assumes you’ll be alone at the nursery, as well as, driving in to work afterwards.”
“Why would she think otherwise? If it were me, I’d see it as the perfect opportunity for an ambush.”
Levi scratched his chin. “I’ll have to fix it with the doc at the hospital, and the Boulder P.D., to have Brooke released the night before, but I don’t think it will be an issue.”
“All righty then.” Cade rubbed his hands together. “I love it when a plan comes together.”
Levi studied his friend’s son. “What is it you do for a living, again?”
“I’m an architect.”
“Huh.”
Decker pointed. “Strategy.”
“Yup. And some intuition thrown in alongside, obviously.”
Cade smiled. “And some…other stuff.”
“You, too?” Levi chuckled. “Peas in a pod. Maybe you should try being a private eye. You’ve got good instincts.”
“You know about—?”
Levi nodded.
Cade cracked up. “So cool. Um, you think I’d make a good private detective?”
“I just said so.”
“Hmm. Something to think about.”
Decker grinned.
“Well, now that we settled that.” Teal stood. “I’m hungry.” She had her own carrot to dangle. Tomorrow, she’d figure out how to dangle it. Tonight her mind was too full, and she didn’t want to make a mistake that would jeopardize the whole operation.
“We didn’t settle that.” Cade frowned. “And we missed a couple points.”
“We’ll get to them. We should meet up again, when I do a final brief with the team.”
“Let us know. We’ll be there.”
“But I won’t be.” Damn. He was going to miss all the fun. “Promise you’ll keep me up to date? You’re coming with us for a meal, aren’t you, Uncle Levi?”
The man patted his belly. “Nah. This gut is being temperamental, right now. I don’t think—”
“Aw, come on. I have to get back tonight. Let’s all go eat.”
About that time, Levi’s stomach growled.
They all laughed as the man sighed and got up.
“And it apparently has its own opinion.” He grabbed his hat.
Stopping at the dispatcher’s desk, Cade was introduced to Ro, who promptly told him, “Next time you come in, I’ll have a box of brownies here for you.”
Grinning, Cade assured her he’d be back. They all started down the hall, and outside, Cade walking with his uncle. “Say, Uncle Levi, can you pull your team together and put them in place in a few short days?”
“I mentioned before that it’s already set up.” Levi nodded. “I’ve got my chosen few, and spoken to them. They’re raring to go.”
“Excellent. Too bad I can’t be here for the takedown.” Cade stopped in the middle of the sidewalk as an idea popped into his head. “Dad? Would you mind me staying a few extra days? I don’t want to miss this.”
“It’s not a game, Cade.”
“I know. Believe me, I know. It’s deadly serious. Would you mind?”
Decker glanced at Teal, and noticed her smile. Okay, then. Go with the flow. “No. I don’t mind.”
“Great. I’ll call my boss and let him know I won’t be in for a few days. I’ve got vacation time coming.”
Levi was shaking his head. “We can’t have a civilian—”
“Isn’t Teal a civilian?”
“Of course, but she’s—”
“Still a civilian. Come on, Uncle Levi. I promise I’ll stay out of the way. Please?”
Levi looked him in the eye. “You can’t be on the premises. You’d have to wait at the station house, or at Deck’s.”
“I promise. Please?”
Not quite comfortable with the idea, he agreed. “Okay.”
“Could you, maybe, give me something to do while I’m waiting for the action to be over?”
Levi squinted. “I’ll see if I can come up with something.”
“Great. Thanks, Uncle Levi.”
He slapped the young man’s back, hard enough to make him wince. “We’re going to have to do something about this Uncle Levi business.”
But, Cade was all about the plan. “Um, you do have a blueprint of the building so you know where all the good hiding places are, right?”
His uncle sighed, and nodded. “The owner had one sent over a week ago.”
Cade grinned. “You do think of everything.”
A nod. “Sometimes it’s good to be the king.”
They were standing in the parking lot deciding who Cade was going to ride with, or whether they’d all fit in Levi’s SUV, when the apparition appeared.
Levi froze.
“Mom?” Cade stretched out his hand. “Shit. My hand went.… Went right—” He looked at Teal, eyes wide.
She was watching the otherworldly form.
The lovely face, drawn, skeletal, translucent, was ravaged with grief. The voice, a haunting plea. Carin. She reached for Decker.
Fear gripped his heart, and he stepped forward. “Where? Can you tell us where?”
She looked straight at him. You know. And vanished.
Damn.
Levi tore his eyes away from the now empty space. “Decker?”
He was already headed for his truck, but called over his shoulder, “In the woods.”
Levi ran back inside shouting for Roe to dispatch an EMT team to Decker’s house. “Tell ’em we’ll meet ’em out there.”
“Roger that, Chief!”
He hustled back through the door and out to his vehicle.
Teal and Cade jumped into Decker’s truck, and he peeled out of the lot, spewing gravel.
Levi followed, close, siren screaming.
He was still shaking from being that up close with something he’d been taught didn’t exist. And damn, she’d looked real worried about her daughter.
For a ghost to look like that, it had to be a bad sign.
Chapter 47
It was full dark by the time they raced past Decker’s house. His reckless drive down the narrow lane through the woods in his big Dodge was a nail-biter, but he wasn’t paying attention to anything but getting to Carin in the fastest way possible. He slammed on the brakes as soon as he got to the clearing with Levi and the ambulance right on his tail. The vehicles angled so the headlights lit the scene near the stream.
They all jumped out and ran forward, almost as one unit.
Carin’s body was prone—as Rosalinda’s had been. A sweatshirt and jeans were all she wore. No shores, socks, or coat. Decker reached her first, and lay on the cold snow-covered ground beside her, checking for a pulse.
At Decker’s nod, the EMT’s rolled her slowly, protecting her back and neck, before taking her vitals, and starting an IV.
Stretched beside her, Decker spoke softly, touching her face with gentle fingers, holding in his fury at the vicious bruises he saw. The pretty girl’s face was so swollen he almost didn’t recognize her. His training kicked in, and he concluded there was a broken jaw, probably one of her eye sockets, too, and her nose. Split lip. Multiple contusions and abrasions. Blood matted her hair, and he prayed there was no brain damage.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you, sweetheart. I’m sorry our last conversation was one of anger. I should have taken the time to really listen when you needed to talk.” He looked up at her brother who was openly weeping, but continued to address her. “Just, please, hang on, honey. Cade and I will be here f
or you.”
Cade fell to his knees beside his father. “We both love you so much. Please keep fighting. Don’t give up. We’ll both be here to take care of you.”
Once the EMT’s had her stabilized, they ran back for the stretcher.
Teal stood a ways off, emotions reeling, but giving the girl’s family some space. Then she felt a presence, and turned.
The image shimmered. I fear for her, my darling daughter. I can’t reach her from this side, and they can’t reach her from theirs. I didn’t know she was here until just a short while ago. I don’t know how long she’s been here.
Teal blinked away tears. “What do you mean?”
I’ve tried to contact her spirit. She doesn’t respond. They’re trying, too. She motioned towards Decker and Cade. She doesn’t hear them, either. She’s in between, and that’s dangerous.
“You think you should have felt her?”
Yes. I should have. I should be able to. She came from me. I should know where she is, always.
“I’m so sorry, Liz. I don’t know how to help you. How to comfort you.”
You are, darling girl. Perhaps not in this specific instance, but, oh my, you have. I was so worried about my honey bear—and he’d kill me for using my pet name for him—but, you brought him back to life. Oh, he was plodding along. But now? Now he’s alive again. I’m leaving him in good hands. My son, as well. Take good care of them both, for me.
Teal looked at the transparent form. “You’re not going to stay? You have to tell them good-bye.”
Liz shook her head. “o. I have to go. There’s nothing more to be done. My killer has been identified. I have no time left. I wish I could stay, especially until I know my daughter’s fate, but I don’t think they will allow me to do so.
“But, you have to say good-bye.”
Teal felt a touch on her arm.
My bear is too focused on our daughter. As Cade is his sister. And that is as it should be. I can’t distract them. You tell them for me. Please?
“That’s a heavy weight you’re laying on me, you know.”
Yes, I do know. But it is the only way. The best way.