The Lawman's Secret Vow

by Tara Randel

  “If you are very sure it’s the job you want.”

  She was sure. “And a relationship?”

  “I’m a firm believer in if it’s meant to be, you’ll be together.”

  If only she had that much faith. “I guess we’ll have to sit down and figure out our relationship once we finish the investigation.”

  Martha patted her hand. “I have no doubt you will.”

  Fighting against the hot tears welling in her eyes, Eloise blinked them away before Martha could notice. Bidding farewell was going to be like saying goodbye to Grammy Beth. A sense of loss and helplessness engulfed her and she wished for more time.

  An hour passed quickly and Kristin returned. “I need to get to work,” Eloise said as she rose, hooking her purse strap over her shoulder to evade Martha’s gaze. If Martha saw her telltale tears and commented on it, Eloise was sure she’d break down on the spot.

  “It is going to take some time before I move. You will come see me, right?”

  Bending down, Eloise hugged Martha’s thin frame. Drank in the comforting scent of her floral perfume. Took consolation in knowing Martha would be taken care of by a loving family. A family she was not a part of. Was that what she’d miss the most? Feeling like she’d almost had the real thing with Martha and Dante? It was bad enough her friend would be leaving, what if Dante steered clear of her once this case was over? She’d never be happy going back to her old life. The alternative was too depressing to contemplate.

  As she pulled away, Martha patted her cheek. “I will miss you, Ellie. Promise me we’ll talk over the phone on a regular basis.”

  Eloise tried to smile, a wobbly curve the best she could muster. “So much so you’ll get tired of me.”

  “Never.”

  Emotion clogged her throat.

  “You know you’re going to be just fine, no matter what happens.”

  Eloise didn’t know any such thing, so she hung on to the promise of those words.

  “Make sure you tell me the outcome of your job,” Martha said with a wink.

  “I will.”

  Taking her coffee cup, Eloise nodded to Kristin and swiftly made her way through the hospital corridor to the truck, then drove to work, ignoring the heavy sense of loneliness settling over her. It was silly, really, to feel such a loss at the idea of Martha moving away. It wasn’t like she was a relative. Or that they’d have stayed close after Eloise moved out of the house next door. If she got the promotion, maybe she’d become too busy to visit her friend. Or worse, by not living next door, they might drift apart. Yes, this made sense. The change was best for Martha’s health and well-being. Eloise would just move on. She was used to not having close friends. Martha’s departure from her life wouldn’t affect her at all.

  She’d convinced herself that everything had worked out the way it should when she pulled up to the garage. Rolling her neck and getting back into character, she exited the car, more than ready to close this case. No sooner had she stepped into the garage than loud voices greeted her. Mac and Ramsey were having an argument over some kind of air hose hanging from the ceiling. She glanced at Dante, arching a brow. He nodded to the office. Moments later he joined her.

  “What’s up with the guys?” she asked as she took a seat behind the desk.

  “Tempers are running high this morning.”

  “I can tell.”

  “How’s Martha?”

  “Good.” She kept her voice controlled. “I met her granddaughter.”

  He searched her face. “And?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you assume there’s more?”

  He crossed his arms over his black, button-down work shirt and leaned against the door frame, his posture portraying, Really?

  “Okay, there’s more.” She tidied the already neat desk. “Apparently Martha is moving to Ohio.”

  “What’s in Ohio?”

  “Her granddaughter, whom she’ll be living with.”

  Dante pushed from the frame and moved closer to the desk, his eyes never leaving her face as he placed both palms on the surface and leaned in. “I’m sorry. I know you two have grown close.”

  She shrugged. “Things happen.” She picked up a stack of invoices and tapped the sides until the edges were straight. “Life moves on.”

  “C’mon, this has to be a shock.”

  “I’ll get over it.” She met his gaze. “Right now we have more important things to worry about.”

  “More important than—”

  She held up her hand. “End of discussion. Tell me what’s been going on here.”

  He studied her for a long-drawn-out moment. Opened his mouth to speak, then seemed to think better of it. When he finally spoke, he gave her the rundown for the day.

  “More cars are arriving later today. Rico is antsy, smoking like a maniac. Told me to expect a late night. Whatever is going down is happening soon.”

  “Okay.” She reached for another stack of invoices to straighten. “We should get back to work. Act as if this is just another business day.”

  Dante nodded as one of the guys called his name.

  “I’ll check back later.”

  “Fine.”

  Once she was by herself, she slumped in her seat. Allowed herself one final pity party. Her chest ached, and as much as she wanted to cry, she tamped down her emotions to stay alert. If this job had taught her anything, it was to be ready for things to change without a moment’s notice. She didn’t have time to mourn a friendship. Not with criminals to catch and emotions to bury.

  * * *

  BY SEVEN IN the evening, Dante’s nerves were on edge. Eloise had gone home hours ago. Just like Ben had reported, cars arrived. Mac was busy changing the VIN plates. Ramsey had taken off at one point, leaving Rico to inspect the incoming cars alongside Dante.

  “Make sure you check the battery terminals,” Rico ground out as he passed by.

  “Boss. Chill. I got this.”

  Rico muttered something Dante couldn’t decipher.

  “What’s up with you today?”

  Rico ran a hand over his chest. “I’ll be glad when we hand off these cars.”

  Dante shrugged. “Only makes room for the next batch.”

  At his response, Rico turned pale and headed out the open bay door, fishing a cigarette out of the pack.

  “Something I said?” His cell rang. Grabbing a towel, he wiped his hands and swiped the screen. “Dan here.”

  “It’s your wife, Dan.”

  Dante grinned. Eloise had been subdued all day after her visit to Martha. She’d probably never admit it, but clearly the idea of her friend moving had her tied up in knots.

  “What’s up, wife?”

  “Just wondering what time I should pick you up tonight.”

  “Hold on.”

  Rico was nowhere to be found, so Dante yelled to Mac, “What time are we finishing up tonight?”

  “Boss said midnight.”

  Dante relayed the time. “We’ll camp out down the road and wait for the carrier.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  “What, no small talk for your hubby?”

  He could imagine her rolling her eyes. “Right. I have to get back to the roast in the oven.”

  With a chuckle, he ended the call.

  Even with cars to service, time dragged on. By midnight it was all Dante could do not to run up and down the street to burn off his excess energy. When Eloise pulled up in the truck and honked, he nearly sagged with relief.

  He jumped in beside her. She’d changed into a navy shirt and jeans, her hair pulled back into a high ponytail. “Circle the block and park down the street like last time.”

  She did as he asked, although he was disappointed she had no snappy comeback.

  “You okay?”

  “Sure
. Just preparing myself for what lies ahead.”

  This time, the stakeout wasn’t as drawn out as the first time. The car carrier arrived thirty minutes later. Like before, they followed the loaded truck to the warehouse parking lot, only this time the cars stayed loaded.

  “Why the change in operations?” Eloise wondered out loud.

  “If Ben is right, they’re going to the dealership in the morning.”

  A car rattled down the street. Through his binoculars, he watched Ramsey’s beater making tracks to the warehouse. “Looks like we have action.”

  Eloise straightened in her seat and peered through the lens of the camera to document the night’s events. Once the car drew up to the carrier and parked, Ramsey climbed out of the driver seat. The passenger door opened and three teens piled out.

  “Those are the kids I saw Ramsey meet the afternoon I followed him.”

  The young men took up position around the carrier while Ramsey spoke on his phone.

  “Lookouts?” she asked as she snapped pictures of the crew.

  “Most likely. Hope they aren’t carrying.”

  Eloise lowered the camera. “Most of the kids we’ve arrested for stealing cars haven’t graduated to guns.”

  “Something tells me this time is different.”

  Once the young men settled in, Dante leaned back. “Now we wait.”

  Hours passed with no activity. He ate a sandwich and changed into the dark clothes Eloise had brought for him. Dawn was beginning to light the sky when Eloise spoke up. “Is this it?”

  Facing her, Dante shrugged. “I hope not.”

  Just after 6:00 a.m., the engine of the semitruck fired up. During the night, Dante and Eloise had switched positions. She wanted to be able to capture the action and Dante was too jacked to sit still while she drove.

  Waiting until the carrier and Ramsey’s car departed, Dante tailed at a safe distance. The lead vehicles pulled out onto the interstate, driving south for thirty miles. Once off the highway, the carrier pulled into the parking lot of a car dealership.

  Eloise leaned forward in her seat to peer through the windshield. “The place is brand-new.”

  “Agreed.” He scanned the location. “I don’t see a name anywhere.”

  “Maybe it’s not open for business yet.”

  Dante passed the lot, circled around and found a place to park across the street. Binoculars in hand, he watched the progress. Ramsey gave instructions to the boys and before long the teens were off-loading the cars.

  Eloise, readying the camera, asked, “See any new faces?”

  “Not yet. Only see the driver, Ramsey and the boys.”

  “Someone has to be calling the shots.”

  Minutes later, a sporty car zoomed into the parking lot. “Bingo,” Dante said.

  Eloise raised the camera and peered through the lens. “Greg?”

  “We haven’t seen him in a while.”

  “Last time he was checking on the cars,” she said, taking pictures of the entire operation. “His job must be to make sure the merchandise gets to the designated location.”

  He watched Greg speak to the carrier driver, then Ramsey. After a short conversation, Ramsey went back to oversee the activity of the young men. Greg walked across the blacktop, pulling something from the pocket of his dark suit as he approached the building. Keys. Unlocking the showroom door, he let himself in.

  Dante lowered the binoculars. “Think he’s getting a dealership of his own?”

  Eloise snapped shots. “I guess that would make sense. If he’s earned his way up the ladder—” A luxury sedan pulled into the lot, parking near the main door. “Looks like another player.”

  Dante peered into the glasses again. A woman dressed in a black sheath dress and high heels emerged from the sleek sedan. She tossed her hair over her shoulder as she retrieved a large tote bag. “I don’t recognize her,” Dante said.

  “I do.” Eloise took a few more pictures until the woman disappeared inside. She turned to Dante. “Her name is Stacy Monroe. Remember the Parson’s Auto Mall theft?”

  He nodded.

  “She was the office manager.”

  “Convenient.”

  “I had one of the guys at the station do a background check on her, but then we were assigned to this job. I never read the finished report.”

  “You suspected her?”

  “Not at the time. She was jumpy, but I attributed that to the theft. At the time, I asked for the backgrounds of all the employees. Detective Gates took over that case.”

  The door to the showroom opened and Greg walked out, talking on his phone. Seconds later Stacy followed, speaking to him. Greg waved her off and she grabbed his arm to claim his attention. He took the phone from his ear, turned and engaged in what looked like a heated conversation. After going back and forth, Stacy turned on her spiky heel to head inside. Greg resumed his call.

  “I’d love to know what that was all about,” Dante muttered.

  While the exchange was taking place in front of them, Eloise pulled out her phone to call the station. “Hey, Brandy, is Gates available? Off? No, it’s okay. Listen, can you pick me up? I need to do some digging at the station.” She rattled off the location. “Thanks.”

  “What are you thinking?” The corners of Dante’s eyes crinkled in curiosity.

  “That I need to look at the file. Do a detailed computer search. Check Stacy’s background and find out what she’s doing here. You?”

  “I’ll stay put until one of them makes a move.”

  Twenty minutes later, Brandy pulled up beside Dante’s truck. Eloise angled herself toward him. “I’m hoping it won’t take too long to gather the information. Don’t do anything until I get back to you.”

  He shot her a grin. “We’re in this together.”

  Her frown said she didn’t quite believe him. Turning the handle, she opened the door. “I’ll call you as soon as I go over the file.”

  “I’ll be here waiting.”

  * * *

  ON THE WAY to the station, Brandy made small talk while Eloise’s mind raced. Stacy? How was she involved? Logically, the case could be made that the evolution of the players was now clear, except for the boss. Rico and the guys at the garage, the boys stealing cars, Greg and Stacy. Who were they missing?

  “...and I know you said you didn’t want to work with Dante, but it looks like you two were on the same page.”

  Eloise shook her head. “What?”

  “You. And Dante.”

  A topic she wasn’t ready to discuss with anyone, even Brandy.

  “Sorry. My mind is on this newest development.”

  “Sure. I just thought—”

  “How about I give you the lowdown after we tie this up?”

  Excitement lit Brandy’s eyes as she glanced at Eloise. “It’s a deal.”

  As soon as they arrived at the station, Eloise jogged inside. She made her way to Gates’s desk and stared riffling through the folders piled in the corner.

  “Archer,” Lieutenant Chambers said as he crossed the room toward her. “What’s the latest?”

  Finding the file she was searching for, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she faced her superior. “Could you give me a few minutes, sir? Then I’ll fill you in.”

  His brow rose. “By all means.”

  Eloise weaved through the empty desks to her own and fired up her computer. While waiting, she pulled out Stacy Monroe’s sheet. Chambers sat on the corner of her desk, arms folded over his chest. When she’d read it through completely, she explained what had transpired in the last twelve hours.

  “How does this woman fit in?” Chambers asked.

  “According to her employment history, she’s worked at three different dealerships in three years. Gates made a notation that each lot had been h
it by car thieves while she worked there. Sometime after the cars were stolen, she quit.”

  “Sounds like a pattern.”

  “I agree. The interesting thing is, she quit Parson’s Auto Mall two days after the robbery. Gates went back for a follow-up interview but she was gone. Mr. Parson didn’t know where she went and there’s no current address available.”

  Chambers rubbed his chin. “Part of the ring, but how?”

  Eloise started tapping on her keyboard. “I’ll check her social media. See if she’s posted anything recent that will give us a clue.”

  For the next fifteen minutes, Eloise scrolled through Stacy’s favorite social sites. Finally, she went back far enough on Stacy’s Facebook page to find a picture of the woman at a party, smiling. Eloise’s finger froze on the key. Standing beside her stood Marcus King, the Car King of the South. And by the cozy way they were leaning into each other, Eloise decided they were more than friends.

  She grabbed her phone, hitting Dante’s number.

  * * *

  THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Greg pushed through the door of the dealership and strode to his sports car. On the way, Ramsey stomped over. Focusing the binoculars on the men, Dante was able to make out Ramsey saying something about “my money.”

  Whatever Greg’s reply was, it didn’t pacify Ramsey. He pushed the younger man and said, “Now.”

  Greg held his hands up and backed away, then turned to climb into his car. Dante started the truck, ready to follow. Was Greg headed to the leader? He had to find out.

  Yeah, he’d promised Eloise he’d stay put, but his gut propelled him to follow this guy. Cautiously leaving his spot, Dante eased out into traffic to follow. Greg headed north. A short while later, he pulled into the lot of an office building, parked and headed inside. Dante parked on the far side, waited a few minutes, then after readying his firearm, grabbed and donned a ball cap from the storage area behind the seat and followed Greg inside. Once in the lobby, he read the building directory to get a sense of where Greg was headed. His heart accelerated at the name of the company occupying the entire third floor. Griffin Enterprises. He reached for his phone, only to realize that in his haste he’d left it in on the seat of the truck. The elevator dinged and he quickly ducked into the nearby office for cover.