by Ciana Stone
Charli turned her attention to the side mirror. “Audi three cars back?” She asked.
“Yep.”
She pulled out her phone. “Chief? Radio our guys. Black Audi three cars behind us. We think it’s a tail. Don’t engage, let’s just see what they want. Thanks.”
She cut a look across her shoulder at the prisoner, whose face was two shades paler than when she’d been put into the car. Charli was starting to think there was far more to this story than a jealous girlfriend, but right now what mattered was getting back to the station intact.
The rest of the drive was uneventful. As they neared the turnoff to Cotton Creek, Charli called one of the other Cotton Creek units following them. “Hey, it’s Charli. Listen, if that black Audi turns with us, fall back and follow them. I want a plate to run and want to know where they go if they don’t follow us to the station.”
“Good move,” Grady commented.
“Standard procedure.”
There was no more conversation. Once they reached the police station, she took the woman in and placed her in a holding cell. Grady was waiting when she returned to the squad room.
“I’m gonna give Kyle a call and see if he’ll come give me a ride home.”
“Take my car.”
“Doesn’t it belong to the department?”
“No. I had it outfitted at my own expense.”
“Why?”
“It’s faster.”
Grady smiled. “I hear you. Are you sure about me taking it?”
“Absolutely. I’ll catch a ride home with one of the guys after my shift.”
“Thanks.”
“You bet. Thank you.”
“For?”
“Driving.”
“It was fun.”
She smiled and watched him leave. Just then Chief Tom Greene entered. “Taylorsville wants her transferred to them today.”
“That’s fine, but I’m not convinced they have the real story.”
Tom nodded toward his office. Once inside, he closed the door and propped on the edge of his desk. “Tell me.”
“First, she referred to her supposed lover by two different names after we put her in the car.”
“She was scared, got confused.”
“About your lover’s name? I don’t think so. And she said they met six months ago at the Pussy Cat Club on 535.”
“It’s not on 535 and that place closed down a year ago.”
“Exactly. She’s screwing up her tale and I think it’s on purpose. She has something to say and I’m asking you to let me talk with her and see if I can get whatever it is from her.”
“Do it.”
Charli nodded and headed back to the holding cell. She stopped in the ladies’ room and grabbed a roll of toilet tissue, then proceeded on to the cell. The woman was sitting on the metal cot attached to the wall. She looked quite miserable and afraid.
“Do you want something to drink?” Charli asked.
“No.”
“A lawyer?”
“No.”
“Okay, so how about you tell me what really went down this morning. Why did you shoot that woman?”
“I already tell you.”
“Yeah, you told me two different names for a guy I’m betting you never met, and you claim to have met him six months ago at a club that closed down a year ago. So, I’m guessing someone put that gun in your hand and gave you a choice. Kill that woman or have something real bad happen to you or someone you care about.”
Charli wasn’t surprised when the woman burst into tears and the tears developed into huge body-wracking sobs. Charli unlocked the cell door and went inside to sit beside the woman. She put her arm around her and the woman turned to her, crying her guts out.
These weren’t crocodile tears. These were the tears of a woman who was terrified and felt she had no way out. She might not, but Charli hoped there was a chance. When the sobs finally subsided and then the hiccups faded, she accepted the roll of toilet paper, blew her nose, and cleaned her face.
“I want to help you.” Charli said. “So tell me who you are and what really happened.”
“Juanita Lopez. I— That man— I never sleep with him. He works for the man who own my town, my home. Carlos Estevez. That gringo, he owes Carlos money. He took Carlos’ cocaine and he no pay what he owes. Carlos says the gringo pay or Carlos make him pay. Gringo sends Carlos a message and says fuck you.
“That makes Carlos mad. He breaks down door in my house. His men take my mother and my son. He say if I want them to live, I come here and shoot that gringa. I have three days or my family gets dead. So, I do it. I not want my family to die. I have to do it.”
Tears sprang from her eyes as she talked and she wiped them away with a wad of tissue. “I no want to kill that woman. I not want to kill anyone. I just want my son and my mama to be safe.”
Charli nodded. “I understand and I’m going to do everything I can to help you, but the police in Taylorsville are going to want to take you back there and charge you.”
“Those men no want to help.”
“I don’t know if they do or not, so I’m going to do what I can to stall your transfer. I think I can put them off until at least Wednesday.”
“I so thank you.” Juanita grasped Charli’s hands. “I promise I no bad woman. I just want my baby and mama safe, Miss Charli.”
“I know. Now, I’m going to have someone bring you something to eat and drink and you’re going to have to change out of that dress and into a jumpsuit, but I’ll come back and help you with that. Until then, just try and be calm, okay?”
“Yes, yes, I try.”
“Good.” Charli let herself out of the cell, returned to Tom’s office, and told him what Juanita had said. He dismissed her and by the time she left his office, he was already on the phone.
Charli turned her attention to getting Juanita into the shower. While Juanita washed, Charli bagged her clothing for evidence. When Juanita stepped from the shower with a towel around her, Charli was waiting with a jumpsuit, socks, slippers and an ankle tracker.
“What's that for?” Juanita pointed to the tracker.
“Just so I know you’re safe and where you’re supposed to be. Those Taylorsville boys were a bit too eager to get you in their jail. If I see the location change on their tracker, I’ll come for you.”
“You promise?”
“I do.”
“Then put it on.”
Charli put the tracker on Juanita’s ankle. “Pull your sock up over it. The jumpsuit will be long on you, so it’ll provide more cover.”
Juanita did as Charli instructed and once she was dressed, Charli returned her to her cell. After that, she logged in the evidence and started on the incident report.
She was very thorough, even about Grady being involved. When she finished, she reread it twice, then printed two copies, signed both, delivered one to the file clerk, then the second to Tom’s office.
He was sitting at his desk, staring at his monitor. Charli knocked and waited for him to grant her permission to enter.
“My report, sir.” She placed it on her desk.
Tom scanned it and looked up. “Do you believe her?”
“I do, Tom. And I don’t want to turn her over to the Taylorsville boys. They’re on a headhunt and they’ll never listen to her. I’m afraid for her well-being.”
“So, what is it you want, Charli?”
“I want to prove that she’s telling the truth.”
“How?”
“By going to Mexico.”
“To Mexico?”
“Yeah. I need to find this Estevez guy and her family. If we can prove she acted out of duress, then maybe we can keep her here to serve whatever sentence she gets, and not get her deported back to Mexico, because you know if that happens Estevez will kill her.”
“I do know that, and I know you’re not going to want to hear this, but the Mexican government is already demanding that we return her. Taylorsville is argui
ng that she entered this country illegally and committed a murder and so should stand trial here, and I tend to agree, but the State AG just called and said it’s going to open one big nasty can of worms if we try and press that, so he wants her returned.”
“To be killed.”
“Maybe not. After all, she fulfilled her job. Maybe Estevez will let her live.”
“Or maybe he will kill her, her mother, and her child.”
“Well, my hands are tied, Charli, so what do you want from me?”
Charli considered it for just a moment and made up her mind. “Let me take her back.”
“And do what?”
“It doesn’t matter. What happens in Mexico isn’t your jurisdiction or responsibility. Just let me take her, Tom.”
“Why do I get the feeling that I’m about to make a huge mistake?”
She shrugged and waited. After a moment, he sighed. “Fine. I’ll call the AG and will let you know when I have it set up. But for now, you’ve got a few days off, so get outta here.
“Thanks, Tom.”
He nodded and so she turned and headed for the door. Just as she reached it, he spoke up. “Charli?”
“Yeah?” She turned to look at him.
“Just remember. When you go − come home alive.”
“I intend to, sir.”
She walked out, checked to make sure meals had been arranged for Juanita’s lunch and dinner, and then asked one of the other deputies to give her a ride home.
The first thing she did when she got out of the cruiser was pull out her phone and call Grady.
“I’m home and am going to shower and change and then I’ll ride over to your place. What’s the address?”
He gave it to her and asked. “What’s up?”
“I’ll tell you when I get there. You still cooking?”
“I am.”
“Can I bring anything?”
“Just yourself.”
“Okay. See you in an hour.”
“See you then.”
Chapter Eleven
Charli let herself in and headed straight for the shower. As she bathed, she thought about what she planned to do and how to go about asking Grady to join her. She hadn’t come up with a plan by the time she was finished, but she decided to let it go. The words would come when needed.
Rather than dress to seduce, she opted for comfort and put on a pair of soft jeans, a tank top, and bike boots. Charli didn’t bother with a lot of makeup and did nothing more to her hair than comb it.
It took a good half hour to reach Grady’s, and the moment she turned onto the drive leading to the house, she was filled with a whole new set of questions about Grady Judd.
The moment she parked her bike, the front door opened and Grady walked out to meet her
“This is your house?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Well, damn, Grady, I didn’t know you were a rich boy.”
“I’m not.”
“Oh yeah? Well, this house says different.”
“It was left to me by my grandfather.”
“Wow. Some grandpa.”
“So do you want to stand here looking at it or come inside?”
“Smartass.” She took the hand he offered and walked with him. The house was one of those massive plantation-style homes, with two stories plus a third level with four big dormer windows across the front. It boasted a wraparound porch on both floors, large columns bigger than she could reach around as supports, and was pristine white with dark shutters.
Black rattan furniture with deep wine colored cushions decorated the porch, and ceiling fans sent the night air wafting down. Tastefully hidden lights in the shrubbery around the house provided illumination that was not intrusive, but rather gave a romantic air to the scene.
Grady opened the door and held it for her. “I have steaks to go on the grill, but thought we could take a swim if you want.”
“You have a pool?”
“I do.”
He led her through the house to a huge covered patio. Beyond it was an in-ground pool complete with a waterfall and an outdoor shower. Stacks of thick towels waited beside chaise lounges and on a table by the shower.
“Wow.” She looked around in amazement and a bit of envy. “You sure you’re not a spoiled rich boy?”
“I’m sure I’m not spoiled.” Grady gestured toward the chaise lounges. “Would you like something to drink?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.”
“Swim?” He walked over and sat down beside her.
“I didn’t bring a suit.” Charli made a bit more room for him, then pulled off her boots and socks.
“You don’t need one.” Grady leaned in and grazed her lips with his.
“You just wanna see me naked,” she teased and nipped lightly on his bottom lip.
“Oh, you got that right.” Grady’s hand moved up her leg slowly.
Charli put her hand over his. As much as she wanted him, she also wanted something from him and she had to secure his word before she let him touch her.
“I need to ask you for a favor and it’s a big one.”
“What kind of favor?”
“I’m going to take Juanita back to Mexico. The government is demanding she be returned and the Chief said we have to comply. But I don’t trust the law there as far as I can spit. I’m afraid I’ll be taking her back to be killed, so I decided that rather than turn her over, I’m going to convince her to tell me who she’s working for. Once I know who it is, I can find him, figure out where he has her family, and set them free.
“Then I can take Juanita somewhere else. I still have some contacts in Honduras. Maybe I can get her work there, a fresh start.”
“And where do I come in?”
“I need someone with me I can trust—someone who can do what needs to be done if the situation arises.”
“You’re asking me to break a lot of laws, you realize that, don’t you?”
“I do. And you can say no. I hope you won’t, but I’ll understand if you do. Either way, I’m going.”
“Tell me why and I’ll consider it.”
“Because whoever is running her will kill her family and I can’t let that happen.”
“That sounds good and I’m sure you mean it, but it’s more than that, so unless you tell me all of it, the answer is no.”
Charli got up and walked over to the edge of the pool, crossing her arms and staring into the water. She didn’t discuss her past. Not with anyone. It served no purpose and regardless of what the shrinks said, it didn’t ease a damn thing.
“You said you need someone you can trust.” Grady’s voice was soft in her ear, and his hands, when he placed them on top of her shoulders, were warm. “Then trust me with the truth.”
She shook her head, not trusting her voice. Something inside screamed for her to just open her mouth and let it out, tell him of the demons that haunted not just her sleep but also every waking moment.
Redemption. It was redemption she wished for, redemption she sought, and redemption she didn’t believe she was worthy of.
“Charli, let me in.”
Charli never intended to do that, she didn’t intend to speak at all and yet she heard her voice. “I can’t let another child die on my watch. I can’t be haunted by the soul of another innocent I failed. I can’t do it anymore, Grady.”
He turned her to face him and she saw compassion in his expression. Seeing hate or contempt would have been easier. Compassion robbed her of strength and her eyes filled with tears.
“Jakarta. It was in Jakarta. The team was led into a trap. All but two escaped, and they were being held with women and children from a local school. The only way in was to pose as health workers, but they wouldn’t allow men. So, it was me and two other women, enlisted grunts who’d gotten an unlucky posting.”
Charli turned away and stared once more at the water. It all rushed back and she could feel it around her. Smell it and hear it until she was more in that world th
an the one where she now stood.
“We were supposed to ascertain the location of the hostages and be ready to act when the air strike hit. We were there for nearly three weeks before the strike was sent in, and by that time, there was a far larger force present in the village than before. Our ground personnel took heavy casualties. They couldn’t make it to us so we had the take matters into our own hands.”
She fell silent, seeing it all unfold in her mind. “What happened?” Grady’s voice was soft, like a whisper that floated in on the wind.
“I killed everyone I could. I shot and stabbed and clubbed my way to the hostages, only to find them dead in their cells with their throats slit. All I could do then was try to get the women and children out.”
“Did you?”
“All but two women and one little girl.” Saying those words took her strength from her. She’d held it in for three long years, the horror and grief. The loss. Now it overpowered her and drove her to her knees. Literally. She fell to her knees and sank down on her heels, lowering her hands to the pavement and shuddering as emotion took control.
“She was beautiful. Ani. Five years old with a smile that could light the world, and a heart as big as the ocean. She…” A sob tore through her words and she choked it back, speaking brokenly. “She loved me and I let her down. This… this monster had her. He shouted for me to put down my weapon or he would blow her brains out. I did. I—”
Charli fell forward and curled into a fetal position, her body quaking with the force of her sobs. “He laughed. He laughed as she screamed for me to come for her, as she reached for me. He laughed and he put the gun to her head and pulled the trigger. I—I watched—saw the life go out of her eyes.”
She felt Grady beside her, felt him gather her into his arms and hold her as she cried. Charli clung to him, wishing his strength was enough to wash the horror of that memory from her mind. But nothing would erase that. She would carry the look on Ani’s face, the sound of her voice crying out to Charli. She’d carry that to her grave and then she’d rot in hell for failing to save that beautiful child.
“I failed her. I wasn’t good enough and she died because of me.” She looked up at Grady. “I loved her so much”
Grady got it. All too well. He’d seen his share of death. Hell, he’d seen more than his share and he knew the toll it took on a person’s spirit. But the death of an innocent, a child—it was the worst horror of all and one he didn’t know if he’d be man enough to bear that if it happened on his watch.