“The caller was Mederos’s informant inside the police department.” Blackwell kept his voice low. “He’s the only one who knows his identity, but Buck has dealt with the person over the phone since Mederos went to jail.”
TEN
“Is the informant a police officer?” Cade bent closer, realizing the danger Blackwell was in.
“Not sure. I think so. It’s a man ’cuz Buck said he when referring to the informant. That’s why I wanna talk to only you. I can’t stay here.” Sweat rolled down the teen’s face.
“We’ll need you to testify to what you know. Any details you can think of about the informant, let me know. When he called. Something you’ve overheard Mederos or Buck say in reference to him.”
“I’m not in the inner circle. I’ve only picked up bits and pieces since I joined the gang six months ago. I think Pedro knows who the mole is, but he never said who.”
The police would need evidence to back up what the teenager was telling Cade. He would have to trust Paul with what was going on. He needed someone in the police department to help him check the employees at the station. He didn’t think his friend was the informant, but he couldn’t rule out anyone 100 percent. “Why did you and Jones take the girl?”
“To stall the witness’s testimony. The informant was trying to find out where Dietz was being kept and had narrowed down the area. That’s what Jones told me. Buck received the call this morning at seven on his cell. Buck went into the other room at the garage then came out and told us what to do.”
“Do you know anything else about the informant?”
“I once heard Mederos tell Buck the informant was the reason he came to El Rio. He owed Mederos ’cuz of somethin’ when they were teenagers.”
“What?”
“He never said.”
Cade would go to Judge Duggin and get a warrant for Buck’s cell phone records. Maybe something would pan out. He could also look into anyone working for the police who might have a connection to Mederos when they grew up, someone who wasn’t originally from here. At least he could rule out Paul who’d lived in El Rio his whole life. “Where were you taking your hostage?”
“To an abandoned house in San Antonio.”
“Why that far?”
“You’ll have to ask Buck that. I don’t think Jones knew. He told me he was following orders.”
“Did you burn my barn down and start a grass fire?”
Blackwell shook his head. “But Tomas and Buck left the garage that night. I saw them put some gallon cans in the back of a car. I don’t know though for sure they set your barn on fire.”
Cade shoved to his feet. That would be a question to ask Tomas. “I’ll be back in a minute. I want to make sure everything is set for your—”
“No, you can’t leave me alone here! I’ve helped you. You gotta help me.”
“I’m just going to the main room to check on something.” Besides seeing when the US Marshals would arrive, he wanted to make sure Tory was back from the courtroom and was okay.
Blackwell jumped to his feet and jerked on the chains anchoring him to the table. Terror ravished the teen’s face. “Take me with you!”
Cade moved back to the table and placed his hand on the teen’s shoulder. “Sit. I’ll stay.”
* * *
Tory strolled into the police station, flanked by two officers. Tired but elated that the defense had finished questioning Carlos today, and her witness was being transported back to his safe house, soon to leave for a new life. Now all she wanted to do was hug Michelle and never let her go.
Paul led her to his office past one gang member—Tomas Jones—and opened the door for her. When she stepped inside, Michelle leaped from the couch and threw her arms around Tory.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I wasn’t thinking this morning.”
“I know, baby.” The feel of Michelle clasped against her soothed her anxiety. All the way through the trial today, she had to force herself to focus on what was going on in the courtroom. But for the time being she needed to forget her job and center on her daughter. They had to talk about what Michelle had discovered. “Are you ready to go home?”
Her daughter nodded and started gathering her bag.
Tory glanced at Ben. “Where’s Cade? I thought he would be in here with you all.”
“For the past two hours, he’s been in the interview room with a suspect. He shouldn’t be too much longer.”
Which kidnapper was he interviewing? The guy who wanted the deal or one of the other two? As much as she wanted to know, she would spend time with Michelle and wait on Cade. Her job was to prosecute—Cade’s was to apprehend. She needed to respect those boundaries and mend her family.
Tory sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. “Tell me what you’ve been working on today.”
Beside her, Michelle showed her the schoolwork she’d done. “It’s not much. I slept half the day.”
“Did you get any rest last night?”
Michelle shook her head. “I was too mad.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I was only six years older than you when I made that decision. It seemed like the right one at the time.” Tory looked at Ben. “Now I don’t know that it was.”
“But remember that time I asked you if I was adopted because a friend was and you told me no.”
“Which is true. You weren’t adopted.” All Tory wanted to do was keep Michelle close to her.
“But Dad wasn’t my father.”
“In his heart he was. He raised you, loved you and cared for you as if you were. He wanted to be a father so badly and you were his one chance at being a dad.”
“He couldn’t have children?”
“No, but when he found that out, he only told me. Grandpa and Grandma Carson don’t know that he couldn’t.”
Ben cleared his throat. “I’ll go try and rush my nephew along.”
When the door closed behind Ben, Michelle rubbed her hands together, something she did when she was nervous. “I don’t know if I can think of anyone else as my dad.”
“I’m not asking you to, and I don’t think Cade is either.”
“He saved me today.” Michelle shuddered and crossed her arms as though the temperature had suddenly plunged. “I was so scared in the trunk. I saw Cade come into the diner and knew he was there for me. I hurried to the bathroom and crawled out the window. Then everything happened so fast. I tried to fight. But I couldn’t.”
Tory remembered seeing Tomas Jones being guarded by Officer McKay. Tomas was big, muscular and frightening with a lot of his body covered in tattoos—one being a skull and crossbones prominently showcased on his arm as all members of the biker gang had. “Honey, you have to decide what you’re comfortable with.”
“If I hadn’t overheard y’all talking, would you have ever told me who Cade was?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. Cade and I haven’t really talked about the future much.”
“Do you love him?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“Why not?”
“Because all I’ve been doing is living one day at a time ever since our house was broken into. My feelings are all jumbled up.”
Michelle stood and stared at her. “Did you love him once?”
“Very much.”
“Dad?”
“I loved him too.”
“How can you love two men at the same time?”
Tory felt as though she were in the witness box being drilled by a prosecutor. “My love for Derek was different than what I felt for Cade. I’m not going to kid you. When I married Derek, we were great friends. He will always have a special place in my heart. We—I grew to love him.”
Michelle’s eyes clouded. “He didn’t love you?”
“No, he did. I think that’s why he wanted to marry me. He told me after a few years he never regretted marrying me.”
Michelle massaged her fingertips into her temples. “This is so much to take in.”
“Baby, I want you to take your time. I don’t want you to feel pressured into feeling something you don’t.” Right after her wedding to Derek, she’d felt guilty that she couldn’t forget Cade. Finally after several years, thoughts of Cade had faded—only to return when he came back.
Does that mean I still love him?
A light rap on the door sounded followed by it being opened. Cade gave them a tired smile. “Are y’all ready to go to your home? Uncle Ben is already planning what he’s fixing for dinner.”
“What?” Michelle asked, almost shyly with her gaze lowering.
“My kind of food. Steak, baked potato and a salad. Easy and delicious.”
Tory slung her arm over Michelle’s shoulders. “I’m starving. We’ll have to stop at the grocery store to get a few supplies.”
“Uncle Ben already suggested that. We’ll wait outside. He told me he could fly through the place and get what he wants in ten minutes.”
Tory released a long breath. “Not having to cook this past ten days has been a treat for me.”
As Tory emerged from the police chief’s office, she caught a glimpse of Leon Blackwell being escorted out the rear of the building with two men. Her gaze rested on Cade. “US Marshals?”
He nodded. “We’re in a good place.”
Tory wanted to believe that and relax, but she couldn’t let go of the tension she’d endured the past couple of weeks. It still dug deep into her.
* * *
When the bell rang, Cade started for the front door, but Tory beat him to it.
“Come in, Paul. I was hoping you would stop by and let me know what’s happening since Leon Blackwell talked.” Tory moved to allow the police chief into her house that evening.
“Buck has been arrested and Tomas Jones has expressed interest in a deal too. Several of the gang members have disappeared. We think they’ve fled before they were arrested. With the help of Blackwell and Jones we’ll be able to take down a lot of gang members.” He walked into the living room. “I could have called you with that info, but I haven’t felt this optimistic in years. I wanted to share it in person.”
“So do you think I’m safe now?” Tory took a chair across from Paul in her living room.
Cade came up beside her. “I’ll answer that. As soon as we can account for who murdered Judge Parks and why, as well as who was the sniper on the building behind the courthouse and the incidents at my ranch, then you can breathe easier. Until then I suggest caution.” Earlier when Tory and Michelle returned to their home, they both had hung out in the living room or kitchen. Cade was glad his daughter and Uncle Ben were in the utility room helping Bella finally give birth. After dinner that had kept Michelle’s mind off what had been done over a week ago to her bedroom and the bathroom.
“Tomas finally admitted to setting your barn on fire and hanging an inflatable doll from the rafters as part of his plea bargaining. But I still agree with Cade about using caution. So far we know Mederos or his gang has been behind the trashing of your house and the attempted kidnapping of Michelle. We’re still unclear about the judge and the other shooting at the courthouse. After everything settled down, I had a chat with Mederos again about Judge Parks. As expected, he still denies his gang’s, especially his little brother’s, involvement.”
Tory sat forward. “And the courthouse shooting?”
Paul nodded. “I have Detective Alexander and Officer McKay heading to speak with Kara Myers about Pedro. Sheriff deputies are backing them up in case Pedro is there and tries to flee. When arresting Buck, we had a warrant to search the garage where the gang hangs out. We found some guns, but none that fit what was used by the sniper or Judge Parks’s murder.”
“Were all the weapons legal?” Cade asked and sat in the chair next to Tory. After all the highs and lows of the day, exhaustion set in.
“No and that meant we could take a couple more gang members to jail. We didn’t get all.” Paul grinned. “It’s quite crowded with Mederos and his followers. And I ain’t complaining.”
Tory finally relaxed against the back chair cushion. “It sounds like we owe Leon for starting the landslide of good news.”
“This is when I love my job. I think Mederos in jail awaiting trial has caused some doubts and unrest with the gang. He ruled with an iron fist.” Paul rose and started toward the entry hall. “Oh, just as a precaution, I’m keeping an officer outside your house until at least the Mederos trial is over.”
“You don’t have to. Uncle Ben and I are staying until all the loose ends are tied up.” Cade couldn’t explain why he felt there was more going on than what had been revealed. He hoped that Detective Alexander brought in Pedro and that he would confess to the murder.
Paul paused at the front door. “Are y’all going to stay in town here or go back to the ranch?”
Cade stepped closer. “I don’t know. The only part of my house damaged was the garage, which I have people coming to fix. Michelle still hasn’t gone down the hall to the bedrooms and bathroom. This might not be a good place for her right now.”
“I can’t blame the girl for feeling like that. Let me know if you move.”
“Will do.” Cade shook Paul’s hand. “Thanks for offering an officer outside the house, but I know how stretched you are right now, especially with the extra prisoners at the jail. Right now she’s excited about Bella having her puppies. Maybe that’ll take her mind off things.”
After the police chief left, Cade returned to the living room, stopping a moment in the entrance. Tory laid her head against the side of the wingback, her eyes closed. She looked so tired and vulnerable. The urge to kiss her swamped him. Through the years, he’d dedicated his life to his job, protecting his heart against falling in love a second time. He never wanted to go through that pain again.
He crossed the room and headed for the kitchen. As he entered, Uncle Ben exclaimed, “That’s the last puppy.”
“Three pups. I’ve never seen a live birth before.”
The excitement in Michelle’s voice drew Cade to the utility room. His uncle and daughter knelt on the floor next to the large cardboard box they had made up for Bella.
Cade approached and looked at the newborn puppies. Bella was licking the last one born.
Michelle looked up at him and beamed. “They’re so cute.”
“Yep.” Seeing the new pups reminded him that life went on in spite of bad things happening all around them.
“I want to sleep in here in case Bella needs me.” Her grin grew. “Please.”
His heart melted. Emotions he’d tried to deny himself all these years swelled into his throat. He swallowed hard and said, “You need to ask your mother.” He was her father, but he still didn’t feel he had a right to make decisions concerning Michelle other than safety ones right now. Maybe in the future that would change. The hope that her smile had given him expanded.
Michelle stood. “Where’s Mom?”
“In the living room—” his daughter passed him and was across the kitchen before he finished saying “—taking a cat nap.”
Uncle Ben chuckled. “A gal on a mission. I think Bella picked the perfect time to have her pups. The past few hours have taken Michelle’s mind off what’s happening.”
“I agree.”
“She’s talking about having her own puppy. You might say something to Tory.”
“Yeah. We still haven’t really talked about what everyone avoided mentioning at dinner.”
“Give Michelle time to process it all. She hasn’t had much time with everything that’s going on.”
“I don’t even know what Tory really t
hinks. We haven’t talked much about the situation now that Michelle knows. We’ve been dealing with one crisis after another.”
“And that doesn’t allow either one of you enough time to handle all the feelings I’m sure you’re both experiencing. I know how much you loved Tory when you left for your assignment overseas. Those feelings didn’t go away overnight. Nor what you felt when you learned of her marriage. Maybe this is your second chance.”
At what? Being a father? A husband? To have a deeper relationship than casual? “I’d better go see what Tory has decided about where Michelle will sleep.”
“You know it’s an avoidance tactic on Michelle’s part. She doesn’t want to sleep in her bedroom alone.”
“Yes.”
Cade made his way to the living room. The sound of Tory’s and his daughter’s voices drifted to him. At least there wasn’t any shouting. That was a good sign.
“I don’t know, Michelle. You’ll be sleeping on the hard floor.” Tory glanced at him.
“How about that blow-up mattress we have? I really want to do it. What if something happened to Bella or one of the puppies?”
Tory’s forehead scrunched. “I’m not sure where I put it.”
“It’s in the garage with the camping equipment we used when Grandpa and Grandma took us to Big Bend National Park.”
“If you want, I’ll go with her and bring it inside the house.” Cade leaned against the entrance into the living room, suddenly wanting to avoid what needed to be discussed. He wasn’t an indecisive person, and it was strange to find himself doing a task rather than sitting down and getting the inevitable over with.
Tory leaned forward. “If you’re sure, Michelle, it’s fine with me, but you’ll have to go to your bedroom soon. Paul and my secretary made sure everything was put back in place. We have a state-of-the-art alarm system with sensors on each window, and Cade and Ben will be here for a few days. We’re safe.”
Did she feel that way? A forcefulness to her words made Cade question that last sentence, but maybe Michelle didn’t hear it. Tory certainly was trying to put up a brave front, but there were still a lot of unanswered questions in this case.
High-Risk Reunion Page 15