by Taylor Lee
Tanya flinched, then shrugged free of his hold. Tossing her head, she said flippantly, “Sorry, Agent Thompson, that’s not an option.”
When he grabbed her arm and jerked her up next to him, his eyes flashing dangerously, she said with a soft smile, “Relax, big guy. I already gave it back to him. Yesterday.”
****
“While I sure as hell better know that I’m wrong, please tell me, Tanya, that Ryker Thompson didn’t put that bruise on your arm or the one on your cheek.”
Certain she had more than a few marks on her butt cheeks, Tanya stifled a grin and forced herself to meet her father’s glare. Glancing at the mottled bruise on her upper arm, she said, “Uh, no, Dad, he . . . Ryker didn’t do that.” She added quickly, “I mean, he didn’t put a bruise there . . . ”
The glimmer of a smile that lit his eyes disappeared as quickly as it had come. Instead, a deeply troubled frown creased her father’s brow. The fact that he strode onto her deck without so much as saying good morning confirmed that her usually controlled father was angry. Seeing the storm clouds looming in his dark eyes, she knew that he must have talked to Ryker.
Deciding she may as well try to explain, she said, “Dad, I know that you and Ryker have talked. But you need to know that he is excitable—”
“Excitable?! Goddammit, Tanya, stop now. Not another word. And yes, Agent Thompson and I have talked, and I am now aware that because you refused to bring me into the crime we are working, you were nearly killed last night after being gang-raped by a group of drunken men, one of whom is virtually certain to be the man who killed Violeta Acedo.”
Seeing that the pain in his eyes was even stronger than his anger, Tanya’s protest died in her throat. She put up her hands in defeat and sighed. “I’m sorry, Dad. I really am. I . . . I know that I should have talked to you, told you what I was thinking, and, yes, brought you into it. I . . . I just didn’t think you would agree.”
His voice was ice cold. “You are correct, Deputy. I would not have agreed to nor permitted you to do such a foolhardy and illegal thing. Surely you understand, Tanya, that even if you’d found the evidence you were looking for, because it was an illegal search it would have been inadmissible in court? Not only could you have been badly hurt or killed, but you would have made it virtually impossible for me to bring Manny Davis to justice.”
Tanya blew out an aggrieved sigh and shook her head. “I . . . I don’t know what I can say, Dad . . . ”
The sheriff’s response was sharp. “There is nothing you can say, Deputy Trouble. Do know that if it were not for Agent Thompson, you would not spend another minute on the Acedo murder case.” Holding up his hand, Tanya’s response died in her throat upon seeing the anger straining his expression. “Moreover, you would be on desk duty for the next ten days, a punishment that I would likely re-up at the end of that probationary period.” Stopping her protest, he continued, “However, for reasons I’m not sure I understand, and can’t explain, I have agreed with Agent Thompson that you are likely the only person who can get the evidence we need to arrest and convict Manny Davis. For that reason, I will permit you to put your plan in action. The plan that Agent Thompson was good enough and professional enough to run by me.”
“But, Dad, we just came up with the plan a few minutes . . . ”
“Enough, Tanya. You and I both know that the chance you would have brought me into the discussion is close to nil. A fact that is as hurtful as it is disrespectful. Fortunately, Agent Thompson doesn’t share your foibles. Even so, knowing you as well as I do, I’m insisting that Detective Sorenson accompany you in your forays today. I will make it clear to him that if you get so much as three feet away from him, I will fire you both on the spot.”
Seeing how deeply she’d hurt her beloved father, Tanya was chagrined and saddened. For once, she couldn’t bring herself to argue. Instead, she merely nodded and said softly, “I’m sorry, Dad. Truly sorry.”
Titus stood silently for a long moment, then reached for her. She felt his tremor and wasn’t surprised when his voice broke. “God, Tanya, you could have been killed. And . . . and in such a hideous way.”
She leaned against him and whispered, “I know, Dad, I know. But between you and Ryker, you saved me.”
Not responding, Titus held her for a long moment, clearly trying to compose himself. He cleared his throat. “I understand that you are going to accompany us this evening when Ryker brings his investigation to a close.” When she nodded, he added, “I don’t have to tell you, Tanya, that our arrogant agent is an impressive man.”
She smiled up at him through her tears. “No, Dad, you don’t have to tell me. He is that and so much more.”
Chapter 31
Thank you for meeting me, Cheryl. I know we didn’t part on very good terms the last time we talked.”
The sullen young woman shrugged and muttered, “I wonder why? And just so you know, Deputy Trouble, I’m not going to tell you anything that I didn’t tell you then. I know you are trying to get me in trouble. But like I told you then, Manny Davis didn’t rape me.”
Tanya nodded, then said carefully, “I know what you said, Cheryl. In my mind, what Manny Davis did to you amounted to rape. However, because you fiercely disagreed and neither you nor your parents would press charges, I wasn’t able to make that charge stick.” She put up her hands in acceptance. “I was glad that at least Manny spent time in jail on the lesser charges of drunk and disorderly and cohabiting with a minor. If I’d had my way, he would be in prison today, serving out a long sentence.”
Studying the flushed woman who refused to meet her gaze, Tanya let the silence stand for a long moment. She knew she had to be careful. Cheryl Remington had been fierce in her denials, and the fact that she wouldn’t submit to a rape kit had made it impossible for Tanya to prove that the then sixteen-year-old had engaged in sex, consensual or not, with a twenty-eight-year-old man. She could only hope that she could reach the scowling eighteen-year-old by circuitous means, if necessary. She went for the strongest hook she had: jealousy.
“I’m curious, Cheryl, are you still seeing Manny Davis?”
Cheryl glared at her and spit out, “Why do you care, Deputy Trouble? What’s it to you if I am or not?”
Tanya shrugged. “I’m just curious. Although I have to admit, I’d be surprised if you were.”
“Why? Because Manny might be afraid of you? Of what you’d do?”
Tanya pretended to think for a moment and then shrugged. “No, Manny has made it clear he doesn’t value my opinion or me. However, I’ve noticed that you seem to have worked your way out of Manny’s interest.”
Cheryl shot out, “Yeah, right.” She added bitterly, “Thanks to you!”
Tanya sighed. “No, honey, because of you.”
While Cheryl glared at her, Tanya didn’t miss the query behind her hostile stare. “What did I do, Deputy Trouble? I would have—”
Tanya interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. “You would have continued to do anything he asked you to do. I know that, Cheryl. The problem was that he’d stopped asking.”
“Because of you!”
“No, sweetheart, because you did something that in Manny’s mind was unpardonable. You got older.”
Watching the play of emotions flashing across her face, ranging from disbelief to anger and finally to halting acknowledgement, Tanya was gratified when Cheryl looked down, refusing to look at her.
She allowed the silence to take hold and then said carefully, “Unfortunately, or in my mind, fortunately, you got older. Let’s face it, honey, Manny has a thing for younger women. To be precise, younger girls.”
When Cheryl refused to answer but her trembling lip betrayed her emotion, Tanya aimed for the fence. “Young girls who are only fifteen years old—in their first year of high school.” When Cheryl looked up at her, shocked, Tanya said softly, “Girls like Marcie Jones and . . . Violeta Acedo.”
Tanya let the silence stand for a moment. She had to
be careful. After all, Cheryl had prevented her from convicting Manny Davis two years ago, so the last thing she wanted to do was give her any reason to support him now. Calling on her angels to give her something she had precious little of, patience, she reached for Cheryl’s hand and squeezed it.
“Cheryl, I know this is hard. But, honey, you’re not a sixteen-year-old girl now; you are a woman. I don’t know if you knew Violeta Acedo.” When Cheryl shook her head, refusing to look up, Tanya said, “She was a lovely young girl. A fifteen-year-old girl, like you were when you first met Manny.” She paused for a moment, then said softly, “I don’t know how, if ever, her parents will be able to survive her death. They are agonized with grief. You see, Violeta was not only raped but was savagely beaten and choked.”
At Cheryl’s shocked gasp, Tanya doubled down. “In fact, the coroner ruled that Violeta was strangled to death.”
Cheryl stared at her for a long moment, then rested her head on her arms on the table, her body shaking with sobs. After a moment, she raised her tear-stained face and asked in a tremulous voice, “Are you saying that I’m to blame?”
Tanya shook her head wearily. “No, honey, you truly were a kid.” She didn’t say that if she blamed anyone, she blamed Cheryl’s pathetic mother who had refused to authorize a rape kit because she didn’t want people to think that her underage daughter was sexually promiscuous. “No, Cheryl, if I blame anyone, I blame myself since I wasn’t able to put together a strong enough case.” She waited for a full moment until she was sure she had the shaken woman’s attention. “Which is why I’m here today. I need your help, Cheryl. Without evidence, I can’t convict Manny of the crime that I am one hundred percent sure that he committed.”
“You . . . you want me to testify against him?”
“Yes, Cheryl, I do.”
“Why would anyone believe me? They . . . all the guys will just say I’m jealous that he didn’t want me anymore and went after a younger kid.”
“You’re right. That’s exactly what Manny and his friends likely will say. That’s why I need concrete evidence. I’m going to tell you something that only a few of us know, and that is precisely how Violeta died, because I’m convinced that you were lucky, Cheryl. What Manny did to you, he did to Violeta.” She let the silence stand, then said, “I’m going to prove it not only with your testimony, but with concrete evidence that you are going to help me find.”
****
Tanya laughed when she saw Gunnar waiting for her under the awning of the coffee shop. She punched his arm and shook her head in amusement. “Taking your babysitting duties seriously, eh, partner?”
Gunnar snorted. “I dunno, Deputy Trouble, in that you’ve never had an interest in my dangly parts, and probably don’t much care if your daddy chops them off and hangs them from the highest flagpole he can find. Which is what Sheriff Trouble said would happen to me if I let you out of my sight for a fraction of a second.”
Tanya shook her head and didn’t try to hide her grin. “So that’s why you had your nose pressed up against the café window, just in case I made a run for it?”
“You ain’t shootin’ the shit, girl. Hell, Sheriff Trouble is about the nicest and calmest person I know. He would have to be to put up with you three girls, most especially with you! Damn, Tanya, I don’t know how the sheriff’s got by with only a smattering of gray hair. I swear to God, I’ll have more than he does by the time I’m thirty, trying to keep you from getting killed.”
Tanya poked him in the stomach and said with a saucy tilt of her head, “Come on, Gunnar, I’m not that hard to control.”
Again, Gunnar blew out a hard snort. “Says the woman who would have been beaten to death two times now if it wasn’t for that Burke guy.”
Tanya turned her head, not wanting Gunnar to see her wince. She could have told him that his numbers were off. The third time Manny had gone after her could have truly been the charm—the time he actually did kill her if it hadn’t been for “that Burke guy.” She couldn’t wait to get back to the precinct if she was going to keep from telling Gunnar her great news. As it was, it was almost impossible to keep from shouting from the rooftops that she was within inches of proving beyond a doubt that Manny Davis was a murderer. That was, if she could find the evidence that Cheryl had told her she’d likely find—now that she knew where to look.
****
“I’m impressed, Tanya. Not only that your instincts were on target but that you managed to convince Cheryl Remington to help you.”
Tanya sniffed. “C’mon, Dad, you know that as much of a brat that I am, I’m a pretty good interrogator if I don’t let my contempt for the perp get in my way.” At Titus’s raised brow, she continued. “No, Dad, you would have been proud of me. And it wasn’t as though Cheryl was a perp.” She sighed. “No, she was much more important than that. She could truly make or break our case.” Blowing out an audible breath, she added, “Which is why I’m glad that I was able to act like you and Ryker do. Calm, focused, and not confrontational.”
While her father’s smile was fleeting, he confirmed that his anger with her had lessened when he said, “Don’t sell yourself short, Tanya. According to Agent Thompson, it was your insights that led to what we hope will be the evidence that brings Manny down. Ryker was impressed.”
“I’m glad that he was, but honestly, I knew I was on to something but couldn’t put my finger on it. Somehow, someway, just by asking pertinent questions, Ryker helped me figure out what I’d been missing all along.”
Her father nodded and said with a wink, “Hmm, so you discovered that by sharing your thoughts with a colleague, especially one as adept as our arrogant agent, you were able to achieve what we hope is a breakthrough in this challenging murder?”
Tanya put up her hands in defeat and then said with an ironic grin, “Yeah, Dad, even now I’m amazed. He did what you do when I let you: he kept pressing me, asking one incisive question after another until I suddenly got it. What had been there the whole time but I just couldn’t see it. And suddenly our plan fell in place.” She hesitated, for the first time showing her concern. “That is, if we can find what I’m sure we will find.” She pinned him with a hopeful glance. “When did District Attorney Turner think he could get the warrant?”
“By this evening at the latest. He knows how urgent it is.” He studied her for a moment, then said, “I’m impressed that you brought Ryker into the discussion, Tanya. In that it’s taken me twenty-five years to work around your prickliness and aversion to sharing your thoughts.”
“That’s not true, Dad. God, I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t sit with you at night going over our cases.”
“I agree, but like I said, it’s taken me two and a half decades to get to that point with you.” He pursed his lips and narrowed his gaze. “Which makes me wonder what tricks the impressive and, as we have said repeatedly said, arrogant agent has up his sleeve that I don’t.”
Tanya knew her father must see the flush burning her cheeks. It didn’t take the sly grin crossing his face to know that he had seen enough of their antics to know at least some of Ryker’s tricks. She only hoped he didn’t know them all. It had been all she could do today to keep from flinching when she sat down. She even thought she might need to start carrying a soft pillow. The worst part was that the memory of his hands on her ass sent a shower of illicit sparks over her much too susceptible core, which she was sure brightened her flush even more.
Apparently deciding to give her a break, Titus glanced at his watch. “While we’re waiting for Turner to get the warrant, we have another engagement. As impressed as I am with your insights, Tanya, I’m glad that you agreed to join Ryker and me tonight. If all goes as Agent Thompson has ensured it will, you are about to witness a consummate agent in action.”
Tanya smiled at him. “C’mon, Dad, I’ve been watching a consummate lawman my entire life. Are you saying that Ryker Thompson comes close to you, Sheriff Trouble?”
Titus winked at her.
“Damn close.” He repeated with a grin, “Yep, honey, pretty damn close!”
Chapter 32
Well, well, well. This must be an even more auspicious evening than I anticipated.” Barrett Meier reached for Tanya’s hand, then turned it over and kissed her palm. Grinning at her, he said, “Please, Deputy Trouble, don’t keep me in suspense. To what do I owe this honor? If I’m not mistaken, your long-suffering father and this young whippersnapper have invited you to attend at least two prior meetings with me. Both of which you spurned.”
Pulling her next to him, the heavyset man led her into the spacious library, leaving Ryker and Titus following in their wake. “But never mind what convinced you to grace us with your presence, Tanya. I will simply say that a meeting I knew would be propitious has become even more so. Come, my dear, we simply must choose the appropriate libation for this important occasion.”
Tanya smiled at him and carefully unwrapped herself from his grip. While she’d always liked Meier, she was surprised at his effusive greeting. The strong whiff of alcohol and the moisture on his upper lip confirmed that Barrett had already been celebrating—more than likely for several hours. Surprised but grateful, she felt Ryker close in behind her. She didn’t have to look up to know it was him. His scent alone confirmed his powerful presence. Allowing herself to lean in next to him, she saw Meier’s eyes widen. He stepped back, a surprised grin splitting his florid face. His hearty laugh said it all.
“Ah, but of course. How could I not have expected it?” Glancing at Ryker, he turned back to Tanya and chortled, “It’s all about him, isn’t it, my dear?” He held up his hand, stopping her words. “No need to dissemble, my fair deputy. It was one thing for Agent Thompson to co-opt your honorable father to his side in the kerfuffle we are in. But your presence confirms that our arrogant young friend has managed to pull off an even bigger coup than he planned to unveil tonight.”