The Negotiation

by Tyler Anne Snell

  “Or a new start,” his friend pointed out. “One that I’m assuming involves a certain middle school art teacher. How’s she doing, by the way? I haven’t had a chance to really sit down and chat since you landed in here.”

  Dane let out a sigh. He was still tired even after spending half the morning sleeping.

  “I’ve known that woman for years, and let me tell you, she still finds ways to surprise me.” Even Dane heard the pride in his voice. “She’s in damage control mode, trying to collect everything that fell between the cracks during the case and also deal with the aftermath of it. She has a habit of putting everyone before herself. She even flew in my dad to help out with Lonnie so she could stay near me.” Dane snorted. “I think the toughest negotiation of my career was convincing her to go to lunch with Marnie.”

  “Not that I’m sure you mind having her around,” Chance added.

  “There definitely are worse things in life.” They shared another grin before Dane became serious again. “Once things settle down, I think she’ll finally start to process everything. She was really put through the wringer with this one. You should have seen her yelling at Marcus. I swear she would have attacked him with her bare fists if I hadn’t grabbed her.” Dane started to fist his hand as anger rose in his chest. He took a second to rein it back. “David, Tracy and the other men were dead before the prison van being taken was reported. There was nothing either of us ever could have done to save them. It’s still a lot to process. For both of us.”

  Chance took off his cowboy hat and nodded. He gave Dane a moment to swim back to sturdier emotional ground. “So, part of the reason I haven’t been around here is that I’ve been out trying to tie up loose ends and questions,” he started. “I’ve learned a few things I thought might interest you.”

  Chance relayed information that Dane had forgotten to look for in all the chaos. He knew the FBI had found the radio equipment with the broadcast, but he hadn’t heard anything past that in the bustle of his recovery.

  “It was in the upstairs bedroom of a duplex out in Kipsy. There was bubble wrap covering the walls of one of the bedrooms, acting like makeshift soundproofing. Turns out the duplex belonged to Levi’s grandparents and was willed to him after they passed. It looks like that’s where our motley crew of crazies was meeting until they took up residence at Rachel’s.”

  “Then why soundproof the place if they just planned on moving?”

  A disgusted look passed over Chance’s expression. “Levi said that’s where they planned on taking Lonnie after they grabbed him from the school. They were going to keep him there while they went after you and Rachel. Apparently, Levi and the others told Marcus they were concerned Lonnie might get loud. Marcus didn’t want to gag the boy, so he decided to make a room where, no matter how loud Lonnie yelled, no one would hear him.” Chance shook his head. “Me and Detective Foster tested it. I yelled my head off and Caleb never heard a thing.”

  Dane popped his knuckles, trying to get a hold on the new wave of anger pushing through him.

  “Which brings me to the dog crates...” Chance continued. His expression lost its edge. His shoulder relaxed a bit. He smirked. “Turns out Wyatt was really into crime television shows. On one he saw this group of people confuse the cops by stealing a bunch of random things.”

  “So he thought he could throw everyone off their trail by stealing two things they needed and then one random thing?”

  Chance made a finger gun. “Bingo.”

  Dane had to laugh at that.

  Chance shrugged. “I guess it worked a little,” he admitted. “I did take the time to go to every vet in the county asking anything and everything about dog crates. But want to know the kicker? I don’t think I would have looked into it had they not taken three really bizarre things. Two? Maybe. But throw in the dog crates and I couldn’t resist diving in.”

  “I’m sure Levi and Javier regret listening to Wyatt now. They’ll be in prison for a very long time.”

  Chance smiled. “Music to my ears.”

  Dane knew the topic of Tucker Hughes wasn’t far away, so he decided to address it now. “Tucker talked with Lonnie yesterday. I convinced the doctor to let me take a wheelchair in with him. Rachel was there, too. She convinced me that, even though we now know Tucker wasn’t anywhere near a saint, he was the only family Lonnie had ever known and Lonnie deserved to ask his own questions.”

  “How’d that go?”

  Dane’s heart ached a little. “Lonnie tried playing it tough but did a lot of yelling. Tucker surprised us, though. He actually said all the right things, considering. And not once tried to defend himself. He also offered to answer any of Lonnie’s questions about his real parents. He told me where he knew Marcus had kept all the photo albums of them, which I think helped Lonnie.” He smiled. The look was genuine. “Then Lonnie did what he does best and surprised us all. He forgave Tucker right then and there.”

  Tucker might not have loved Lonnie the way he should have, but Dane knew being forgiven by the boy had meant something to him. He’d told Dane right after Lonnie and Rachel had left that if they ever had questions for him about Lonnie or his biological family, they could write him in prison and he’d respond without any ill feelings.

  Tucker never said it, but Dane also recognized the relief in the man. The stress of being under Marcus’s command since they were teens was finally gone. He was glad everything was over, even if it meant he was going behind bars.

  “That kid’s something else,” Chance said after a moment passed. “But what happens to him now? Wasn’t Marcus his last living relative?”

  Dane nodded.

  “But just because his biological family is gone doesn’t mean he’s short on people who care.” Dane grinned.

  Chance raised his eyebrow, but Dane knew the cowboy caught on to what he wasn’t saying.

  Then it was Chance who was smiling.

  “Well, that boy definitely deserves a happy ending,” he said.

  Dane couldn’t agree more.

  * * *

  RACHEL TOTED A slice of chocolate cake up to Dane’s hospital room with a pep in her step and a song in her heart. She’d just gotten good news from Billy and had an even better talk with Lonnie. Now she had cake.

  Her good mood only rocketed when she walked into the hospital room and was met with a wide smile from Dane Jones.

  “Howdy,” he greeted her. “You just missed Chance.”

  His eyes went to the container. It had a clear plastic top. His eyes widened. “Is that double-chocolate fudge cake?”

  Rachel winked. “Good eye, Captain.”

  She crossed the room, gave him a quick peck and perched next to him on the bed.

  “God, you’re amazing,” he breathed, taking the cake. “I’m going to save this for tonight, though. That’s when my sweet tooth always punches me.” He put the container on the side table.

  Then he did what Dane Jones did best. He gave her a look that Rachel felt in her bones. It was quiet and perfect and real. It prompted her to finally say what she’d been trying to for days. She took a deep breath and put his hand firmly between both of hers.

  Concern crossed his expression. She didn’t give him a chance to ask why it was there.

  “When you told me you loved me, I didn’t say it back,” Rachel started. “I should have, but then you gave me that look.” She averted her eyes for a moment, searching for the right words. The ones that would make him finally understand.

  The ones that would hopefully set him free.

  “What look?”

  Rachel ran her thumb across the top of his. She met his stare. “That one that said you felt guilty for loving me because of David.”

  Dane opened his mouth to say something but she cut him off. “Don’t try to deny it. I know how you think. How can you be happy with me of all people when David can’t be he
re? But I have something to say to that and I want you to listen, okay?”

  For a moment she didn’t think Dane would agree, but then he nodded.

  She took another small breath and then said what was in her heart. “We have a lot of things in common, you and me. But one of my favorite things we share is David. You loved him. I loved him. But, Dane, he also loved us. Nothing will ever change those facts. Not even if we love each other. And, Dane, I do love you. I really do.” She smiled. “And if David knew you were using him as an excuse not to be happy, well, then he’d kick your tail, Dane Jones. And you know that’s the God’s honest truth.”

  Dane surprised her with a laugh. Rachel loved the sound.

  “You’re right,” he conceded. “He’d probably go find and put on those boots he got at the rodeo to do it, too. What did he call them again? The really terrible red ones.”

  “Ass-kickers,” she supplied.

  Dane chuckled. Rachel kept smiling.

  “You see? Just because we can move forward and he can’t doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about him,” she continued. “It just means we’re moving on. And David would have wanted that for us.”

  Rachel’s eyes widened as Dane pulled his hand from between her own. But then he reached out and grabbed her chin. Gently he pulled her into a kiss.

  It was warm and soft and wonderful.

  However the most exciting part was everything else that would follow it.

  Dane broke the kiss with a smile already across his lips. “One helluva year.”

  Epilogue

  “This is madness.”

  Dane took a step back and ran a hand through his hair. There was no way they were going to be able to pull it off. It was crazy that they were even attempting it.

  “I haven’t been trained for this,” he added.

  Rachel rolled her eyes.

  “This isn’t madness, Dane. This is cake,” she deadpanned. “The cake, I might mention, that we had to make and decorate last minute because you dropped the last one. Now stop your griping and hand me that bottle of sprinkles.”

  She might have had her grumpy face on but Rachel’s voice let him know she was still amused. Still, he gave her the sprinkles and tried for the umpteenth time to defend his mistake. Or really, shift blame to someone else.

  “It’s not my fault Olivia decided she wanted to swan-dive off her high chair while I was trying to move it. I made a very valid decision to sacrifice the cake to keep our daughter from busting open her head. I’m sure Cassie will understand.”

  Rachel dusted the birthday cake with, in his opinion, too many sprinkles. The professional cake they’d bought had been perfect. Their new backup cake? Disaster. But he wasn’t going to tell his wife that. Not after she’d been so excited to play hostess for the party.

  “I’m not questioning you saving that wild child of ours,” she pointed out. “I’m questioning why you moved the cake in the first place when I told you to not touch it.”

  Dane looked away, trying to act nonchalant.

  It made her laugh. “Can you tell me again why you moved it?”

  Dane muttered the answer.

  “Say again, Captain? I don’t think I heard that.”

  “I was looking for the remote!”

  Rachel tried to look stern but it didn’t last long. She shook her head and continued to laugh. Dane rolled his eyes and was prepared to launch into another defense when the doorbell rang. Nerves flashed across Rachel’s face. He laughed and dipped in to kiss her cheek.

  “Everyone is going to love it,” he assured her.

  She let out a sigh but smiled. “You get that and I’ll go get Olivia changed.”

  Dane complied with the instruction. He didn’t stop as Rachel called after him, “And don’t move the cake this time!”

  It had been a little over three years since the Saviors of the South and their leader had been stopped. In that time a lot had changed and a lot had stayed the same. Dane had asked Rachel to marry him two months into dating and then moved in with her shortly after. He’d been asked if it was weird to live in the family home of her late husband, but Dane had been the one who’d suggested it. David had always wanted to keep the house and the land it sat on in the family, and that was exactly what Dane and Rachel intended to do. David’s picture was proudly displayed on their mantel with the rest of their family, and they wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

  Dane opened the front door wide and had to adjust his gaze down slightly.

  “Hey, Mr. Jones!” Jude Carrington chirped, his red hair wild. He thrust his thumb backward to the car idling in the drive. “Did you see my new ride? Well, I can’t technically drive it yet, but my mom said that I can have it when my brother goes to college. Isn’t it cool?” Dane gave a wave to Mrs. Carrington and laughed. The car was dated but solid, a dream for a fourteen-year-old obsessed with cars. Which Jude definitely was.

  “That’s pretty cool,” Dane admitted.

  Jude nodded again and then yelled into the house, “Hey, Lonnie, come look at my car!”

  Dane couldn’t help laughing as Lonnie tore out of his room and rushed down the hall toward them like the building was on fire. Dane barely got out of the way as the two jumped off the porch. They were circling the car like sharks in chummed waters when Rachel appeared next to him on the porch. Olivia squealed in delight as Dane stole her from her mama.

  “So I guess Patrice finally told Jude he’s getting his brother’s car when he turns sixteen?” Rachel asked with a laugh. Dane nodded. “He does remember he’s not sixteen yet, right?”

  Dane shrugged. “Jude rarely lets details like that stop him.”

  Rachel turned to try to fix the bow in Olivia’s hair. It was a battle she lost every time, but that never stopped her from trying.

  “Speaking of presents and getting older, are you sure we can’t give Lonnie one of his birthday presents a little early this year?” She lowered her voice. “I mean, it’s only a month away and it’s not like he won’t get others.”

  Dane raised his eyebrow. Rachel hurried to sweeten the option. “May I point out that his grades are great and he’s been killing it at helping with Olivia? And—and this is a practical present for a growing artist.”

  Dane knew when there was a battle that he couldn’t win.

  “You want to go ahead and buy him the drawing table,” he guessed.

  Rachel smiled. “It might not be the promise of a car, but to him, it’s more. He’s been drooling over a professional drawing table ever since he saw his favorite comic book artist use one.”

  Olivia grabbed her bow and threw it on the ground. Rachel picked it up and put it in her pocket. Dane also lost his fight.

  “Fine,” he conceded. “You broke me down, woman.”

  Rachel winked. “I’m glad you feel that way. Because I already ordered it.”

  She smirked and tried to run away, but even with a toddler in his arms, Dane was able to catch her. Both ladies laughed as he kissed Rachel full on the lips.

  “Eww, don’t look now, Lonnie,” Jude said as they walked onto the porch. “Your parents are making out. Let’s get out of here!”

  Lonnie laughed and followed his best friend into the house. Rachel looked after them with a smile clear in her eyes.

  Tucker Hughes might have spent his life helping Marcus plan and commit crimes, but he’d kept his word to help Lonnie with any questions he might have. Not only that, he’d even helped Dane and Rachel with their own questions about Lonnie’s early childhood. They would never fully forgive Tucker like Lonnie had, but there was enough good between them that they wrote to him and even sent a card or two. There was no denying that Lonnie had been shaken by what had happened, but he finally admitted to them that night after they’d talked to Tucker that he was relieved. He’d spent his short life up until that point thinking someth
ing was wrong with him and that was why Tucker hadn’t showed him the love he deserved.

  If Rachel hadn’t already decided to try to adopt Lonnie, Dane was sure she would have right then and there. As it was, the business that the sheriff and Lonnie had to tend to while Dane was in the hospital was Billy setting up temporary guardianship with Rachel. She’d made sure to ask Lonnie first, though, promising him he’d always have a voice when it came to his future. Lonnie had immediately said yes. His adoption had been finalized right after Dane and Rachel were married.

  Two days after that he’d asked if he could call them Mom and Dad.

  They had also immediately said yes.

  Now, for the life of him, Dane couldn’t imagine his family without the boy in it.

  A car honked, pulling their attention to the driveway. Matt and Maggie Walker parked and got out. Their son Cody had a present in his hands.

  “Well, if it isn’t the famous true crime novelist,” Dane said by way of greeting Maggie. He mussed Cody’s hair as Rachel directed him to Lonnie’s room. “Does that mean we’re famous by association now?”

  Maggie waved him off with a smirk.

  “One bestseller doesn’t make you famous,” she said. Matt hooked his arm around her shoulder.

  “But that doesn’t stop me from bragging to everyone about it.” That made his wife laugh.

  “He’s endearing and embarrassing,” she said.

  “Ah, that should be the official slogan for husbands,” Rachel said. She pulled Maggie into the house while Dane and Matt walked around to the side deck. It wasn’t long before they were joined by a stream of guests.

  Billy and Mara had brought their kids, along with Billy’s mother. It was the perfect move, according to Caleb. He and his wife, Alyssa, had a toddler and a baby with them. Apparently he’d thought about asking their friends the Rickmans to come along just so they had an extra helping hand, but Alyssa had worried they would be intruding. Dane laughed that thought off. His dad had spent the first two months in town after Olivia was born helping them stay sane.