Above the Law

by Carsen Taite

  “She left a little while ago. She was here at nine.”

  So that was that. Lindsey had been here and left and she hadn’t even said good-bye. Dale felt empty and lifeless, a complete turnaround from mere hours ago when she’d woken up with Lindsey in her arms.

  She’d just have to get over it. She told Diego she’d be right there, and when he left she took a moment to compartmentalize everything she was feeling, so she could give the FBI agents investigating the kidnapping a clear picture of what had gone down.

  She stood to leave and her cell phone rang. She started to shut it off, but the screen said it was Peyton. “Hey, I’m about to give my statement.”

  “Glad I caught you. We need to meet soon. I talked to Tanner this morning and got some scoop about the investigation. The guys at the scene were not Sergio Vargas’s men.”

  “Whose were they then?”

  “Not sure, but they both had Barrio Azteca tattoos.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” Dale said. “They’re sworn enemies of the Zetas.”

  “Exactly. I have a theory, but I think we should talk in person. Can you get away this afternoon?”

  “Sure, I’m only in today for this statement. At least they were nice enough to come here to do it so I didn’t have to drive out to their offices.”

  “How’s Lindsey?”

  Dale should’ve anticipated the question since Peyton knew Lindsey had left with her yesterday, but she couldn’t help but think there was something more than curiosity behind the question. “Okay, I guess. Diego says she came by and gave her statement this morning, but I didn’t see her.”

  “Uh-huh. Well, when you do see her tell her Lily wants to meet her. She’s a huge fan.”

  Dale resisted the urge to remind Peyton that Lindsey had been fishing for clues at Lily’s mother’s ranch the day before, and Lily might not be such a big fan if she knew, but she didn’t feel like getting into it right now. Besides, Lindsey was probably back at her hotel, planning her trip to Syria. “I should go.”

  “Gotcha. Watch what you say in there. Something’s off about this whole thing, and until we know more, I wouldn’t trust anyone outside of our circle.”

  “Agreed.” Dale didn’t need to be told to be skeptical. Right now her ability to trust was at an all-time low.

  *

  Lindsey stared at the email from Larry confirming their telephone conversation. She was being given carte blanche to make the trip to Syria and report on the growing threat of ISIS. It was a primo assignment, and she’d been wrangling for it for months. Accepting it was a no-brainer.

  She pulled out her notes about the investigation she’d started on the disbanded, but still in business federal task force. Now that Dale had cut things off between them, there was no reason not to pursue those leads, but the last thing she wanted to do was stick around here and run into Dale every day. It had been hard enough this morning when she’d been at Dale’s office building even though a part of her had wished for a chance meeting in the hall, one last opportunity to look into Dale’s eyes and see if her no was really final or subject to bend.

  No, that chapter of her life was over and it was time to move on. Far, far away where she could forget the likes of Dale Nelson, and the faster the better. With no place to live and no one to go home to, she could and should enjoy the freedom to take off at a moment’s notice. The rest of her bucket list could wait. All that stuff about making different choices and finding someone to come home to had been the by-product of fear and nothing more. She responded to Larry’s email before she could change her mind. Syria is a go. I’ll leave from here tonight.

  *

  Dale looked around the table. The trusted members of the original task force had been winnowed down to her, Mary, Bianca, and Peyton. The rest of the group had all been reassigned, and they were too attenuated from everything that had gone on recently to be included in this meeting. Tanner had joined them tonight at the Circle Six as a direct result of both Bianca’s lobbying and Peyton’s newfound trust in her after she’d clued them in on the inside details of the men who’d taken Lindsey hostage.

  “Have you seen the tape they took of Lindsey?” Dale asked Tanner.

  “Even better. We located the paper they had her read from. I doubt we’ll get any evidence off it, but it’s being analyzed. It’s strange. Whoever wrote it made a point of saying the message was for Herschel Gellar, and they ask for Arturo’s release and for all charges against Arturo and Sergio to be dropped.”

  “What’s strange about it?” Bianca asked.

  “Well, the big thing is that the guys holding Lindsey and forcing her to make that statement are sworn enemies of the Zetas,” Tanner said. “There is no viable scenario where these guys would risk even a paper cut to help the Vargases.”

  “Anything else?” Mary asked.

  “Yes,” Dale said. “It’s not as definitive as what Tanner said, but this kind of plea is beneath the Vargases. Sergio isn’t the kind of guy who bargains with law enforcement. It would be more his style to send Herschel a tape of his daughter having her head sawed off with a message that he’s next.” She involuntarily shuddered at her own words as an image of Lindsey at the mercy of these men materialized in her mind.

  She didn’t have to worry about that anymore. Lindsey was safe from whoever it was that had been behind her kidnapping. Whatever danger Lindsey faced now, wasn’t her concern.

  But she couldn’t stop thinking about her. When Lindsey had walked out her door this morning, she hadn’t truly believed it was the last time she’d see her. It was her own fault for delivering an ultimatum, but she wished she could have a do-over and, if they couldn’t find a way to make it work, at least have a real good-bye.

  “Hey, Dale, you with us? What do you think about that?”

  “Sorry, what?” She’d missed something while she was zoned out. Right now all she wanted to do was drive back to Dallas and find Lindsey. She had to at least try to get her to change her mind without dictating the terms of their relationship.

  “I was telling everyone maybe you can get your reporter friend to help out.” Mary delivered the word with a wink. “She’s already investigating behind our backs. Why not bring her on board? It’s unconventional, but she might be able to get certain people to talk to us that wouldn’t give us the time of day.”

  Dale started to say no way, but the rest of the group was already taking up the thread.

  “Gellar would love to have a one-on-one interview with Lindsey,” Peyton said. “She would have an opportunity to ask him questions no one else could.”

  “Wait, you think Gellar may be involved in what happened yesterday?” Dale asked, her blood pressure rising.

  “He’s up to something,” said Tanner. “He barely communicates with me and I’m his case agent. He’s very secretive about the Vargas and Gantry investigations, and he keeps all the evidence locked up. I have to check in with him personally before looking at anything.”

  Peyton raised her hand to take control of the conversation. “Here’s the deal. Except for the people around this table, we trust no one, Gellar included, unless we all agree. Bringing Lindsey Ryan into our group would be unorthodox, but I think it might be a good idea. If we’re all on board and Dale thinks she can be trusted, then I say we reach out to her and see if we can work something out. Let’s have a show of hands.”

  Dale watched as each of her colleagues raised a hand. She didn’t think there was a chance in hell Lindsey would pass up her dream assignment to work with them, but at least it gave her an excuse to go see her. She put up her hand to make it unanimous.

  On the way out to her truck, Mary pulled her aside. “Do you want to grab a drink or are you in a hurry to get back to your girl?”

  Dale felt the heat of a blush creep along the back of her neck, and she recalled the way Mary had emphasized the word friend when she was talking about Lindsey. “You’ve got it wrong.”

  “I don’t think so. I saw the way
she looked at you yesterday, and I know she went home with you last night.”

  Dale started to deny it, but Mary was one of her best friends and she’d never lied to her. “Whatever happened, it’s over. And she’s not going to be up for working with us. She just got another overseas assignment. One she’s wanted for a long time.”

  “Is that why you have the long face?” Mary asked. “What’s the matter, you’ve never heard of Skype? She’ll be back before you know it.”

  “Maybe not. She’s going to Syria. You know how dangerous it is over there? Eighty journalists have been taken hostage since ISIS came to power.”

  “Sounds like someone’s been spending too much time on the Internet. She’ll be fine. She seems like she’s got a pretty good head on her shoulders.”

  “It didn’t keep her out of trouble yesterday.”

  “Okay, okay, I get it.”

  “What?”

  “You’re scared.”

  Dale flinched at the words. She’d never thought of herself as being a fearful person, but in the span of a day, both Lindsey and her best friend had accused her of being scared. “No, I’m not. It just seems careless.”

  “Well, now you’re just being a dope. You raised your hand back there and agreed she could work with us, and we don’t have any idea what kind of danger we might be getting into. If you say the difference is you can keep an eye on her here, I’ll kick your ass. You need a woman who was strong like Maria, not someone you have to babysit.”

  Dale wanted to shout. Tell Mary she was dead wrong, but she wasn’t. The very qualities that could put Lindsey in danger were the ones she most admired. Mary was right. She was scared. Scared of loving, but most of all scared of losing again. Was she going to let fear continue to rule her or was she going to turn it on its head?

  The minute she pulled out onto the highway, she dialed Lindsey’s cell, but it went straight to voice mail. Next she called the hotel and asked for Lindsey’s room. She waited impatiently, and finally the desk clerk told her that Lindsey had checked out earlier today. Another call to Lindsey’s cell sent her to voice mail again. She hung up without leaving a message. Text or voice mail wasn’t the right medium for what she had to say. There had to be another way to reach Lindsey without blowing up her phone with missed calls.

  She scrambled to think of Elaina’s last name and asked the clerk to ring her room, but no one answered. She started to give up, but then she remembered Lindsey had called Elaina from her cell that morning. She pulled over to the side of the road and scrolled through the outgoing numbers until she located a number she didn’t recognize and punched the screen.

  “Beall here.”

  “Elaina?”

  “Yes, who’s this?”

  “Agent Nelson. I’m trying to reach Lindsey. Do you know where I can find her?”

  “Have you tried her cell?”

  “It’s going straight to voice mail.”

  “I’m not sure what time her flight is. She may already be on board.”

  Flight? What flight? “Sorry, I didn’t realize she was heading back to New York tonight.” Dale started calculating how many hours it would be until she landed.

  “Oh, no, she’s headed to Turkey tonight. She took an assignment in Syria, and she’ll be there for a while.” Elaina’s next words weren’t as brusque. “I’m sorry. I thought she would’ve told you.”

  Dale could hear the sympathy in her voice and wondered how much she knew about what Lindsey had been doing at her house last night. She didn’t like Elaina thinking she was just a one-night stand to Lindsey, even if it was true. “You know, she did tell me. I just didn’t remember she was leaving tonight.”

  “Sure. Look, I know you’ve been through a lot, but if you’re still interested in doing the interview, we could get someone else—”

  “No, thanks.” Dale clicked off the line. The only person she planned to bare her soul to was Lindsey, and she wasn’t going to do it in front of any cameras. She pulled back on the road, but this time she was headed in the opposite direction. If there was any chance at all Lindsey was still here, she was going to find her and try to get it right this time.

  *

  Lindsey checked into the Admiral’s Club and sank into one of the large lounge chairs to review her itinerary for the next few days. She’d booked a first class flight to Turkey and she planned to sleep on the plane. Larry’s assistant would email her the hotel information while she was on the flight. She’d have to stay in Turkey for a few days until arrangements could be made with the state department to let her travel into Syria.

  The downtime would be a welcome reprieve from the frenetic pace of the last six months. Her only regret was that she would be spending it alone. For the first time in her life, she questioned her decision to put her work ahead of her personal life. The internal voice she’d listened to her entire life told her she was right. She’d told Dale she’d only be gone for a month, and she was ready and willing to make plans for when she returned. But their disagreement hadn’t been about timing.

  She couldn’t start letting a lover dictate the parameters of her professional life. What kind of reporter would she be if she let someone else decide what was best for her or guide her career decisions?

  Maybe that wasn’t fair. After all, there were plenty of correspondents who turned down assignments to accommodate their families. She’d scoffed at their choices, but then she’d never really understood what they were choosing between. It was too early to know if choosing Dale over this trip was right for her, but if she stuck with her usual modus operandi, she’d never get close enough to find out. And that’s exactly what she was doing by leaving tonight. There was no big hurry to take this trip. In fact, if she’d put it off for a week, the network would have had more time to iron out the travel arrangements. She was running and she knew it.

  The question was, was she going to keep running away or was she going to run to something for once in her life?

  Paging Lindsey Ryan, paging Lindsey Ryan. You have a message waiting at the customer relations counter.

  Damn, she’d just gotten comfortable. It was probably from Elaina who’d thrown a fit when she found out she was leaving tonight without pressing Dale for the interview. She flagged down a waiter and asked him to retrieve the message for her. While she waited she pulled out her cell and realized the battery had died. She plugged it into the outlet near her chair, and when it fired back up, she saw several missed calls, one from Elaina and two from Dale. She started to return Dale’s call, but what would she say? She knew what she wanted to say, but did she have the courage to take a chance on something other than work? How ironic that she’d accused Dale of being afraid.

  “Lindsey?”

  She turned in her chair, but she didn’t need to look to know Dale was standing beside her. “What are you doing here?”

  Dale moved so she was standing directly in front of her. She had a shy smile on her face and she looked flushed, like she’d been running. “I came to give you a proper good-bye.”

  “Really?” Lindsey’s heart beat faster as she contemplated exactly what that meant. Dale looked as handsome as ever in her jeans and boots, but her mind flashed to last night when Dale was naked in her arms. She wanted more nights like those, long, languid bouts of pleasure punctuated by work instead of the other way around. “Good-bye like forever or good-bye like see you later?”

  “Your choice, but I’m hoping for the see you later kind.” Dale reached for her hands. “You shouldn’t ever have to choose between doing what you love and being with someone who loves you. I’ll be here waiting when you get back.”

  She’d said love, and Lindsey doubted it was a word Dale threw around lightly, but she had to be sure. “And if I choose not to go at all? How would that work? Even if I stay, there will be times I get into risky situations.” She waited for her response, wondering if Dale was down for the long haul. It was one thing for Dale to say she’d wait, but if Lindsey stayed here, that pledge
would be put to the test every day.

  Dale pulled her to her feet and wrapped her tightly in her arms. “I won’t say that I won’t worry, but I’ll do my level best not to get in your way.” She leaned back and looked her in the eyes. “In fact, if you choose to stick around I may have a job where you can get in all kinds of trouble.”

  Lindsey smiled. “And that’s why I love you.”

  Dale pulled her into a long, deep kiss, and Lindsey forgot about everything except the strong woman who held her tight. When they finally broke for air, Dale said, “Whenever you decide, whatever you decide, I’m here for you.”

  Exactly the words Lindsey needed to hear, but her mind was already made up. “Take me home.”

  THE END

  About the Author

  Carsen Taite’s goal as an author is to spin tales with plot lines as interesting as the cases she encountered in her career as a criminal defense lawyer. She is the award-winning author of over a dozen novels of romantic intrigue, including the Luca Bennett Bounty Hunter series and the Lone Star Law series. Learn more at www.carsentaite.com.

  Books Available from Bold Strokes Books

  A Reluctant Enterprise by Gun Brooke. When two women grow up learning nothing but distrust, unworthiness, and abandonment, it’s no wonder they are apprehensive and fearful when an overwhelming love just won’t be denied. (978-1-62639-500-8)

  Above the Law by Carsen Taite. Love is the last thing on Agent Dale Nelson’s mind, but reporter Lindsey Ryan’s investigation could change the way she sees everything—her career, her past, and her future. (978-1-62639-558-9)

  Actual Stop by Kara A. McLeod. When Special Agent Ryan O’Connor’s present collides abruptly with her past, shots are fired, and the course of her life is irrevocably altered. (978-1-62639-675-3)

  Embracing the Dawn by Jeannie Levig. When ex-con Jinx Tanner and business executive E. J. Bastien awaken after a one-night stand to find their lives inextricably entangled, love has its work cut out for it. (978-1-62639-576-3)

  Jane’s World by Paige Braddock. Jane’s PayBuddy account gets hacked and she inadvertently purchases a mail order bride from the Eastern Block. (978-1-62639-494-0)