by Anne Hagan
“Yeah, what’s in it for you?” Traveler asked, eyeing his Chief now as Victor had eyed him before.
“I’ll get a members cut just like most of you get when I can perform expected club duties. That’s only fair. The thing is, that might not be for a while but, trust me, we’ll be ridin’ together again one day...hopefully soon.”
Chapter 2 – Dreaming
Dana
The Same Day
Morelville, Ohio
“Just over five months,” I said out loud, to no one in particular. “We’ve been married five months.” My dog Boo just tilted her little head and stared at me.
I smiled to myself. After my divorce from Nate and then the disaster of my relationship with the first woman I’d ever dared to open myself up to, Terri, I didn’t think I’d ever find real love with anyone, but Mel had come along and shown me that I was completely wrong.
Picking Boo up, I ruffled her behind the ears and then set her in my lap. “Mommy’s not going to get any writing done today baby girl. There’s just too much on my mind.”
My thoughts turned back to Mel. She’s more than a little married to her job and it seems like I hardly get to see her these days. I would have thought things would slow down after she resolved all of those cases back in December but the holidays and now the winter weather have kept her hopping.
“I love her to death Boo,” I told our little Boston terrier. “I just wish we had more time to be together and do things.”
A knock startled me out of my thoughts. “Why didn’t you warn me someone was coming?” I softly chastised my pup. She ignored me, jumped down and headed toward the door instead, yapping excitedly.
My mama stepped into the little writing hut Mel had, had built for me on our back lot. “Mmm, toasty warm in here,” she said. “I’m sorry to interrupt your work sweetie.”
“It’s okay. What’s up?”
“You told me yesterday that Mel would be working today since both of her Lieutenants needed off so I thought I’d check on you. When she’s not here and you’re not helping in the store, you hole up in this shack and you forget to do things like eat.”
“It’s not a ‘shack’, Mama. I love my little writing hut and I did eat.”
“When?”
“Um, breakfast.
“Dana, that was hours ago. I’ve been to church and back with Faye and then your father and I had a nice lunch. I left some for you in your kitchen so why don’t you head back into the house and eat?”
“I will, I swear. There are just a few more things I want to get done before I do that.”
“Mmm,” she said again as she looked at my computer screen. It was open to a page that was titled ‘Chapter 4’ but, other than that, it was blank. “Are you stuck? What do they call it; writer’s block?”
“No. I’m not stuck. I just ended up having to do a little more research than I thought before I dove into this chapter, is all.”
“I see.”
I knew she saw right through me.
“Dana, is everything okay with you? With you and Mel, I mean?”
“Everything’s fine...great. Why do you ask?”
“You just seem a little down.”
She’s onto me! I sighed. “Honestly Mama, it’s really nothing, I’m just missing her; that’s what it is. Ever since the election, she’s had one official duty after another and, on top of that, it’s like the whole county has gone mad. It’s just been one major crime after another too. It seems like any day that she doesn’t have to work, she gets called out anyway.”
“You’re missing all the lovey-dovey newlywed stuff, aren’t you?”
“No, no. It’s not that. Not really. I just miss seeing her much at all. I just want to be able to spend some time with her.”
“What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?”
“When’s that?”
“This coming weekend!” She gave me a look like she hadn’t given me since I was a kid and got caught sneaking cookies before dinner. “So, I take it you two have no plans?”
I shook my head no. “Not that I’m aware of. I suppose I could make us a reservation somewhere. I don’t even know her schedule for next weekend though. Her work does come first right now.”
“Harrumph! We’ll just see about that.”
“Mama, please just leave it alone. It’s okay, really.”
After Mama left, I headed to the house. While the mushroom chicken dish she’d left me was heating up, I stepped into Mel’s den. Her laptop sat closed on her desk, gathering dust. She hadn’t used it in at least a couple of weeks. I sat down in her chair and waited while it booted up.
Aimlessly, I clicked the little internet icon. Her homepage opened with the day’s most recent headlines.
I heard the microwave beep as I scanned down through them, not really seeing them, and I was about to go and grab my food but then I stopped and jumped backwards a couple of articles. A headline involving Young International being lauded for helping the FBI to nail a white collar criminal caught my eye.
Clicking the link, I skimmed the story quickly and then sat, drumming my fingers on the desk, thinking. Boo circling me and yapping non-stop finally drew me out of my reverie.
Mentally, I shook myself. I’d been remembering my days in security and investigations with Young and dwelling on the past.
“Why am I such a dummy, thinking about things I can’t control?” I asked Boo. She ignored me and darted into the kitchen. I found her sitting on the floor in front of the counter where the microwave sat.
“What’s up with you little girl? You know better than to beg.”
Boo just looked at me then stood and wagged her tail as I removed the bowl.
I sat down to eat but I couldn’t get my mind off the article about Young. I’d loved working there, loved my job. Looking down at my dog, I told her, “I don’t have to work at all, you know. My settlement means I can just lay around all day with you if I want and wait for the other mama to come home. I don’t have to write; I don’t have to help out in the store...”
Boo’s ears pricked up at the mention of Mel but her eyes returned to their focus on my bowl. “This must smell really good, huh?” I watched her and she watched me. “Tell you what, I’ll give you the last bite.”
The problem is, I liked helping Mel out on the heist case back in December. My leg injury doesn’t affect the function of my brain...
Going back into the den with new resolve, I grabbed the phone and dialed the switchboard number for Young International, Inc. from memory.
“It can’t hurt to talk...”
“How may I direct your call?”
Blunt and secretive as always. “Yes, Rosita Marsh, please.” I asked for Russell Young’s gatekeeper. The switchboard wouldn’t patch me right through to the big man; I knew that.
“One moment please.”
I smiled to myself. Rosita, my old ally, was still with the firm. She was a matronly appearing woman with a heart of gold that was probably only twelve or fifteen years older than me. Still, when I’d been with the company, I looked to her as a sort of surrogate mother figure since my own mother was so far away.
“Rosita speaking. How may I help you?”
“Hello Rosita, how the heck are ya?”
“I’m just fine,” came the tentative voice from the other end of the line.
Before she could ask who was calling I jumped right back in, “It’s Dana Rossi, Rosita. Actually it’s Dana Rossi-Crane now.”
“Dana? Well, I’ll be! I haven’t heard from you in, what’s it been three, four years?”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“What took you so long to give me a call? You have to know I was worried about you when you left here.”
“I do know and I appreciate that. It’s just...I didn’t leave there on the best of terms and I didn’t think anyone would welcome any contact from me.”
“Nonsense! Everybody here loved you.”
The emphasis on the word ‘yo
u’ wasn’t lost on me. “Thanks again Rosita. You’re the best.”
“Now Dana, I know you’re not calling here to butter me up so what gives?”
“I’d like to talk to Russ if I could, but I wasn’t sure if he’d be willing to take my call.”
“Why wouldn’t he? You know he’s the one who filled out all your security paperwork and talked to the background investigators that came around when you applied for that position with Customs, don’t you?”
“He did?”
“Yup, sure did. He wouldn’t let anyone else handle it. How’s that going for you anyway?”
“I’m, uh, sort of retired; injury in the line of duty.”
“Oh no! That’s too bad. What happened?”
“It’s a long story but the gist is, I was shot, but I’m fine; don’t worry.”
“Mmm, Dana. You better watch it. You’re just a little slip of a thing. You don’t need to be running around doing things that get you shot at. Doing that kind of thing better not be why you want to talk to Russ?” Her question had an accusing tone.
“No ma’am,” I replied. “Honestly though, I do have a little business I’d like to discuss with him.”
“He’s in today. You’re timing, as it always was, is still amazing. Just hold for me for a minute while I see what he’s gotten himself into.”
“Thanks Rosita.”
My stomach fluttered as I waited on hold. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long enough to lose my nerve. Russell Young was on the line in less than thirty seconds.
“Dana! Good to hear from you!” his deep voice boomed over the line.
“Hi Russ; congratulations! I was just reading about your big win and the indictment.”
“Not me, my girl. Our forensic guys ferreted that whole mess out. They get all the credit.”
That’s Russ and that’s why I love him. “Yes, but isn’t that the FBI’s job after all? You beat them to the chase.”
“Only because we were called in first by private interests. They get to take it from here. As it is, I don’t like that we got our name in the news at all. You know me; I like to stay off the radar.”
“Yes, totally understandable in your business.” There was a several seconds silence while I pondered how to broach my real reason for calling him.
Russ didn’t leave me twisting in the wind long. Taking over, he asked me, “I’m sure you probably didn’t call just to congratulate us. Is there something we can help you with?”
“Actually,” I drew in a breath, “I was hoping maybe I could help you. First, before you say anything, I want you to know how sorry I am about everything that happened when...when I was there, with Terri and...and everything.”
“Dana, that’s all water under the bridge. I know that wasn’t you, it was all Ms. Sweeting but, I had the firm to consider and, unfortunately, letting you go was the only viable solution at the time. I couldn’t allow her to continue doing the things she was doing. It was all about protecting my business.”
“I certainly understand that Russ. Really, I do. Still, I was blind to her and I shouldn’t have been so...so naïve. I should have seen through her.”
“Don’t blame yourself. She’s a con-artist Dana.”
“Was. She was a con-artist. She’s dead Russ. She was murdered in a mess that was not of her own making.”
He was silent for several long seconds. “I really don’t know what to say,” he finally told me.
“You don’t have to say anything. We both know where we stood with her.”
I took another deep breath and then I plunged in. “I’m not with Customs anymore. I was shot in the line of duty during a raid and I’ve been medically retired.”
He started to interrupt but I cut him back off. “I’m fine. I have some damage to my left leg that has me walking with a bit of a gimp. I didn’t want a non-investigative desk job with them so I took their retirement offer. Now I’m sort of at loose ends.”
“Are you asking to come back to work for me Dana?”
“Um, no, not exactly. Not directly, anyway. My circumstances have changed pretty drastically in the last four years. I’m married now, to a wonderful woman, and we’re living in Eastern Ohio.” I paused to let all of that sink in.
“Congratulations. I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you.” I was relieved at his genuine tone. Good old Russ...
“My parents have recently moved close to me and they’ve bought a store here that they’re operating in their semi-retirement. I help out there as needed but it’s...boring. I’m looking for something a bit more, shall we say, challenging.”
“I take it that’s where calling me comes into play?” Russ chuckled as he asked.
“Yes, thank you. Exactly. I’ve, uh, done a little side work here and there since leaving customs, pro-bono and, well, I like it. I miss investigations. I miss the research.”
“Really now? There’s something.”
“I know, I know, nobody likes the dig in the files type of grunt work but, at customs, I developed a taste for it. They just didn’t have enough of that sort of thing in my region to make a desk job for me viable. I can get around okay but a special agent for them has to be physically fit and ready to run.”
“Russ, I guess what I’m saying is, I want to try my hand at freelancing some investigations. I’ve got an Ohio concealed carry and I can get any license I’d need pretty quick. I’ve also already got an office set-up.”
“What exactly are you looking for from us? Subs?”
“You got it. If you’d be willing to throw some smaller jobs my way once in a while, especially if you get stuff in Ohio, that’d be great. Actually, I’d prefer not to travel right now, for starters.”
He was quiet on the other end of the line. I didn’t know if he was considering my request or trying to think of a way to turn me down politely. Russ was nothing if not polite and professional.
“I’m not asking for a handout Russ; just if you need something in my area, I hope you’d consider letting me take care of it for you.”
We chatted for a few more minutes and then I hung up feeling like he really was considering my proposition.
As long as Mel’s the Sheriff, we’re not going to have a lot of time together. I might as well do work that I’m good at and that I like. Mel will be okay with it. Between jobs, I can still write. Mama will probably get bent out of shape but she never has to be the wiser.
Chapter 3 – Breaking Loose
Mel
5:00 AM Monday Morning, February 9th
Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department
I stumbled into the office to deal with the usual Monday paperwork as quickly as I could and then I was headed back out to the street. All hell was breaking loose out there. It seemed like it started as soon as I went off shift at 6:00 on Sunday. By midnight, on a couple of hours of sleep, I was back in uniform and working patrol to answer call after call.
My assistant and friend, Sergeant Holly Burke, was already at her desk when I strode in.
“Is it a full moon out there or what?” she asked me.
“I don’t have a clue.” I shook my head as I told her, “It’s dark, it’s cold, it’s miserable and for some reason we have a crime wave going on and gang warfare on the streets. We’ve been working calls about biker’s – biker’s in February, mind you – run amok all night but now all of the rest of the criminal element in the city seems to be feeding off of whatever is fueling the whole mess.”
I took a deep breath. “Zanesville PD is on high alert now too. If this keeps up, that should at least take some of the pressure off.”
“Should I do my snow dance? That’ll settle ‘em down.”
“It’s worth a shot.”
“For your sake, I hope it dies down soon. You need a break.”
###
1:00 PM Monday
“Mel, your mother-in-law is on line one. It’s the third time she’s called.”
“I’ll take it.” I clicked off w
ith Holly and punched line one.
“Hi Chloe. I’m sorry but I’m really busy today. I just got back into the office and I only have a minute. How can I help you?” My attempt to pre-empt an attack of small talk or of me didn’t work.
“I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all morning Mel. When I could get through at all, I was told you were out of the office. When I called your cell, you never answered. What if it was an emergency and I had to get hold of you?”
“Is it an emergency?”
“Well no; but that’s not the point.”
“I apologize Chloe. Is there something you need?”
“What I need is for you to be a little more attentive to Dana. You’re never home and, even when you are, you never seem to have time for her.”
“Did Dana say that?”
“No, not in so many words, but a mother knows these things. Do I need to remind you that Valentine's Day is coming up? You’ve been so busy lately, I thought you might have forgotten about it. I just know it would mean a lot to her if you did something really special for your wife.”
I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t forget. I’m working on a few ideas.”
“Like what? There’s not a lot of time left, you know. Things book up.”
Trapped... “I’m trying to get us reservations somewhere special.” I’d done no such thing but she didn’t need to know that, I still had time, after all.
“Dana adores Adornetto’s and they’re running a Valentines special there if you can’t tear yourself too far away. Of course, if you can get away for an evening or even the whole weekend, there are lots of things that you could do in Columbus. I just read about this one place that does dinner and night flights for couples over the city. They love gay couples in Columbus and...”
“Chloe, I’m sorry but I really have to go. We’ll do something great, I promise.”
Holly found me sitting with my head in my hands. She leaned against the doorframe as she asked, “Rough day, huh boss?”
“If only it was just the crime wave. Chloe just unloaded on me. She thinks I’m neglecting Dana and she wanted to make sure I didn’t forget Valentine’s Day.”