“Yes. Let me see your arm.” The doctor moved the torn sleeve carefully. “Listen to me. I know you want to throw up, but you won’t.”
AJ stared at her doctor and swallowed the nausea.
“Let’s clean that.” The doctor helped her stand.
* * *
AJ made it all the way to their bedroom before Katie caught her.
“Honey, you’re late, and the chief and Grace disappeared—” She stopped. “Your shirt. Were you in an accident?” She reached for the torn, bloody material.
AJ leaned past her for a clean shirt and tugged her into the bathroom. “Sit beside me on the tub,” she said, unbuttoning her shirt. “Someone shot at me again. I’m sure it was a pistol, but I never saw the shooter. Shot the car too, but that thing’s a miracle. It started right up. Grace brought me home in the chief’s car. He took my car to the station to look at it further and someone will drop him off here.”
“Damn it.” Katie held the damaged shirt like it was a sharp knife.
“A motorcycle followed me all the way from the office, and I heard one leave after the shooting. I was coming out of the doctor’s.”
“Let me see.”
“The doctor used that liquid skin and butterfly bandages.” She showed Katie. “By the time she was done, the chief and Grace were there with the police. It’s just a graze.”
Katie went to her knees, buttoning AJ’s shirt and wiping her face with a washcloth. “Enough. No more getting shot at. That’s twice and you’re leaving soon and—” Eyes glistening, she wrapped AJ against her. The late afternoon light poured through the bathroom’s glass skylight, turning the room soft gold. AJ sighed. The world settled again in Katie’s arms.
There was a knock on the door. “AJ? Jock’s here, looking for you or the chief,” Grace said. “He’s in the living room with Bonnie. Something about Home Base.”
Home Base was an enormous house where the girls lived, the ones that had worked the streets for Michael. They’d been his “Angels,” distributing meth, and were damned effective. When Frog had been released from rehab, AJ had hidden her there to keep an eye on the girls, and things had been fine until Frog discovered the girls and women funneling into northern Wisconsin. Now, instead of drugs, they had the trafficking assignment.
“Grace, stay with me and Frat Boy so I don’t miss anything. Tell him I’ll be there in a minute. Katie, take Bonnie back to the party.”
“Frat Boy? Jock?” Katie said.
“He leads Charles’s group here like I used to.” She’d worked with Jock for years and trusted him but didn’t like him. The feeling was mutual.
Jock waited by the window. His well-muscled shoulders strained his black T-shirt and he’d cut his hair. The ponytail was gone.
“We have a problem, AJ. Home Base burned to the ground today,” he said.
She tucked in her shirt and checked her jeans for blood. “Was anyone hurt?”
“They have two bodies, but there’s gotta be more.”
“About twenty girls and women were there, plus the children.” Her mind raced, trying to remember what Frog had told her about the house.
“I’m going over there with Milwaukee Arson tomorrow morning. Want to go?”
“Can’t. I have a meeting involving my new task force, not the Milwaukee trafficking task force.” She baited him with silence.
“Charles notified me that you and the chief are officially separated from the DEA, but I thought you might want to see what pops from this.” He shot her his familiar arrogant look. “My guys regularly check that house, but nothing happens there anymore. I still had the Michael’s Angels list and gave them a body count.”
Seeing he didn’t know about Frog at Home Base, she simply nodded. “Take Bonnie. She knows that neighborhood better than any of us.” AJ gripped the back of the chair, steadying herself.
“I heard she’s part of your team now.” Again, there was his boss expression, part of the reason she didn’t like him. “What’s going on here? Food smells good.”
“Stay and eat with us. The old group’s here and the chief’s on his way. Talk to Bonnie while you’re out there.”
“Thanks. I’m hungry.” He swaggered through the kitchen to the deck.
AJ raised her eyebrows at Grace. She’d left Jock feeling comfortably in charge.
“Mr. Ego, but I’m shocked about Home Base. Thank God Frog’s up north,” Grace said. “And I found nothing on Frog’s money. It was a cash transaction.”
“So where did the surviving Home Base girls and women go? Or the kids? Frog said the girls she’s with up north are new, brought in from the outside. I’ll call the chief about Home Base before he gets here. Oh, and follow Jock’s tracks on the computer when you get home tonight. You’re still plugged into that surveillance. Have Tag help you. Let’s see how she likes our setup.”
* * *
After talking with the chief twice, AJ walked outside to the deck. Old Bob Marley music drifted through the almost-dusk air mingling with the aroma of barbecued chicken. Katie was watching Tag in the crowd, and she’d lay odds Katie was thinking exactly what she had this morning. Tag resembled Katie’s favorite fiction superwoman, Agent Bren Black.
Grace was at the food table also watching Tag, and AJ paused at the look on her face. Interest? Attention? She picked up a plate as Grace muttered, “Killer smile.”
“The chief called Charles and then called me back.” AJ chose a fork. “Who has a killer smile?”
“What?” Still distracted, Grace scooped potato salad on her plate.
“I talked to the chief. Twice,” AJ repeated. “As usual, Jock had not called him, and Charles had some kind of breakdown on the phone. Said to spank him good for not calling, but I’m not dealing with him today.”
“How’s your arm? And in case you’re not counting, that’s twice you’ve been shot at.”
“I was fine until Katie found me. She said that too, in spades.” AJ forked a piece of chicken.
Grace eased past her and sat beside Katie. She’d stayed here with Katie when AJ was out of town last winter and it’d been safe, like circling the wagons. AJ glanced at them with a chilling thought. If the shooter knew where she worked, did it involve this house or Katie? “No,” she said under her breath. They weren’t going through this again.
She scanned the vegetables, thinking about Katie’s family’s wonderful garden this summer. She loved to grow them, but Katie’s creative cooking with herbs and seasonings made them special. AJ spotted the bread and cucumbers. It was only melba rounds with fresh dill, homemade mayo sauce, and cream cheese on top of sliced cucumbers, but it made her mouth water.
“Oh, man.” She chewed slowly. She could eat a thousand of these. Jock moved toward Bonnie. For some reason, Jock’s arrogance just rolled off Bonnie’s back, and this would be a good experience for her. For that matter, if she needed someone to stay here again, Bonnie would do it, but Katie would raise hell and she didn’t look forward to any of that.
Katie held a book in her hand, and Grace motioned at Tag to meet them. Tag went around the back of the group just as Jock took a step back, knocked Tag sideways, and her beer fell to the grass. Tag looked stunned, and in a blur, Jock was suddenly on the ground. Tag’s hand was fisted, but it froze, hanging in the air. She straightened, helped Jock stand, and apologized.
It was over before AJ could move, but she’d seen the dangerous part of Tag. There’s the warrior. Tag didn’t move an inch, right in Jock’s face, her expression blank. The two were the same height. Jock said something, gave her a murderous look, and strode away. The side gate slammed, leaving a heavy quiet behind him.
“Show’s over,” AJ said. “Let’s get you another beer.” She picked up the bottle, nudged Tag toward Grace and Katie, and the noise resumed. That was worrisome. AJ wondered again about Tag’s missing psych evaluation from Lawrence Kelly’s office.
Obviously embarrassed, Tag said, “Sorry. Guess I’m not civilized yet. What was his name? I h
ave to apologize again.”
“His name’s Jock, and not many women have knocked him down.” AJ handed her a fresh beer. “He’s in charge of Charles Ryan’s DEA group here and a hothead, but he’s good.” She didn’t say that Jock would never forgive Tag, no matter how much she apologized.
“She’s right. He’s a hothead.” Grace grinned at AJ. “You say not many women have knocked him down, but you pounded him in training.”
“Yeah, and he’s hated me ever since,” AJ said as Katie held out the book.
“What’s this?” Tag took it with a stressed smile.
“The first book in a mystery series that I read. I was showing Grace how much you resemble the main character. Look at the cover.” She tilted her head at AJ. “Can you believe it?”
“I thought so too this morning. I was curious when you’d come to same conclusion.”
“I’m a long way from this woman.” Tag tried to hand the book back.
“Keep it and read it as a favor to me. AJ laughs at it,” Katie said with a smile.
“All right, as a favor. I could use a good laugh. Where’s your bathroom, girls?”
“I’ll show you. I lived here too, once upon a time,” Grace said and they moved inside.
AJ put her arm around Katie’s waist and tugged her closer, catching her scent that she loved. “I was over there in a food coma. You should work with Jimmy at his restaurant.”
“Sweet talker.” Katie grinned.
“You look nice. I like the shirt.” AJ ran her hands under the white collar with lace trim, studying the gray patterned shirt. “Did your mother do this?”
“Who else? It was one of Dad’s shirts. She took the collar off, put on a new one, and refit the shirt. She couldn’t stand for it to hang in the closet.”
AJ dropped her hands to Katie’s slender hips, holding on tight. The first time she’d ever touched her like this she’d thought she was delicate. She’d been dead wrong.
“Mom helped set up the party, and…what’s that look on your face?”
“Only a memory but a good one.”
Katie wrapped her in a quick hug. “Do you want some ibuprofen?”
“No, but that denim shirt was a favorite. Could your mother save it?”
“Are you kidding? She’d love the challenge.”
“Good. I’ll call her. I’m going for more of that nut salad. I ate all of the cucumber thingies.”
“Nut salad and cucumber thingies? You’re my gourmet.” Katie pointed at the chair. “Sit. I’ll get your food. There’s something I want you to taste.”
“Wait. I need to talk to Tag about X-Girl tonight. Do you mind cleaning up with Grace?”
“I’d rather scrub floors any day than hear about that.” Katie took her plate, and AJ watched her choose something that looked like squash. She resented Lawrence Kelly’s new task force one more time, already missing Katie. Sweating, her hands shaking, she felt her heart pick up. The doctor had warned her of this, panic and anxiety left over from Ariel and the new shootings. Her legs were so weak she almost fell into the chair.
“Damn it,” she said under her breath, seeing Katie watching her. She straightened, fighting to keep it together.
“Here, and yes, you need ibuprofen.” Katie handed her the plate and left.
Tag slid into the seat next to AJ. “Grace told me what happened at the doctor’s.”
“I didn’t even get a glimpse of the shooter, and damn, it’s got to be personal although I don’t have a clue why. Anyway, before you leave tonight, I need a couple of minutes with you. Katie and Grace will clean up.”
* * *
AJ stepped into her home office that night with a fresh beer for Tag and saw her going over the shelves of music and books.
“I love your house. Grace gave me the tour,” Tag said.
“I love it too.”
“It’s home. I can feel it.” Tag held up the glass-framed Presidential Commendation of AJ in formal military attire that Katie kept on her desk. “This is something too.”
“No, it’s not. Just publicity for the job we did in Ecuador years ago. A lot of other people were there with me. I just happened to be nearby and they grabbed me, or as you said this morning, ‘blah, blah, blah.’ The real story isn’t nearly so commendable, but Katie’s proud of it. Otherwise it’d be in a drawer somewhere.” AJ placed it back on Katie’s desk and handed Tag the X-Girl envelope. “In addition to our new task force, I need your take on this. This victim is the reason we took that house down with the chief and his police and hope to God we have the people who got her murdered. It happened last spring, before we knew about the human trafficking.”
They were silent as Tag went over each gruesome photo slowly, pausing now and then, taking her time over the paperwork and autopsy.
The late summer air still smelled of barbecue, and AJ watched a moth beat at the screen of the open window trying for the lamp. She understood its frustration. Finally, Tag placed the papers on the desk with a sigh.
“They cut her hands off? And what did they do to her face?”
“No hands, no fingerprints, and the acid on the face made identification impossible. We still don’t have a name. The FBI has her here at the morgue and is still working on the DNA.”
“Christ.” Tag pulled in a breath. “Here’s another part of the answer about why I left the military. Our final Dragon assignment was brutal. They sent us down to investigate a nest of imprisoned women and children. I think the thought was that we’d do better because we were women, but it was a trap and we lost eleven out of twenty-five.” She stopped and pulled in a deep breath. “This is cultural over there. A lot of the women are owned by the men. That’s not the case in the United States even though sometimes it feels that way.” She held up some of the photos. “Is there anything that ties that house you took down to this? Have they caught any of the perpetrators?”
AJ nodded. “There were five different sperm samples. The FBI found two of the men in Utah, but both were killed in a robbery. Then one in Michigan that they’re holding on trafficking charges, but we have no further information from the FBI at this time. So that leaves two, and I’d like you right beside Grace, looking at the information.”
“Any chance they’re local?”
“If they are, we haven’t found them, and now that we’re officially off the case, the new Milwaukee task force will take over the search.”
“And what’s this?” Tag held up a spreadsheet.
“Those are the business locations we’ve found that manage the kids and adults involved in the trafficking. Look.” AJ pointed at the sheet. “A doctor’s office, a hair stylist and beauty consultant, a used clothing store, a photographer’s studio…you name it, they run it in Milwaukee and its suburbs. Once the new task force charges John Owens, the man who ran that house, they’ll go after each business.” AJ stopped when she realized she was up and pacing. “My doctor says I’m obsessed with this case.”
Tag only shook her head and leaned back in her chair, studying the ceiling. Finally, she turned, face composed.
“Are you okay? Getting shot isn’t an everyday thing.”
“You’re combat tested. Shooting has to be familiar.”
“You never get used to it,” Tag said softly. “I’ve shot people and been shot. It changes a person for the rest of their life.” Her feet hit the floor as she straightened and tossed the folder on the desk. “And I can relate to your obsession. I’ve seen worse than this, AJ.”
AJ heard what she’d sensed about Tag this morning, the something more, and pushed her chair closer. “Tell me.”
“I’m tight with the remaining Dragons, and we all agree. Our country’s beginning to feel a lot like over there.”
When Tag added nothing more, AJ wondered what the hell Tag was holding back. Finally, she said, “I’ve read about human trafficking until my eyes bled, not to mention what I’ve already seen. I thought the drugs I chased were the worst, but this has changed me and I’m not th
e same person I was four months ago.”
Tag stood, took the file, and stacked everything neatly back into the folder. “Sometimes it sucks to be us, and how could you be the same? Grace says your entire group trusts you with their lives, and that’s a burden. I think it’s the heaviest thing we carry.” She handed the paperwork to AJ. “I’ll work with Grace on this, count on it.”
Chapter Six
The next morning, Tag worked at her desk while Grace made coffee in the chief’s office. The men from Niagara would be there soon for the meeting.
She downloaded a thumb drive onto a personal tablet and leaned back in her chair, absently rubbing the dragon necklace. Outside, a group of noisy sparrows shook the pine tree limbs. No one bird stood out. That was safety in numbers, exactly how she was tucked away in this ATF group while working with two other federal agencies. Keeping secrets was not new, but AJ’s honesty last night had made her stare into the darkness for a long time when she’d gone to bed.
What they’d stumbled onto during her last year in Intelligence on base meant there was going to be an uproar in this country now that the Feds had everything. In the meantime, this job with the ATF came first. So far, it was pretty much whistling in the dark.
No wonder AJ looked so stressed. Well, that and getting shot. If this was Afghanistan, she’d have someone riding shotgun with her, but apparently they did things differently here. She’d talk to Grace tonight and see what she had to say.
A sound made her turn. Grace leaned against the doorway, gray skirt wrapping her like smoke, her arms crossed. Tag swallowed hard.
“Your clothes.” Grace gestured at Tag’s black boots and pants, lilac shirt, and purple blazer. “Nice colors on you.”
Tag locked her tablet in her desk and sent her a thank-you smile. Grace blushed, so flustered and beautiful that Tag’s heart leapt. They stared at each other for a moment.
“The chief’s here and coffee’s ready,” Grace almost whispered, cleared her throat, and left.
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