Home in His Eyes [Cade Creek 15] (The Stormy Glenn ManLove Collection)

by Stormy Glenn

  Mike followed the sheriff out of the back lot of the feed and seed store and then down the block. They went the long way around several buildings, coming in the back way, two blocks down the street from the coffee shop.

  John paused at the corner of one building and looked up and down the block, including up high on the buildings, before sprinting across the street. Mike was hot on his heels. They moved along the edge of the building until they reached the back of the building next to the jewelry store. Mike could see Dorian and Bear moving toward them from the other direction.

  John opened one of the back doors and went inside. Mike shot Dorian and Bear a look until he saw them walk into the building on the other side of the jewelry store, and then he followed John into the building.

  He hurried up the steps after John until they reached the roof entrance. It wasn’t much more than a hatch in the ceiling. “Is this the only way?” he asked quietly.

  The sheriff nodded. “This is the only way to get from building to building this far up. Yancy said the guy is on the roof. The plan is to cage him in from both sides so he can’t get away.”

  “Assuming he’s still up there.”

  John turned to look at him before pressing the button on his radio several times.

  Mike’s eyebrows lifted when several beeps came back. “Morse code?”

  John nodded. “Yancy says no one has entered or exited the building since he talked to me last.”

  Mike hoped not or this was going to be a really long day.

  Mike followed John up onto the roof through the hatch. Once there, he kept down and quickly moved to the edge of the roof closest to the building next to them. He pulled his gun and waited for John and the others to get into position.

  When a couple of beeps came through the radio, John held up three fingers. He lowered them one by one. When he lowered the very last finger, Mike stood and pointed his gun at the rooftop of the jewelry store building.

  “Where is he?”

  Adam was going to go postal. He hated being left behind. Granted, he was logical enough to know his presence would just create a distraction the others didn’t need, but he still hated being left behind, especially when Mike was walking right into danger.

  He paced up and down the aisle because going to look out the front window wasn’t going to happen. Even Adam knew that.

  “Hey,” Gus said as he came to stand at the end of the aisle. “I hear you got yourself a horse.”

  “Colt actually,” Adam corrected. “He’s not very old, but he’s getting bigger every day. His mama abandoned him because he has a lame hoof. The Blaecleahs couldn’t keep him so they gave him to me.”

  “How bad is the hoof?”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s permanent, but I’m going to talk to Donald and see what he says. He has more experience in this area than I do.”

  “We just got in some new equine milk supplement you might be interested in. It’s supposed to be closer to mother’s milk with more nutrients. It’s a little pricier than that other stuff, but only by a couple of dollars.”

  “Oh?”

  Gus nodded. “Come on, I’ll show you. It’s on one of the other aisles.”

  Adam followed after Gus. He wanted to know more mostly because it would be good for Cato, but also because it would help keep his mind off of what was going on across the park. If he continued to think about it, he really would go postal.

  Gus led him to two aisles over and handed him a can from the shelf. “We’ve only had it in stock for a couple of weeks, but all the reviews on it have been positive. Donald has even started carrying it at the clinic.”

  Nice.

  “I talked to Donald this morning about submitting my application to be his assistant.” Adam chuckled as he remembered the vet’s response. “He pretty much told me that the interview was just a formality.”

  Gus grinned. “I guess we’ll be working together, then.”

  Until that moment, Adam hadn’t realized how true that was. Gus had the only feed and seed supply store in the area. Most everyone ordered their farm equipment and feed supplies through him.

  “Yeah, I guess we will.”

  Adam grabbed another can off the shelf. “I’ll probably be in to order a case of that later this week, but these should do for now. Cato pretty much eats his weight in milk.”

  “And he will until other foods are introduced to his system, but he has a ways to go before he’s there. Small guys like him need lots of milk while their young.”

  “The Blaecleahs set me up with everything when I took him. So far, I haven’t had to get anything more, but that won’t last.”

  “Not if you want him to grow bigger than a house cat.”

  Adam laughed. “I need to find a permanent place for him to live before that.”

  Gus lifted an eyebrow. “You’re looking for a place? I thought you’d be staying out at your brother’s farm.”

  “Key word there, my brother’s farm. Mike and I want our own place.”

  “What are you looking for?”

  “Something big enough for the three of us.”

  “I’ll keep an eye out.”

  “Thanks that would be great.” Adam started to feel a little better. If anyone knew of anyplace coming up for rent or sale, it would be Gus. He kind of had the ear of all the ranchers and farmers in the area.

  “Talk to Mike and figure out what you’re looking for, and I can put a notice up on the community board,” Gus said as they walked back to where they had been standing before. Not quite the front of the store, but close. “It shouldn’t be too hard—”

  “Too hard for what?” Adam asked when Gus suddenly stopped speaking. When he bumped into the guy, he frowned. “Gus, what are you—shit!”

  Adam forgot to breathe as he stared at the man holding a gun to Robby’s head. He had never seen the man before in his life, but the Kevlar vest and dark clothing were a good indication that this was their shooter.

  “Supervisory Agent Waltz, right?”

  He just had to be.

  “Very good,” the man said.

  “What do you want?”

  “I want you to die.” Waltz turned the gun away from Robby—thank god—and pointed it at Adam. Well, hell. “I want Ryan to feel the same pain I did when they fired me.”

  Waltz pulled the trigger, and Gus dropped to the floor. Robby screamed and struggled to get away from Waltz. Fear held Adam still for about a half of a second before he threw the cans of equine milk at the man as hard as he could.

  The man batted them away, but as he did, Adam rushed him. He grunted at the pain that flared through his body when he plowed into the man, but that was nothing compared to the pain that hit him when they went flying through the broken window behind Waltz and crashed down onto the sidewalk.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mike roared with outrage when Adam and Waltz landed on the sidewalk right in front of him and the others. When Waltz started to rise, Mike raced over and punched the guy right in the face. Waltz dropped like a rock.

  Mike grabbed Adam and pulled him away from his former supervisor. He knew he really shouldn’t move him until the paramedics took care of him, but the thought of Adam being in danger was more than he could handle.

  “Are you okay, baby?” Mike asked as he checked Adam over for injuries.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Adam panted as he held a hand to his chest. “It’s a little hard to catch my breath, but—”

  Mike gently felt along Adam’s rib cage, but didn’t find anything out of place. Still… “I don’t think anything is broken, but we’ll get you up to the hospital and have your chest X-rayed just to be sure.”

  “He shot Gus. We need to get him help.”

  “We will, baby.”

  “What about—oh.”

  Mike glanced up, and then slowly smiled. Sheriff Riley had Waltz on his feet and was snapping handcuffs around his wrists. Yancy was reading the man his rights. Dorian was recording the whole thing on his phone.r />
  “Did you get the punch?” Mike asked.

  Dorian grinned. “Oh yeah.”

  “I want a copy.” He narrowed his eyes as his gaze went to Waltz. “I’m going to put it on the internet.”

  “You could be arrested for assault,” Dorian pointed out, which was true, although Mike doubted a jury in the country would convict him.

  “Arrest me.”

  All eyes turned toward the sheriff when his radio crackled. He handed waltz off to Yancy and then answered it. “Go for the sheriff.”

  “Sheriff, this is Deputy Hale,” came the reply. “We found Brandon tied up in the storage closet. The paramedics are looking over him now, but he doesn’t seem to have any lasting injuries.”

  “Any other hostages?”

  “No, sir. Just Brandon.”

  “Has Kapheri been informed?”

  “Brandon is talking to him now, sir.”

  “Okay, after the paramedics check Brandon out, send them over to the feed and seed. Gus has been shot and Adam needs to be looked over. He took the shooter out through the window.”

  Nick chuckled. “No shit?”

  “Process the scene, Nick, and take Brandon’s statement. I’ll be over in a few minutes.” The sheriff hung up and then faced Mike and Adam. “I’ll need to take your statements, as well.”

  “After Adam gets looked at.”

  “Of course.”

  “Can we come out now?”

  Mike chuckled when he glanced toward the store window and saw Gus trying to hold on to his bloody arm. Robby stood close to him, biting his bottom lip as he hovered next to the man.

  “I think the coast is clear, Gus.” Mike knew he’d be ducking for cover if it wasn’t, taking Adam with him, of course.

  As soon as Mike turned back and his eyes met Waltz, he realized it might not be as clear as he thought. He stepped in front of Adam, blocking Waltz view of the man. The hatred in the man’s eyes sent a chill down his spine.

  “This isn’t over,” Waltz snarled.

  “Oh, yes it is,” Dorian said as he stepped up, waving his phone. “I just sent that video to Chief Inspector Hudson. That, along with the evidence from your attempt on the life of a DEA agent under your supervision, plus the kidnapping and assault of an innocent gay man, which is consider a hate crime under federal law, and your history with abusing your power where homosexuals are concerned, should put you away until you’re too old and gray to lift a rifle.”

  “You can’t do that!”

  “Oh yes, I can, and I have.”

  “Who the fuck are you?”

  “Me?” The grin that crossed Dorian’s face was pure evil. “My name is Dorian James. You might have heard of me. I used to work for the same agency you just got fired from.”

  Mike took great satisfaction from watching the blood drain from Waltz’s face. Dorian hadn’t been just a DEA agent. He was a legend in the agency. He had done things out in the field that they were now teaching in the academy.

  Waltz was right to be scared.

  Sheriff Riley snickered as he led Waltz away. Mike knew at some point, there would be a trial, unless Waltz was smart and took a plea deal. As long as he was locked up, Mike didn’t care how it happened. The man was insane.

  When the ambulance pulled up, Mike escorted Adam over to the back doors. He was surprised when the back doors opened and Jonny climbed out. “Shouldn’t you be home sleeping?”

  “The sheriff called and said you were having some trouble. Russ would have my ass if either of you were hurt and I didn’t do what I could to prevent it.”

  “Yeah, but you just got off shift a couple of hours ago.”

  “Dude, that was like five hours ago. I got in a nap.”

  Mike glanced down at his watch. Damn. It had been several hours. It was almost noon. That time flew by.

  “Gus got shot in the arm,” Adam said. “You need to see to him first. I wasn’t shot.”

  “He’s being looked at,” Jonny said. “Don’t worry.”

  “Just get in, Adam.” Mike glanced at Jonny. “He needs to be checked over. He came out through the window and landed hard on the pavement.”

  “Actually, I landed on Waltz. He kind of cushioned my fall.”

  “You still need to be looked over.”

  Mike pressed his lips together when Adam rolled his eyes. He didn’t want to argue with the man. He just wanted to know he was okay.

  “Can you climb in the back, Adam?” Jonny asked.

  “Yes,” Adam huffed before climbing into the back of the ambulance.

  Jonny climbed in after him and began checking him over. Mike stood at the door, keeping his eyes pinned on his love.

  “I guess our day kind of got blown to shit, huh?”

  “Not really,” Adam said. “Donald Markel is going to hire me as his assistant, even knowing that I will need time off for the wedding and a honeymoon. Gus said he’d keep an eye out for a place for us that is big enough for Cato. And you didn’t get shot.” Adam smirked. “I call that a good day.”

  Mike glanced up from the papers on his desk when he heard a knock on his office door. “Come in.” The door opened and his new field agent walked in. “What’s up, Wilson?”

  Agent Daniel Wilson. The guy was good, but a little wet behind the ears. Mike had been surprised to find that the man had requested the post to Cade Creek instead of simply being assigned here. There was a story there, but they didn’t know each other well enough for Mike to ask.

  “Sheriff John Riley is here to talk to you.”

  “Show him in.”

  Wilson nodded before walking out of the room. A moment later, the sheriff walked in. “Hey, John, what’s up?”

  John took a seat across from Mike and took off his cowboy hat, resting it on his knee. “I have a bit of information I felt you needed to know about.”

  Mike stilled. “Is it Waltz?”

  “No, no,” the sheriff said quickly. “Waltz will never see the outside of a prison cell. After he deals with the shit he started with you, he still has to deal with the DEA, and Hudson wants his ass in a sling.”

  “Oh.” Mike blew out a breath. “So, what’s up?”

  “You told me when you set up this little office of yours that your supervisor wanted you to keep an eye on the supply of drugs through Cade Creek to the city.”

  “Right.”

  “That first robbery at the coffee shop. We were able to finally figure out what that was all about.”

  “And?” Mike and the sheriff had both thought it was more than a simple robbery.

  “Since it’s such a hot bed of activity here in Cade Creek, a few guys from the city were trying to force Kapheri to use it as a halfway point between west and east. They planned to go after a few of the other businesses here in town after that.”

  “Well, hell.”

  “Kapheri didn’t put the robbery together with a couple of guys approaching him concerning a business deal until Waltz said something to Brandon while he was tying him up. Apparently, the guy knew about the planned field office here and why it was needed. His plan was to ship a couple of his more undesirable agents”—John made quote marks in the air with his fingers—“out here to the boonies, as he called it, and get them out of his section.”

  Mike’s eyebrows rose. “You mean he actually planned to send me right where I wanted to be?”

  The sheriff grinned. “Looks that way.”

  “What a fucking idiot.” Mike laughed as he leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling. “If he had just kept his mouth shut and left me alone, I would have been gone and he wouldn’t be behind bars.”

  “No, I’m pretty sure he would have. Guys like that can only keep a lid on their evil for so long before it spills out.”

  “I guess,” Mike said as he looked back at John. “But I still think the man’s an idiot.”

  “Oh I agree. I’ve got the report down at the station if you need it.”

  “Thanks. I’ll send Wilson over t
o get it. It probably wouldn’t hurt to have it on hand just in case.” The more information they had, the better they would be able to fight the morons trying to run drugs through Cade Creek.

  “I’ll let Eddie know he’s headed over to get it.” John nodded toward the door. “How’s the new guy working out anyway?”

  “Too early to tell.”

  “He rented one of Chester’s apartments.”

  “Speaking of renting…Gus has a line on a place for us out toward your ranch.”

  “Oh?”

  “It’s only about ten acres, and it needs some work, but it has a barn and a fenced pasture for Cato. Gus seems to think we can get it fairly easy. He said the farmer there…” Mike frowned as he tried to remember the man’s name. “Murkily, I think he said his name was. The guy is selling and moving down south.”

  John nodded. “Sean Murkily.”

  “Yeah, that’s him. Gus said he didn’t have any family in the area, and the place was getting to be too much work for him.”

  “His boys both got themselves into a spot of trouble awhile back and went to jail, so it’s been just Sean working the place ever since then.”

  “Oh.” Now, Mike felt bad for the guy.

  “It’s a good piece of land if you can get it.”

  “Gus is taking me and Adam out to see it this afternoon.”

  “Give my regards to Sean when you see him. His kids were shits, but he’s a good man.”

  “I will.”

  John stood and then reached over to shake Mike’s hand. “I need to get going. Seamus has some shindig going on down at the library he wants me to attend, and if I’m late, I’ll be sleeping on the couch for a week.”

  Mike grinned. “Well, we wouldn’t want that.”

  John’s eyes widened comically. “Right?”

  Mike waited until John left before calling Wilson back into his office. “I have an errand to run that will probably take me the rest of the afternoon. I want you to go over to the sheriff’s station and pick up a report from Deputy Fletcher about the robbery at Kapheri’s Koffee Korner last month.”

  “Okay.”

  “Introduce yourself to the guys while you’re there. It’s a good idea to be familiar with all the police personnel in the town. Cade Creek is small enough that everyone pretty much knows everyone, but forging bonds between law enforcement will make our jobs a whole hell of a lot easier. You never know when you might need a little backup.”