by Tawny Weber
“DO I NEED TO BOTHER listing the regulations you’ve violated? The rules you’ve broken?” Hunter leaned back in the vinyl booth of the truck stop, his look both penetrating and distant. Five miles out of Black Oak, the place was filled with truckers and travelers, all focused on food. “The fact that you’ve disappointed me and jeopardized your career?”
Simon stared back at Hunter, calculating the odds of getting out of this without being written up, sanctioned or demoted. It would all come down to how he handled the next two minutes.
“I’m pretty sure the rules and regs are still intact since I’m on vacation, and didn’t utilize any federal resources while on my break.”
“Were you aware that Maya Black was the daughter of a suspect in an ongoing investigation?”
“Were you aware that you’re asking me questions that you already know the answer to?”
“Were you planning to pitch a reasonable excuse, Barton, or just planning to play dumb?”
Simon’s lips twitched. “Could I get away with playing dumb?”
“Nope.”
A waitress with hair almost as wide as she was tall passed by and held up one finger to indicate she’d be with them in a minute.
“Then I’ll pitch this. I saw an opportunity to make contact with Maya Black. Following protocol I used one of my standard identities in case we needed to use the connection in the future. When she invited me here for the week, I seized the opportunity as it was made available. Since I was on vacation, I didn’t see the harm in following up on my own time.”
“You entered the vicinity of a known suspect without reporting your intentions to your superior.”
“I think I’m going to play the vacation card again.”
Hunter just stared.
Simon waited a beat, then huffed out a breath. “Okay, fine. I knew I was skirting the line. But I didn’t step over it.”
One brow arched, Hunter waited.
Thankfully the waitress showed up with a coffeepot. They both declined ordering, so she filled their ceramic mugs and was on her way.
“So I made contact with her,” Simon said with a shrug after sipping his coffee. “She needed someone to come home with her so she didn’t lose face, so I made myself available. Once here, I used her connections to get into Tobias Black’s bike shop.”
“How much contact have you had with Black himself?”
“Surprisingly little. The estrangement between he and his daughter is pretty deep. His girlfriend gave me the shop tour.” He hesitated. He didn’t want Maya hurt. Hell, at this point, he’d do whatever he could to prove Tobias’s innocence rather than his guilt. But Simon couldn’t lie. Not directly to Hunter’s face. All he could do was hope that the director’s friendship with Maya’s brother was strong enough that he’d go along with Simon’s plan to gather all the facts before making any moves toward Tobias Black.
“While there, I noted a suspicious crate. The opportunity arose to check it out, and I took it.”
Hunter had two brows up now and a look that was either anger or curiosity lurking in his eyes.
“The crate was filled with bike parts.” Simon paused, then inclined his head. “And guns. Lower receivers for automatic weapons, actually.”
Hunter’s gaze narrowed in calculation. After a few seconds, he inclined his head.
“Nice job not stepping over that line,” he murmured, finally taking a sip of his coffee.
Simon grimaced.
“I only saw one piece, but got a solid look. Do you want the serial number?”
Hunter reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a pad of paper and pen. The man was like Houdini in a Boy Scout uniform. Always prepared.
“How many weapons did you see?”
“I estimate half a dozen lower receivers in the one crate. There were three crates there yesterday and I saw another dozen delivered this morning. I have no idea if all of them carry stolen goods or just that one crate.”
“Did you note any of the crates leaving the shop?”
“Not the same crates. I did see a stack of boxes being loaded into the back of a car, though.”
“Plate number?”
Simon took the pen and jotted that down underneath the serial number.
“When were you going to call this in?”
“Today.”
Hunter just stared.
Simon shrugged.
“Seriously. Today. I couldn’t go further without authorization.” Then, in the spirit of honesty, he added, “And I need access to company resources before I can go any further.”
“If you go any further.”
What a freaking time to find someone that mattered more than his career. Just when that very career was on the verge of skyrocketing. But he wasn’t leaving. No way, no how, would he desert Maya.
Hoping he wouldn’t have to make the choice between her and his career, Simon shook his head and bluffed, “I’m here, my cover is established and I broke the case. You’re not going to pull me.”
Hunter gave him a long, considering look. Then, leaning both elbows on the Formica table he leaned forward and said quietly, “You’re interfering in an ongoing case, in which we already have people established and are close to closing. Your presence here upsets a carefully orchestrated balance.”
Shit. Simon’s stomach sank as he noted the seriousness of both Hunter’s look and his tone. The guy wasn’t bullshitting. Ambition fit Simon like a second skin, but right this second, it was pinching uncomfortably.
“You intruded without authorization. You jeopardized our position. And when you came across evidence that is relevant to the case, instead of contacting your superior, you chose to keep it to yourself.” Hunter ticked off the list of transgressions as if he was reading a recipe. “So tell me why I shouldn’t send you back to Savannah in disgrace with a disciplinary letter in your file?”
For a morning that’d started with incredibly hot sex and a great mood, this day was sure going to hell.
“You’re not that much of a hardass, Hunter. You’re pissed at me, but you can see the advantages to leaving me in place.” At least, Simon hoped like hell he could see them. A tickling of panic was making its way up his spine. He swallowed hard, trying to get past the dread obstructing his throat.
“C’mon, Hunter,” he said quietly. “I didn’t blow anything and I didn’t break the rules. Yes, I didn’t follow protocol, but I had a good reason.”
“Which is?”
Simon hesitated. He looked into the dark eyes of the man who was a legend. A man he’d spent years looking up to, even though they were the same age. A man who was his boss and held the future of his career in his hands.
“I was worried about Maya,” Simon admitted. “She’s innocent in all of this. I didn’t want to see her hurt, didn’t want to do anything that could send this tipping the wrong way. I wanted to get the facts first.”
“And?”
Simon frowned.
“Report, Barton.”
Ahh. Simon nodded and shifted in the vinyl seat. Shoulders back, chin high, he came to attention.
“Illegal, most likely stolen fully automatic lower receivers are being run through Black Custom Bikes. There is no proof that Tobias Black is behind it. It could just as easily be one of his employees or his girlfriend.”
Hunter nodded for Simon to continue.
“Tobias Black appears to be solvent, and the real town leader. The mayor has nothing good to say about him, but that’s most likely a familial issue. Given his history and talents, running guns, just like running drugs, would be a major step outside his usual M.O.”
That was as much opinion as fact, but Hunter just nodded.
“He employs three people. Two salesmen and a mechanic. His girlfriend appears to be an unpaid helper. About the same time the drug accusations started, he began dating said girlfriend, who is his own daughter’s age. That doesn’t speak to the crime itself, except that from what I’ve heard, he’s only dated once
since his wife died twenty-some years ago. That liaison exploded after destroying his relationship with his children and he vowed to stay single.”
“You think the girlfriend is involved? Or working for him?”
“I think she’s a problem and that she has an agenda that has nothing to do with dating a guy twice her age.”
Hunter nodded again, this time relaxing enough to take a drink of his coffee.
“Caleb Black is a question mark. He conveniently stepped into the sheriff’s job after arresting the man who previously held that position. He’s hiding things, but doesn’t have a criminal vibe. There’s tension between him and his father, just as there is between Tobias and Maya.”
“And Maya Black?”
“Is innocent.”
Hunter’s brow rose and he slowly set the coffee cup back on the table.
“There’s no reason to suspect otherwise,” Simon defended.
“There’s always reason for suspicion,” Hunter returned. “Of anyone.”
Simon agreed. At least, he’d agreed before he’d met Maya. But now he knew her. He believed in her. And in her innocence.
His feelings must have shown on his face, which was disconcerting to say the least. Because Hunter gave him a long, pitying sort of look then shook his head.
“A week ago someone reminded me that Maya Black had a criminal record. And that was reason enough to hold her under suspicion, to believe she was culpable and should be under surveillance. Ringing any bells for you?”
Simon grimaced.
“You’ve lost objectivity, Barton.”
Simon’s grimace turned to panic.
“Pulling me would be a mistake. My cover is solid. You know it’s solid, or whoever you have on the inside would have taken me out already. Let me close this case.”
“You’re not on this case.”
The hell he’d be booted out. He was the one who’d found the guns. He’d made contact with all of the players, had a solid cover. And more importantly, he wasn’t leaving Maya. Not like this. Tapping one finger on the table, Simon didn’t say a word, though. He just leaned back and waited.
Thankfully, Hunter wasn’t big on playing head games. After a painfully long minute, he nodded.
“You’re on backup,” Hunter decreed, sliding from the booth. “Wait for orders, keep guard on Maya Black, and watch your ass. If you see a chance to break this case, you take it. Regardless of how it’ll affect whatever it is that isn’t going on between you and the daughter of a suspect.”
He stood next to the table, waiting. Watching.
Testing.
Simon forced himself to shut up and wait.
“If you stay on my team, you’ll find out that I’m not a stickler for protocol. But I’m adamant about loyalty.”
Working with Hunter, being on his team, was a huge career leap. The man’s reputation was legend in the FBI.
“You won’t question my loyalty again,” Simon promised.
Hunter nodded and without another word, left.
Simon swigged down the last of his coffee.
He’d fucked up. Simon stared out the window blankly, thinking of all the reasons he loved his career. His job was his life. Everything he was came down to what he did. And he’d worked hard to make his career a success. Damned hard.
He’d dreamed of being with the FBI since he was a kid. He’d actually dreamed that his dad was FBI, the job being the reason he’d had to leave his wife and young son. By his teens, he’d come to accept the truth, that his father was simply a deadbeat loser. But the FBI dream had stuck.
It was all he’d ever wanted.
It was all he really was.
And he couldn’t give it up. Or do anything further to jeopardize it. Not even to protect the woman he was falling in love with.
The bottom line? He had to choose between his career and Maya.
12
SIMON STRODE THROUGH the town square, looking for Maya’s car. They were supposed to meet for lunch, so he’d had the cab drop him off just outside Black Oak. He needed the walking time to think, to strategize.
This was the case of a lifetime. Even now, with multiple people involved and Hunter calling the shots, the bust would still skyrocket Simon’s career.
And Maya was the woman of a lifetime. Amazing and sexy. Funny and sweet. Strong, with deep layers of vulnerability that made him wish he were a superhero who could fix all her problems and make her happy. See her smile.
Simon shoved his hands into his pockets and kicked a rock out of his path. Lucky him, getting to choose between two dreams-of-a-lifetime.
Lost in thought, he paused by the statue at the center of the square and took a deep breath. He didn’t have answers. He didn’t know what he wanted more. So he’d do what he always did when faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem.
He’d wing it.
“Hey, there, big boy.”
It wasn’t until the greeting was followed by a pat to his ass that Simon realized the woman was talking to him.
“What the…” He spun on his heel to glare. So much for lightning fast reflexes and being in the prime of his career. Thank God he’d chosen his ankle holster over holstering his gun at his back as usual. Now that he was officially on the case, he was armed. But he’d been worried about Maya getting too close.
Apparently he should have been more worried about Lilah.
“Happy New Year,” Lilah said, her smile just this side of wicked. “I can’t believe you’re spending the first day of the year alone. What’s up? Did Maya desert you?”
“She’s spending the morning with her dad,” Simon said. And from the tight look on Lilah’s face, she knew that. He had to wonder how Maya’s presence had shifted Lilah’s cushy position. From what he’d seen at the party the previous night, their relationship was starting to fray a bit. “I’m meeting her at Moonspun Dreams for lunch in about twenty minutes, though.”
The friendly look in Lilah’s eyes changed. Became more calculating. She glanced over her shoulder toward Pandora’s café. When she looked back at Simon, she looked a little harder.
“Okay, fine,” she agreed. “You have lunch plans. But you have a little bit of time. How about I show you something?”
He wasn’t big on offending women, but this was getting ridiculous.
“I already told you—”
“Not that,” she interrupted with an eye roll and a playful swipe at his shoulder. “Tobias finished up a gorgeous custom bike. The tank is airbrushed with a really sexy image over the flag of Texas. You’ll love it. The image is my silhouette, naked. And then there’s the Texas thing and you being from there and all.”
He tried to ignore the naked part of her description and focused on the flag. Baffled, he shook his head. “I’m not from Texas.”
“No? But you have the accent and boots. That says cowboy to me.”
Right. Because there were no other Southern states. Simon debated. Not about correcting her. That was pointless. But over the invitation.
Gut aching, his muscles tensed as he struggled with a decision he’d secretly been hoping to avoid. If he went with Lilah, he had no idea if it’d lead to a break in the case. If it did, everything would be out in the open. That he wasn’t who he’d told Maya. That he wasn’t what he’d pretended to be. And that he’d used her in his quest to arrest her father.
In other words, he’d lose Maya.
But Hunter trusted him to do his job. To follow the law he’d sworn to uphold. To give one hundred percent to the job he loved, the career that had forged his identity.
What a freaking choice.
Then again, he realized, now that Hunter was here, the truth was going to come out one way or the other. Eventually, Maya would know he’d lied.
So really, there wasn’t any choice.
Miserable, Simon did the only thing he could do. He gestured in the direction of the bike shop and said, “Sure. Let’s go see that bike.”
He kept a careful eye out, kno
wing if he caught sight of Maya that he’d abandon the investigation without a second thought.
But luckily, or unluckily, by the time they reached the door of Black Custom Bikes, he hadn’t seen even a hint of her, or her car.
“After you,” he said with a grimace, holding the door open for Lilah.
“Hey, Jason,” she said as she waltzed into the storeroom. “I’ll cover now if you want to take your lunch.”
The salesman’s teeth flashed bright and white as he gave her a knowing look. He slid his gaze to Simon and offered a pitying sort of shake of his head.
“Sure enough. I’ll head out for a while. Don’t leave the shop unattended, though,” he said as he headed for the door.
“He do that often?” Simon wondered. “Just leave the shop in your hands?”
Which would make it extremely convenient for Lilah to use the shop for whatever games she liked. Whether they were sexual, or criminal, Simon still wasn’t sure.
Lilah sauntered over and flipped the Open sign to Closed, then locked the door.
“Didn’t he ask you to keep the shop open?”
“Nope. He said not to leave it unattended. I’ll be attending just fine. But in the back.”
He frowned. Time to go. He’d figured on customers, employees, things like that to distract Lilah while he poked around. He had no desire to be in an empty shop with her, though. Especially when she was clearly up to something.
“Oh, look. It’s just you and me,” she said as she turned a circle with her arms outstretched to indicate the empty room.
The radio in the corner was on, playing Top Forties. The orange light on the coffeepot glowed bright and there was a half-eaten sandwich on the small table in the corner.
Obviously Jason had lied about needing to get lunch.
There were a couple bikes in various states of repair, but nothing sporting a state flag.
“I thought we were here to see a bike,” he said, making a show of looking around. But instead of searching for a bike, he was checking for crates, automatic weapons or any other sign of criminal activity that he could report to Hunter.
“Oopsie. It looks like someone’s out test-driving the bike.”
“Right,” he said, since it was clear that she’d known the bike would be gone. He didn’t see the crates at first glance either. He strode over to the expanse of windows flanking the back of the shop facing the alley and Pandora’s café, and said, “Hey, this is convenient. I can go out this way and meet Maya.”