“Absolutely, babe. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
That evening, with Joseph in a private holding cell, the Keepers met. While the mood was somewhat upbeat with Babs’ positive prognosis and the capture of Joseph, Mace was furious that he had not anticipated Joseph attempting poison instead of a full, frontal attack.
“Boss, everything about an executioner for a cartel suggested he would go with a weapon,” Rank said, quickly echoed with affirmatives from the others.
Walker thought Mace’s jaw would crack with tension as he argued back, “We’re the best because we expect the unexpected. We’re lucky that because he was in a hurry, he dumped too much poison into the drink, giving it a bitter taste. If he had been more adept at poisoning, we may have lost one or both women, and that’s unacceptable.”
As usual, Mace set aside his ire and focused on the results of their capture. “I’ve spoken with José, and he’ll meet Drew and Walker for the transfer. Assigned to one of the harshest work camps, Joseph will spend the rest of his life in his unofficial incarceration. Cruel to some, but that’s not our worry. The man’s a killer, and as far as I’m concerned, he’ll get what’s coming to him.”
“Amen to that,” Walker bit out.
Bray said. “I hesitated, not knowing what Babs had swallowed, but she threw everything up.”
“When she recuperates, LSI is sending her on a cruise,” Mace announced. “I think she deserves a vacation.”
“How’s Julie?” Tate asked, drawing everybody’s attention to Walker.
Expelling the breath from his lungs, he thought back to his heart pounding fear when he heard her screaming over the radio. “She’s good. Shaky, of course, but she’s a real trooper. She’s thrilled that Joseph was caught but feels guilty that Babs ended up getting the poison that was meant for her.”
The others shook their heads, murmuring that it was not her fault.
“I know that, and intellectually, she knows that, too. I think once she sees Babs up and talking again, she’ll feel better.”
The meeting continued for a few more minutes before Mace dismissed them to finish the reports. As everyone dispersed from the conference table, Walker made his way over to Mace, saying, “I know you’re kicking yourself because we didn’t anticipate Joseph using poison, but Mace, we got him. And I just wanted to thank you for kicking my butt in the direction of realizing that Julie’s the woman I want to be with. I have no idea where our relationship will go from here, but at least I know what my feelings are for her.”
The tension visibly relaxed in Mace’s shoulders as he smiled. “Good to hear, Walker.” Mace cast his gaze to the side, where Sylvie sat at her desk. As though she knew she was being observed, she lifted her gaze toward her husband and smiled.
Walker remembered all the times that Julie had looked at him with the same affection in her eyes, smiling. Vowing to do what he could to keep the smile on her face, he finished his report quickly and headed out of the compound, anxious to see her again.
Early the next morning, Walker watched from the copilot seat as Drew’s small plane landed at a secure, discrete airstrip in southern Florida.
They taxied to a hanger where another private jet sat waiting. He alighted from the aircraft and walked toward the man standing nearby. Tall, muscular but lean, his black hair trimmed short and eyes hidden behind reflective, aviator sunglasses. Sticking out his hand, he already knew the man’s identity, but questioned anyway, “José Munoz?”
José nodded, a smile firmly on his face, and clasped Walker’s hand in a firm shake as he slid his sunglasses off with his other hand.
“I cannot tell you how glad I am that you are bringing me a present,” José said, his smile widening at his own joke. “It’s something that I have wanted for a long time.”
Looking over his shoulder as Drew alighted from the aircraft, a handcuffed Joseph in tow, he met José’s grin with one of his own. “I hope you have something special planned for your present.”
José’s smile faltered, and he replied, “My country has a cancer on its very soul, and I am dedicated to cutting it out even if I have to do it piece by piece.” Nodding toward the approaching Joseph, he continued, “He is not as high level as I would like to get my hands on, but because of his background, he rose quickly through the ranks in the last several years. It’s been rumored that he was considered by the New Generation Cartel to be one of their most vigorous interrogators and executioners. Getting my hands on him will go a long way in cutting out more of the cancer.”
“I wish you the best,” Walker said, both impressed with the man standing in front of him and awed at his dedication. “A good friend was recently touring your country. She loved the beauty and the history. I was only able to spend a short amount of time there, but through her eyes, I was also able to experience some of it myself.”
Shaking his head with an air of sadness, José said, “Mexico is beautiful and is rich with history. There is so much to offer the world, and yet, men like this piece of trash you captured make my country a feared place for others to visit.” Sucking in a quick breath, he added, “It may seem to some that my job is futile, but eradicating this threat is what I’ll do to my last breath.”
With renewed respect for the job José was committed to doing, Walker said nothing as Drew approached, his hand tightly around Joseph’s upper arm, hands handcuffed behind his back.
Joseph’s face had several new bruises, and he held his body stiffly as though his ribs were injured.
José stared at Joseph for a moment and then said, “It looks as though your visit to the United States was a little hard on you.”
Joseph glared, but Drew chuckled, saying, “I don’t understand it. He just kept running into my fist.”
José kept his gaze firmly on Joseph, and said, “I see recognition in your eyes. You know who I am. You know to fear me.”
Joseph sneered, “Who doesn’t know the head of the Mexican Federal Crimes Unit? But you’ve got nothing on me. This sham of an arrest will not stand up in court.”
Walker watched the exchange with interest, seeing José’s lips slowly curve into a smile.
“You see, Joseph, that’s where you are mistaken,” José began. “This is not an official arrest. In fact, this is not an official anything. Where I am taking you, there will be no coming back. I have the right to assign you to a labor camp…a particularly difficult labor camp.”
Joseph’s eyes widened in fear, but José simply continued to smile then turned toward Walker. “One of the great things about my position is that the government has afforded me certain liberties in cleaning up the cartels.” Turning, he waved his hand, signaling two armed men over. They took possession of Joseph and marched him to the Mexican plane.
Thrusting his hand forward again, he said, “Give Mace my best, and assure him that Joseph will have many years of hard labor in front of him.”
Walker and Drew shook hands with José and watched as he began walking toward his plane as well. Stopping, he turned and called back, “I hope you will give my country a chance again and come visit. Mexico would welcome you with its hospitality.” With a final wave, he climbed the steps into the private jet, and Walker watched as it rolled down the runway, lifting into the air.
Shifting his gaze over to Drew, his grin spread wider as he asked, “He kept running into your fist?”
Maintaining a straight face, Drew nodded. “Yeah, it was the damnedest thing. I’d hold my fist up, and Joseph would just keep running right into it.” Shaking his head, he repeated, “Damnedest thing.”
Slapping his friend on the shoulder, the two men walked toward their plane, both ready to get back to Maine.
40
Three days. Three days of hanging out with some of the Keepers at the lighthouse and double dating with Rank and Helena. Three days of walks along the rocky shores and hiking through the thick forests. Three days of dining out in restaurants and cooking together in his kitchen. Three days of snug
gling on the couch watching TV, learning about each other, laughing together, and sharing.
Three days of checking on Babs who had come home from the hospital and was excitedly getting ready to leave on her LSI-gifted cruise. Babs was surprised at first, but Mace told her that anyone who was seriously injured in the line of duty got a vacation. Considering she knew their schedules, she knew he was telling the truth, so she agreed joyfully.
And three nights of making love, discovering each other’s bodies, soft touches, energetic sex, and whispers in the night.
For Julie, it had been three days and three nights of bliss, and with each passing hour that brought her closer to the end of her vacation, she felt her heart tugging a little more. It had been so easy to whisper her vows of love the other night when he was sleeping. But in the light of day, she found the words halting in her throat once again.
Now, they had driven sixty miles to Acadia National Park, another place that Walker wanted to show her. They had crossed the bridge to Mount Desert Island and driven around the Park Loop Road. Everywhere she looked, the beauty of Maine took her breath away. Cliffs leading down to the crystal blue water. Rocky shores. The road winding through a forest of thick, green trees. Several times he stopped the car and they got out to walk to one of the scenic overlooks.
She stood at the railing staring out over the forest leading right down to the edge of the ocean, the sun warm on her face and the breeze gently blowing her hair. Deeply inhaling the clean fresh air, she felt the cares of the world drift away.
“Walker, it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s the most breathtaking sight I’ve ever seen.”
He stood behind her, his arms surrounding either side of her, his hands resting next to hers on the rail. Whispering in her ear, he agreed, “Yes. Absolutely the most breathtaking sight I’ve ever seen.”
She twisted her head around, catching him staring at her. She blushed as she said, “I was talking about the ocean.”
His lips curved into a smile, and he replied, “And I was talking about you.”
Staying within his embrace, she twisted around so that her back was leaning against the rail and her front was pressed against his. She slid her hands from his forearms up to his shoulders before looping them behind his neck, pulling them even closer. Standing on her tiptoes, she touched her lips to his, feeling the strength in his body and the tenderness of his kiss.
Gathering her courage, she said, “This place makes me want to not go back to hot, humid Florida.”
A flash moved through his eyes, but she was unable to interpret it. Hesitating, she chewed on the side of her lip as she pondered how much more to confess.
He leaned down, taking her lips in his own with another kiss. Lifting his head, he held her gaze and asked, “What would it take to get you to stay?”
She had always been honest with him since the moment they met and decided that even if he rejected her, she would rather he know her feelings. Keeping her fingers tightly around the back of his neck, she said, “I would just need for the man I love to feel the same way about me.”
Another flash moved through his eyes, but this time she could tell it was a twinkle that matched the smile spreading across his handsome face. She held her breath, waiting to see what he would say, and he did not make her wait long.
“I kept waiting for the right time to say this,” he admitted, “and I guess this is it. Julie, I love you. I think I started falling in love with you the first time you went all mama bear on me, making sure the girls were taken care of in Mexico. I think I fell more in love with you when you put up with everything, never complaining. When you offered yourself to me on the top of the pyramid in the evening sun, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven, and not just because it was every man’s dream come true, but because to me, you were my dream come true."
Joy moved through every part of her body, but she worried her bottom lip again, hoping to keep the tears at bay. Swallowing deeply, she whispered, “What now?"
Pulling her tighter, he said, “Can you be happy here in Maine?”
Her spirits soared, and she answered, “I can be happy anywhere with you.”
“My job is here, Julie. I need to be here.”
She held his gaze and said, “I know that, sweetie. But I can work in any school.” She sighed, and added, “I would have to put some things in place first, though. I need to see if there any jobs around here that I can apply for. The school year is almost ready to start so I doubt that I can find something right away. But if the cost of living isn’t too high here, then I can take something even temporary. I would have to go back to Florida and put in my notice.” Sucking in a quick breath, she added, “Am I crazy? Is this too soon?"
“Only you can answer that, babe. Only you can decide if the time is right and this is what you want to do. For me? It’s absolutely right, but I know you’re the one who’s having to uproot your life.”
“I’ll have a lot to put in place. I admit it feels scary…finding a new job, moving to a new state, all for a man that I haven’t known very long. Some people would even say that it isn’t very smart, but being with you makes me happy. Like the parts of my life that didn’t seem to fit before, when I’m with you, they fit."
“I want you with me, however we can make that work,” he vowed. Lifting his hands to cup her face, he kissed her lightly once more before pulling her in tightly, tucking her head under his chin. “I won’t rush you. You take all the time you need, but just know that I’m here, waiting for you, loving you.”
They turned their bodies slightly, staying entwined in each other’s arms, and watched as the waves continued to crash against the rocks, the gulls dove into the sea, and the sun moved across the blue sky, warming the couple below.
4 months later
Walker shook the snow from his boots as he got to the front door of his apartment. His hands were full with the tree that had been tied to the top of his SUV. Throwing open the door, he stepped inside, propping the tree up against the wall while he shucked off his coat and gloves and toed off his boots.
The gas logs in the fireplace were lit, emitting warmth as well as a warm glow about the room. Hearing a giggle, he grinned as he stepped further into the living room. Julie was sitting on the sofa with her laptop propped on the coffee table. He leaned his shoulder against the entrance to the room with one wool-socked foot crossed over the other and admired the view.
“I think that’s wonderful, Tiffany! If you’re going to Tufts University in Boston, I can definitely come visit you easily.” She looked up, caught sight of Walker standing there and grinned. Turning back to her computer screen to finish her Skype, she added, “There’s a great museum there, and last summer they had an exhibit of Mayan artifacts. Maybe it will still be there this next summer when you arrive on campus.”
He rolled his eyes as he moved from the doorway, heading into the kitchen. Pulling a beer from the refrigerator, he twisted off the top, taking a long swig. As he closed the refrigerator door, his gaze snagged on a few of the photographs held in place with magnets. Pictures from his time in Florida when he went down to help her get things packed up. Pictures from Thanksgiving, spent at his parents’ house, with all his relatives excited to see him bring home a girl. A weekend spent in Pennsylvania meeting her family. And, front and center, the picture of them at the Tulum ruins
Finishing his beer, he walked back to the front door to get the tree. He could not help but listen as she continued her conversation.
“I miss you girls so much, but I do like my new school. It’s much bigger than your school, but I find that all students have most of the same problems, and I feel like I have a lot that I can offer them. Plus, it was amazing that there was a counselor going on maternity leave right after school started, and I was able to take her position. She’s also just announced that she’s not coming back, so I get to keep the job for the rest of the year.”
Hefting the tree up in his arms, he carried it into the living room, and she said
, “Walker is back with the Christmas tree, so I have to go now. Please give Jackie and Andrea my love, tell your parents I said hello, and we’ll talk again soon.”
She closed her laptop and scrambled up from the sofa to help hold the base for the tree as he settled it into the stand.
“Babe, you didn’t have to stop your conversation on my account.” Looking down, he admired her ass as she was bent over, shimmying out from under the tree. She sat back on her heels, looked up at him, and smiled.
“We were finished talking anyway, and I wouldn’t miss this for anything. Our first tree and our first Christmas together.”
“Did I hear that Tiffany has decided which college she wants to go to?” he asked, holding out his hand to assist her up.
Nodding as she stood, she enthused, “Yes. She’s decided to go to Tufts in Boston.” Stepping closer, she slid her arms around his waist and slanted her eyes up toward him. “I told her that there was a lovely Mayan exhibit there.”
He palmed her ass and said, “I heard. Very funny.”
Lifting on her toes, she planted a kiss on the underside of his jaw, then said, “Let’s decorate the tree to celebrate our first Christmas together as a couple.”
It took almost an hour for them to hang the lights and all the decorations on the large tree. Standing back, he wrapped his arms around her as they admired their handiwork. Taking her hand, he led her next to the tree and said, “Stand there and admire it, and I’ll get a picture of you.”
He took several pictures with his phone, some as she made a goofy face and others as she smiled beautifully. Finally, he said, “Okay, now for the last one. Look at the special ornament tied with the red ribbon, right to the side of you.”
Julie turned, her eyes searching the tree, before landing on the red ribbon he indicated. Bending closer to see what it was, she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Turning back to him, her eyes dropped as he smiled up at her, kneeling on bent knee.
Walker: Lighthouse Security Investigations Page 23