Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Finnigan knew Tawny would come to him as soon as everyone fell asleep. To pass the time, and because he’d never been able to stand still, he strolled the perimeter, searching for packets of drugs that might have been dropped or tracks of any kind. They’d studied satellite images of the area that didn’t show any other buildings, but they could be cleverly hidden underground. He tramped through the dense woods, brushing aside rotting tree limbs and undergrowth and examining what lay beneath. In the end, he decided they wouldn’t risk having their operation so close to the fire camp where it might be discovered.
The air grew colder this late in the fall in Chino Hills compared to LA and Laguna Beach. Finnigan blew on his icy hands to warm them. Somehow, life was unbalanced without Tawny keeping order. Luca and Mallory were expecting a baby and wanted to get married but refused to do it without Tawny. Justice and Brielle’s baby was due any day now, and Tawny would miss its birth. Hutch and Jiena’s wedding plans were moving forward with a December ceremony already booked at a venue in Hawaii, and like Luca and Mallory, they didn’t want to celebrate without Tawny. The holidays were fast approaching, and Finnigan wanted, no needed , the love of his life home with him.
“This ends with me,” he vowed. “I swear I’m taking these guys down.”
“Not without me, tough guy.”
Finnigan froze. Tawny wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her sweet, lean body against his back. His heart somersaulted, and his pulse raced from her nearness. Her warm breath tickled his ear. When she circled it with her tongue and tugged the lobe into her mouth, Finnigan grew as hard as a rock.
“Toolshed. Now ,” she whispered.
He grabbed her hand, and they sprinted toward the rickety shed. They burst through the double-wide doors and barred them with a beam. Finnigan dragged a workbench in front of the doors for extra security, then reached for Tawny.
Their mouths met in an explosion of unbridled passion. Tongues sparred. They pressed their lips harder and harder together until their teeth clashed. Without breaking their frantic kisses, Tawny pushed Finnigan's heavy jacket off his shoulders and picked at the buttons on his shirt. He, in turn, unzipped her jumpsuit and pulled it down her body. She unbuckled his belt and loosened his pants. Finnigan shoved them down his hips, and they shed the rest of their clothing.
They sank to the cold, dirty floor. Neither cared. Finnigan softened his kisses and caressed Tawny’s face, as soft and silky as rose petals, with the back of his hand. His mouth left hers and traced a path of butterfly kisses down her neck. He paused at the hollow of her throat, where her pulse beat against his lips.
“Your heart is racing, my love.”
Tawny reached out and placed her hand over his heart. “So is yours.”
The rapid rise and fall of her chest drew his attention to her breasts. His mouth continued to move down her body, lingering over each spot. Finnigan inhaled the light scent of Ivory soap. The cleanness of it further excited him, and if possible, he grew harder. He brushed his thumb across her tight, erect nipples before he drew one and then the other into his mouth. The familiar taste of those buds sent him reeling…whirling. His heart pounded hard and fast when Tawny moaned low in her throat and arched her back. He licked and kissed his way down her torso and flat abdomen with excruciating slowness. He splayed his hand against her stomach, and it clenched beneath his touch.
“Red,” he moaned her nickname. “Red, I want you so much. I’ve dreamed about this, about making love to you every damn night since you’ve been undercover.”
“Finn…I love you. I love what you do to me, what you give to me…”
He parted her legs and flicked his tongue, teasing her. His long, unhurried strokes of her sex plunged her over the edge, and she gasped from an orgasm.
“Oh, God, Finn! Give me more!”
Finnigan’s mouth claimed hers in a slow, erotic kiss. He pleased her a second time, then eased into her slick, tight center. Finnigan waited, savoring this moment. God, he missed this, this melding of their bodies into one. She breathed his name and clutched him tightly to her. He took her mouth in a hot kiss and began thrusting against her. Tawny lifted her hips to meet each one of his thrusts as his tongue imitated his lovemaking. He prolonged their pleasure, changing his rhythm from fast to slow, until the sensations they created overpowered him. With one final hard thrust, Finnigan and Tawny reached the pinnacle together and muffled their cries of mutual pleasure with warm kisses. After his heart rate returned to semi-normal, Finnigan rolled off Tawny and cradled her head against his chest.
Her hand caressed his face. “I love your scruff. It’s so sexy.”
He brought her palm to his lips and kissed it. “I love you. Marry me, Red.”
Finnigan heard her sharp intake of breath, and she buried her face in his neck. A moment later, an uncomfortable wetness saturated his skin. “Aw…sweetheart, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
She leaned up on an elbow and pressed a sweet kiss on his lips. “Yes, Marcus Finnigan. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He captured her mouth again and kissed her hard. “When this is over, I’ll propose properly, with a ring. To honor you.”
“No. This proposal is perfect. You honor me by being here. To protect me.”
“So, no ring?” he teased.
“Oh, hell yes, I want something sparkly like you promised in your letter!”
“Sparkly it is,” Finnigan replied, picturing the ring he’d already bought sitting in a black velvet case on their dresser in the home they shared. A simple diamond solitaire, it elegantly reflected Tawny’s beauty and personality.
He didn’t want to spoil their mood, but they had to make decisions about the case moving forward. “Tawny, there’s something you should know. Joy and Precious are dead from a heroin overdose.”
She let out a soft cry. “Oh my God, no! I suspected they wouldn’t live long once they returned to CIFW. I suspected it! Why didn’t I try to stop them from quitting?”
He caressed her arm to comfort her. “Tawny, it wouldn’t have mattered. Warden Stoltz had planned to yank them out of the program regardless of what they wanted. We couldn’t save Joy and Precious, but we can do something to keep Dee and Barbie from meeting an even worse fate.”
“Because they’re being used as drug mules.”
Of one mind, they said simultaneously, “We have to get them out.”
Finnigan chuckled. “How do you want to do this?”
“How soon can we arrange an extraction?”
“It can be done before dawn. All you need to do is get them outside the bunkhouse. We’ll take it from there.”
“Their disappearance will throw a wrench into Whitcomb and Macintosh’s system.”
“Exactly. The two other women in Bunkhouse B, what are their names?”
“Susan and Debbie.”
“Right. Susan and Debbie need to be moved into your bunkhouse, and you, Yolanda, and Terrin will take their places. They’ll come for you, Tawny. Let them. We’ll be tracking you.”
Finnigan fumbled around in the dark for his cell phone. He called Jiena, and they discussed how and when they’d be ready to extract Dee and Barbie.
“In two hours, Red.” Finnigan rolled on top of her. “Plenty of time.”
She cupped his face. “I really love you, Finnigan.”
“Show me,” he murmured.
Tawny switched their positions and straddled him. She lifted his arms above his head and threaded her fingers through his as her tongue swept across his lips, and she nibbled them. She kissed him hard before her mouth began a slow, exciting tease down his body. When she took him fully into her mouth, Finnigan moaned with intense pleasure.
“Oh, God, Red! Just like that!”
She brought him to the brink, then sank onto his hard shaft. He gripped her hips, his fingers pressing into her soft flesh. Tawny leaned over, and he captured an erect nipple, grazing it with his teeth. Less than a minute later, Tawny’s body shuddered from her orgasm. The tightening of her muscles around him brought his own sweet release. She collapsed on top of him, panting.
Finnigan ran his hands through her messy mass of red hair and kissed her sweaty forehead. Holding her head in place, his mouth claimed hers in slow kisses that fueled their passion for the third time. Afterward, they lay with their limbs entwined as Finnigan shared the news from home.
Since Tawny had no idea what had happened to Mallory after Luca rescued her on her way to CIFW, he related the bizarre story of a modern-day Court of Ma’at that had targeted her as its next sacrifice. It ended underground in a cave in Tennessee where Mallory and Luca had shot and killed the cult’s leaders, Nehebkau and his aunt, Professor Patricia Samir. He concluded the tale saying, “Ali led Luca to Mallory, and now he’s a PI in her office.”
“Oh, my God. What a horrific thing happened to Mallory. We all hated Bentley, but to be savagely murdered like that… Well, it’s awful. I really don’t understand what Judge Cohen was thinking when he arraigned her, the D.A., on a weekend, especially with Cameron McAdams as her lawyer. That’s begging for trouble.”
“He’s in deep. And by the way, Wendy Corrigan isn’t Director Dickinson’s niece.”
“What the hell is going on there? Is she a plant from the DOJ?”
“We’re not sure. Cameron checked with his brother who’s still active with the DEA, and he said they weren’t involved in any ops on the West Coast.”
Finnigan then changed the subject. He told Tawny that Brielle’s baby was due soon, and Mallory was pregnant.
“That’s wonderful news. And what about Miguel?”
“Miguel’s lost, I think. He’s been running the LBPD practically single-handedly, with some help from Luca. Justice is rarely there, and Hutch has been helping Jiena with this case.” Finnigan paused. “Everyone is lost without you, Tawny. I don’t think they realized until you were gone that you’re the glue holding them together.”
She kissed him and sat up. “And I’m ready to kick ass and go home.”
Finnigan grinned. “That’s the woman I fell head over heels, crazy in love with.”
They found their clothing and dressed, and while they waited to hear from Jiena, they kissed, caressed, and whispered words of devotion and love.
Around two o’clock in the morning, Jiena texted Finnigan to let him know that she and Macklin were in position outside Bunkhouse B. He took Tawny’s hand. “We have the green light.”
She nodded. “Let’s do this.”
They peered outside the toolshed and made sure no one lurked in the area. Finnigan and Tawny crossed the distance between the toolshed and Bunkhouse B and eased open the door as quietly as possible. Dee and Barbie slept in the bunkbeds on the left side of the main room.
Tawny approached Barbie on the bottom bunk and gently shook her. “Barbie, wake up,” she whispered.
Barbie lashed out and struck Tawny’s face. “No! Leave me alone! I don’t want to do it anymore!”
Tawny covered her mouth and restrained her with her other hand. “Shh! Listen to me! It’s Tawny. Open your eyes.”
Barbie opened her eyes, and Tawny removed her hand so she could speak. “T? What are you—” She saw Finnigan and opened her mouth to scream.
Tawny covered it again. “Barbie, it’s okay. I’m an undercover cop. He’s Marcus Finnigan, Captain Finnigan’s brother, an LA SWAT officer. We’re getting you and Dee to safety. We know you’re being used as drug mules. Now, come on. There’s no time to argue.”
She pulled Barbie to her feet, and Finnigan took her by the arm. She trembled with fear. “Don’t be afraid, Barbie. I swear I’m not going to hurt you.”
They hurried from Bunkhouse B as Tawny dealt with Dee. After a minute or two, Finnigan heard footsteps behind him. He waited for Tawny and Dee to catch up, and they moved with quick, measured steps to join Jiena and Macklin, who were taking cover behind the thickness of the trees.
Jiena introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Special Agent Jiena Cofield, and this is LA SWAT officer Howie Macklin. We’re here to take you into protective custody. Please come with us.”
In the faint glow of the moonlight, Finnigan could see fear in both their eyes as they hung back.
“No. Joy and Precious got taken into custody and sent back to prison,” Dee protested.
Tawny intervened. “I swear that’s not going to happen to you. Remember when I told you we had to trust and protect each other? This is that time. Jiena is in charge of the FBI’s investigation into Judge Cohen, Perry Jones, and Warden Stoltz, and Macklin has been a friend of mine for years. And Marcus is my fiancé. We’re all working together to stop this from happening to anyone else.”
Barbie and Dee glanced at each other, then nodded, either resolved or resigned to their fate.
As Jiena and Macklin led them away, Tawny asked, “What happens when Whitcomb and Macintosh return to work on Monday and realize Barbie and Dee are missing?”
“They’ll want to call local law enforcement, maybe their contact within the organization, but Moira will convince them to let her handle it because the women are her responsibility. She’ll talk to someone in the Chino Hills police department. They’ll, in turn, call the Feds. Jiena will handle Sheriff O’Grady.”
“Before Monday, I’ll convince Susan and Debbie to move into Bunkhouse A, and Yolanda, Terrin, and I will move into their bunkhouse. I wonder, however, if Macintosh and Whitcomb will find it too risky to recruit more of us with the Feds breathing down their necks.”
“I think they’ll wait a couple of days. They’re just arrogant enough to believe they can carry on with business as usual. When Jiena interrogates Dee and Barbie, she might glean enough information to stop them without you.” Finnigan wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “That’s what I would prefer.”
Their lips met in a tender kiss.
“Finn, I have a confession. During that first wildfire in Chino Hills State Park, someone impersonating a firefighter attacked me.”
His body went rigid with shock. “For God’s sake, Red! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I didn’t want to add to your worry about me.”
“Well, that’s a given, considering how much I love you. So, what happened?”
“I heard a child crying in a tent. When I went to help, this guy dressed as a firefighter came out of nowhere and tackled me. He punched me in the face and head, tried to stab me, but I turned the tables on him. When he realized he’d been bested, he disappeared.”
“Did you get a look at his face?”
“Sadly, no.”
Finnigan tugged her hard against him. “You’re a threat, and our suspects know it.” He kissed her again. “Return to your bunk and get some sleep, Tawny. You need to be sharp and alert for what lies ahead.”
She kissed him one more time. “I’ll see you in a few hours. Love you, Flame.”
“Love you more, Red.”
After Tawny slipped inside Bunkhouse A, Finnigan placed a chair from the smaller bunkhouse outside the door and dozed off and on until sunrise.
The day dawned with dark thunderclouds gathering above the hills. Lightning flashed intermittently in the angry skies, and Finnigan prayed the strikes wouldn’t spark any fires. He heard movement inside Bunkhouse A and assumed the thunder had awakened the women. Unwilling to barge in on them in a possible state of undress, he knocked twice and called out, “Hi! It’s, um, Mark! May I come in?”
Their delighted laughter greeted him as one of the women, Yolanda, pulled open the door.
“Well, hi yourself. You’re very polite. Macintosh and Whitcomb don’t care to announce themselves. Come on in. You can eat breakfast if you help.”
“Um, is it okay if I take a shower first?” Finnigan said, pointing at the bag he’d brought with him.
“Okay by me. The bathroom is free.”
Finnigan showered, brushed his teeth, and dressed in an extra uniform. He adjusted his holster and checked his service weapon before leaving the bathroom with his dirty laundry.
“I’ll be back in a sec,” he told Yolanda. “I just want to throw these in the wash.”
An avalanche of jumpsuits, cotton underwear, and bras landed on him. “Okay, okay. I’ll do your laundry, too. You’re welcome.”
Tawny had risen from her bunk while he’d been in the bathroom. Her lips, swollen and bruised from passion, drew his attention, and his gaze lingered on them. Finnigan swallowed. Memories of making love with her in the toolshed played like an X-rated movie in his mind. Before he turned away, he caught her knowing smile.
Finnigan staggered away under the weight he carried. Out of earshot, he muttered, “My cover is going to be blown before this weekend is over.”
Bunkhouse B was empty. He loaded the washing machine, dropped two pods into it, and pushed in the old-fashioned starter. Taking advantage of being alone, Finnigan thoroughly searched the bunkhouse. He didn’t expect to find anything because of how well-hidden this organization kept its illegal activities. Still, to his disbelief, he discovered a balloon stuck in a box of tampons in the bathroom.
“Bingo.”
Finnigan untied the top of the small red balloon and squeezed it. Black tar oozed.
“Jesus Christ. Heroin.”
He took pictures of it with his cell phone and sent them to Jiena. Then, he hid it in the toolshed.
When he returned to Bunkhouse A, he cheerfully announced, “Put me to work, ladies. Want pancakes? They’re my specialty.”
They said yes to the pancakes. Finnigan mixed pancake batter in a bowl, and Yolanda fried link sausages.
“You don’t act like a guard,” she observed. “Aren’t you supposed to be standing outside?”
“My job is to keep an eye on all of you, and all of you are in here. Besides, I have great instincts. I’d know if you were in danger from an outside threat.”
“You mean like a bunch of people who might want to cause us harm because they’re afraid to have convicts around decent folk?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“So, did ole Warden Stoltz send you? Because you don’t fit his mold.” She snapped her fingers. “Maybe Director Dickinson sent you. He don’t like Stoltz.”
“Neither.”
He’d spoken in a low voice and turned to stare at her. Her eyes widened in understanding, and she sucked in her breath. “Holy Mary, Sweet Jesus. You’re him .”
Finnigan flipped four pancakes onto a platter and poured more batter onto the hot griddle. “Yeah.”
“Somethin’s escalatin’.”
“Yep. We’ll talk later.”