Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
T he next day after breakfast, while the kids had their riding lessons, Marti joined Caleb in his office.
She liked this room. She could understand why he spent a lot of his time here. She wouldn’t want to leave either.He’d taken one of the dark leather Queen Anne chairs from in front of the desk and placed it next to his office chair.
He sat at his desk, where he put the tiny flash drive into a holder and inserted it into his computer.
The picture was fairly clear, and Marti noted the time when Jamison entered the scene. He was there a full ten minutes before the shipment arrived.
She still couldn’t see what happened in the warehouse, but she saw everyone, and everything arrive.
Then the chaos broke out because the cartel goons entered the warehouse where she and Caleb were.
The only sound they heard was Jamison’s voice when he was shouting orders. They knew, without a doubt, he was in charge.
The equipment continued to record everything until Jamison fled and Renee entered. Then Caleb had turned the recording off.
Marti turned toward Caleb. She felt bad for him and knew this whole situation was exceptionally hard on him. “I recognize the same men as last time, but the only one who speaks is Jamison.”
Caleb sat with his back hunched, his elbows on the desk and his hands holding his head. “I know. It doesn’t look good for him.”
She ran her knuckles up and down his back, a move she hoped would help him relax. “I wonder what he’ll say when he’s caught. And I know you’ll be the one to find him and bring him in.”
“Why do you think it will be me?”
“Because you know him the best and can think like him when it comes to hiding. And, above all, you want to make sure he doesn’t die.”
Caleb sighed. “You’re right. I don’t want him to die. It will have to be me who brings him in.”
“Let’s not think about this anymore. I know you need to take that video to the office in Bozeman, and I’d like to watch Sophie ride. She kept trying to explain to me what Bethany was having them do today, but I didn’t understand it, so I think I need to go see them. And I just need to spend more time with Sophie. I can’t let my job interfere with raising her. I have to be here for her as often as I can, just as you need to be with Danny. I also have to find time to write my story. It doesn’t have an ending yet, but I must get down what I have so far.”
Caleb’s chin shot up. “Are you saying I don’t spend enough time with my son?”
“No, I’m not saying that at all.” She placed a hand on his closest arm. “Calm down. I know you spend as much time with Danny as you possibly can, just as I do with Sophie, but we can’t always be there for them as often as we want to be. It’s just the nature of our careers. That’s all I am saying.”
Caleb ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I’m a little touchy where Danny is concerned. I think I feel more than a little guilty that I haven’t been with him as much as I would like. Jamison used to spend a lot of time with him, and now Bethany takes up the slack.”
“And that is what makes you feel guilty. Danny is not being harmed by learning things from Bethany rather than you. He’s learning, and that’s great, regardless of who teaches him.”
“Would you be saying that if it was Sophie?”
“I wish I had someone like Bethany who would teach Sophie. Instead, I have day care and babysitters who don’t know?—”
Marti’s phone rang.
She looked down at it and then at Caleb. “Unknown Caller. This could be Rocket.”
“Hello? This is Marti Parker.”
Rocket’s voice was distorted, as usual. “Looks like you took care of some of the junk coming in. There’s another shipment arriving tonight.”
She scoffed. “They can’t use the warehouse any longer. Where are they going to meet?”
Rocket laughed. “Southwest corner of the Malone ranch. There’s a new building there. Your man built a barn. They’re using it beforehand for the shipments. The plan is to do everything there and not go into Bozeman at all. Give him the message.”
The line went dead.
Marti told Caleb what was said.Ice filled her veins. The drug operation was on the ranch now. What did that mean for their safety?
“So, they’ve been watching you and know about us. More importantly no one other than the ranch employees and family knew about the new barn. Jamison had to be the person to tell them and to arrange for the drugs to be exchanged there. I’m just surprised they haven’t used it before now.”
“Maybe they did it the way it’s always been done. After the raid they had to find someplace else fast. Jamison would have offered the use of the barn. Caleb, are we still safe being here? They are using the ranch.”Her voice ended with a sob. “Should we still go to The Place tonight? We already know they’re watching us.”
“Here, now. Don’t cry.” He opened his arms.
She walked into them, rested her head against his chest, and held on to him.
“Yes, we’re still safe. That part of the ranch is miles from here. And the security here at the house is substantial and twenty-four hours a day. I’ll have my team stake out the barn. I don’t want that stuff to be on the street. And yes, I still want to go to The Place. I want to know if Jamison will be there himself.” Then he smiled. “Besides, I want to hold you in my arms and see the red dress you brought for the occasion.”
Marti’s cheeks burned. She wanted to show him the red dress as much or more than he wanted to see it. And she was eager to go dancing, whether or not undercover. She was determined to enjoy herself as long as he had someone watching the barn, they would do their part and try to draw out Jamison.
She sniffled. “What time should I be ready?”
He smiled. “How about eight? Then we can have dinner before we bust our moves on the dance floor.”
Marti giggled. “Bust our moves? That saying hasn’t been popular since you were born.”
“I’ll have you know I was born after it was popular. I’m only thirty-six. How old are you?”
“You’re an old man compared to me. I’m twenty-seven.”
“You would still have been in college when Sophie was born.”
She shook her head. “I was working, and Vance was going to school. I put that jerk through school, and how did he repay me? By cheating on me with every young nurse or intern who came through.”
Caleb ran a knuckle down her cheek and then cupped her face. “You’re so much better off than if you’d stayed with him. I wouldn’t have met you then, and I’m very, very glad I met you.” He gave her a soft kiss on the side of her mouth, then moved her hair and kissed her behind the ear before moving to her neck.
She shivered, thrilled with what he was doing. She leaned her head to the other side and gave him better access. After getting kisses up and down her neck, Marti moaned and pulled away. “As much as I’d like to continue this, you better get going and take that video to Renee.” She stood. “Have you thought about making a copy? You could search for clues about Jamison without a deadline if you did.”
“Already thought of that and made a copy for the very reason you mentioned. I can’t believe there’s not a clue about where Jamison went. He had to have left something of himself, something that I can recognize and follow.”
“He’s been gone for almost a year. He must be living near there. Except, an expensive SUV like he arrived in would stand out like a sore thumb in that neighborhood.”
“True but remember they’re building lofts on the west end of that area, and they are going for some outrageous sums. He could very well live there but not under his own name, of course.”
“I’ll check them out. In the meantime, I need to go to Bozeman. Do you want to come, or are you going to watch Sophie ride?”
“Actually, I have to write up what we’ve gotten so far. It’s not much, but I’ll see how far I get. I also want to watch Sophie and Danny this morning and then play in the pool a little later. I hope you can be back by then.” She looked down and then gave him a small smile. “I hope you’re back for the pool. I do love seeing you without a shirt.”
Caleb laughed. “Not nearly as much as I like seeing you in that white halter top swimsuit of yours.”
Marti’s cheeks flamed, and she cast her eyes down before returning to look him in the eyes. “Looks like we are both looking forward to the pool this afternoon.”
“I guess we are.”Caleb’s voice deepened.
“If we’re going to make that happen, we should get to work now.” She stepped back and headed for the door. “See you for lunch?”
“I’ll be here.”
Marti left, visions of another sort of pool party in her head. One in the night, with only two people and maybe some wine, soft music, and each other.
After she got her laptop from her room, Marti set it up on the dining room table. Since this room was rarely used, she didn’t think she’d be in anyone’s way. Once she had the computer on and ready to go, she closed it. She couldn’t focus until she made sure the kids were all right. Even though Bethany was with them she wanted to see for herself. and headed out to the barn to watch the kids.
Bethany was working in the corral with the children. She had them loping around the circle while she stood in the middle.
Marti was even more amazed by Sophie’s progress than she was on their ride to the fishing hole. Her little girl looked completely at ease atop the beautiful palomino mare.
Danny rode the same black mare he had on their excursion. That boy was good, and he was urging Sophie on. He was so willing to share and encourage, even at his young age. She supposed she had Bethany to thank for that, but she couldn’t help but think Caleb was a good example for his son.
Bethany opened the gate to the pasture, and the kids took off. She mounted her own horse and galloped after them.
Marti took that as her signal to get to work on her story. As she walked back to the house, she worked on the angle of the story and exploring what she could reveal and what she couldn’t. She wouldn’t name Caleb in any of it. Deciding that she would only write it as if she were there by herself, she had a good idea by the time she sat in front of the laptop.
The sun was still climbing at about ten o’clock in the morning as Caleb walked into the Bozeman office. He greeted Lori and went directly to the conference room. Renee was there with Leo and Bart.
“So, what was on the video?” asked Renee.
Caleb took a deep breath and told her the unhappy news. He hated having to admit defeat. Though it was a temporary feeling. “Not much. We saw the shipment arrive and enter the warehouse. Then the men followed the shipment in and closed the warehouse door. Then the raid went down. The head of the local organization escaped…my brother, Jamison Malone. He found Marti and me and was going to kill us until he heard Renee arrive. Then he ran out of the warehouse through a window and down the fire escape. I didn’t follow because I had a civilian with me.”
“Are you sure you didn’t just let him escape?” sneered Bart.
Caleb refused to be baited. “I didn’t let him escape. Brother or not, he was about to kill me. I don’t take kindly to that. You can be sure I’ll find him and bring him in to receive justice.”
“Yeah, right,” grumbled Bart. “We’ll see about that won’t we?”
“That’s enough, Bart.” Renee narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brows. “I don’t want you to say another word.”
“But—”
Renee pointed at Bart. “Not another word or you’ll leave this meeting, now.”
Bart nodded and then his gaze shot daggers at Caleb for the rest of the meeting.
Leo finally spoke. “Caleb. I hate to say it, but are you sure you’re the best one to be searching for your brother?”
“I am, because I won’t kill him on sight. I’m afraid someone like Bart would…without remorse.”
Renee frowned. “It’s a good thing Bart isn’t a field agent.” Then she stared at Bart. “As much as he might want to be, he’s not ready and might never be with his attitude.”
Bart had the good sense to stare at the table and not say a word.
Caleb gave the video to Renee and then left the conference room. He stopped at Lori’s desk on the way out. “Are you still willing to join my team?”
Her face lit up as she smiled widely. “You bet. Anything beats sitting here all day doing nothing. I’ve caught up on my reading though. I’m having to search for new books.”
He leaned one hip on the desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “Try the Miss Fortune cozy mystery series by Jana DeLeon. My girlfriend says they’re great and very funny.”
Lori smiled. “I will. I love cozy mysteries.” She quickly made a note of the series name and author. “When and where do you want me to report?”
“I’ll give you a call on Monday, and we can discuss it. I’ll have to get permission from Renee first, but I don’t see that as being a problem. She prefers using the assets we have here, rather than calling for assistance from Billings.”
“Sounds good. It will give me a chance to check out that series of books.”
“Talk to you on Monday.” Caleb headed back to the conference room.
Renee, Bart, and Leo were still there.
He poked his head in the door. “Renee, can I talk to you for a minute?”
She looked over at him. “Sure.” She stood and walked out of the room.
Renee crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you need, Caleb?”
“I want Lori to join my team to look for Jamison. She’s a fully qualified field agent, and I need the help. I also want her to be the teacher of my son’s class. Until we catch Jamison, the kids are going to be targets.”
She nodded and then clasped one of Caleb’s arms. “That would be perfect. I want her to get more experience in the field. She might be qualified, but she’s been behind that desk for a long time now. We’ll just close the office until you have completed your mission. The only thing I want you to concentrate on is finding him.”
Caleb placed a hand in his pocket. “What if we get more intel from Rocket? He’s proven to be accurate, and I trust he’s giving us good information.”
Renee recrossed her arms over her chest. “If you get something you feel you need to follow, do it. I know the Parker woman will, and we should have as much information as she does. I want to read her article before she publishes, too.”
His mouth formed a straight line, and he waved a hand, palm up. Caleb knew just from talking to Marti that she wouldn’t hand over the articles, but it wasn’t his place to do anything more than ask. “I’ll ask her, but I can’t guarantee she will agree.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Compel her if you need to, but I want those articles.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you for Lori. I’ll tell her she can start with me on Monday. I’ll bring the entire team in, and we’ll come up with a game plan.”
“Excellent.” She turned and reentered the conference room.
Caleb ran a hand behind his neck. Marti will not like this.