Chapter Two
Later that afternoon, Micah sat at his desk and looked at a file on White in the FBI database.
The man was a menace to society.
Victor White was a drug dealer, pimp, and murderer and it had finally caught up with him.
Micah found it hard to believe that someone finally had the balls to testify against him.
Patsy didn’t know who he was when she saw him murder one of his prostitutes and she apparently hadn’t cared either.
She did the right thing at the time, but now her life was in danger.
It reminded Micah too much of Jonas Barkley and Vincent Caporale.
Two men, the FBI had tried to get for years.
Barkley was dead now, and his men sat in prison but Caporale was still alive and pulling strings from his prison cell.
The FBI also knew White had people on the outside running his business.
He shook his head.
It wasn’t so much a business as it was a front for his money laundering, prostitutes, drugs, and murders.
He had thugs doing his bidding and his being in prison wouldn’t change that .
He pushed his chair back, stood, and strode to his boss’s office then knocked on the door.
After being told to come in, he opened the door and stepped inside.
Richard Hodges glanced up from his paperwork.
“What’s up, Turner?”
Micah strode to the desk and took a seat in a chair.
“I want to go to the Oregon State Pen to talk with Victor White.”
Hodges sat back, tossed his pen onto the desk, and stared at him then narrowed his eyes. The man looked like the actor Wilford Brimley with his white hair, bushy mustache, and wire-rimmed glasses.
“Why?”
“I need info from him.”
“About?”
Micah ran his hand around the back of his neck. “Just let me go.”
Hodges laughed. “I can’t do that without a good reason, Turner, and you know it.”
“The woman who testified against him thinks she’s being followed. I’d like to know who White has doing his dirty work.”
Hodges sat forward and rested his arms on his desk. “Why?”
“Because I know her, and I don’t like the idea of her being in danger.”
“Is that so? Is she important to you? Or is she just a lay? ”
Micah didn’t like his implication but bit back what he really wanted to say. “She’s neither. She’s a good friend of Mont’s wife.”
Hodges blinked rapidly and Micah knew he regretted what he’d said. “What makes you think you can get info from White?”
“I’ll dangle a deal in front of him.”
“We’re not making a deal with that asshole.”
“He doesn’t need to know that. I’ll even let him think if he reneges on his end and has her hurt or killed, the deal is off and he’ll go back to death row.” Micah shrugged. “He just won’t know there’s no deal until I get what I want from him. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve done it.”
“I know, but if he does have someone after this woman, we need to get him before he gets to her. Where is she?”
Hell! Here it comes.
“At my house for now.”
Hodges grinned, his teeth barely visible under the bushy mustache.
“No shit? Well, I suppose she’s as safe there as anywhere.” He sighed. “All right. Go see what you can do, but this is all on you. I’ll play dumb if word gets out you’re doing this. This is against protocol. I think you should take some time off. That way, I don’t know shit. Make sure she doesn’t leave your house without you.”
“I will, and I understand about it being on me. I’ll take some time off. I’ve got some vacation coming so I’ll take a few days, maybe a week or so, starting tomorrow. Thank you, sir.” Micah stood and walked toward the door.
“Turner? Be damn careful. You’ve made some enemies lately. Caporale still has connections too and since you arrested him, he’s out for blood.”
Micah gave a mock salute. “Yes, sir.”
He chuckled when he heard Hodges mutter. “Smartass.”
Making his way back to his desk, he took a seat, picked up the phone then dialed his home. When it went to the answering machine, he sighed with relief she knew not to answer, and waited for the tone.
“Patsy, it’s Micah. Pick up.”
“Yes?” she asked hesitantly.
“Glad you’re screening. I’m leaving the office in a few. I’ll pick up some food on the way home.”
“You’re coming home this early?”
“Yes. I’m going out of town. I’ll tell you about it when I get there. Pizza, all right?”
“Yes. I only like pepperoni though.”
Micah groaned. “I’ll get half with just pepperoni. I’ll see you soon.”
He hung up.
“You’re leaving town?” Agent Marvin Carver asked him, giving him a startle.
“Yeah. I’m...taking a few days off.”
Carver took a seat in the chair across from his desk.
“Why? You never take time off. ”
He narrowed his eyes at Carver. “It’s a need to know basis, and you don’t need to know.”
Carver stood quickly. “Fuck you, Turner.”
He shrugged in response. “I don’t have to tell you anything, Carver. If you want to know, ask the boss.”
Carver stared at him for a few seconds before huffing and walking away. Micah was glad he was gone. The man was always sticking his nose into other people’s business, and he wasn’t the only one to feel that way about Carver.
“Pissed him off again, huh?”
Micah glanced up and smirked when he saw another agent standing beside his desk but this one, he did like.
“Anyway I can get him the hell away from me, I’ll do it.”
Agent Coby Romero laughed. “I think we all do. So why are you taking time off? Carver’s right about one thing, you never take time off.”
He sighed and waved for Coby to take a seat. Coby lowered his tall frame into the chair and waited.
“When Mont was in a coma and Isabella was told he was dead, she asked for me to come to the Governor’s mansion. I did. She wanted to know where his family was having him buried. Of course, I had to tell her I didn’t know. Well, one of her friends was there and to say that we rubbed each other the wrong way would be a huge understatement. Patsy Murphy is a five-foot four whirlwind, and she got angry with me because I couldn’t give Isabella the information she wanted. This morning around three, Patsy broke into my house—”
“What? Are you serious?” Coby laughed.
Micah nodded. “Yes. Apparently, she’s the one who put Victor White behind bars with her testimony of seeing him stab and kill Lisa Marple. Only now, she thinks she’s being followed.”
“White has someone tailing her,” Coby said, nodding.
“That’s exactly what she thinks, and I do too. I’m going to tell him to call his dog off. I’ll offer him a deal, but you and I both know there won’t be one.”
“Hodges okay with this?”
“In a way. As long as he doesn’t get asked about it and I’m to take some time off to do it. I’m going to leave tomorrow. Patsy can stay at my house until I get back.”
“Do you want me to check on her?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate it. Thanks. I’ll let her know you’ll be stopping by. I don’t want her going anywhere alone.”
Coby grinned. “Is she pretty?”
“She’s a damn…pixie. We don’t like each other much.”
“Petite women are hot,” Coby said with a grin.
“About breaks my neck just to kiss them,” Micah muttered .
“All evens out where it should, buddy. If she’s hot, her height shouldn’t bother any man.”
He stared at his friend. “I don’t think Joyce would appreciate you saying that.”
Coby burst out laughing. “You could be right but my wife, my petite wife, knows I love her.” He stood. “Seriously, Micah, be careful. If White doesn't call off his goon, you might end up helping him find her.”
“Shit, I know but it’s a chance I’ll have to take. I’ll protect her if he doesn't call him off.”
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
Micah frowned. “What question?”
“Is she pretty?”
“Go the hell back to work,” he growled at his friend.
Coby chuckled. “And there’s my answer.”
He gave him a sarcastic salute and walked away. Micah muttered about being surrounded by assholes as he shut down the computer then left the office.
****
Patsy was sitting in the living room watching TV when she heard the garage door open then close.
She figured it was Micah because he would enter the house that way.
She hoped.
She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until less than a minute later when Micah came into the kitchen and set a pizza box on the small table.
She exhaled then bit her lip to hold back the groan as she watched him remove his jacket and tie then toss them onto the table.
Next, he took his weapon from the holster, placed it on the table, took the holster off, and hung it on the back of one of the chairs.
“That’s a nice Camaro,” he said as he leaned against the doorjamb and folded his arms.
“Nice Vette,” she said in return.
A corner of his sexy mouth lifted. “Thanks. What year is your Camaro?”
“It’s a two thousand eleven. What’s your Vette?”
“Two thousand fourteen. It’s the Stingray Premiere Edition.”
“You know what they say about men who drive Corvettes, right?” she said in a tongue in cheek way.
A slow smile lifted his lips. “Sweetheart, I don’t drive that Vette because I’m lacking anywhere.”
“Wow. Conceited much?” She shook her head then smiled. “Can I drive it?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
Patsy laughed. “I had a feeling that would be your answer, Agent Turner.”
“You can go ahead and eat if you want. I’m going to grab a shower.”
He pushed himself away from the doorjamb, turned and picked up his weapon, tie, and jacket then walked through the living room, and disappeared down the hallway .
Patsy stood up from the recliner and entered the kitchen.
She found two plates, set them on the table, and opened the lid to the pizza box.
The aroma had her stomach growling.
She smiled as she looked down at the pizza.
Half of it was pepperoni only, and the other half had pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, and onions loaded on it.
She picked up a slice, put it on her plate, headed into the living room, and sat back down in the recliner.
Tilting her head, she listened to the shower running.
Closing her eyes, she remembered what his muscled ass and broad shoulders had looked like.
She never would have thought that hard body was under those suits he wore.
Of course, going by the look of the weight room, he worked out quite a bit.
She lifted the slice of pizza, took a bite, and groaned.
It was fantastic.
She was on her second slice already when she put it to her mouth and took a bite then pulled the pizza away from her face to stretch out the mozzarella cheese into a long string.
She guiltily stopped when Micah cleared his throat.
She glanced over at him.
“Good?” he asked her.
She chewed and swallowed. “Very good.”
Micah chuckled and entered the kitchen.
Damn him. Sweatpants. Again. Black ones this time, but they still hugged his ass so nice making her mentally beg him to turn around. Please. Please. Please. When he did, she couldn’t stop the moan from emerging.
His red T-shirt hugged his broad chest and shoulders. She felt the heat pour into her cheeks when he raised an eyebrow at her as he entered the living room holding a plate and carrying a beer.
“This is really good,” she murmured but refused to look at him.
He’d know. She just knew he’d know.
“It’s just a little hole in the wall, but they have the best pizza in the area. I’m sorry, I didn’t ask if you wanted a beer.” Micah held up the beer before he sat down.
“No thanks. I hate beer. It tastes like horse piss.”
Micah tilted his head with a smirk teasing his mouth. “And you’re an expert on the taste of horse piss?”
Patsy couldn’t stop the laugh from emerging.
“Well, no, but if I had to taste it, I’m sure it would be what beer tastes like.”
“You’ve just never had a good beer.”
“You said you were going out of town.”
She watched him take a bite of his pizza, chew, and swallow.
“I’m going to Oregon to have a talk with White.”
“Am I going with you?”
“No—”
“Why not? What am I supposed to do here alone?”
“Patsy, you can’t go with me. You’re much safer here. Another agent, Coby Romero, will check in with you. He’s a friend of mine and a damn good agent. You make sure you check his ID before you let him in though.” Micah reached for another slice of pizza.
“I’m not letting anyone in.”
“You’ll let him in, or he’ll think something’s wrong. Coby will make sure nothing is.”
Patsy wasn’t happy about being left alone. It was going to be hard enough during the day, but to sleep in the house alone—she just couldn’t imagine how scared she’d be. She never should have testified. If she hadn’t, she’d be enjoying her life in Dry River.
“What did you tell Roni about being away?” Micah seemed to read her mind.
“I told her I had a family emergency and didn’t know how long I’d be gone. She was fine with it and told me I had a job waiting when I returned. I really miss it.”
“I’ll try to get you back to it as soon as I can. I’ll be leaving very early tomorrow. You probably won’t even be up but feel free to make yourself at home. I’m hoping to be home tomorrow night or the next day. Do not leave this house alone. If you need to go somewhere, call Coby. Use the home phone. Your cell phone can be tracked.”
“Tracked?” The pizza was suddenly heavy in her belly and Patsy was sure she was going to be sick.
Micah narrowed his eyes at her. “You didn’t use it, did you? ’
“No. Bella thinks I’m in Oregon. Same as Roni.”
Micah gave a terse nod. “Good. I’ll leave Coby’s number by the phone, along with my cell number. He’ll do whatever is necessary to help you.”
He set his plate on the coffee table and stood.
“Come with me, and I’ll show you how to set the alarm on the house. I never really use it but if you set it and it goes off, the police will be here in no time. I’ll write Coby’s number and mine down, and then I’m going to look at some cases involving White for a while. Should be bedtime by then.”
“All right.”
She set her plate down too, and followed him to the security pad by the front door on the wall.
The beautiful mahogany door was full glass with an ornately wrought iron scroll running through it.
Micah showed her how to set the alarm for nighttime and what numbers to enter.
“Make sure you turn it off when you go outside.”
“I thought you said I couldn’t go anywhere?”
“You can go out back to the yard but nowhere else, unless Coby is with you.”
“How about that hot tub? Can I use that?”
Micah’s eyebrows shot up. “You saw my hot tub? ”
Patsy wanted to kick herself.
“Uh, yeah. I stepped out the door today and saw it.”
God was going to strike her dead for lying. She knew he was staring at her and she refused to meet his eyes. He was an FBI agent for heaven’s sake. He’d know she was lying. She looked at him and saw him staring at her. Damn it! He knew!
“Okay. I’ll be in my bedroom—the last door on the right. But then you probably already know that.” He grinned and walked away from her stopping to pick up his plate and beer along the way.
Patsy dropped her head back and groaned. Of course, he had to know she’d snooped around his home. Ugh! So stupid, Patsy!
****
The next morning, Micah backed the Tahoe out of the driveway and drove to the airport.
He wasn’t able to use the jet that belonged to the FBI since this wasn’t a sanctioned assignment.
He knew he shouldn't use the Tahoe either,but he worried he might be too obvious in the Vette if anyone was watching him.
Plus, he didn't like the idea of leaving the Vette at the airport.This was all his doing, so he had to buy his own ticket to Oregon .
The State Penitentiary was in Salem, and with the airport in Portland, he had almost an hour drive to the prison.
Close to a six-hour flight from Cheyenne to Portland awaited him .
Damn.
It was going to be a long day.
Worse, he wouldn’t be able to return tonight either.
He would have to wait until tomorrow afternoon.
He just hoped Patsy would be all right alone.
Coby would check on her, but Micah knew she had to be scared.
No matter how tough she seemed.
No one would be comfortable knowing a murderer had them on his radar. He’d already asked Coby to get some men outside the house to keep an eye out.
Micah smiled as he thought of her.
She was a spitfire and he’d love to see if she was like that in bed, but he also knew he had about a snowball’s chance in hell of getting her there.
She wasn’t interested in him at all.
She’d made that abundantly clear from the start.
From the first time they met, she’d let him know what she thought of him and it wasn’t good.
He, on the other hand, had felt like he’d been hit with a hammer.
She was so beautiful and the way she’d stood up for Isabella made him admire her deeply.
After parking his car in the parking lot at the airport, he walked into the terminal and to the ticket counter.
Smiling at the ticket agent, he handed her his identification.
She smiled up at him and handed his ticket to him.
“Have a wonderful flight, Mr. Turner. We hope you’ll fly with us again,” she said as she loaded his suitcase onto the scale.
“I will, on my return trip,” he said with a smile .
The ticket agent laughed.
After passing through security, he headed toward his boarding gate to wait for the flight to be called. He found a book in the gift shop nearby and sat in one of the plastic chairs. He figured he would read a little before the flight was called since he was a little early.
Micah stretched his long legs out in front of him and got as comfortable as he could in the hard chair. He muttered under his breath and raised his eyes when he heard feminine laughter. He saw a gorgeous redhead sitting across from him and he smiled.
“It’s a little hard getting comfortable in those chairs when you’re over, say five feet.” She laughed.
He chuckled. “I think they were made for kids only.”
“I’m five seven and find it hard to get comfortable. You’re…what? Easily over six feet, right?”
He watched her eyes travel over him. When she looked into his eyes again, he grinned.
“Six four.”
She moaned. “Love a tall man.”
His flight was called, and he stood. “Have a nice flight.”
“Too bad we’re not on the same one I wouldn’t mind joining the mile-high club with you. ”
He chuckled and shook his head.
Some women just didn’t care how forward they were.
He gave her a nod and walked to the gate After handing his boarding pass to the agent, he boarded the flight and took his seat.Once the plane was in the air, a flight attendant came by to ask him if he wanted something to drink.
He declined and opened the book he’d purchased, put the seat back and began reading.
He loved a good mystery.
An hour into the flight, Micah put the book down and put his head back and closed his eyes.
Damn, he was tired.
He’d hardly slept last night. He had laid there with thoughts of Patsy just across the hall. Damn it . He ran his hands down his face and groaned.
“Tired?” a female voice said.
Micah opened his eyes and looked up at the flight attendant. “A little.”
“Would you like a pillow or blanket?” she asked draping her hand on the back of the seat.
“No, thank you. I’m fine.” He smiled when she winked at him and moved on.
Micah wasn’t a vain man, but women hit on him all the time. He just wasn’t interested right now, and it was all because of Patsy. Damn pixie.
He smiled thinking about her saying she knew he called her that.
Mont had to have told Isabella and Micah knew how women talked.
He was sure it hadn’t been long after Mont told Isabella that she told her best friend.
He closed his eyes and the next thing he knew an announcement came across the PA for the passengers to buckle up since they were about to land .