16. Bone Up On The Details
CHAPTER 16
Bone Up On The Details
G arrett fumed. His blood thumped in his veins, and he wanted to kick the shit out of some hay bales. How dare the FBI put that kind of pressure on Kimi? He wanted to knock a few special-agent heads together. They didn’t have a clue what experiencing that kind of viciousness first-hand would do to a woman like her.
Sure, she was tough on the outside, but her heart was soft. Experiencing the mistreatment of the dogs and the emotions of the people in attendance would be difficult as hell on her.
She’d agreed to discuss the role further. He’d known she would, as had Marcus. Neither of them wanted her to say yes, but she had. Of course, she had. In her mind, there was no other choice. This was a way for her to help take down John Mead, and she would take it.
How was he supposed to handle her going in there alone? Like hell, that was going to happen. Garrett didn’t know how, but he’d be nearby somehow.
The security around the compound would be amped up with an actual fight happening, but he had to figure out a way to be there.
A few agents from New Hampshire would arrive in town the next day. They were going to stay at the Phail B&B and come out to speak with Kimi and make a plan .
Kimi’s pygmy goats had arrived, and she was busy introducing them to their new surroundings. The little buggers might be cute as hell, but they weren’t enough to lift his own mood.
Marcus stood beside him, watching the goats and likely coming up with his own plans. Sure enough, he aired one. “I don’t have any jurisdiction in New Hampshire, but I’m going to insist that you and I are on the team that heads in as soon as they secure the warrants. It won’t be the same as being in on the action, but we’ll be there. We’ll be her backup.”
Garrett raised an eyebrow. “Can you insist on something with the FBI? I feel like they make their own rules.”
Marcus nodded. “I’m going to do my damnedest.”
And if that didn’t work, they’d be there, anyway. But they’d be closer if they were part of the team.
“I’m sorry I had to give her the message. I figured she’d be brave enough to say yes, but I was hoping she’d turn it down.”
Garrett snorted. “Not when there’s a chance to save the dogs and send the ones hurting them to jail.” Which was part of what made her so damn special.
Marcus sighed. “Their team will be here tomorrow. I’ll let you know when I’m bringing them out here.” Then his buddy headed off, leaving Garrett to watch Kimi acclimate the new goats, who didn’t seem even a little bit uncomfortable. Not an introvert in the bunch.
The sheep and Angora goats were in the next paddock and moved to the side closest to the new goats. Popcorn and her troop also bounced over to investigate. The peahen led her mate to the space, and Canuck flew in to sit on a fence post. “David Suzuki. David Suzuki.”
Despite his mood, his face cracked in a smile. Animals really were the best thing to make people feel better. He’d checked into the regulations for the animal therapy programs and figured they were already well on their way to compliance. They would have inspections to pass, but he didn’t see any issues they couldn’t easily solve.
After John Mead was sitting his ass in a cell, they could focus fully on that.
Garrett would like to get a few ponies. He’d put out a few feelers but hadn’t found the right ones yet. He wanted ones that would be good for their petting zoo, as well as good for smaller kids with disabilities to ride or touch.
He wanted a couple of horses for the bigger kids and adults to ride as well. They’d all need to be the right temperament for that job. Socks and Mittens would fit the bill but their owner wasn’t selling.
Before he could focus on any of that, he needed to be part of the plan to keep Kimi safe. Nothing mattered without that.
Olaf stayed on the outside of the paddock while Garrett hopped over the fence. Three of the goats swarmed around him. “What do you think Nina is going to name these ones?”
Kimi laughed, and if he didn’t know her so well, he wouldn’t have seen the stress in her eyes. Knowing they’d have lots of time to worry about it, he pulled her in for a kiss while the goats tried to find out if he had any treats in his pocket.
Then he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a long hug. “How you doing?”
She returned the hug and sighed into his chest. “I’m okay. Haven’t had time to digest it yet. I figure I’ll freak out once I know more.”
He laughed and squeezed her while rocking back and forth. “You’re a pretty amazing woman, Kimi.”
She squeezed him back. “No, just one with a conscience. You’re going to figure out how to help me handle this, right? You’re going to lend me some of that bravery of yours?”
“You can take anything of mine that you like.”
When she choked out a laugh, he realized how that sounded and laughed along with her. “That too.”
She reached up to kiss him lightly. “Thanks. I needed that. Now, let’s get these goats some food so they don’t eat our boot laces.”
K imi patted Onigis and straightened. “I think you can head into the field with the other horses in another day or two. You’ve done a good job staying off that leg to let it heal. I hope it won’t take you long to trust it again. You’ve got a lot of years left, and I want them to be happy ones. ”
That made her tear up, and she sucked the emotion back. All she’d done was worry about the dogs at the compound. She’d never forgive herself if she messed up her role in the upcoming charade.
As if she’d conjured them up, Marcus turned into her driveway in his cruiser, followed by one of the typical all-black SUVs people associated with the FBI. She hoped they had something less obvious for the charade.
Garrett hopped over his fence and strode across her yard with Olaf at his heels. The man’s sexy confidence and determination bolstered her courage. She’d agreed to talk about this, but she could still change her mind if the plan wasn’t acceptable. If there was any chance she would endanger the dogs by being there, she’d opt out.
Garrett reached her side and pressed a light kiss to her lips. “You’ve got this. They’re the ones who want something from you, so you hold the power here.”
Marcus and one agent got out of his car, three more from the SUV. When he got closer, Marcus grinned at them, then schooled his face into a more serious demeanor for their guests. “Kimi Twinishe, Garrett Briscoe, I’d like you to meet Shirisha Abalos, lead agent of the FBI’s organized crime division in Boston. Also, Art Kane, Terese Fleury, and Brandon Laraway.”
The agents smiled, and everyone shook hands. None of them appeared as tense as she felt, which annoyed her. She needed to toughen up here. Garrett was right. She had some power. “Why don’t we head inside the barn? I’ve got a table big enough to accommodate all of us.”
She led the way into the barn and into her office. The agents all smiled at the Gotcha Wall Of Fame, making her trust them a little more.
Canuck spread his wings and bobbed his head. “Barenaked Ladies. Barenaked Ladies.”
That made her laugh. “This is Canuck. He speaks in Canadian celebrities. Apparently, he thinks we’d make a good band.”
The man named Brandon moved in. “Hello, Canuck. Nice to meet you.”
Canuck bobbed up and down, then squawked, but didn’t add any more names.
Terese grinned and gestured at the Gotcha Wall. “This is great. I’m a forensic veterinarian, so I don’t get to have these kinds of joy moments like you do. I love this.”
This reminded Kimi that these people were all about taking down people hurting animals. They were on the same side, and she had no reason to panic. They wanted to help those dogs as much as she did.
She offered coffee and tea, but everyone waved it off, so they sat around her table and settled in. Olaf moved in to sit between her and Garrett, leaning in to watch the proceedings.
Shirisha took the lead. “Thanks for meeting with us and giving us a chance to pitch the idea to you. If you don’t want to do it, then Brandon will go in on his own. There’s no pressure on you, and you can change your mind at the last minute with no repercussions. We thought of asking you because you bear a resemblance to our injured agent. Also, because you’re already involved and knowledgeable. We don’t need to get you up to speed on these bastards.”
Kimi grinned at that. She liked the agent’s straight-forward tone.
“John Mead moves his operation every few years. He has close ties with the Quincy Family, who run all kinds of horrific stuff in and around the Boston area. We’ve been trying to get into his inner circle for years. Brandon’s undercover persona is Jason Gammon, and he’s built up an online presence as a gambler who is always looking for a new thrill and a new venue.”
Brandon grinned. “Jason Gammon has a reputation as a player. If you decide you’re not up to this, I’ll just roll my eyes and tell everyone I’ve moved on from you.”
Having an out helped her relax. “So, what would be involved?”
Brandon shrugged. “I haven’t been to a fighting event before. The only way in was as a newbie, some rich asshole looking for a new thrill. The community of people who’ve done this for years is tight. They know each other, and new faces are suspect. I have a contact I’ve made through other gambling sites. Chuck. No one uses last names on these sites, and I’m sure Chuck isn’t his real name. But Chuck is the one who’s going to get us into the compound.”
Beside her, she felt Garrett stiffen. She knew he was worried about this whole idea but he wouldn’t try to talk her out of it if she thought she needed to do it .
Brandon continued. “Once we’re inside, Chuck will give us the tour and show us the bloodlines and stats for the dogs. We’ll also meet the money guy who takes the bets. I’ll be wearing a wire and a camera. Once we have enough proof of actual illegal activity, the team will get the warrants and come in from all sides. We’ll have thirty agents and law enforcement personnel ready to move in on the location.”
That made her frown. “It’s a very isolated area. That many vehicles nearby would be easy to spot.”
He grinned at her. “Thinking like an agent already. We’ll have the teams wait a few miles out. Once Shirisha hears and sees what she needs to see, she’ll have the group mobilize quickly.”
Garrett leaned forward, eyes trained on Shirisha. “If you have Brandon wired up, why do you need Kimi at all?”
Shirisha nodded. “We don’t want Brandon to stand out. The original plan was to have two agents inside. As Brandon said, we could go without a second person, but any deviation from the original plan means someone is going to notice. In these kinds of situations, it’s best to stay under the radar and avoid any kind of notice or questions. It’s better if they see what they expect to see.”
The woman turned to Kimi. “The final decision is yours.”
“What would my role be if I go in with Brandon?”
Shirisha turned back to let Brandon answer. “As I said, Jason is a rich asshole who is always looking for the next thrill. Marlena Lauzon is Jason’s current companion. Also rich, obviously gorgeous. Marlena’s online presence is mostly of hotspots around the world where she’s visited. She’s not a fan of selfies, and any photos of her are from the back or where she’s obscured. The photos are actually of Olivia, but we’re careful to never show her face fully. There’s never enough for facial recognition to identify her. Her online presence has been carefully curated to portray a rich woman who doesn’t want people prying into her life but one who enjoys adventures.”
Kimi snorted. “I’m not sure I can pull off rich socialite. I’m a jeans and boots kind of gal.”
Shirisha smiled. “You have similar bone structure and coloring to Olivia. We’d provide the clothing and jewelry to go along with the Marlena persona. ”
Terese leaned forward. “There’s nothing on the socials to indicate Marlena would approve of dog fighting or animal cruelty. There are some posts showing her with a golden lab, so you wouldn’t have to pretend to enjoy the fight.”
Brandon leaned back, nodding. “We could set it up as if I’m taking you somewhere as a surprise. I think you’ll have fun, but you could be turned off by the whole thing. As long as we don’t descend to full-on arguing and fighting, we should be good. That way, you wouldn’t have to worry about your disgust showing.”
Kimi nodded slowly. “That would make it easier. I’ve never been a good liar.”
They talked it over for a while longer, going over the specifics of what would happen. Then Shirisha smiled. “I think we should leave you to think about it. The operation is set for tomorrow night. We’re staying at the local B&B tonight. Marcus has our numbers. Why don’t you let us know your decision tomorrow morning? Either way, thank you for your information and for considering the plan.”
Soon, the group left, leaving Kimi and Garrett alone with their animals. He took her hand, and they did a walk of their properties, checking on the new goats first and then the rest of their menagerie.
They talked about anything but the FBI request.
Back inside the cottage, they made omelets and talked about adding chickens to the group, especially baby chicks. It would be a great learning opportunity for local kids.
After they’d cleaned up, Kimi wrapped her arms around Garrett where he stood at the sink, drying the last of the plates. She kissed his back and leaned into him. “Thank you.”
He turned and wrapped his arms around her and swayed with her. “You’re welcome. Don’t know for what, though.”
She heard the smile in his voice, and looked up to see that not only did he know what she was talking about, he knew what decision she’d made. “I’m going to do it.”
His eyes darkened with fear, but he nodded with a slight quirk to his lips. “I know.”
She smiled. “And you’re going to be in the group taking down the assholes. ”
He nodded. “I am. We’re going to get them, Kimi. And we’re going to keep you safe.”
She reached up to seal the vow with a kiss, desperate for his hands on her, desperate for his heart and his confidence.
The kiss turned nuclear in an instant, and Garrett had them both naked in seconds. Her need for him echoed back at her as he lifted her to the table and kissed her senseless. She wanted to cry out her love for this amazing man, but she held back. If something happened to her tomorrow, she didn’t want it to destroy Garrett.
He’d lost so much and she couldn’t stand to think her choices might have him losing again.
So, she held back the words but nothing else, as he sent her soaring over the edge with his fingers. Then again with his tongue.
When he finally slipped into her, his name fell from her lips like a prayer, and she sent her love spinning out into the universe.