Chapter Eleven
Once again, Callie found herself pacing across Owen’s office while Nico and she waited for Owen to join them to explain what the heck was going on.
Well, maybe he could do that if he’d actually gotten answers.
With Tucker dead, it meant info would need to come from Dante, and whether or not that would happen was anyone’s guess. In the meantime, she just waited and tried to level herself out from yet another adrenaline crash.
Nico and she could have been killed in those fires or at least seriously injured, but they’d thankfully made it out with just a few scratches and minor burns. At Owen’s insistence, they’d been treated by the EMTs and then had all returned to the police station to get started on unraveling this latest puzzle.
One thing was for certain: Tucker was dead.
His body would soon be taken to the ME, but Owen had seen the gunshot wound to the man’s left temple, and that would almost certainly have been the cause of his death.
“Heat source,” she heard Nico mutter, and she looked over at him. He was on his phone, reading through something.
“What about it?” she asked.
“The drone was picking up a heat source from Tucker so that means he was probably murdered shortly before we showed up.”
She hadn’t considered that, but it made sense. What Callie had considered though was who had murdered him, and at the moment they had two suspects. The bald guy who’d shot at Nico and her. And Dante.
Last she’d heard from Owen, Dante was still in the interview room having a chat with his lawyer. Once that was done, Owen and Lexa would interview him.
Nico sighed, the sound of frustration, and he got up and went to her. He looked at the cut on her head, the one she’d gotten from the first attack and then at the second scrape on her neck that had happened at some point during their escape from the fire.
“It could be worse,” Callie reminded him when she saw the anger rise up in his eyes.
He nodded, but her words didn’t seem to give him any consolation. “I’m concerned how Seth will react when he hears his friend’s dead. It might shake him to the core. Might cause him to recant his statement and refuse to testify.”
If Seth was as devoted to Tucker as Tucker had been to him, that was indeed a possibility. “Is there another way to build the case against Abilene’s killer?” Callie asked.
Nico shook his head. Then, shrugged as he moved closer to her. “Maybe if someone else comes forward. But an eyewitness was the best bet at convicting Zed Coulter and finding out who hired him.”
She didn’t push for any of the details of the investigation since Callie figured the FBI and Austin cops had looked for any and all evidence that would tie Zed to the murder. If Zed hadn’t left any of himself behind—DNA or a bullet casing—then, yes, an eyewitness or someone who had personal knowledge of the crime was key.
“I’m sorry you were dragged into this,” Nico muttered.
Callie tapped her badge. “It comes with the territory. And don’t say this is your fight. It might have started out that way, but it’s my fight now.”
He kept looking at her, his gaze sliding from her eyes and then lower. To her mouth. Oh, with just a simple glance, he could make her feel things she didn’t want to feel. With that glance, it was as if he’d actually kissed her.
This blasted chemistry was only getting stronger. Maybe because it was being fueled with the life and death battles they were facing. United against the fierce storm. But that alliance was playing havoc with the personal.
And it was making her want him. Bad.
She closed her eyes a moment and heard the sound of frustration she made. Unfortunately, it was also a sound tinged with arousal. Talk about lousy timing, but that didn’t stop her from opening her eyes and getting ready to brush her mouth over his.
But she was saved by the bell.
Or rather the text.
That little beep had a way of cooling her down and snagging every bit of her attention. Especially when she saw it was from Owen.
“Estie and Dante are in the interview rooms, but Owen wants to see us in the hall,” she relayed, already moving to start in that direction.
Nico was right behind her. Neither of them speculated out loud as to why he wanted them there, but it occurred to Callie that there could be some kind of problem.
The moment they reached the corridor with the interview rooms, she spotted Owen, and he moved away from one of the doors, meeting them halfway.
“Dante’s lawyer has stepped out to make some calls,” Owen let them know before he shifted his attention to Nico. “And when he gets back and starts the interview, I can’t have you in observation. I’d have to justify why I’m allowing that, and since there are things I can’t bring up, you’ll have to sit this one out.”
Yeah, Owen couldn’t blab about Nico being FBI, and without that added to the official record, it was possible Dante’s lawyer could use Nico’s being in the observation area as a way to weaken any case they might have against Dante.
“But I have a suggestion,” Owen went on. “I’m going to open this door to the interview room. Dante’s in there alone. And if he says something when he sees you, I won’t stop him. He’s been cautioned. He knows he shouldn’t say anything without his lawyer present, but it’ll be interesting if you could…push some of his hot buttons.”
The corner of Nico’s mouth lifted. “I’ll give it a try.”
Owen nodded, opened the door and moved back. Dante immediately got to his feet. “You assholes. I don’t appreciate being dragged here in handcuffs.”
“Funny, Callie and I didn’t appreciate you trying to kill us,” Nico fired back. In contrast to Dante’s, his voice was calm. His demeanor, completely unruffled.
“I didn’t try to kill you,” he spat out. “Like I told my lawyer, I got a text, telling me to go there to pick up the witness. To get him somewhere safe.”
“Interesting,” Nico remarked. “And I’m assuming you have that text?”
“Damn right I do, and my lawyer gave it to the sheriff.”
Owen confirmed that with a slight nod. “It came from an unknown number.”
“Of course, it did,” Nico commented. There was plenty of skepticism in that. “Which means Dante could have sent the message to himself.”
“Why the hell would I have done that?” Dante snapped. “I went there because I thought I could save the witness.”
Nico made a sound to indicate he wasn’t buying that. “And why would you want to do that?”
Dante opened his mouth, closed it and seemed to rethink what he’d been about to blurt out.
“You wanted to save the witness so you could use him to bargain with someone,” Nico speculated. “Or exchange him for money. Were you hoping to use him to make a deal with Estie or someone else?”
“I don’t need money,” Dante insisted, sounding plenty insulted. “Especially not from the likes of Estie.” The anger flushed across his face. “I want to bring that bitch down.”
So, a button had been pushed, and Callie very much wanted to know why.
“You believe Estie had something to do with Abilene’s murder?” Nico came out and asked.
“You bet I do, and you believe that, too. Along with being bad news, Estie is a dangerous woman.”
“She’s also your business rival,” Nico said.
Something else went through Dante’s eyes. Not anger. But maybe concern or fear?
“No, you’re mistaken,” Dante insisted.
Nico shook his head. “Don’t think so. From what I heard both of you were interested in controlling the sale of large quantities of illegal arms brought in through a militia group. Sort of weapons’ laundering if you will.”
There was more of that fear and concern before Dante seemed to rein in it. “I recall you showing interest in that deal right before it was all shut down.”
Nico glanced at Callie, specifically at her badge she had clipped to her belt. That was all it took for Dante to go on the defensive.
“I didn’t get involved with those illegal arms,” Dante insisted. “Estie did, but she covered her tracks. Or else you covered them for her.” There was fury all over his face when he shot a glare at Owen. “Why haven’t you arrested him? Are you scared of the Rattler?”
“Why should I arrest him?” Owen replied but didn’t wait for a response. “He has cooperated with every part of this investigation. No withholding evidence. No hiding behind a lawyer. Plus, he had a credible reason for being out near Henderson Point. Your reason, on the other hand, well….” He made a so-so motion with his hand.
“What credible reason?” Dante snarled. “Why was he there?”
“Well, it wasn’t to set up Estie,” Nico answered.
“It should have been.” The volume of Dante’s voice went up a considerable notch. That pushed a button all right. “She can ruin you. She can ruin all of us.”
Callie thought Dante was gearing up to say more, but the hurried sound of footsteps stopped him. “What’s going on here?” a fifty-something-year-old man in an expensive suit called out. “Why are you talking to my client?”
Nico lifted his shoulder. “Deputy Brandon and I were merely walking by the door. Your client started the conversation.”
That caused the lawyer to shoot a glare at Dante. “You don’t speak to them unless I’m with you. I thought I made that clear.” With that, he stepped into the interview room and slammed the door behind him.
“Why does Dante hate Estie so much?” Owen asked, taking the question right out of Callie’s mouth.
Nico glanced around, no doubt making sure no one was listening. “She bested him on that arms deal, and she made a small fortune on it before we could get it closed down. And Estie gloated and bragged about how she outmaneuvered Dante. No hell had fury like a dipshit scorned.”
“Bruised ego,” Owen muttered. “Is there more you can tell me?”
Nico sighed. “There’s more.” He paused, probably figuring out what he could and couldn’t say. “They were once lovers, and Estie dumped him, again in a very public, humiliating kind of way. And she flaunted her association with me to do it, saying she’d choose the Rattler’s son over his nephew any day of the week. Since then, any business deal that Estie has shown interest in, Dante has tried to outdo her.”
Callie considered that. “If Dante’s telling the truth about why he was at Henderson point, then he must believe Estie had Abilene murdered.”
Nico made a sound of agreement. “But I don’t know if he’s telling the truth about that. About anything for that matter. Dante could be The Fixer,” he reminded her.
Yes, he could be which might mean he was Abilene’s killer. Or rather, had been the one to hire Zed to kill her. Callie figured with all the illegal business deals in that social circle, that Dante had a motive for murdering her. And therefore, for wanting the witness dead since Zed could ultimately point the finger at him.
“Dante’s text could be fake, and he could have simply followed us to Henderson Point,” Nico added. “Or he could have set it all up, luring Tucker there so he could kill him. With no Guardian Angel around, The Fixer would have a clearer path to get to Seth.”
The door to the interview room opened, and the lawyer shot Owen another glare. “My client and I are ready to speak to you now,” he said. “Obviously, you two won’t be part of this interview,” he tacked onto that after sliding a glance at both Nico and her.
Callie hoped that Dante didn’t continue to hide behind his lawyer and actually gave Owen some useful info. Info that Owen would almost certainly pass along to him as soon as he could.
Which might not be that soon.
Sometimes, interviews went on for several hours, and Nico and she could make use of that time by checking to see if there were any updates from the CSIs who were on the scene at Henderson Point.
They went back to Owen’s office, and the moment they were inside, Nico shut the door. “Owen is already aware of this, but I want to bring you up to speed since you’re in just as much danger as I am. My handler let Dante believe that Estie was the one who shut down that illegal arms deal.”
She blew out a breath. “Well, that explains why Dante’s so pissed at her.”
Nico nodded. “My handler also put out the word that Estie cooperated with the authorities to try to not only shut it down but to get Dante arrested for his initial part in the operation.”
“Ouch,” Callie muttered.
“Yeah. My handler thought that was the best way to maintain my cover. I, uh, didn’t agree with that, but it wasn’t my call.” He paused. “And it’s possibly the reason Abilene was killed.”
That got her attention, but she didn’t pepper him with questions. And she could see this bothered him. No, more than that. It was eating away at him.
“Abilene was originally linked to the illegal arms deal,” he explained. “But she pulled out of it, said it was too risky. That didn’t please either Estie or Dante because they were counting on Abilene’s sources to help launder the weapons.”
Callie mentally went through that, and she came up with a possibility. “When Abilene pulled out and the operation was shut down, either Estie or Dante could have blamed her. They might have thought Abilene sold them out.”
Nico nodded. “And they could have believed she would eventually go to the cops or the FBI. I didn’t think the handler’s story of blaming Estie helped matters. I wanted to be the scapegoat. To have all three of them coming after me so I could end up having them arrested when they tried to kill me.”
Oh, mercy. Nico had wanted to make himself a target.
Part of Callie admired that, but she also understood why his handler wouldn’t have wanted that kind of showdown.
“You could have been killed,” Callie pointed out.
“Yeah,” Nico repeated. “But now instead of them coming after me, there are a whole bunch of people dead, and we’re no closer to finding out who’s responsible.”
She heard the frustration in his voice. The pain, too. And she saw it on his face. This was gnawing away at him, and it would continue to do that until they had answers.
On a sigh, Callie went to him and pulled him into her arms. It was a risk. Touching him always was. But she wasn’t immune to the emotional wrestling he was having with himself about this.
She figured it wouldn’t comfort him for her to point out that all the dead people with the except of the Austin cop had likely been criminals. Nope. Wouldn’t help. Because neither of them was of the mindset of a judge, jury, and executioner all wrapped up into one.
“I didn’t tell you all that so you’d feel sorry for me,” he muttered. “So you’d give me a pity hug.”
Still keeping her arms around him, she leaned back her head enough for him to see her smile. “Maybe I’m hugging you for another reason.”
He smiled, too. “Like what?”
Callie didn’t bother spelling out the heat between them. Or their past. Or anything else. She just leaned in and kissed him.
Oh, there it was. That kick of feelings. So many of them. Pleasure mixed with the fire. That dreamy feel of need sliding through her to her center. He could do all of that and more just with a kiss.
Of course, the kiss wasn’t simple. Nor was it a sweet, comforting peck. The chemistry fueled it. Then, caused the fire to soar.
His arms glided around her, and he pulled her even closer until they were pressed against each other. She could feel the tight muscles of his chest. She could feel so many other things, too.
Callie deepened the kiss, letting his taste add even more to the building heat. Letting his taste, and Nico, notch up the need.
The memories came, flooding in with the heat. Adding to it. Memories of when they’d been lovers. When a kiss would be foreplay that would quickly lead them straight to sex.
But that couldn’t happen now.
She had to mentally repeat that to herself a couple of times, and Callie knew they couldn’t keep this up. Not here in Owen’s office where someone could come walking in at any minute.
When oxygen became an issue, and they had to break to breathe, Callie untangled herself from him and stepped back. Thankfully, he didn’t come right after her. If he had, their mouths would have met again to continue this torture, and she would have been toast.
Instead, Nico smiled. Which in some ways was just as effective as his kiss.
“To be continued,” he said just as his phone rang.
Callie was glad for the interruption. She needed a second or two to level out, to tamp down this fire in her body. But then she remembered that most of their calls and texts hadn’t been good news.
“It’s a law firm in Austin,” he let her know, and he answered the call. As he’d done with the other calls, he hit record and turned on the speaker function. “Nico Salvetti,” he answered.
“Spenser Baldwin,” a man said. “I’m Zed Coulter’s lawyer, and I would very much like to talk to you.”
Callie could tell from Nico’s expression that this was not a call he’d expected. “About what?” Nico asked.
“This is better done face to face. I’d like for you to come to my office in Austin.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Nico was quick to reply. “I’m busy. Anything you need to tell me, say it now.”
The lawyer certainly didn’t spring into action on that. He paused for several seconds. “Did someone hire you to take out the witness, Seth Mitchell?”
“No,” Nico answered after a pause of his own. “Did your client hire someone to take Seth out?” he countered.
“No,” the lawyer snapped.
“Then, why would you think I had?” Nico demanded.
“Because there’s been talk,” he replied.
Nico huffed. “Rumors.”
“Sometimes, rumors are true.” He didn’t give Nico a chance to respond to that. “My client believes someone is trying to kill the witness and then pin the blame for it on him.”
“Understandable,” Nico concluded. “Without the witness, Zed might not be convicted of capital murder.”
“He won’t be convicted at all because he’s not guilty.”
Nico groaned. “Really? You believe that, or are you just spouting shit Zed told you.”
“I believe it,” the lawyer said. “And I also believe my client is in danger. He’s left info to be released in the event of his untimely death.”
“What info and where is it?” Nico asked.
The lawyer laughed, but there was no humor in it. “It’s my client’s insurance policy.” Another pause. “Of course, if the witness is dead, then there’ll be no need for the policy. My client will be released and all’s well that ends well.”
“Maybe for Zed but not for the witness,” Nico fired back. “But I hear what you’re saying. As long as the witness is alive, then Zed could be a target by the person who hired him to kill Abilene. So, consider this. Have Zed tell the cops who hired him, and the threat to his life will be over because that person will be locked up.”
“And so would my client,” the lawyer insisted. “Just remember what he had tucked away, Mr. Salvetti. If you’re the person trying to kill the witness and pin that on Zed, the info will be released, and everyone will know exactly what you are.”
“Hell,” Nico muttered after the lawyer had ended the call.
“You think it’s a bluff?” Callie immediately asked. “You think Zed knows you’re FBI?”
“Maybe,” he admitted, and he was clearly still giving that some thought when his phone sounded with an incoming text. “It’s from the lawyer,” he let her know. “A photo.”
Nico looked at it and cursed.
Callie moved closer to see what had caused that reaction, and she cursed, too, when she saw the picture of the couple. They were naked in bed, seemingly asleep but with their faces turned toward the camera.
The woman was Estie.
And the naked man beside her was Nico’s handler, Yancy Dylan.