Not in the Cards

by Alex Westmore

  “Hopefully, with my head screwed on right. Trust me in this, Sweetheart. I know what I’m doing.”

  “And your internship is all arranged. I mean, you’re not going down there without a plan.”

  Megan smiled patiently. “Yes, dear, everything has been arranged. I have a counselor at the university there who’s meeting me at the airport. When I get all settled in, the first thing I’m going to do is call you.”

  “You’re sure they have phones?”

  This made Megan laugh. “Honey, they’re not barbarians.”

  “But they are third world!”

  Megan shook her head as she lifted Delta’s hand to kiss it. “Only to us. They’re a lot like Mexico. They have cars, phones, buses, even stores!”

  Delta bowed her head. It would be different if Megan had chosen New York or London or Paris. Delta knew what those places were like. But Costa Rica? Megan might as well be flying to the moon.

  “Delta Stevens, you’ll be so busy righting the wrongs of the world you’re not going to have time to miss me.”

  “Don’t bet on it.” Delta looked up into those blue eyes that loved her so much and forced a smile. “The one thing I’ll look forward to at the end of a shift will be marking the calendar that another day has passed.”

  The announcement that the next rows of passengers should board crackled over the intercom.

  “Well, I guess this is it.” Standing up, Delta bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling. “Write when you have time.”

  Megan embraced her for a long time. “I’ll call you as soon as I’m settled. I promise.”

  Pulling away, Delta impatiently wiped away the escaped tear. “I love you, Meg. You know that, don’t you?”

  Tracing Delta’s face with her fingertips, Megan nodded. “Yes, I do. And don’t you forget that. You keep loving me through this, Delta Stevens. You’ve faced worse situations and never lost faith. Don’t you dare lose faith in me.”

  Delta shook her head. The next tears rolled down her cheeks and this time, she didn’t bother trying to wipe them away. “I won’t. I promise.”

  The intercom crackled again: time for the remaining passengers to board.

  “I better get going.”

  The bustle, the noise, and the excitement silenced as they looked into each other’s eyes. Thousands of miles would soon separate them; Delta could only hope the distance wouldn’t create a void too big to cross. She knew she couldn’t hold Megan back, but she wanted to. She wanted to cry out that Megan couldn’t go. Stay here! Stay here and fight through this with me! But she knew it was useless. Megan needed to go as much as Delta needed to be on the streets.

  Megan lightly kissed her cheek. “There isn’t a question that I’m coming back to you. Delta, you and your love pulled me out of a very deep, very dark valley. I can’t imagine loving someone else as much as I love you. And when I come home, I’ll come back knowing who Megan Osbourne really is.”

  “And you’ll give me an answer about the union?”

  Megan looked around before kissing Delta on the lips. “The moment I step off the plane.”

  The final boarding call boomed over the intercom.

  Megan bent over, picked up her carry-on luggage and gave Delta a look that said ‘here goes.’

  “Meg—”

  “Shh. Delta Stevens, you’ve never doubted yourself before. Don’t start now. You are and always will be the love of my life. Stay safe for me.”

  “I will. I swear.”

  “You’d better, because I want someone to come home to.”

  “I’ll be here with bells on. Nothing else. Just bells.”

  Megan smiled warmly. “God, I love you.” Turning, Megan walked away. Delta watched her until she disappeared around the corner.

  A part of her waited to see if Megan might change her mind at the last minute, but a bigger part of her knew better. Megan was gone.

  Walking over to the window and watching the planes taxi in and out, Delta’s heart felt like someone had just taken out a Grand Canyon-sized chunk. She never realized how painful it would be to watch Megan leave, and she shuddered to think how painful it would feel if Megan ever left for good.

  Leaning into the passenger seat, Delta toyed with the new clip-on radios they’d been assigned after muster. “At last, our department enters the twentieth century.”

  Tony acted like he didn’t hear. “You hear that the feds are closing in on the guys that burned you?”

  Delta nodded as she folded her long legs into the car. “Yeah, but did you hear how they were able to get so close?”

  “Nope. I just know what I heard from the guys.”

  Delta grinned. “Do you remember when Connie and you went into the hotel and dusted for prints?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you remember Connie picking up a notepad?”

  Tony thought for a moment before shaking his head. “I don’t remember.”

  “Well, she did, and we sent it to the lab to get the notes from the previous pages lifted from it.”

  “I remember you mentioning it at Connie’s house, but I had forgotten all about it. Were we able to pick something up?”

  Delta grinned. “Were we ever. We came up with an address, a date, and a flight number.”

  “They’re booking out of here, huh?”

  “Tonight.”

  “Tonight? Are the feds gonna be able to stop them?”

  “I hope so.”

  Tony turned on her. “What do you mean, ‘hope?’ Why don’t we go after them ourselves?”

  Sighing heavily, Delta stared out her window. “Because we would all lose our jobs if anyone found out how deep we’ve been in this case. Do you have any idea how much information we’ve withheld from the Federal Bureau of Investigation? You wouldn’t have to worry about saving your job, Carducci. It’d be unsalvageable.” Delta looked back at Tony. “While they’ve been waiting for the big gun, we’ve run circles around them. Don’t think they wouldn’t have our heads on paper plates if they suspected we’ve been holding out on them.”

  “So why not just give them the rest of the information and let them handle it?”

  His naivete was disarming. “Carducci, let me spell this out for you in plain English. We’ve broken the law. We withheld information pertinent to the investigation, we have obstructed justice, and worse yet, we’ve killed two suspects in the case. It wouldn’t be wise for us to run to them showing them all the evidence we have. Not if we value our freedom.”

  Tony whistled. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”

  “I know. Which is why I’m telling you. What happened that night in the desert and the night the house was set on fire can never be leaked. Only you, me, Sal’s bunch, and Connie know the truth about those two nights and the events leading up to them. It’s got to stay that way forever. You understand me?”

  Tony nodded, a look of fear glazing across his eyes.

  “Don’t be scared, Carducci. If worse comes to the worst, it’s the perps’ word against ours. Nothing need ever be revealed.”

  “What’s the use of breaking the rules if we can’t keep something awful from happening? They’re still going to get away. ”

  Delta stared out the window a moment before returning her gaze to Tony. “Not exactly.”

  “You mean we’re going after them?”

  Delta nodded. “Not just us. The feds and everybody else are going to be on this one.”

  “But how? I thought you said—”

  “Connie is a genius. Nothing gets by her. When we finally got the pad back from our pals at the lab, we knew we had to get the information to the feds and we had to force them to act on it.”

  “So what did you do?”

  Delta’s heart raced at the thought. This plan had really come together. “When the press was getting all excited about me saving those kids, we realized that we could use the power of the press to our advantage. Connie concocted a note, supposedly from one of the perps, saying that he w
anted out but didn’t know how to get immunity. Then she wrote that if the feds couldn’t get him out before they got to the airport, he would go to the press and see if they couldn’t help with the immunity.”

  Tony whistled again. “She forged this note and sent it to the FBI? And I thought I had balls of steel.”

  Delta grinned. “In the note, she wrote the address of their new hideout and the time they would be leaving. Both of which the lab lifted from the notepad in the hotel.”

  “Incredible. I’m totally impressed.”

  Delta nodded. “You should be. There’s nobody better than Consuela Rivera. Anyway, tonight, the feds will have the house surrounded. With any luck, they’ll bag a few bad guys and be able to save face.”

  “Is saving face that important?”

  “In our government? It’s everything. That’s why it’s so important for us to help them be successful. If they win, we win.”

  “And if they lose?”

  “You don’t want to know. More than likely, they’ll be looking for a scapegoat. And...well, there’s someone we all know and love who would make the perfect mark.”

  Tony stared out the window, but said nothing. Delta knew what was at stake; there was no minimizing the importance of allowing the feds to make the bust. If she upstaged them again, she might as well just turn in her badge.

  “When’s this all going down?” Tony asked.

  Delta looked at her watch. “Oh, in about half-an-hour.”

  Tony came out of his seat. “Half-an-hour? Are you kidding?”

  “Relax, Carducci. Our only purpose tonight will be to act as perimeter.”

  “You mean we’re really not going to do anything?”

  Delta patted his arm. “Nope, I’m afraid we’re going to have to watch this one from the sidelines. Let’s see how the big boys do it.”

  Suddenly, the radio crackled and sputtered their number before Delta could respond to any more questions.

  “S-10-12, this is C-19-19, over.”

  C-19-19 was Captain Henry. Delta and Tony exchanged knowing looks. If the captain was on the street, it could only mean one thing: the feds were getting ready to make their move. Picking up the mike, Delta grabbed her Cross pen with her left hand. “This is S-10-12, over.”

  “S-10-12, we have a 10-96 and will need to establish a perimeter extending from Hemingway and Thirty-third to Longfellow and Nineteenth. Be advised that you and all other responding units are to maintain the perimeter. Do not, I repeat, do not enter the red zone unless advised to do so.”

  “S-10-12, copy.” Delta glanced over at Tony, whose expression had changed. “A10-96 is an undercover surveillance. Looks like the show’s about to start.”

  The radio came to life again.

  “All units involved in maintaining perimeter—we are assisting in the capture of possible 1-8-7 suspects. Again, do not enter the red zone unless directed to do so. Suspects are armed and very dangerous. Leave this station clear for this traffic only. All other radio communication should be on channel one-four.”

  Delta mentally surveyed the stretch of area they were to maintain. “They’ve given us the direct route to the freeway access,” she explained as Tony maneuvered the patrol car through a U-turn. “If they get by us, we’re screwed.”

  “Then let’s not let them get past us.”

  Delta nodded. “Agreed.”

  “You think the feds know what they’re doing?”

  “Hard to say. They’re calling the shots. It’s our job to keep the balls on the felt.” Picking up the mike, Delta asked Henry to switch channels.

  “What is it, Stevens?” came the captain’s taut, impatient voice.

  “I just wanted to know what street they believe the suspects to be on, sir.”

  “Didn’t you hear my orders? You’re not to go near there. You’ve been given a post and I expect you to man that post until called off. Do you understand?”

  “I understand all of that, Captain,” she replied with equal impatience. “It’s just that if they’re on Pope or Keats streets, those houses have—”

  “Stevens, I believe we have everything covered.”

  “Yes, sir. S-10-12 out.” Turning the channel back to one-nine, Delta exhaled loudly. “I hope they know what they’re doing.”

  Tony looked over at Delta. “What do you mean?”

  Delta pointed to a cluster of houses sitting on Keats. “That’s a weird area over there. Those houses were built by some architect who tried something original. The houses are set one in front, one in back, with two driveways exiting on two different streets. McAvoy’s been on that beat for two months now, and is having a hell of a time getting to calls on time. It’s a very confusing stretch of houses. You can’t tell the front from the back. No doubt, our perps picked it for that reason.”

  “Just like they picked the Super Seven?”

  “Exactly. These guys haven’t been caught because they think about things like escape routes.The houses on Keats have a door at both ends of the garage and a front door on either side of the house. Even the lighting is done so you can’t tell the front from the back. The builders thought it was a great idea because of the nature of one way streets. This way, they can drive out in either direction without having to make U-turns around islands that are half a mile out of the way. Unless they’ve got both sides of every garage covered, our bad boys could come screaming out of one.”

  “I thought you got the address.”

  Delta shrugged. “We got two of the three numbers. The feds are going to have to cover the entire street. That’s why they’re using us as the perimeter.”

  “Sounds like some developer in the sixties was on acid when he thought it up.”

  Delta grinned. “True story. Anyway, I’m sure none of this is news to anybody. I just wanted to see if the captain would give me any specifics.”

  “So now what?”

  Delta shrugged. “Now we maintain the perimeter like we were told to do.”

  Tony slowed the car. “Man, that sucks.”

  Delta grinned. A small part of her was glad she’d saved him from meter maid school. He was itching to be a part of a forbidden bust, which made her like him.

  “Yeah, it does, but you and I are on a short leash, my compass-less friend. If we get out of line this time and something big goes down, we’re history.”

  “That’s never stopped you before.”

  Delta turned fully toward Tony. “Are you trying to get fired? I mean, you heard the captain. Didn’t that mean anything to you?”

  Tony shrugged. “I just don’t believe that you’re okay with sitting on the sidelines during this one. Come on, Delta, they almost burned you and those kids alive, and you’re willing to play water boy to the fed’s quarterback?”

  Delta shrugged.“We’re not the least bit sidelined, Carducci. As a matter-of-fact, we’re right in the thick of it.”

  “How? We’re way out here in the boonies.”

  Staring across an open field directly behind Keats Street, Delta studied the layout of a beat she was all-too familiar with. “If they’re on Keats, they’ll take the back side of the driveway out and cross here.” Pointing to the field, Delta watched Tony stare hard at the direction her finger was pointing.

  “Why here?”

  A frown suddenly appeared on Delta’s face.

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know.” Delta closed her eyes and listened to herself think for a moment. “ These guys aren’t going to be brought down that easily. So far, their plans have been professional and elaborate. There’s something missing. There’s something we’ve missed.” Staring out over the field, Delta traced over every possible escape route open to the suspects. Something was up; with the perimeter, the houses, the feds, something was wrong and Delta couldn’t put her finger on it. What she did know was that these guys weren’t simply going to hand themselves over. No, they had something going for them and she hoped the feds knew what it was.

  “The
se guys are going to jail for the rest of their lives,” Delta offered. “If they know the feds are on to them, then they’ve got an awful lot of shit riding on their shoulders.”

  “You don’t think we have the advantage of a surprise attack?”

  “Hell no. After reading in the newspapers that a cop saved the kids, after realizing that their pals Dice and Martinez were never coming back, they have to know how close we are. And that’s what bothers me about this whole thing. They know we’re right behind them, so....”

  Tony nodded. “They’ve either gotten sloppy—”

  “Or the feds have done the one thing a cop should never do.”

  “Try to outguess the suspect?”

  Delta shook her head. “Nope. Underestimated them. Our bad boys have a card up their sleeve, Carducci. I can feel it.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Yep. And let’s hope the feds know which card it is.”

  Delta and Tony continued to cruise the established perimeter for the next two hours, waiting for even the tiniest signal that would alert them to trouble. At the two-hour mark, Delta looked at her watch and sighed.

  “Maybe it won’t go down tonight,” Tony offered.

  Delta shook her head. “It has to. They’ve pulled too many cops off their regular beats for this. No, tonight is definitely the night.”

  Tony turned the patrol car up a street paralleling Hemingway. As he turned, Delta’s beeper went off.

  “What the hell was that?”

  “My pager. Pull over to that phone booth over there.”

  As the car sided up to the curb, Delta hopped out and quickly phoned Connie.

  “What’s up?”

  “Del, remember my friend on the force in the reservation?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “I just received a fax from him. There’s a possibility your suspects have a little girl with them.”

  Immediately, a hot flash waved over Delta. There could be no doubt about it, this was the suspects’ ace. Delta pulled her notepad and pen from her pocket. “I’m listening.”

  “My buddy said she was taken more than two weeks ago and he said he’s positive it was our guys who got her.”