Love Betrayed

by Celya Bowers

  “Okay, I’ll start researching him today.”

  “Good. I hope you like omelets.” Maddie started preparing the eggs.

  “I love food,” Rachel said leaning back in the chair.

  Maddie watched her as she cooked. Rachel was deep in thought. “I have a spare laptop in my office if you want to use it. Do you have anything at the school that you need?”

  She had a silly grin on her slender face. “Actually, Kyle said he’d get my things out of the locker for me today. He’s bringing me lunch again today between his classes.”

  “My goodness, that’s very nice of Kyle.” Maddie scooped the omelets and placed them on a platter, along with bacon, toast, and hash browns. She set the silver tray on the table. She grabbed two mugs and the coffee pot on the table. “I made plenty, so you can regain your strength.”

  They ate breakfast in silence until Maddie couldn’t take it anymore. “I have to know. What are you feeling for Kyle? I mean he’s bringing you lunch and picking up your things from school. That’s more than a teacher would do for the average student. I’d hate for either of you to get hurt.”

  She shrugged. “I told him it’s too soon for me and that I only needed a friend right now. He said he understood, and we can go at my pace. So, for now, it’s just teacher and student and occasional friend.”

  Maddie nodded. “You can never have too many friends.”

  ***

  Sean walked into his office and for once he was glad to see that no one was waiting for him. He smiled at Shay as he walked to the desk. He noticed the pet carrier on top of filing cabinet. Lord Meow was in his usual position, resting on the corner of Shay’s desk, staring at the phone, daring it to ring.

  “Good morning, Sean,” she said, rubbing Lord Meow. “Sorry, but I didn’t want to leave him alone this morning. My husband is coming to get him at lunch time.”

  He rubbed the cat’s soft fur. “Grooming day?”

  “Yes. Momma’s baby needs his nails done.”

  Sean rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. “What did I tell you about that baby talk nonsense in the office?”

  Shay waved away his remark. “You’re just mad cause nobody talks to you like that.” Then to her cat, she said, “Isn’t that right, baby?”

  Lord Meow closed his eyes and purred his agreement.

  Sean shook his head in defeat and walked into the office. He took a seat and turned on his laptop. He thought about Shay’s words. He did have someone who would talk to him in nurturing tones, but she was mad at him now. He hated leaving things unsettled but this time it was on Maddie. If she could not see her brother’s character flaws, then they were both in trouble. He hoped with Rachel recuperating at her home would help her see the light.

  Later that afternoon, his cell phone rang. He glanced at the display and sighed. Maddie. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Sean, are you busy?”

  Of course, he was. He was preparing for a stakeout that would probably take all night. “No, I’m not busy. What’s up?”

  She sighed. “Well, first I’m sorry for doubting you. You were completely right about DJ. I think I’ve always known he was walking on the wrong side of the law but refused to give it a voice.”

  “What made you change your mind?”

  “DJ.”

  “What?” He sat down behind his desk. He had a feeling she was going to tell him something important.

  “He called me early this morning and it drove everything home. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He thinks Rachel has some kind paper and that was all he was concerned about.”

  He knew exactly what paper DJ was looking for. It was enough to send him straight to prison. He had found it at the apartment, and he didn’t realize it until last night. Sean quickly turned the paper over to the FBI. “Did he say what was on the paper?”

  “Some kind of list,” Maddie said. “He just said it was a list of names. He tried to make it sound like it was something Rachel would have used. But she didn’t keep anything at the apartment.”

  “Okay, did he say anything else?”

  “No, but Rachel told me the reason she at the apartment when those thugs showed up. DJ had called her and asked her to meet him. She was set up.”

  He knew DJ was low, but he was under a snake’s belly. “Wow!”

  She sniffed. “He watched them beat her and did nothing.” She started to cry. “I’m so sorry I doubted you.” She sobbed into the phone.

  He wished he were there with her. “Now, baby, I know you were thinking about your brother. We must have trust with each other. I love you and will always look out for you.”

  “I should have been on your side with no question. Wait.... you said you loved me?”

  “Yes, I did,” he said. The admission had been weighing him down like a brick sitting on his chest. He was so glad to finally admit it to her. “After my marriage ended, I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way again, but I love you.”

  Silence. He had not expected her to reciprocate. He knew in her practical mind; it was too early. Less than two weeks. Who falls in love that fast? “You don’t have to say it back. I just wanted to put it out there. Just so you can know what was in my heart.”

  “I feel the same,” she said quietly. “With all the craziness that has become my life, you are a beacon in the storm. I know everything will be all right as long as we’re together.” She took a deep, steadying breath, and said, “Why don’t you come over for dinner and we can celebrate?”

  “You know I would love nothing better, but I’m working tonight. I have a stakeout for the FBI.”

  “You’re still watching DJ, aren’t you?”

  He could not lie to her. Not after they just talked about trust. “I told you at the start of this little adventure, I wouldn’t stop until I have gotten to the truth. So yes, this is about DJ.”

  “Oh, I know you will do what’s right. I wouldn’t expect anything less. Be careful, come see me when you can.” She ended the call.

  Sean looked at the phone as he placed it on the desk. Talk about walking a tight rope. If DJ were arrested and sent to jail, would she still feel the same way? He wondered how the judge would feel when this was all over. Would he welcome him to the family or have him arrested?

  21

  Sean parked his truck two blocks from the Long Branch Railroad Depot on the outskirts of Fort Worth. He could now understand why the drug barons choose the seldom used railroad docking station. Any strangers could easily stand out, and there was one way in and one way out. There wasn’t a soul walking around for miles.

  Of course, he was early. The train wasn’t due for at least four hours, but he wanted to get the lay of the land, so to speak. He gathered the necessary items: cell phone, his loaded gun, and the list of missing girls he had found in Rachel’s apartment.

  He walked the two blocks to the railroad depot and did not see anyone walking around. No one, not even the homeless, railroad workers, or kids being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

  There were very few railroad cars on the yard. Sean searched for a place he could hide and not be observed. His choices were slim. Since this was an extremely low maintained railroad station, there was the information booth that was no longer being used for customers due to the Internet age. He quickly shot off a text to his agents noting the possible places for coverage.

  He had just gotten comfortable on the floor of the information booth when he heard several male voices.

  “What do you mean you don’t have the list?”

  “I-I went back to the apartment, but I couldn’t find it. I know Rachel hasn’t been back to it. Someone else must have found it.”

  “This is your fault. Was the place robbed?”

  “I did notice some things had been moved around, but there’s no way anyone can connect me with the list. If anything, it points to Rachel.”

  “Good.” The voices faded away. Sean shook his head in aspiration. How much lower could this guy go?

 
***

  “Well at least the crazy part is over,” his brother patted him on the shoulder, a few hours later. They stood watching the FBI, DEA, and the local law enforcement officers, either arresting people, or in the ten missing girls’ case, getting information.

  Sean took a deep breath. “Why don’t I feel better?” The little job of observation turned into something that look like a gunfight from the old west. When the gunfire finally stopped, the drug dealer was dead, but those young girls were free.

  “Because you did the right thing,” Declan said. “You solved a mystery about those missing girls, we got a major drug dealer off the street, and you found DJ.”

  Sean nodded. “I thought I was going to lose it when they unloaded the girls out of that moving van. They were all blindfolded and hands were bound. Looked like something right off one of those crime shows. It makes me sick just to think about it.” He continued watching the frightened girls. “I keep thinking that they are somebody’s daughters, and they were about to be sold in sex slavery.” He really wanted to beat the living crap out of DJ.

  “You saved them. I’m sure once they are processed, they will be back home with their parents very soon,” Declan said.

  Daniel walked over to Sean. “Man, I don’t know what to say, but thank you. We are taking DJ in for questioning. He most likely will get a light sentence or even probation cause he’s ready to turn on his associates, which is what we wanted. He tried to throw the news anchor under the bus saying it was her, but I know she had an agenda of her own. She was looking for her sister, which was one of the girls in the group.”

  “At least they can have a happy ending,” Sean said.

  “Yeah, she’d been looking for her for about three months, and all trails led to DJ.”

  “Where were the girls being held? I mean some of the girls had been missing for quite a while. They had to be somewhere.”

  Daniel looked from Sean to Declan and back to Sean. “Not sure if you want to hear this, but from what DJ has already told us that when they initially go missing, they drugged the women so that they don’t try to run away. Pierre keeps them in a house on the other side of town, which I have sent a detail to search it. Apparently, they are held there until they have enough girls. These young ladies were bound for Columbia.”

  “Wow,” Sean said. Slowly, he was putting the pieces of the puzzle together. “So, Pierre was the drug dealer. Who was the sex trafficker?”

  “Pierre. He was doing a solid for the boys in Columbia by providing some girls for them. You probably saved their lives. Your government thanks you. Don’t forget to email me your invoice.”

  “In the morning,” he said. “I’m still trying wrap my head around this mess.” He needed a good night’s sleep and several beers to assimilate all the trouble DJ caused.

  Daniel nodded. “Think of ones you saved.” He patted Sean on the back and left.

  Declan looked at him. “Now, that this is done, you can make up with Maddie.”

  “I don’t think she’ll want to see me right now. I’m the reason her brother is in custody.”

  “Doubtful. Listen to your heart, big brother.”

  ***

  “I went by the apartment today,” DJ said sitting on the couch in his sister’s home, the next day. Since he turned on just about everyone, he was free for the moment. He’d been warned there were still more charges to come, and not to leave town. He knew it was only because of his father, that he was free. He wanted to make amends to Rachel and hoped it wasn’t too late. He had waited until Maddie left, not wanting to risk a confrontation. “I cleaned it up and we can go back there whenever you’re ready.”

  Rachel was sitting across from him, sitting propped up on several pillows on the loveseat. She looked at him and shook her head. How could she ever have loved this idiot? “Good for you, I’m not going back to that place ever. If you want to keep the apartment, you’ll need to fill out an application. My name is officially off the lease as of yesterday.”

  “Baby, I know I messed up and I took you for granted, but this trouble has changed me. I barely escaped going to jail. I’m going to get to get a job and get right.” He rubbed his thin hands together. “I want us to be together, Rachel. I want us to start again. No more hanging out with the boys. I’m going to be at home every night.”

  Rachel shook her head. If she had more strength, she would probably start pacing the room in anger. “I get beat within inches of my life, and all you can focus on is that you’re not in jail? “Why was she surprised? “You moved in with me five years ago with that same promise.” She held up a finger. “You sold my car without my knowledge, but you claimed it was stolen.”

  “You knew?”

  He did not even have the good sense to deny it. “Not at first, but eventually I did. I gave you the benefit of the doubt, but as usual, you blew it.”

  “I don’t understand you, Rachel. Why don’t you just go back to the apartment? You shouldn’t be here at my sis’s house. You don’t know what she’s like,” he mumbled.

  “Ever since you found out I was recuperating here; you’ve been trying to get me to leave. Why? Are you afraid that we were going to compare the lies you told?”

  He shrugged.

  Just pitiful, she mused. “Yes, we compared your stories and found that you were lying all over the place.” She took a deep breath, not wanting him to get the best of her. “You know, let’s just move on. I’m not going back to the apartment. I’m going to stay here with your sister until I’m well enough to get my own place.”

  “I can’t stay here. My sister won’t allow it.”

  “I didn’t ask you,” Rachel said.

  “What am I supposed to do?”

  Rachel looked at him. No mention of her getting beat by the drug dealers. No mention of how it was his fault. Nothing. He wasn’t claiming any part of it. She should cut her losses. Start fresh. Which was her plan.

  “You’re supposed to live your life. If you going to look for a job, I suggest you get started looking. You’ll need a job to get an apartment. Don’t bother applying at the college. My boss knows you had me beat up, so you’re on the do not hire list.”

  “What? I didn’t send Pierre’s boys to beat you! Why didn’t you give them the money they asked for? Why were you in the apartment anyway?” He jumped up from the couch and started pacing the room.

  “Because you called me and told me to meet you there, so you could give me back my key. You know that was the only way to get me there.” Slowly, her memory surrounding that day was returning.” How did you know they asked for money?”

  “I just figured,” he said. “I can’t believe they kicked you.”

  Then all made sense to her. “You were with them. I only saw the first two guys, but several were wearing masks. You watched them beat me and left me for dead. You bastard.” She struggled to sit up, then she stood. “You can go now.”

  He stopped pacing and stood directly in front of her. “What if I’m not ready to leave my sister’s house? The only way I’m leaving is that you come with me now.”

  The old Rachel would have agreed, just not to have a confrontation with him, but the new Rachel had been through one drama too many. “Well, I’m not leaving, and you can’t make me. You can take your sorry behind out of this house and never return. You were a chapter in my life, and I consider it closed.” She sat back down on the couch, dismissing him. She was so done.

  The shocked on his face was priceless.

  ***

  That afternoon, Maddie parked in front of Sean’s house. It had been two days since Sean thwarted the drug deal and the sex trafficking. She was waiting for him to call her, but as the days crept by, she realized he wasn’t going to call her. She was going to have to get the ball rolling.

  She walked up the pathway and stood in front of the door. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. She was about to ring the doorbell again when a strange man answered the door. He was over 6 feet tall, had salt and p
epper hair cut very short and business like, and piercing blue eyes. He was holding an opened bottle of beer. Maybe Sean was having company.

  “You must be Maddie,” the man said in a fading Irish accent.

  “Umm, yes,” she said cautiously. Maybe his mom had relatives visiting from Ireland.

  The man laughed. “That’s all I’ve heard for two days.” He extended a hand. “Seamus Conway, Sean’s father. Come in.”

  She did as the man asked. Sean never mentioned his father wasn’t African American. She knew from his honey-beige complexion that Sean was of mixed parentage. She always assumed his mother was the one with Irish blood. Boy did she get that wrong! “I’m Maddox Duncan. Everyone calls me, Maddie.”

  “Nice to meet you, Maddie. Call me Seamus. Sean is upstairs getting dressed. I came to take him out for a drink. He was becoming a hermit. But I’m guessing you would like some privacy and not some old Irishman standing around.”

  She did but didn’t want to be rude. “Oh, no, you can stay, Mr. Conway.”

  “Seamus. For the record, I told him to go make up with you instead of moping around the house.”

  “Thank you, Seamus.”

  “Let’s take a load off,” he said, guiding her to the couch. “Now Sean tells me you have your own business.”

  “Yes, I run a Public Relation/Event Planning business.”

  “My, that sounds exciting.”

  “You don’t know the half of it, Seamus. It seems like I’m always busy, these days.” She handed him a business card. “I also plan parties.”

  Those blue eyes lit up. “You know I’ve been kicking the idea around in my head for our 45th anniversary in a couple of months.”

  “I’d be happy to help,” she told him. “Do you have a theme in mind?”

  “I want to have an actual wedding. When we married all those years ago, we went to city hall. I want the real deal, honeymoon included.” He smiled broadly. “I can just see her face now. I promised her the real deal and she’s finally going to get it.