by Kathy Ivan
Jonathan Drury, his attorney of record, and one of his most loyal followers, had finally finagled, wheedled, and bribed enough people to get Big Jim a new trial, and he wasn’t going to screw around and get himself stuck back into solitary. There was too much to get done if he ever wanted to see daylight again as a free man.
Jonathan slid onto the seat across from him, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead and onto his cheek. Big Jim grinned, pleased he still instilled fear in the man. Thus far, the other man had been incompetent, allowing the feds to build a rock solid case against him, though he hadn’t been able to figure out who, besides his dear niece, had practically handed him over like a prize pig on a platter complete with an apple in his mouth to the feds. There wasn’t a shadow of doubt somebody had flapped their jaws, probably to save their own hide. But find out he would—and they’d pay dearly for betraying him and his cause.
“Do you have news for me?”
Jonathan swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the movement. The gold, wire-rimmed glasses slid down the bridge of his nose, and he pushed them up, his hand trembling slightly, but enough Big Jim could see it. A cold smile touched his lips, and Drury’s skin took on a sallow appearance.
“There’s no sign of your niece, sir.” The nasally whine of Jonathan’s voice grated, but he dismissed it, focusing instead on the actual words.
“Nothing? You’ve had two years to find her. How hard can it be to find one woman with no friends and no family, boy? At least no family that’ll help the no-good traitor.”
“I—I’ve got everybody working round-the-clock, trying to find her. The last time anybody saw her was in Lincoln. Since she slipped out of the hospital, she’s stayed off the grid. Nobody has used her ID, credit cards, nothing. Not under any name we’ve got for her.”
Big Jim bounded from his chair, and paced back and forth on his side of the table, careful not to give the guard watching his every move a reason to interrupt his alone time with his attorney. He wasn’t allowed visitors regularly, and the only way to keep in touch with his followers was through Drury, the little wimp cowering before him. Though he had to admit, ever since he’d been arrested, Drury had come through time and again, stymying all the federal government’s attempts to put him away for the rest of his life. Maybe he wasn’t a useless sack of skin after all. He’d reserve judgment—for now.
“Has there been any news on the trial date?”
“Umm, I’ve submitted a motion with the court to have the case expedited. Of course, the Department of Justice isn’t happy with me, and wants to delay as much as possible. It’s obvious they’re hunting for Sharon, too, but they’ve had even less luck than we have in finding her.”
Big Jim focused his gaze on the attorney, watched with satisfaction as the man squirmed in his seat. Oh, how he missed the power he’d held in his hands with his most loyal followers, the ones he’d led like sheep wherever he pointed them. A few carefully chosen words here and there, and they’d worshipped the ground he walked on. He’d have that feeling again, and soon, because nobody was gonna keep him pinned behind bars much longer. One way or another, he’d be a free man.
“Put more men on it. I want answers, and I want them now. Sharon was never the smartest girl, and I doubt much has changed. She’ll pop up soon, and when she does, I want you ready. You’d better make sure we get to her before the feds, or it’s all over. Do you understand? I can’t stomach betrayal, especially by family. We have to make an example of her, so others know they can’t get away with disobedience.”
“Sir, umm, there might be a problem with that. We’re kinda…low on funds. The money left in the one account the feds didn’t freeze is almost gone.”
Big Jim let loose a bellow loud enough to have the guard swing open the door and step through. “Everything okay in here, Mr. Drury?”
Little piss-ant. Should be asking me, not this sniveling coward.
“Everything’s fine. Get out.” Big Jim motioned for the guard to close the door when he didn’t move fast enough.
“It’s okay, Officer. No problems here.” Jonathan nodded and pointed to Big Jim. “He was a little upset with the delays in scheduling his new trial.”
“Keep it down.” The guard closed the door, but Big Jim could see him standing outside, peering through the glass. He rolled his eyes, and brought his attention back to Drury.
“All your accounts are still frozen. We can’t touch any of the funds, sir.”
Big Jim pulled out the chair and spun it around, straddling it. He steepled his fingers along the back, his lips pursed as he thought. A smile curled his mouth upward, and he chuckled.
“I bet they don’t know about the account I set up in the Caymans, do they? The one under Sharon’s name? Even she doesn’t know about it.”
Jonathan visibly perked up, sitting straighter, his eyes shining with delight. “I forgot all about that account. Do you think…could the money still be there after all this time? Surely the government would have found it when they froze all your other assets?”
Big Jim chuckled, and rubbed his hands together. “Nope. The account had only been open a few days when they hauled me in on their trumped-up charges. It wasn’t listed with any of my so-called assets. And I certainly didn’t tell them about it.” He rose, tall and straight, feeling invigorated. “Get out of here and use the money from the Caymans account. I don’t care what it takes, get the money and get Sharon.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be in touch.”
Like a sniveling little cockroach, Drury scuttled out of the room as fast as his scrawny legs carried him, shutting the door behind him, leaving Big Jim alone with his thoughts. Sharon had surprised him. Despite what he’d said to Drury, he didn’t underestimate his niece. She’d proven a worthy adversary, and he wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. The odds of her being able to stay hidden were slim, regardless of the fact she’d managed to evade his searches thus far. Between the men on the streets his attorney hired, and the hackers his brother-in-law had working behind the scenes, it was only a matter of time before his sweet niece was once again within the fold of her loving family.
Then she’d learn the real cost of betrayal.
CHAPTER SIX
Antonio juggled his keys, the extra-large coffee, and the copies of the files he’d brought home to work on in one hand, and pushed open the door to his hotel room. He’d planned on driving back to Shiloh Springs after getting his assignment with the Austin office. Instead, he’d been dragged along on a call involving a hostage situation in downtown Austin, and hadn’t made it back to the FBI offices until close to ten o’clock. Fortunately, the situation diffused without any casualties, and he’d gotten a feel for the fellow agents in his temporary location. Bunking down in a hotel for the night made more sense than the hour and a half drive back to Shiloh Springs.
Tossing the files onto the bed, he sat on the edge, pulled off his cowboy boots and socks, letting his toes sink into the carpet. He hated wearing shoes, always had. He smiled at the memory of his momma constantly after him to put on some shoes. But there was something about the feel of grass and dirt beneath his feet, the squishy mud between his toes that felt natural. Maybe he’d inherited his free spirit from his biological mother. He didn’t have a lot of fond memories from when he was growing up, but he did remember she’d always loved the outdoors and nature. One of his fondest memories of her was the day she’d taken him to the riverbank and let him wade in the rushing water. Icy cold, it caught the breath in the back of his throat, and she’d laughed, splashing beside him, head thrown back and arms spread at her sides, her smiling face lifted to the sunlight. Funny, he hadn’t thought about those moments in years.
He’d just picked up the file on Big Jim Berkley when his cell phone rang. Smiling at the picture on the caller ID screen, he answered. “Hey, Brody. What’s up?”
“Antonio! Heard you’re in Austin for a while. What gives?”
Trying to get comfortable, Antonio moved around
until his back rested against the headboard. One thing he disliked about working in hotel rooms—finding a comfortable place to dig in and get comfortable. He missed his apartment in Dallas, where he had everything in its place, and he could hunker down and have everything within easy reach and not have to get up and search for the stuff he needed.
“The FBI office here is short-staffed, so I’m on loan from Dallas. Means I’ll be closer to home for a while.”
“Any idea how long you’ll be sticking around?”
“Not sure. Could be a few weeks to a few months, depending on the work load outta Austin, and how long it takes to solve the case they’ve assigned me.”
Brody laughed. “They’ve already stuck you with a case? Guess they saw the word sucker written across your forehead and gave you the worst assignment they had, right?”
“Jackass.” Antonio was used to his brother’s ribbing. There’d been an on-again, off-again rivalry between them for years, but he knew when the chips were down, Brody had his back. No questions asked. That was the thing about all the Boudreaus. While they might not share blood, their bond was unbreakable and permanent. He couldn’t imagine not having all of them in his life, even though the cost of belonging to their family came at a high price.
“You plan on finding a place in Austin while you’re there, or commute back and forth to Shiloh Springs?”
“Not sure yet. I’ve got a hotel room for the next night or two, until I get my feet planted, then we’ll see. I kinda want to get a feel for how this office operates, the similarities and differences between here and Dallas. Figure out the movers and shakers, and who the wannabes are too.”
“So, you’re in Austin right now?”
Antonio heard something in Brody’s voice, though he couldn’t put his finger on what might have his big brother on edge. “Yeah, like I said, I’ve got a room.”
“Awesome. Which hotel?”
Antonio rattled off the name and room number, wondering what mischief his brother was contemplating. Working out of Dallas kept him away from Shiloh Springs more than he wanted. While it was only a few hours’ drive, he didn’t get home nearly as often as he’d like, and he’d kinda fallen out of touch with what was happening with his brothers. He’d have to change that.
“I’ll pick you up in ten minutes.”
“Wait, what? You’re here?”
“Yep,” Brody chuckled. “Forty-eight hours off shift. Decided I needed to throw caution to the wind and howl at the moon. Since you’re here too, I’m taking you with me.”
Now Antonio was convinced something was bugging his big brother. Brody wanting to go out on the town and get wild and rowdy? Nope. No way. He was Captain America, never stepping a foot over the line of right and wrong. Rarely drank more than a beer, and those were few and far between. Might be a good idea to meet up, see if he could help with whatever troubled his big brother.
“I’ll be waiting.”
Hanging up, he loosened the tie around his neck and tossed it onto the bed, next to the jacket he abandoned the minute he’d hit the room. Grabbing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from his suitcase, he quickly changed, splashed water on his face, and brushed his teeth. When a loud knock sounded, he slid his wallet in his pocket and opened the door.
“Brody. Good to see you.” He wrapped his arms around his brother, doing the masculine hug and pound on the back greeting all guys did. Stepping back, he studied the man before him. Brody looked pretty much the same as the last time he’d seen him a couple of months earlier. Tall and muscular, his sandy-brown hair was a little longer than it had been. Though he smiled, there was a haunted look in his brilliant blue eyes belying his jovial attitude.
Last time Antonio had been in Shiloh Springs for a quick visit, he’d ended up helping Rafe and an ex-Navy SEAL, Dylan Roberts, protect a woman from a potential stalker kidnapper, who wanted to take her baby out of the country. Maybe Brody was a little thinner, but otherwise there wasn’t any outward appearance something bothered his brother. Except his haunted eyes.
“Ready to go?” Brody glanced around Antonio’s room, his eyes landing on the files. He bumped his shoulder against Antonio’s in a playful manner, before heading toward the bed. “Already bringing work home with you, I see.”
Antonio reached past him and grabbed the files, stuffed them into his suitcase and locked it. Pretty dumb, leaving them lying around a hotel room in plain sight. He really needed to get his head in the game, or he’d make mistakes. And mistakes got people killed.
“I don’t want to think about work tonight. Plenty of time for that later. Where are we headed?”
“Someplace with lots of music, lots of lovely ladies, and an abundance of booze.”
“In Austin? Shouldn’t be hard to find.” Antonio grinned. Austin’s unofficial motto was Keep Austin Weird. The entire city was eclectic and having a good time and partying kept the whole place thriving. “You want to grab some food first?”
Brody shrugged. “I could eat.”
“Is our food truck stand still here? I could use a couple of those tacos we had the last time we came to Austin.”
“Sounds good. I’ve got my car, I’ll drive.”
The food truck courtyard bustled with activity, bodies milling around. Boisterous laughter filled the air, along with live music from the band on the far side of the courtyard. The bases of the trees interspersed throughout the gathering place were rimmed with Christmas lights, while additional strands crisscrossed overhead, between the lampposts surrounding the courtyard, like a canopy of stars overhead. Maneuvering through the throng of bodies took skill and determination, but Antonio eventually made it to the taco truck he’d targeted. His mouth watered at the smell of the freshly-cooked beef and spices emanating through the open window of the festively painted food truck, where a pretty Hispanic girl passed out plastic baskets overflowing with Tex-Mex goodness.
“Hey, bro, what do you want? My treat.” Antonio stood behind a customer, next in line to place his order. Brody scanned the hand-lettered sign beside the truck’s open window, the available items and prices listed. While there weren’t a lot of items listed, this truck was a personal favorite of Antonio’s, and he’d tried pretty much everything they offered, and knew the menu by heart.
“Grab me a couple of the brisket tacos and a chicken one. Extra guacamole.”
Antonio moved forward, placing their order to the smiling girl, who relayed it to the two burly men cooking on the flattops. With a quick efficiency belying their sizes, the men worked with tag-team efficiency and skill. Within minutes, he had two red plastic baskets, overflowing with tasty Tex-Mex food. The intoxicating smell had his taste buds salivating and his stomach growling. He hadn’t taken time for a lunch break with the whole hostage situation that afternoon, and his empty belly let him know it was past time to fill up with something hearty and delicious.
Brody snagged them a couple of beers and a table with two empty seats, far enough away from the musicians they’d be able to talk without yelling. Dropping onto the folding chair, he handed Brody his food and picked up a brisket taco, taking a huge bite. The spices hit first, with the smoky beef and cool pico de gallo. He almost moaned when the taste of tomato, onion, and cilantro exploded on his taste buds. Before he knew it, he’d demolished the first taco in three bites.
“Geez, man, didn’t you eat today?”
Antonio shook his head, picking up the chicken taco next. “Had to deal with a crisis, worked straight through the afternoon. Other than coffee, this is the first thing I’ve eaten today.”
“That’s rough. So, what’re your thoughts about working in Austin?”
Antonio grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth before answering. “It’s different. Than Dallas, I mean. I get the feeling while they’re just as busy, there’s a quieter vibe. Know what I mean? Although this afternoon had everybody scrambling, hitting the streets en masse. Hostage situation downtown. You’ll probably hear about it on the news, if you haven’t already.”
Brody nodded. “Caught a bit about it on the radio, driving here. Sounded serious.”
“It’s always serious when kids are involved.” Antonio took a long pull of his beer. “Some people don’t deserve to have children.” He regretted his words almost immediately when a haunted expression crossed Brody’s face. Son of a gun, he’d stuck his foot in his mouth again, spoke without thinking. Not in a million years would he want to hurt his brother. Brody never talked about his biological parents. As far as he knew, he hadn’t talked to any of his brothers about what his life was like before he’d become a Boudreau, and Douglas and Ms. Patti never talked about what brought any of the boys to their home and into their lives. Not unless they’d discussed it with each of them first. He had a good idea of some of the stuff Brody endured in his early years. They’d shared a room at The Big House when Antonio had first come to live there. Brody’s nightmares were his own business, though Antonio would be there if he ever wanted to talk.
“Y’all got the mom and kids out safe, right?” Brody leaned back in his chair, hands crossed over his midsection. “They mentioned something about a daycare center?”
“Yeah. Messy divorce. Wife got custody of all three kids. The ex followed her to the daycare center, and tried to get the kids to leave with him. Fortunately, the staff alerted us right away. The majority of the kids were out back playing and out of the line of fire.”
“Good. Kids need to be protected from the bad stuff. Emotional trauma sticks around for a long time.”
“At least the father’s behind bars now, and after this stunt, he’ll be there for a long time. Endangering not only his own kids, but the others at the daycare—judge will probably throw the book at him. Unless his lawyer goes for diminished capacity, then it’ll be up to the lawyers and the shrinks to sort it out.”
