Operation Bayou Angel

by Margaret Kay

  “You’re going to want to see this,” Sloan said, lifting the test stick into view. “Blue plus sign, positive.”

  Shock hit Sherman. “Shit man, is that for real?” He took the stick from Sloan. A smile spread over his face.

  “Congrats, man,” Sloan said. He embraced his friend.

  “Do you two need a minute?” Mother asked, now standing beside them.

  Sloan held the stick up. “It’s blue.”

  Mother embraced him as well. “Congrats. Does Brielle know?”

  “Brielle,” Sherman muttered. He rushed back into their bedroom. He came up beside her and held the stick up. “Brielle?”

  “Oh, my God. I forgot I took it. I was peeing on it when I heard the front door open. I thought it was you or Bobby coming back.”

  “You’re pregnant. We’re pregnant, Brielle,” Sherman exclaimed. He grabbed her up in a hug. “Oh, baby, thank God you hit the panic code.”

  “Hate to interrupt, but let’s get packed up and out of here,” Mother called from the door.

  Brielle hurried and dressed in jeans and a sweater. She packed the backpack full of clothes. She knew there was shampoo, conditioner, and a blow dryer in the apartment, so she didn’t have to pack those things. She just added her moisturizer, brush, comb, and toothbrush into the backpack in the bathroom. Then she donned her warm winter coat and followed the others from the house. Brian was the last to leave, setting the alarm system and locking the door.

  Gary handed her phone to her. She immediately began replying to the many text messages from the other wives, her friends, assuring them that she was okay. She was surprised when she got a text message from Dr. Lassiter, summoning her to his office as soon as they arrived at HQ. She was even more surprised when Brian told her that her complying was mandatory. Dr. Lassiter would bar her from duty if she didn’t go see him.

  Yankee

  Brielle stared at her coffee cup. Sitting here, talking with Dr. Lassiter was the last thing she wanted to do. She wanted to go take a nice hot shower and lie in Brian’s arms. That was all. She just wanted to feel safe in his arms.

  “Brielle the sooner we talk, the sooner you can go do whatever it is that you feel you need to,” Lassiter said. Her eyes were focused on the door out of the kitchen, like she was trying to will herself out of this room.

  “I’m okay,” she insisted.

  “No, you’re not, or you wouldn’t be saying you are. You were kidnapped and thrown in the trunk of a car. No one can experience that and not be phased.”

  “I hit the panic code on the alarm system. I knew someone would know I was in danger. And I have the tracker in my shoulder, so I knew they’d find me.”

  “Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a scary ordeal.”

  “I never said it wasn’t scary. I tried to keep calm, prayed like hell while I was in that trunk, and kept faith in the team.”

  “You know it’s going to come back to you, while you sleep, or when you’re alone in the house again. That fear, memories, or even visions of the moment when those men broke into the house will replay through your mind. That’s what traumas do. Just like the moment that Sherman was shot. You saw that moment for a few nights when you closed your eyes.”

  Brielle nodded stiffly. “I know. Can we talk about it tomorrow? It’s over for today and I know I’m safe here in this building and I know those two men are in custody.”

  “It looks like it will be learned who sent them. After that person is in custody, it will be over. That’s why you’re staying here. And, the team needs to discover how they found you. One of the team’s residences being located is a huge security breach.”

  “And as soon as that’s determined, we’ll be able to leave the apartment?”

  “As long as you’re ready to,” Lassiter said. “If you’re mentally not up to being there, you need to speak up. There is nothing wrong with being afraid, Brielle. But it is wrong to not face that fear, or worse yet, fail to admit it.”

  “I’m used to just pressing on, no matter what.”

  Lassiter smiled. “An admirable trait, but not the healthiest, mentally or emotionally. You have to promise me that if you’re replaying it in your head or if you’re feeling anxiety or fear because of it, that you’ll tell me. I can’t help you if you’re not honest with me.”

  “I promise,” she agreed. Her eyes went back to the door. “Can I go now? I really want to get a shower and just lie with Brian for a bit.”

  “I plan on speaking with Sherman next.”

  “Please, can it wait?”

  “How did you feel about him threatening to kill that man?”

  Brielle shrugged. “It was effective. I knew he wouldn’t shoot him, and I knew Landon wouldn’t let him, either.”

  Lassiter was impressed that she understood all three of those things. “I’ll talk with Sherman after the briefing. You can have time with him now.”

  Sherman was stretched out on the bed, sitting with his back against two propped up pillows when Brielle emerged from the bathroom. The humid air from the hot shower and the heat from the blow dryer followed her into the room, rapidly elevating the room’s air temperature by five degrees.

  “You feel any better, babe?” Sherman held his hand out towards her, an invitation to join him.

  She crawled onto the bed, dropping her behind between his spread legs and draping her torso over his, taking him in an embrace. Sherman was instantly engulfed in the fresh, clean scent that clung to her. He felt her shrug against him.

  “Today has just been surreal. I’ve never been that afraid in my life. And I knew that I hit the panic code, so I knew someone would know I was in trouble and be looking for me. I knew I had the tracker in me, that you would find me, but I just kept praying that they wouldn’t kill me before you got there.”

  Sherman wrapped his arms around her and held her snuggly. “When Madison broadcast the panic code activation and said it was for you, I think my heart stopped beating. I’ve never been that afraid in my life either.”

  “I want to learn how to defend myself better and I want to get my conceal carry license, like Shepherd talked about. And I always want to have a gun near me. I want to do those things right away. I don’t ever want to feel so helpless again.”

  “Shepherd has already assigned Cooper to teach you the hand to hand self-defense skills. He’s the best and can teach you everything you need to know. And I can teach you to shoot better and get you qualified for your CCW. You and I’ll both be here for at least the next week. We’ll spend some time down in the range every day.” He knew she needed to actively do something to feel more empowered, to feel safe. He’d do whatever he could to help her.

  He felt her nod against him. His hand found its way to her abdomen. They hadn’t talked about the positive pregnancy test. He didn’t realize that he was caressing softly over her belly until she spoke.

  “How do you feel about that?”

  Sherman felt the grin spread over his face. “Momma, I’m gonna be the best damn daddy to our kid. You have to know I’m the happiest man in the world. The question is, how do you feel about it?”

  “Well, we said we’d leave it up to God and I guess He decided for us.”

  Sherman chuckled. “You said not too long ago that a kid at this point didn’t fit into your plan.”

  “That was the old plan. I think I can be a mom and still do this job for Shepherd Security and the DEA. I honestly haven’t had the chance to process it yet.”

  “You suspected it and bought that test kit. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Brielle rolled over just enough to look him in the eyes. “I didn’t want to say anything till I knew, because I didn’t want you to be disappointed if I wasn’t. I’ve watched you with Sammy and little Olivia. You’re great with them and I knew you wanted one of your own.”

  Sherman leaned up. He gently grasped her face between his two hands, and he took her lips in a kiss. “Let’s get one thing straight. You could never disappoint me. I love y
ou, Brielle.” His gaze penetrated her eyes down to her very soul.

  Tears filled her eyes. She tried to blink them back. “I love you too,” she said in a whisper.

  “And secondly, I only want a kid with you, never thought about it before I fell in love with you.”

  “I’ve always wanted to have kids,” she admitted.

  “You will marry me, won’t you?” His fingers held her face in place.

  A smile radiated from her. “Yes.” The emotion in the one word was overwhelming.

  Sherman kissed her again. A long, passionate, melt your clothes off type of kiss. If they didn’t have the briefing in fifteen minutes, he’d make love to her. Their lips parted, and they just stared affectionately into each other’s eyes for a few quiet moments.

  “Will you want your daddy to give you away at our wedding?” He watched her gaze shift away from his and a scowl etched itself on her face.

  “No and I don’t want him there.”

  “And Dahlia?”

  “If it can work out that she can be there, great, if not, that’s fine. I’m okay if we just elope.”

  “I don’t want to elope. This agency is my family. I want to marry you in front of my team.”

  “As long as Bobby is there, that’s all I care about,” Brielle said.

  “Are you ready to tell me why you had a falling out with your daddy and Dahlia?” Sherman would press this time. She didn’t answer. “What does it have to do with your momma’s drunk driving accident?”

  “It wasn’t my momma’s accident. It was his. My daddy was driving drunk and killed her. Not that she was sober either. But he was driving.”

  “He didn’t get charged?”

  “It happened on the reservation, Indian police department, Indian courts had jurisdiction. They wanted Dahlia to train with the old shaman. She agreed to move onto the reservation and train in exchange for their protection of our daddy. As long as he lives on the reservation, he’s safe. I don’t think Dahlia really wanted to, but she wanted to save our daddy from jail time, so she agreed.”

  “I’m sure your daddy had to feel terrible for your momma’s death, knowing it was his fault. I’m not sure him going to jail would have punished him anymore than he probably punishes himself.”

  “He crawled into a bottle and has been there ever since,” Brielle said in disgust. “He ruined his own life and Dahlia’s.”

  “Dahlia had freedom of choice, still does.”

  “I know. I think a part of her wanted to hide out on the reservation and pursue everything spiritual. Old Rainbow Bear, the shaman, that man was nearly one hundred years old! He believed Dahlia had some power. I think it was the ravings of an old man suffering from dementia. He passed a few years ago.”

  “You ever hear the saying, not your monkey, not your circus?”

  “Yeah,” she admitted.

  “It’s not you know. Dahlia’s life is her own. Her decisions are her own to make and live with.”

  “I know.”

  “We better head to Shepherd’s office for the briefing,” Sherman said.

  They were the last to arrive. They took their seats. The men who escorted her two abductors to the DEA office downtown were back and seated at the table. “Please tell me you got a full statement from blond-boy,” Sherman said, his eyes on Lambchop.

  Lambchop nodded. “Troy didn’t shut up. That’s his name, Troy Farwell. His statement needs to be substantiated, but I’d bet my prized Sig .9mm P226 that it all verifies.”

  “Who sent them to my house and how the hell did they know where we lived?” Sherman asked, his voice tense, his emotions reigned in.

  “Dwayne Stuart, Galliano’s Mayor and Jennifer Brubaker, also known to the slave-labor at BioDynamix as Madam Butterfly. Farwell rolled on them as the masterminds of the heroin stickers,” Lambchop said.

  “They could have made them anywhere. Why in Louisiana?” Brielle asked.

  “When they first set about forming their corporation, they were going to set up shop in Trenton, but things had gotten hot for them there. There had been several large busts by the DEA in the past few years, and they figured their luck was probably due to run out. Stuart had gone to the Louisiana area on a fishing trip and the plan came together for him there, fresh start, fresh opportunity,” Lambchop answered.

  “My address?” Sherman asked again.

  Lambchop and Jackson’s eyes went to Brielle. But it was Shepherd who spoke. “Brielle, did you send your sister a package?”

  “Yes, a Christmas gift.”

  “And you put Sherman’s address on the package.”

  “Yes, but I told Dahlia to destroy it, burn the address label.”

  Shepherd shook his head. “She didn’t, threw the intact label in the trash. Blond-boy was watching her, pulled it out of her trashcan.”

  “Oh, baby, you were told not to give our address out,” Sherman said. “I told you I’d get you a secure mailing address to use.”

  “You were gone on a mission and it is only a few weeks till Christmas. I didn’t want it to be late. I thought it would be okay,” she said, but her voice trailed off, realizing she had put herself in danger. “I didn’t know,” she added nervously.

  “It’s okay, at least we know how the breach happened,” Shepherd said.

  “I’m sorry,” Brielle said. “I won’t do it again. I promise.” She felt Brian’s hand take hold of hers under the table. Her eyes remained focused on Shepherd. “So, now what?”

  “Farwell swears that no one else knows the address, just him and his partner, Dave Garver, another New Jersey native who works for Stuart,” Jackson answered.

  “So, it’s safe then? We can go back to the condo?” Brielle asked.

  “Not yet, babe,” Sherman answered.

  Lambchop nodded. “Garver lawyered up. He could pass the address on. You can believe the attorney has ties right back to the crime network run by Stuart.”

  “But won’t they all be arrested?” Brielle asked.

  “If everything Farwell gave us pans out, yes. But we won’t discount their reach. Brielle, you have to understand, this network is going to be pissed off and want revenge,” Cooper said.

  “Against me,” she murmured.

  “Yes,” Shepherd confirmed.

  “So, what do we do?” Brielle asked.

  “We make them believe you’re gone, into WitSec,” Cooper answered.

  “The witness protection program?” Brielle questioned.

  “Yes. Sherman is going to hire a moving company to move all your things, we’ll have a couple of Marshals oversee it. We’ll let it slip in front of the right audience that you have been moved to a secret location,” Shepherd said.

  “I don’t want to leave,” Brielle argued.

  A small grin pulled at Shepherd’s lips. “You’re not going anywhere, but Sherman’s condo is burned. Your place has to go up for sale and you’ll have to buy a new place.”

  Sherman nodded. “I needed to get a bigger place with Brielle and Bobby living with me.”

  “I’m sorry, Brian. I know you weren’t ready to do that yet,” Brielle said.

  He squeezed her hand. “Baby, it’s okay. We’ll find us a nice three-bedroom place.” He locked eyes with Shepherd. He could see in his eyes that Shepherd knew about the pregnancy. His eyes scanned his teammates. Based on the grins on each of their faces, they all knew. “Isn’t anyone gonna congratulate us? Yes, Brielle’s pregnant.”

  Shepherd’s lips pulled into a smile. “Congratulations. I wasn’t sure if you wanted it to be public knowledge.”

  “It seems like it already is,” Sherman said, glancing around the table.

  “I’m not very far along,” Brielle said.

  “There are several nice units in my complex for sale,” Mother spoke up. “I was just telling Sloan about them yesterday. There’s even three-bedroom units with full, finished basements. That would make a nice private place for Bobby.”

  “I wish there were a few units in our
area, but there aren’t any on the market right now,” Jackson added.

  “My house isn’t too far from yours,” Mother remarked. He glanced back at Sherman and Brielle. “I have a three-bedroom place. Both of you and Bobby are welcome to stay at my place till you move.”

  “We’ve gotten off track,” Shepherd said. “You three discuss that offline. Regardless, you don’t go back to his condo, Brielle. You got that?”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied.

  “We’re holding off on the Houston mission. If Farwell’s statement pans out, we’ll be in on the raids to round up the crime network in Trenton. It’s big, by the sounds of it. That’s where he says Madam Butterfly is operating out of. The FBI will arrest Dwayne Stuart in Louisiana,” Shepherd said. “Okay, dismissed, but keep your gear packed. You’re all on a thirty-minute standby. All members of both Alpha and Delta will be on this one.” He said, his eyes going to Sherman.