“What’s up Rob? Come on in and have a seat.”
Floyd knew something was up when Rob pushed the door closed behind him then took a seat in front of Floyd’s desk. He was one of the few who could easily look over that big desk.
“I thought you might like to see these.” He held up the folders.
Floyd looked closely at Rob and realized that the man was as excited as he’d seen the normally very calm man in some time.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s in them and I can look them over in detail later.”
“Sure. What I’ve got here is three different times that we’ve caught wind of large shipments of cocaine coming into Crowley County.”
Floyd leaned forward in his chair. “You did say ‘into’ not ‘through.’ Didn’t you, Rob?”
“Yes, Floyd, that’s what’s different about these and I knew you’d want to hear about them as soon as possible.”
“Okay. What’s your take on the situation? Do you think we’ve got someone stepping in to take over where Hennesey left off?”
Rob took a moment to think about it. “Yeah, that’s what it looks like to me. The business was so turned upside down after you nailed Hennesey and got him sent to Leavenworth that they haven’t been able to recover . . . until now.”
“Thanks Rob. I’ll take a closer look at these files then I’ll give DEA a call to see what they’ll tell me.”
Rob grunted. “Yeah, good luck with that one.”
Floyd frowned and said, “You’re probably right but I have to try.”
With that, Rob left and Floyd picked up the first file to begin reading it.
Fifteen minutes later, he punched the intercom. “Crystal, would you get me Ollie Short at the DEA Resident Office in Springfield, please?”
When she buzzed him a few minutes later, Floyd was ready. He always had to psych himself up to deal with any of the Feds, especially DEA. All of them loved to share information with local agencies as long as it was going to them not back to the locals.
He picked up the phone and said, “Hello, Ollie how are you doing today?”
Floyd had never met the man on the other end of the line but had dealt with him numerous times over the phone. He was just like all other Feds though. Floyd knew he had to word his questions carefully to even get an answer.
Then he thought that this time it might work better if he sounded like he was calling to give them a tip. He knew that the Feds liked nothing better than to have the locals beg for information. But if the locals were giving information, that was usually a different story.
“I’m doing fine, Floyd. What can I do for you today?”
“I was just wondering if you were aware of the increased drug traffic into not through Crowley County.”
He let that sink in for a moment and waited for any kind of reaction. This was when he would have loved to be face to face with the man. Then he could tell more about what was really going on underneath the words.
There was a pause on the other end and Floyd waited.
“Just exactly what kind of activity are you talking about Floyd? You got a few more marijuana busts than usual?”
Floyd had to grit his teeth to keep from coming back the way he knew the guy wanted him to. He was proud of his self-control this time.
“No, Ollie, I’ve got three major shipments of cocaine coming into Crowley County and not going out.” He paused then added for good measure. “I just thought you might be interested. Then again, if you’re not, we’ll handle it by ourselves our way.”
Floyd was certain that would get to the guy. The Feds didn’t like for locals to do things like this their way.
“No, hold on a sec Floyd.”
Music started coming through the phone and Floyd knew this was step two of the little Feds vs locals game. Make the local wait so he’d think they were really going to work with them.
When Short came back on the line, Floyd was shocked that the agent didn’t move on to step three of the game. No, he came right to the point.
“Okay, Floyd, you’re right. Things are picking up drastically in Crowley County. We’ve had an agent undercover there for about six months now.”
This time when he paused, Floyd knew it was intended for him to jump in.
“Can you tell him to contact me so we can work together on this?”
“Can you hold again for a few more minutes Floyd?”
This time Floyd was sure it was no ploy. The guy was probably calling the division office in St. Louis to get the go ahead to work with Floyd on this.
He was smiling broadly when Short came back on the line at least five minutes later.
“Okay, Floyd. Here’s how it’s going to happen. My agent will contact you. He’s someone you’ve already met but didn’t know he was one of ours. I’m not going to give you anything over the phone. He’ll contact you by simply giving you a piece of paper with a place and time on it. You go there alone to establish contact with him.”
Floyd really was smiling now. “Got it. And thanks Ollie. No matter what others may say about you guys, I’m okay with you.”
Short laughed and added. “By the way Floyd, I don’t want anybody else over there knowing anything about my agent but you. We lost one of our agents recently in Kansas when too many people knew about him. I don’t want to lose this guy. He’s one of the best.”
“I can work with that Ollie.”
“Okay, then. You work with him exclusively then. Got it?”
“I said I did.”
With that, they ended the rather strange conversation. Floyd didn’t know much more than he did before he called. But the prospect of learning much more through this undercover agent had him smiling to himself.
Then Floyd remembered that Short had said that he had met the guy but didn’t know who he was. That made him begin to search his memory for who that could possibly be.
* * *
The next morning Sue Ann had set her alarm early and was up and ready in time to take Andy to school.
Wanda gave her a puzzled look when she came out already dressed. “I guess you’re planning on taking Andy to school again.”
“Yes, Mom, I got to thinking that if Ray tried to do something it would be better if I was there instead of you. Do you mind?”
Wanda shook her head with a sad smile on her face. “No Dear. I think this is something that the two of you are going to have to settle one way or the other . . . and before too long too. All of this fighting is getting Andy so confused and upset.”
“Yeah, I know. But I just don’t know what to do. I’ve got to fight him on this custody thing and I don’t know how to go about it yet.”
“Have you talked to Floyd about it?”
Sue Ann was surprised at that comment. “No . . . I hadn’t thought about that. But maybe he could help. I’ll talk to him about it tonight when he and Penny come over for supper.
As soon as Sue Ann pulled her car out onto the street, a car pulled away from the curb in front of the house next door and began following her. She knew without even looking back that it had to be Ray. Perspiration broke out on her upper lip and she was beginning to breathe hard. It was just like old times when they were married.
She had a stray thought then. If she ever told Floyd that Ray had begun to hit her there at the last, there probably wouldn’t be much left of Ray. That thought didn’t cheer her up though like it might ordinarily have done. She was too concerned about what Ray might do when they got to Andy’s school.
She tried to drive as normally as she could, not wanting to alarm Andy. Since he still rode in the backseat only, he was unaware of what may be about to happen.
When she pulled up at the school, she slid her cell phone out of her purse. Just as the other car stopped directly behind her, she hit the speed dial number for Floyd’s cell phone that Gil had talked her into putting in just yesterday.
When he answered, he said, “What’s up Sue Ann, I’m two cars behind you at the school.”
/> She had forgotten all about the fact that Floyd would be bringing Penny to school today too. She looked in her rearview mirror and could just see Floyd’s Tahoe behind Ray’s car.
“Floyd, the car between us is Ray, my ex-husband. I’m not sure what he might do, but I’m glad you’re right here just in case.”
“Don’t you worry about a thing Sue Ann. I’ve got the guy covered. Go on and walk Andy up to the door and I’ll be right here in case he tries something. If he even gets out of his car, I’ll be on him so quick he won’t know what hit him.”
Just as Sue Ann walked around the front of her car to meet Andy on the other side, Ray got out of his car and started to walk toward them. When, Floyd hit his siren just a very short note, Ray looked back at him, jumped back into his car, and drove off.
Floyd pulled up behind her car and he and Penny got out.
When they joined Sue Ann and Andy by her car, she said, “Thanks Floyd. It looked like he was going to make a scene.”
“No problem. I’m just glad I was here this time. But if he’s like you say he is there will be a next time. And I might not be there then. Have you thought about getting an Order of Protection against him?”
“Yes, I have, but the judge said even though Ray gave me trouble in the past, I needed proof that he was a threat to me now.” She thought about it a moment then said, “But that was when Ray was still living in Springfield.”
She could hear Floyd mumbling some cuss words under his breath as they all began walking toward the front door.
She turned to Penny and said, “How did you like riding in the patrol car Penny?”
She was sure the little girl wasn’t going to answer at first, but then she even looked up at Sue Ann and said, “It was all right . . . I guess.”
That was encouraging. Maybe she would be able to get through to Penny after all.
Once they escorted their children to the front door, Andy went on inside and Penny turned around and faced Floyd with her hands on her hips.
“Do you mind? I don’t need a police escort.”
Sue Ann was surprised when Floyd just grinned down at his daughter, tapped her gently on the shoulder, and said, “I’m sure you don’t Penny. I’ll see you at two thirty.”
When Penny went through the door, Floyd turned to face Sue Ann but his eyes didn’t quite meet hers. “How about a cup of coffee at Thelma’s before you go to work?”
The way they had been arguing and even fighting for as long as she could remember, she should have said no immediately and probably would have only a few days ago, but not now. Now, she felt like something had changed between then all of a sudden. And, as she thought about it, she realized that she wanted to see just how much had changed and if it was going to be for the good or not.
“Sure, I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”
Once they were seated in a booth facing each other, Floyd placed his hat on the bench beside him and ran his fingers through his short red hair.
“If you want, Sue Ann, I can talk to Judge Hawkins about you getting an “Order of Protection” against Ray. All I have to do is tell him about that little incident at school a little while ago, and I’m sure he’ll be willing to give you one now.”
Sue Ann thought about that for a moment, weighing both pros and cons. “I appreciate that Floyd but why don’t we wait just a little while on that. I don’t want Ray to take it out on Andy when he has him next weekend and I know he will, somehow.”
She could see that Floyd wasn’t happy with her answer but was trying not to let it show. “Okay, Sue Ann. But the minute he even acts like he’s going to touch you again, he’ll be the guest of the county for a few days.”
Sue Ann was surprised. “How did you know about that?”
Floyd blushed a little and she had her answer.
“Jo told you. Didn’t she?”
He wouldn’t answer her but she knew. “Well, I guess I can’t really get mad at her. I know she was only trying to help me . . . or even protect me.”
He visibly relaxed and said, “That’s all either of us want to do Sue Ann, if you’d only let us.”
“Why?” She slapped her hands flat down on the tabletop softly. “Why, all of a sudden, do you want to help me, Floyd?”
He blushed again. Sue Ann snickered. She’d known him most of her life. But this was the first time she could remember ever seeing the big macho sheriff blush and he’d done it twice in a matter of minutes. Good grief, what was going on here?
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, Sue Ann. It’s just that I don’t always say the right thing or something you do or say just makes me mad. And then I really say the wrong thing and you blow up.”
She started to interrupt but he held up one large hand between them. “No, don’t say it. I know that most of the time I shouldn’t be getting mad about the things you do and say.”
He ran his hand through his hair again and she decided to let him finish.
“It’s just that I care about you and I don’t want to see you make a mistake or get hurt in any way.”
He was still blushing slightly when he looked up into her eyes. “Am I making any sense at all?”
Sue Ann looked down at her hands, which were now clasped on the tabletop and felt tears forming in her eyes. She tried to shake them off, but they started streaming down her cheeks anyway.
Floyd grew pale and said, “I’m sorry Sue Ann. I guess I’m just not saying any of this very well, as usual.”
She shook her head emphatically as she reached for a tissue in her purse. “No, Floyd, I think you’re saying everything nicely. It’s just that I wasn’t expecting that. But I’m not mad at you and you haven’t hurt my feelings in any way.”
When she looked back up at him, she could see a smile trying to form on his face. “Does that mean that you’re not going to get mad at me if I ask you out on a date for tomorrow night?”
She wasn’t as surprised as she would have been earlier, but now she was more pleased than surprised.
“Yes, Floyd, I think I would like that very much.” His face, which had just brightened fell again when she said, “But what will you do with Penny or do you want to include both of the kids?”
He shook his head. “No, at least not this time, I’d rather it just be you and me.” There went that hand through his hair again. “I know this sounds funny, but I think you and I need some time alone just to get to know each other. Does that make any sense at all?”
“Yes, Floyd, it sounds strange, considering we’ve know each other all our lives, but I think it does make sense . . . a lot of sense.”
“That’s good then. I’ll figure something out about Penny. Mrs. Whitaker lives downstairs from me and I’ve been meaning to ask her about watching Penny after school anyway. Maybe I can get her to watch Penny when we go out tomorrow night.”
* * *
Floyd was surprised when Penny didn’t balk at going to Sue Ann’s for supper. When he’d asked her about her first day of school, she hadn’t said much. When he’d persisted, she’d just said that it was okay. He was glad that her first day had been a Friday. This way, she’d have a whole weekend to get ready for her second day.
She even seemed okay when they entered Sue Ann’s house and were greeted by Sue Ann, her mother, and Andy. She was just very quiet. He wasn’t sure that was good or bad. Maybe she might get along with Andy after all. Still, he was going to have to keep his eye on her.
He and Penny settled in the living room where Andy was watching some sort of nature show on TV. After experiencing Penny’s choice of TV shows for the past two days, he fully expected her to complain about the show but she just sat there quietly. He couldn’t tell if she was really watching the show or not though.
Wanda came through the living room, greeted them, and disappeared down the hallway. Then he looked back up to see Sue Ann standing in the kitchen doorway. When he met her eyes, she motioned with her head for him to join her in the kitchen.
Wh
en he did, she said, “How was Penny’s first day of school here? I was afraid to ask her.”
He snorted. “I don’t blame you on that for sure. I never know what might cause her to blow up. But, she didn’t really say much about school.” He grinned at her. “I guess that since she didn’t say anything bad, then it must have been somewhat okay. And I didn’t get any calls from the principal either.”
She joined him in his laughter.
Sue Ann then leaned toward him and said, “Did you get a sitter for tomorrow night?”
“Yes, Mrs. Whitaker was excited to have the company both after school and occasionally in the evening.” He frowned. “The only catch is that she goes to bed at ten every night. I’d either have to be back by then or she did say that Penny could just spend the night with her. But I don’t think either one of them is quite ready for that yet.”
She giggled and said, “No, I’d say you’re probably right. We still don’t know Penny well enough to say how she’ll react with someone new.”
Then she seemed to think of something else. “Did you take Penny with you when you talked to Mrs. Whitaker?”
He snorted again. “Yeah, I did and you wouldn’t believe how she reacted to the old lady. She was polite and even smiled a real smile at her.”
Sue Ann shook her head. “I should have known that. Remember, before Mom moved back to Crowleyville to live with us Mrs. Whitaker watched Andy. And he loved her, still does for that matter.”
After Wanda came back into the kitchen, Sue Ann called the kids in to the table. Before Floyd or Sue Ann could react, Penny plopped down in the chair next to Andy and glared at him. Thankfully, Andy didn’t say anything.
When everyone was almost finished with the meal, Sue Ann looked across the table at the two kids and said, “Floyd has asked me out for dinner tomorrow night, and if it’s okay with you two, we’d like for it to be just the two of us this time.”
Floyd was waiting for the blowup, but it didn’t come from where he thought it would.
A Better Solution (Crowley County Series Book 2) Page 6
