Nowhere To Run (To Protect And Serve)

by Mary Eason

  “Did you know Jeremy was arrested six months ago for possession?”

  ***

  “I beg your pardon…” The disbelief in her voice could’ve been faked, but the body language wasn’t. Jordan had no idea what he was talking about. At least not consciously.

  Riley put his hands on her shoulders and started to work on the tension she didn’t realize was there. “You didn’t know, did you?” he answered for her.

  “No -– that can’t be.” she denied vehemently. “I was never notified about--”

  “You wouldn’t have been. By New York law, Jeremy was considered an adult.”

  After a moment he added, “Jordan, with all due respect, I think there’s an awful lot about your brother’s life that you didn’t know.”

  She chose to ignore that. “What happened to the charges? If Jeremy was arrested six months ago, wouldn’t he have gone to trial by now?”

  After a moment, he answered, “Normally. In most cases, there would have been a trial. But in Jeremy’s case, the charges were dropped. All very hush-hush I might add.”

  Clear green eyes analyzed his expression carefully. “Why were the charges dropped?” She managed at last. “Did something go wrong with the case?”

  “You could say that.” Riley hesitated, debating how much to tell her. “Jeremy’s case was dismissed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Apparently, someone thought Jeremy would be more useful to them as an informant.”

  She stared at him in disbelief. “What? You’re saying Jeremy was working for the U.S. Attorney’s Office? Why? What possible benefit could my kid brother be to…”

  “You think Caesar found out about the arrest?” She forced out.

  Riley’s gaze riveted to hers. “I believe that’s exactly why he was killed.”

  “And there’s only one reason they’d come after Jeremy. Because of his connection to Caesar,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken.

  “I think so.” Riley answered noncommittally. “But I’d like to go over some things with you first. I’m hoping maybe you could tell me about Jeremy’s routine as of late. Anything out of the norm take place in his life recently?”

  “No. No, not as far as I know.”

  “You and your brother weren’t close?” After the way she’d reacted at the hospital and her actions now, this surprised him. Riley wondered how much of the sketchy facts he’d learned over the past few hours to reveal to her. “I thought—“

  “Of course we were close …at least we were at one time, but over the past few months, well, Jeremy changed.” Her focus shifted to something just beyond his left shoulder.

  “How did he change, Jordan?”

  She seemed unaware of him. Jordan was a million miles away. “It wasn’t anything big, just small changes in his behavior. I remember he had trouble sleeping. He was prone to unprovoked fits of anger. And he’d grown…distant. Even when he was with me, he seemed distracted.”

  “Do you have any idea what was going on in his life? Any new friends. Girlfriend troubles.”

  “No, that’s just it. He never talked about anyone. Not even a girlfriend. As far as I know, there was just me and Caesar. And Jeremy practically worshiped him.”

  “Any reason why your brother would be in the South Bronx?”

  Her gaze returned to his. “I don’t know. But you do, don’t you? Was it…”

  “The autopsy showed traces of both heroin and cocaine in his system along with several other recreational drugs. Did you know your brother was using?”

  She jumped to her feet and rounded on him. “Of course not! How can you ask me that? I’m a doctor, for God’s sake. Don’t you think I would have helped him had I known he had a problem?”

  Riley stood as well. “But you suspected. You had to. You’ve just described the classic warning signs of substance abuse. You of all people would have been trained to spot those signs. You’ve probably seem them a thousand times working with kids. ”

  He saw the truth. She did know. “Jordan, I have to ask you, how well do you understand your fiancé’s family business?”

  “You mean am I aware that his family allegedly runs the largest drug cartel in Columbia?”

  “So you do know. And there is no allegedly. Does your fiancé ever talk to his family?”

  “You think Caesar is involved in the family business?”

  “I not only think – I know. He’s dirty. He killed your brother because he was going to tell the Feds everything.” Riley stepped closer. He needed her to realize the danger she was in by knowing this. “Don’t trust him for a minute, Jordan. Let me help you. I can get you to a safe place.”

  She backed away, shaking her head in denial. “No. I-I can’t leave.”

  His gaze narrowed as he carefully studied her expression. And then it hit him. She was planning on taking Santiago down alone.

  “Jordan, whatever you’re thinking about doing – don’t. Leave this to me. If he killed your brother, do you actually believe he’ll think twice about doing the same to you? You’re a liability to him now, Jordan. If he doesn’t take care of you, his family will.”

  She glanced at her watch then started for the door. He’d lost her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about—“

  Riley followed in her wake. He needed to find a way to make her understand the danger she was in.

  Reaching past her, he closed the door she’d just opened then turned her to face him. He gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You do. Vengeance never satisfies, Jordan. Don’t let him turn you into something you’re not.”

  She closed her eyes. For a moment, she seemed to lean into his touch. The same need he’d felt in her from the day before was there. He felt it as well. He moved closer, his forehead against hers, his lips brushing her. Before the kiss deepened, before he lost control again, she shook herself free, her breathing unsteady, matching his. “Please, you have to go. Please leave.”

  Riley had no choice but to do as she asked. “Alright. I can’t force you to come with me although it’d almost be worth the cost.” Her eyes flew open. Deep green pools stared up at him, mesmerizing him.

  “You have my card. You can reach me anytime. Think about what I said. Call me when you’re ready to get the hell outta here.”

  He stepped out onto into the warmth of the evening.

  “Shit. That went well.” The pressure to solve Jeremy’s murder had just ratcheted up to another level. He needed to find a break in this case and soon. Before he ended up with another homicide on his hands. One he couldn’t bear to contemplate.

  It was after ten in the evening and he’d been dodging his commanding officer’s calls all day. There would be hell to pay with the Lieu when he showed up for his shift.

  He drove the ten blocks to the precinct with the windows rolled down. The crisp fall evening helped to clear his head.

  “You get your schedule screwed up again, Donovan.” Sergeant Pierce, the uniform in charge of the patrol’s night shift glanced up from reading his paper with a bored expression on his face.

  “Just catching up on some paperwork.” Riley didn’t stick around for more questions. He climbed the two flights of stairs to the homicide unit.

  The place looked deserted. Only a few detectives were on duty. Riley slipped into his chair and fired up the computer.

  Forty-five minutes later, he had a clearer picture of the Santiago family.

  From all accounts, Caesar Santiago had cut off all ties with his relatives save a few random phone calls to his mother and youngest brother. But Riley’s cop’s instinct told him there was more to the story.

  The only recent piece of information of note was a small paragraph in the Times about a botched assassination attempt on members of the Santiago Cartel.

  While the details were sketchy, the report stated that a homemade bomb had been placed beneath the family limo while the Santiagos were attending Mass. The attempt had been thwarted and a high- ranking member of the Cartel was brought in for q
uestioning.

  Riley could only imagine what that interrogation process had involved.

  “Deb, it’s me again.” Riley glanced at his watch and cringed. By now it was pushing midnight. “Don’t hang up on me. I need to talk as soon as possible.”

  “Dammit… where?” She sounded as if she’d been asleep.

  “How about your place in half an hour?” Her silence was lengthy. “This is important. I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t.”

  “Fine,” she huffed in annoyance. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “This had better be good.” Deb met him at the door with coffee in hand.

  “I think it is.” He took the coffee she offered and followed her back to the kitchen. “I think this whole thing is about Caesar Santiago, not Jeremy Scott.”

  She finished pouring coffee before answering. Her silence revealing more than she realized. He was on the right track. Deb knew something. “Why would you think that?” She evaded the question while facing him at last.

  “Cut the crap. Think about it. What would be the biggest act of betrayal someone close to you could perpetrate?

  “You’re talking about the Scott kid, I’m assuming?”

  “Partially. Bear with me for a second.” She turned her back on him and poured herself coffee. But he knew he had her full attention.

  “Go ahead, I’m listening.”

  “We’ve been assuming Santiago figured out the Scott kid was working with the Feds and that’s the reason he killed him, right?”

  She glanced back over her shoulder. “Yeah. Right. So?”

  “But what if Jeremy Scott was playing both ends of the field?”

  She turned back to him in shock. “What do you mean?”

  “What if Jeremy was working for the Santiago Cartel. Feeding them information about Santiago’s movements in the U.S.”

  “There’s no proof of that.” She sat down at the kitchen table and he joined her.

  “Maybe there is. Indirectly anyway.” He pulled out the article about the botched assassination attempt and tossed it over to her. “A few weeks ago, someone tried to kill the old man – probably the brother as well.”

  Deb scanned the article then looked up. “You think Caesar Santiago did this?”

  Riley nodded. “I think there’s a very good chance that he orchestrated it. But someone figured it out beforehand. Someone tipped the family off to the plan.”

  “Jeremy Scott.” She figured out where he was going with it. “Oh, come on. The kid was a screw up. You think he was capable of playing both ends without getting caught?”

  “Well, that’s just it. He did.”

  Deb looked suddenly uncomfortable. “What is it?” He gazed narrowed as he studied her expression. “I’m right, aren’t I? You know something. I can see it.?”

  She let go of a long breath.

  “Dammit Deb, what do you know?”

  She studied him across the table “You have to promise me, you’ll drop this. You’re in over your head already. “

  “What are you talking about?”

  She stirred her coffee thoughtfully. “Riley, I don’t know. This case is locked up tight. Only the detectives working it are privy to the details. All I can tell you for sure is the second the U.S. Attorney got word of it, you guys were out.”

  “Some asshole threatened the sister today. I’m betting someone’s pissed about Santiago’s recent actions.”

  Deb opened her mouth to say something then thought better of it.

  “What is it? Come on. I need your help.”

  She got to her feet and paced the room agitated. “Well, you’re not going to get it, Riley. I’m not losing my job for you.”

  He stood and went to her. “What are you talking about?”

  “This thing is big. Let the Feds sort it out. I’ll report the sister’s threat to my superior officer and they can bring her in.”

  “Thomas? You can’t be serious. She’ll never talk to them.”

  “It’s her only chance. They can get her to a safe place. And you and I can get out of this thing with our jobs still intact.”

  “Deb, what aren’t you telling me?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Why are you so involved with this case, anyway? You barely had it for a few hours, it’s not as if you did a lot of leg work on it? You got a personal investment in it? Something going on with you and the sister, Riley?” Deb’s keen gaze narrowed at his expression. She’d guessed some of the truth.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Deb.”

  “Riley, it’s not worth it, she’s not worth it—“

  He struggled to control his anger. “Leave her out of it, Deb. You don’t know anything about her.”

  Deb didn’t answer. She went over to a small desk in the corner of the kitchen and removed a file.

  She shoved it in Riley’s hands. “Here. Take it. But I’m telling you, I’m giving you twenty-four hours to come up with something and then I’m going to Thomas.”

  Riley opened the file and flipped through it. “These are all Thomas’ cases?” She’d pulled the senior officer’s most recent cases.

  Deb nodded. “Yes. I thought there might be something in them to connect the dots. I haven’t had a chance to look over them, but Ramirez has been working most of these with Thomas.” Riley raised a brow at this piece of information. Deb and Agent Ramirez. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. “Don’t look at me like that. You don’t have the right. James is a nice guy and I like him, but more importantly, I trust him. He’s not like Thomas. Out only for himself and his career. He really cares about what he’s doing.”

  “I see,” Riley said at last. He was happy for Deb – really he was. But a part of him would always wonder why he couldn’t offer her more than friendship.

  “That’s great, Deb. I mean it.” Riley smiled at her doubt.

  “Really? Because, well, things have been kind of strange between us lately.”

  “Yeah. I know. I’m a jerk. I realize that. I want you to be happy. Is it serious?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know. I want it to be. But we’re taking it slow. And if the Bureau ever found out—“

  Riley held up a hand. “They won’t from me. Stop worrying. I’ll take this with me, if I may?” He indicated the file.

  She nodded. “Yes. But I meant what I said. Twenty-four hours. That’s it. Then I’m pulling the plug on this thing. No matter how far you’ve gotten with the case. Or what you think feel for Jordan Scott. ”

  ***

  “How was your day?” Caesar arrived at the apartment soon after Riley’s departure. It took all of her strength to appear as normal as possible. She couldn’t let on about Riley’s visit. Or her reaction to him.

  He glanced suspiciously around the place as if looking for someone. Jordan held her breath. After a moment, he seemed satisfied she was alone. He came to where she stood next to the window and brushed a wisp of hair from her face. “You sounded upset earlier. I was worried.”

  “I’m fine.” She didn’t meet his gaze. She couldn’t look at him.

  “Now why does it feel as if you’re being dishonest with me, I wonder?” His long fingers stroked her cheek then clasped her shoulders. He pulled her close and kissed her expecting her to fall into his arms.

  She wrenched herself free. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re just being paranoid,” she challenged.

  Anger flared in his dark eyes like a struck match. “Enough.” He gripped her arms, painfully forcing her against his lean frame. His cruel lips claimed hers once more. “I’ve had enough of your childish behavior. Once the funeral is over, you will marry me.”

  She tried to push him away but he wouldn’t let her. After a moment, she stopped struggling. “And if I refuse?”

  “You won’t,” he told her confidently. “I won’t let you.”

  She stared at him in wide-eyed disbelief. She’d never seen such cruelty in him before. “You’ve been through enough for one night,” he added calmly as if he’d flipped a switch and the
old Caesar returned. “I’ll stop by the funeral home tomorrow and drop off Jeremy’s things. Right now, let me take you home.” His gaze drifted around the disarray of the living room. “What happened here?”

  Jordan struggled to keep her voice calm. She had to tell him something to explain the chaos.

  “I was looking for Jeremy’s school records. I thought I should notify the university. I-I found out that Jeremy dropped out of school.”

  Caesar’s stony expression softened a fraction. “I should have known something was wrong,” he told her with a sigh. “I caught Jeremy in my apartment on several different occasions. It was the middle of the day. I asked him why he wasn’t in class. He gave me some excuse, which I readily bought. I never considered the possibility he might be lying. I guess I didn’t want to believe he would do that to me. He was like a brother, you know. I’m sorry. I let you down.”

  She could almost believe his sincerity. Had the monster she witnessed moments earlier been part of her imagination? “This isn’t your fault. I was responsible for Jeremy and I didn’t have a clue what was going on in my brother’s life. I let him down.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Come, let’s get out of here. I’ll have someone put the place in order tomorrow.”

  Normally, she would have objected. She’d gotten used to looking after herself. For the most part, Caesar accepted this. But tonight she was just too tired to argue anymore.

  The drive back to Caesar’s town home was made in silence. For the moment, she decided to let Caesar think she was cooperating. She leaned against the headrest and closed her eyes.

  “Do you need anything, my love?” He sat on the edge of her bed waiting for her to finish her shower.

  “No, I’m fine. I just want to sleep.” She stood in the doorway. Not to close. Being in the same room with the man she suspected of murdering her brother in cold blood brought home her own vulnerability.

  You’re a liability to him now, Jordan. If he doesn’t take care of you, his family will.

  “Of course. Don’t worry about a thing. Try to get some sleep. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.” He kissed her possessively then let her go.

  Jordan slipped beneath the covers and prayed for sleep. Her thoughts raced. It was hard to think clearly. Nothing made sense anymore. Not her brother’s death or the fact that someone might want to do her harm as well.