by Lacy, Shay
He looked at the detectives. “I would have liked your help. A soldier doesn’t like to go into battle alone.”
“Especially against overwhelming odds,” Juliana added.
Charlie couldn’t help smiling at her. “We could make a mint in Vegas betting on those odds. Remind me to call an odds maker I know from the airport.” They headed for the door.
A chair screeched. “Charlie, don’t be stupid,” Rick said.
Charlie turned and faced his brother. “This is the clearest my thinking has been in years. Tell Mom I’m sorry I couldn’t stay.”
Juliana pushed open the door, and Charlie followed her out. Her father met them in the hall. “This is crazy. I forbid you to go.”
“It’s the right thing to do,” Juliana said. “And I’m going. I’m done allowing you to protect me. We need a ride to my place.”
Her father looked from her mulish face to Charlie’s set one. His shoulders drooped. “I’ll get you released.”
Charlie felt like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Yes, they were going into a dangerous situation. But he’d have Juliana at his side like old times. Hot damn.
• • •
They had their plane reservations. Charlie would drive them to the airport so he could return his rental car. Juliana packed, and she and Charlie changed clothes. They’d altered their appearance as much as they could. Juliana’s hair was tucked into a French braid. Charlie had his hair slicked back and sported a mustache and goatee. They both knew the danger they’d be in from the time they arrived at the airport until they got past the security barriers if Montgomery had regained consciousness.
Charlie touched her cheek. “Juliana, you’d be safer here.”
“I’m going with you.”
He closed his eyes then opened them. He lifted his bag. “Ready?”
Juliana looked around her homey apartment, at the colored pots she loved. She lived and worked here. It was safe, but she was just learning it was a prison, and she’d allowed it to happen. Her world had shrunken in so many ways since she’d lost Charlie. If she’d been stronger, she could have broken free. But she hadn’t. Because he hadn’t been here.
Things would be different when she returned. She would be different. She was going to live with Charlie until this was over. They would share their lives—and their bodies—for as long as it took. She’d help him achieve his dream and build new ones of her own.
She drew in a breath and set her shoulders. “I’m ready.” She’d be with Charlie. She’d followed him into adventure and excitement through childhood and adolescence, and he’d kept her safe. Now she would follow him once more, only this time, she’d do everything she could to keep him safe.
But when they exited her apartment, they found Rick Ziffkin instead of her father. Juliana braced for trouble.
Charlie stopped on the stairs. “Rick.”
Rick straightened from where he leaned against a tan sedan. “I’m driving you to the airport. If I can’t stop you from this insanity, I’ll at least make sure you’re safe.” He held up his hand to forestall whatever Charlie was going to say. “I know someone in the DEA from a case I worked last month. I called him. A DEA agent named David Fuentes will meet your flight in California.”
Charlie’s grip on her wrist relaxed, and he continued down the stairs. “Thanks, Rick.”
“They’re not guaranteeing anything beyond hearing you out,” Rick cautioned.
“I’ll do this on my own if I have to.” Charlie glanced at Juliana. “Juliana and I will. But we’d have a better chance of success with their help.”
Rick strode forward and took a bag from each of them. “Do you have bandages to take care of that arm?”
They followed him to the car. “Yeah. Juliana bought some last night.”
“Did you get blood in the car?” Rick asked in a sharp voice. “Did you use your rental?”
“Yeah,” Charlie admitted.
“I’ll get it cleaned before I take it back to the rental agency. Maybe keep it another day. Give me the keys.”
Charlie dug in his pocket and handed over the keys. “Thanks. I didn’t think about that. It’s Enterprise. It’s the dark gray one over there.”
Rick pocketed them. “You haven’t been a P.I. long. Do you do it part time?” He opened the trunk.
Charlie handed Rick his garment bag. “I’m a full-time P.I. I don’t have any other job.”
“Until you get bored and go back to acting.” Rick loaded Juliana’s bag and slammed the trunk.
“That’s not going to happen. I told you I gave up acting.”
Rick scoffed. “When?”
“After Billy died.”
“I don’t believe it.”
Charlie shrugged. “Whatever.” He opened the back door for Juliana. She saw the pain in his eyes and looked from him to his brother.
“Talk to him,” she whispered.
“I told you they can’t accept it. I need this sting to show my family I really am different.”
She gripped his wrist. “If something happens to you, to me—”
“Nothing’s going to happen.”
“There are no guarantees in life. We both know that people die unexpectedly every day. You should make peace with your brother. Sit in the front with him.”
“It won’t do any good.”
“Please.”
He sighed. She slid into the back seat, and he closed the door. At least she’d hugged her father and told him she loved him. She knew he didn’t understand any more than Charlie’s brother did.
Charlie and Rick slid into the front seats. Rick glanced at her. She gave him an encouraging smile. He started the car and headed for the airport.
“I was wasting my life out there, Rick,” Charlie began.
Rick glanced over at him. “What do you mean? You always wanted to be an actor.”
“I barely made a living. I had to work other jobs to make ends meet. I’ve been living in apartments for twelve years.”
“You’re waiting for your big break. And I live in an apartment. Lots of people do.”
“I’m at the same place as thousands of eighteen-year-olds who’ve just arrived in Hollywood. My big break’s not coming.”
“You got discouraged, I understand. But you can’t give up your dream.”
“It’s done. When Billy died I re-examined my life. I’ll never be smart like him or cure cancer like he might have, but I can do more than sell toothpaste.”
“Charlie, do you think you’re dumb because you’re an actor and not a biochemist?”
“I didn’t even go to college.”
“You still can. They have plenty of schools out there in California.”
“You don’t understand. I like what I’m doing now. I’ve made a difference to a few of my clients. I never made a difference before.”
Rick was silent for the rest of the trip. Charlie hadn’t spoken with the despair he’d used to discuss his life choice with Juliana, but sincerity resonated in his voice. She hoped Rick heard it, too.
Rick pulled up to the terminal. “I’ll make sure you get inside, then go park the car.”
He flashed his badge, which got a nod from security. He guarded them while they checked their bags, his eyes scanning the area around them. Then he walked them to the door.
“I’ll be back as soon as I park the car.”
“Right.” Charlie tugged her into the air-conditioned building. They walked straight to the security line. Juliana kept hold of his hand while she surveyed the crowd.
“Don’t be nervous.” He kissed her temple. “You’ll attract attention.”
“They could be here waiting.”
“Then relax so you don’t stand out. Think about spending the next few days at my place. No interruptions. We don’t have to get out of bed if we don’t want to. You can live out all your fantasies on my body.”
“All of them? I have a lot.”
“Even the kinky ones. I’ll be your willing sex slave.
”
Her lower body clenched in anticipation. “We got the tape back from the cops.”
“Oh, you’re naughty.”
“Not yet, but I’m going to be.”
“I can’t wait.”
By the time it was their turn to enter the metal detectors, Rick rejoined them. He waited with them for their flight, which gave him and Charlie more time to talk. Juliana noticed Rick’s interest in her relationship with Charlie. The cop’s eyes noted every touch, caress, kiss, and intimacy. They catalogued how Charlie and Juliana held hands, Charlie’s use of her nickname, and how they looked at one another. Like many cops, including her father, Rick had learned to control his face, so she wasn’t sure how he felt about her and Charlie.
When their flight was called, Rick walked them to the gate. “Keep your eyes and ears open, both of you. This isn’t a game.”
“We know,” Charlie assured him.
Rick hugged him. “I don’t want to get a phone call saying I’ve lost another brother. I love you, Charlie.”
“I’ll be careful. I love you, too.”
“Watch your back.”
Billy Ziffkin had been stabbed in the back.
Rick let go of his brother and held his arms open for Juliana. She went into them, and he hugged her tight. “Take care of Charlie,” he whispered.
“I will.”
“I’m glad he has you.” He released her.
She took Charlie’s offered hand, and they walked down the jet way toward their chance to prove themselves to their families. Five and a half hours later they entered the baggage claim area at LAX. A Latino man held a cardboard sign that read “Ziffkin.”
“I’m Ziffkin,” Charlie said.
“Fuentes, DEA.” The man showed them his I.D., then waited while they collected their luggage. “Where can I take you?”
“To Jordan Hessler’s house preferably, but I live in Van Nuys,” Charlie replied. “Is your office closer?”
“Van Nuys it is. My partner will bring the car around. Then we can talk.” He led them toward the doors. “Nobody followed you?”
“Not that we saw. My brother, who’s with the Miami P.D., waited with us at the terminal.”
“He gave me a summary of what’s going on. Nobody knew who you were when you retrieved this relic?”
“I don’t think Montgomery’s men got either of our license plates. But if they find out who Jordan Hessler hired, they’ll know who I am.”
“Hmm, loose end.”
“Or if they bribe the car rental agents to divulge any cars rented by Californians in the past week.”
“That’s a lot of leads. And that’s assuming they know you’re from California.” Fuentes scanned outside, then led them through the sliding doors into the cool California evening that made Juliana shiver after the hot Miami afternoon.
A big dark sedan pulled up driven by a man with his brown hair in a ponytail.
“Our ride,” Fuentes said.
They stuffed the luggage in the truck and piled into the car.
The driver showed his I.D. “Kurt Steiger, DEA. Where to?”
Charlie told him and the car sped away from the curb.
Fuentes turned around to face them. “So you made an enemy in Miami. Montgomery’s going to be gunning for somebody now that he’s awake.”
CHAPTER 17
“Montgomery’s awake?” Charlie repeated. God, he’d hoped for more time. Where was a coma when you needed one? “Did his shooting make the national news?”
“No,” Fuentes replied. “Your brother called to tell me.”
Well, that was something. “But you think he’ll be gunning for me?”
“If he learns who you are. The two drug dealers he didn’t kill are probably pretty pissed, too.”
“Yeah.” Charlie hadn’t thought of that at the time.
Fuentes echoed Charlie’s thought. “What were you thinking, to steal from Dalton Montgomery like that?”
Charlie shrugged. “I was just doing my job.”
“Your brother told me your sting idea. We’d have to catch Jordan Hessler breaking the law, and I can’t see him doing that when you return the stolen relic to him.”
Charlie burned with frustration. “But he supplies drugs. That’s against the law.”
“We’ll be able to build a case against him after he gets a drug pipeline with the relic.”
“But that’ll be too late. While we’ve got the sculpture is the time to use it to catch all the crooks we can.”
“You obviously don’t understand how law enforcement works. We need evidence of wrongdoing.”
“Tell me what you need, and I can help you get it.”
Fuentes shook his head. “Turn the relic over to Hessler and get the hell out of Dodge. We’ll get a wiretap on his phone and e-mail and document the exchange of the relic for the drug pipeline. When he starts dealing, we’ll have him.”
“Just give him the keys to the kingdom,” Charlie said, unable to contain his bitterness.
“Hey, it’ll be a big bust when it finally goes down,” Steiger said. “You can be proud of making us aware of it.”
“It’s a waste of a perfect opportunity,” Charlie disagreed. “I’d be better off putting the relic in a safety deposit box for the remainder of my life. At least that would accomplish something.”
“But your way Hessler goes free. Our way he doesn’t,” Fuentes said.
“My way, a really bad guy doesn’t get what he wants.” Charlie looked at Juliana. In the passing streetlights her wide eyes showed her empathy. Damn it, he’d liked the idea she’d get to witness him play the hero. “Well, I guess I can wait to see Hessler until tomorrow then.”
“You want us to hold the relic for safekeeping?” Steiger offered. “We can lock it up with the drugs in the police evidence locker.”
Charlie felt a chill. He didn’t know these agents—they could be dirty, or the sculpture could tempt them beyond resistance. If he gave them the sculpture, they might trade it and he’d lose any opportunity he had to use it against criminals.
“I don’t have it with me,” Charlie lied. Juliana jerked against his side.
“What?” Fuentes’s head snapped around. “I thought this was all about stinging Hessler with the relic.”
Charlie felt Juliana’s stare burning into him. “I couldn’t have gotten it through airport security. God, that would have been a nightmare, sprawled facedown on the floor with a dozen guns pointed at me. I would have been locked up for months trying to assure somebody I wasn’t a terrorist.”
“Then what did you do with it?” Steiger asked.
“I shipped it. What else?”
“Pretty smart.” Fuentes’s smile gleamed in the streetlights. “It gets the relic out from under Montgomery’s nose.”
“Yeah, I thought so. So, can you wire me for sound tomorrow when I go see Hessler? You never know what he might admit. And if you’ve got a bug you can spare, I’ll plant it for you.”
Fuentes looked at Steiger before replying. “We’ll see what we can do. Give me your cell number and I’ll call you tomorrow.” He held out a business card and Charlie took it. “That’s how you can contact me.”
The DEA agents dropped Charlie and Juliana at his apartment in Van Nuys.
“Home sweet home.” Charlie tried to envision the two-story converted single-family home from Juliana’s point of view. The style was modern, its slanted rooflines, skylights, and high windows being the closest he could come to his native Miami architecture. He liked the cedar shingles and the plentiful landscaping. A few of the deciduous shrubs lent a delightful piney tang to freshen the heavy LA air.
“I thought you lived in an apartment,” Juliana said.
“I do. Mine is on the right. The owners converted the house into a twinplex about ten years ago.”
Charlie unlocked his door trying to remember if he’d left anything lying on the floor. He opened the door, turned on the light, and waved her inside.
J
uliana looked around with curious brown eyes. “It’s bigger than I thought.”
“The cathedral ceilings make the space deceptive. That’s why I chose it.” He closed and locked the door. She was here. He’d wished for this day, but never thought it would happen.
She wandered from his living room into his small kitchen and dining room. “No flower pots.”
“Sorry, no room.”
“I noticed every available space is filled with books and DVDs.”
“My former craft.”
“You’re very neat.” Juliana turned to face him. “You weren’t that way at my place.”
“I only thought of one thing at your place.”
She raised her eyebrows. “And you don’t think of it here?”
“Hell, yes, I do. My God, you’re living with me for who knows how long. But this is the first time you’ve seen my life here. I’m kind of . . . nervous.”
Juliana moved close to him and walked her fingers up his arm. His fingers curled in response. “You, nervous?”
“Yeah.” He smiled at her. “I want to make a good impression.”
“You don’t need to impress me, Charlie. ‘You had me at hello,’” she quoted.
Charlie smiled even wider. “Would you like to see the bedroom?”
“See. Do. Lead on.”
He took her hand and pulled her up the stairs to his bedroom. He had made the bed, thank God. The twelve-foot wall, topped by a row of windows, made a dramatic backdrop for the double bed and sunset-patterned comforter. He wished now for a king-sized bed. Another row of windows filled the side wall and looked out onto a sloping roof and grassy back yard.
“Women must be impressed by this room,” Juliana murmured as she took in the room’s details.
Charlie turned Juliana to face him. “No woman has ever been here. I moved here after Billy died.”
“Don’t your lovers wonder why you won’t take them home?”
“Juliana, I haven’t been interested in sex since Billy died. Not until I saw you in that hooker get-up. And then I could hardly think of anything else.”
Juliana frowned. “You haven’t made love for two years? But you’re so good at it. You don’t seem out of practice.”
“You’re mistaking desperate desire for experience.”
