Desperate Measures (An Aspen Falls Novel)

by Melissa Pearl

  Cam didn’t think she was hungry—her stomach was still tied in knots over her heated exchange with Alex—but everything looked and smelled so good.

  She waited her turn, a little impatiently, and kept glancing toward the door each time the bells attached to the handle jingled. A lot of new customers streamed in, but Nate wasn’t one of them. She sighed and glanced at her phone. She’d gotten there right at eight, despite how hard Alex had tried to prevent her from leaving. So where the hell was he?

  Finally, it was her turn to order. The young guy stationed behind the counter was someone she knew well.

  “How’s it going, Bram?”

  The dark-haired kid smiled. “Good, Detective Perez. Really good.”

  “I’ve told you a million times, call me Cam.”

  He shook his head, still grinning. “Can’t do that. I was taught to respect my elders.”

  Cam nearly rolled her eyes. “An elder? I’m like ten years older than you.”

  “Still.”

  Bram was a success story, a troubled kid who had made a series of poor decisions that had put him squarely in the crosshairs of the AFPD. He’d been caught breaking into cars and garages, stealing items that he could later resell online. Cam had honed in on the operation, worried it might be part of a larger group. When she discovered it was just Bram, and that his motivation had simply been to put food on the table for him and his disabled mom, she’d quickly turned her attention to helping him find services as opposed to throwing the book at him. His story had hit a little too close to home for her.

  She’d contacted Melina Pryor, one of the social workers in Aspen Falls, and together, they’d worked with the district attorney’s office to arrange a plea deal that involved a whole lot of community service and counseling as opposed to serving time in a juvenile facility.

  Melina had approached Louanne, the owner of Lulu’s, to see about finding Bram a job so he could bring in some much-needed cash. True to Louanne’s nature, she’d obliged immediately. Bram had been working at the coffee shop for a few months, and it seemed as though things were going well. Cam was thrilled; he needed some good news in his life. And she liked that he was a visible reminder of a success story, a kid whose path was altered by compassion and the belief that he could do good things—the right thing—if he was just given the chance.

  She ordered her coffee, a white mocha concoction, and he called it out to the barista, a girl Cam hadn’t seen before.

  She stepped to the side, glancing once again toward the door when the bell clanged. This time, Nate walked through. He headed toward her just as the barista called out her name.

  “You ordering anything?” she asked him.

  He shook his head.

  “Let’s sit,” she suggested. She wanted something sturdy underneath her as she unloaded what she had to tell him.

  Cam looked around the cozy shop for a free table. There was a two-top tucked near the back, next to the window. She headed toward it, almost tripping on Jarrett Pryor’s workbag.

  “Sorry,” he said with a grin.

  The table he was sitting at was covered in papers, leaving barely enough room for his laptop and cup of coffee. As a reporter with the local newspaper, it was obvious he was working on a story, and Cam wondered if it was tied to the pollution case from just a month earlier.

  “You here alone?” Nate asked Jarrett.

  Cam knew what his real question was: Is Jess coming?

  Jessica Claret was a former AFPD officer, one of the finest they’d had. She’d quit the force just a couple of weeks earlier.

  “Yep” was all Jarrett replied.

  Nate’s mouth twitched, and Cam could tell he wanted to rib him a little. Nate and Jarrett had an unlikely friendship, and it had entered into new, slightly uneasy territory with Jess leaving the department. Cam had no doubt they’d work their way through it, but for now, she didn’t want to get caught up in any of it.

  She had more pressing things to deal with.

  “Let’s grab the table before someone else does,” she said, nudging Nate.

  As soon as they were seated, Nate didn’t waste any time. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  Cam sipped her coffee, more to collect her thoughts than because she was thirsty.

  He drummed his fingers on the table. “I don’t have all day.”

  “Will you just chill a second?” she snapped.

  “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.” His eyes narrowed. “You’re stalling. Trying to think of exactly how you’re going to say whatever it is you need to say.”

  She sometimes forgot that he was just as good of a detective as she was.

  “Fine.” She sighed. She knew she needed to be careful to not reveal too much. She trusted Nate, but Alex’s words over the last few days were on constant repeat in her mind. The last thing she wanted to do was put anyone in danger.

  “First things first,” she said. “This is strictly off the record.”

  His response was automatic. “Done.”

  She sipped her coffee again, trying to figure out just how to start. “So let’s talk in hypotheticals,” she said. She liked that approach. It gave her the opportunity to discuss some of the details, but she wouldn’t be breaking her word to Alex.

  Nate frowned. “I don’t like hypotheticals.”

  She glared at him. “Well, that’s what I have to offer right now.”

  He was silent for a moment, his expression doing a great job of communicating his displeasure. “Fine,” he finally said.

  Cam gripped the cup between both hands, steeling herself to begin. “So let’s say someone you know is on the run.”

  Nate waited.

  “And that someone happens to be law enforcement,” she continued, her voice low.

  Something flashed in his eyes but he stayed quiet.

  “Multiple groups may be after this person,” she said. “People who very well could want this person dead. For various reasons.”

  Nate’s jaw tightened.

  “You think this person is telling the truth, but there’s no way to interview potential witnesses without raising suspicion. Because, at this point, there really is no indication that you know or have any connection to this person.” She drew in a breath. “What do you think the best route would be to get more information?”

  Nate stared at her, his eyes hard. “You know Alex Castillo? What the hell are you involved in, Cam? Better question: what is he involved in?”

  She swallowed. “I said we were dealing in hypotheticals.”

  “Oh, cut the bullshit,” he said.

  She glanced around, worried that someone had noticed his elevated voice. But the people at nearby tables were busy drinking their coffees and chatting, paying the two of them no mind. Jarrett, the one she was most concerned about eavesdropping, had his head bent toward his laptop, tapping furiously at his keyboard.

  “That’s all I can tell you.”

  Nate drummed his fingers on the table, and Cam could tell he was clearly frustrated. Part of her felt bad. She wasn’t used to keeping things from Nate. They worked in tandem, usually on different cases, but they collaborated often, and they were always willing to help each other out whenever asked.

  Nate was willing now.

  He just wanted information.

  And she wasn’t giving it to him.

  Just when she thought he wasn’t going to offer anything, he spoke. “Is there anyone you can approach that wouldn’t arouse suspicion?” he asked. “Anyone at all?”

  Cam almost laughed with relief. He was on board. Well, as much as he could be.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted.

  “Who are the principals involved?” Nate asked. “Besides the department. And remind me why contacting them is off-limits.”

  “There’s some question as to who we can trust,” she said carefully.

  “Okay. Who else are we looking at?”

  “Two gangs.”

  He blinked. “Two?�
��

  She nodded. “This individual was undercover with one. A rival moved in on the territory. Was on the scene.”

  “Of the double homicide?” Nate asked. She stilled and he said, “It was in the BOLO, remember?”

  Cam was careful here. She didn’t want to volunteer too much information, especially when she wasn’t sure exactly what Nate knew. Maybe he’d done more digging. Maybe he’d heard other information that hadn’t been made available in that notice.

  So she just nodded.

  Nate ran a hand over his jaw, thinking. “You think someone in the unit was compromised?”

  She hesitated, then nodded again.

  “Someone at the top?” He expelled a breath when she gave him confirmation. “Well, shit.”

  “There is one person who might be able to help,” Cam said slowly.

  Nate raised his eyebrows. “Who?”

  “A kid who was on the scene. Has gang ties, but isn’t fully immersed. Yet.”

  “And you think he’d be willing to help? Why?”

  Because he already did.

  But she didn’t voice this out loud. She shrugged instead.

  “Cam.” Nate’s voice was laced with warning. “Be straight with me here. I want to help.”

  “It’s all hypothetical, remember?”

  “Right.” Nate rolled his eyes. “Fine. So, hypothetically, what’s keeping you from contacting this kid?”

  “I don’t know if I can trust him. And I’m not sure I can find him,” she admitted. “I don’t have a lot of info to go on. His street name is pretty much all I have.”

  Nate thought for a minute. “So you can’t exactly show up asking around for him without raising suspicion.”

  She nodded.

  “Any physical description at all?”

  “Just that he’s young. Thirteen, I think. And he wears a certain hat all the time.”

  “That’s not a lot to go on.”

  “I know.”

  “But if that’s all you’ve got, then that’s all you’ve got,” he said. “Tell me, what do you see are the consequences if you don’t follow up on this? If you don’t go poking around?”

  Her answer was immediate. “People die.”

  Not just people. Alex. Alex will die.

  He arched a brow. “But people might die if you do get involved, though, right?”

  She sagged in her chair. This was exactly the problem. Damned if she did, damned if she didn’t.

  “So you have a tough choice. Hypothetically,” he added.

  He was stating the obvious.

  “What would you do?” she asked. “If it was you?”

  Nate answered immediately. “I’d go.”

  “Just like that?”

  “For me, there’d be no choice. Especially if it was someone I cared about.” His eyes drilled into her. “I’m assuming you care about this person?”

  Cam’s throat constricted so tight it was suddenly difficult to speak.

  “Yes. I care about him very much.”

  24

  Monday, September 10th

  9:00 am

  Alex stepped out of the shower. He’d hoped jumping under the water would cool him down, but it had done nothing to tamp down his frustration.

  Or his desire.

  Cam threatening him with handcuffs had planted all sorts of ideas in his head. Inappropriate ideas. Ideas that definitely were not welcome.

  Especially not now.

  Because she’d left in a huff, uneasy about their exchange.

  And it had taken every ounce of self-control he had to not race after her, to not kiss her and caress her and find some way to drag her to bed.

  He rubbed the towel across his wet hair, then shifted it to his torso. He dried himself more carefully, avoiding his chest as much as possible, then slipped into his clothes.

  Steam swirled out of the bathroom as he opened the door. Sun streaked the hallway, a massive beam of light, and Alex glanced down the hall, toward the front door.

  It was open, hanging drunkenly from its hinges. Sunshine streamed through like a spotlight.

  He frowned. “Cam?”

  Was she already back? Why the hell had she left the door open?

  Something exploded against the side of his head. Alex stumbled to the side.

  “Yo, Alec.”

  Alex cradled the side of his head. His eyesight blurred from the blow as he tried to focus on his assailant.

  Not one, but two guys stood in the hallway. He did a mental catalog of details as best he could. Male, Hispanic, early twenties. No visible piercings or tattoos. Facial hair—a goatee—on the taller guy. Probably 5’10. Shorter guy was heavier, too, with a cut across his flat nose.

  The taller guy lifted a baseball bat, his expression menacing. “Heard there’s a bounty on your head, my friend.”

  “Who are you?” Alex rasped.

  The guy smiled. “Someone you don’t wanna fuck around with.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  He sneered. “Yeah, right.”

  “You have the wrong guy.” Alex knew he needed to sell it. Sell it big-time.

  “Oh, yeah?” The guy took a step closer. His hand closed tighter over the handle. “So you’re not Alec, huh? Not part of La Gente, no?”

  “The people?” Alex translated. “What’s that?”

  The shorter guy snickered. “He’s good, man.”

  Alex saw it then, the “55” tattoo on the guy’s neck. Shit. Groupo 55 were fucking everywhere.

  “We tracked you here, man,” the taller guy said. “Saw your pretty girlfriend, too. You might wanna know she’s cheating on you. Showed up at some other dude’s house yesterday.”

  The Chevy Caprice. These guys were in the car that had followed Cam.

  She hadn’t been wrong.

  “Don’t worry,” the guy said. “We’ll take care of her later, if you know what I mean.” He smirked. “After we take care of you, man.”

  Alex’s stomach clenched.

  “We should get him out of here,” the smaller guy said. He glanced at the door. “Before she comes back. Take care of him and then come back for her later. I’d like a go at that hot thing.”

  Alex swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

  Cam.

  “Take me,” he ordered. “Take me now.” With any luck, Cam would return soon and realize something was wrong. And hopefully she wouldn’t stick around for if and when these assholes came back.

  The guy in charge cocked his head. “Oh, so now you’re cool coming with us? Ready to own up, man?”

  “I don’t know who you are or what you’re talking about,” Alex growled. “But you leave her the fuck out of it.”

  A fist shot out, slamming into his stomach.

  Alex doubled over.

  “You think you’re in charge here, man?” The guy cuffed Alex’s ear. “I’m the one who decides what the fuck we do. You hear?”

  Alex nodded. The blow to his midsection had missed his ribs, but it had still managed to steal his breath.

  “Hey, Marco,” the shorter guy said.

  Alex snuck a peek at him. He was moving toward the door.

  “What?” Marco barked.

  The shorter guy pointed. “There’s someone outside.”

  Alex froze.

  Shit.

  He knew who it was.

  Despite the pain roaring through his head and pulsing in his abdomen, he leapt into action. He vaulted toward Marco, tackling him to the ground. The bat he was holding clattered to the floor.

  “What the—?” Marco struggled to get out from under Alex, raining blow after blow on his back and sides, trying to connect with Alex’s kidneys.

  Alex smashed his fist into Marco’s chin, and the back of the man’s head hit the floor.

  “Get off him.”

  Alex turned.

  The shorter guy was holding the bat.

  “Get off him,” he snarled.

  A shadow cros
sed in front of the light streaming in through the door. Someone was coming into the house.

  “Nate?” Better to call out his name than Cam’s. He didn’t want to do anything to further jeopardize her.

  To the guys who had just attacked him, he said, “You really want to fuck with a cop? ’Cuz that’s who just walked through the door.”

  The younger guy’s eyes widened. Alex almost sagged with relief. He was buying the bluff. Thank God.

  With the baseball bat still in one hand, the guy helped Marco to his feet.

  Marco’s eyes cut into Alex. “Don’t think this is over, man. We’ll be back. And next time you won’t be so lucky. Or your little girlfriend.”

  He and his buddy hurried to the kitchen. Alex heard the back door open, then close. Seconds later, a car engine roared to life and tires peeled out.

  He pushed himself up off the floor. “Cam?” he called, once the coast was clear. “Is that you?”

  A woman’s voice answered.

  A voice he didn’t recognize.

  “Hands up, asshole.”

  25

  Monday, September 10th

  9:30 am

  “What are you doing?”

  Jessica Claret looked toward the front door where Cam was standing.

  “What do you mean, what am I doing?” Jess had a gun pointed at Alex, who was sitting on the couch.

  “Put the gun down,” Cam commanded.

  “But—” Jess’s voice was filled with confusion.

  “I know him,” Cam said. “He’s not the enemy.”

  Cam’s gaze darted across the room. Her heart was still threatening to crawl into her throat. Ever since she’d gotten the call from Jess, she’d been an absolute wreck.

  “Are you okay?” she asked Alex.

  He shrugged. “As good as I can be with some chick holding me at gunpoint.” He was trying to sound nonchalant, but Cam could tell he was more than a little rattled.

  Jess and Cam exchanged glances.

  He pointed at Jess. “Who is she? And why does she have a gun?” The nonchalance dissipated. “What the hell is going on?”

  Cam folded her arms. “Because I asked her to,” she said flatly. Now that she knew Alex was safe, her pulse was beginning to slow down a little.