Ryker (Hope City Book 5)

by Kris Michaels

  “Isn’t that overkill?” She glanced at the back door of the building.

  He sighed. “Think about it this way. What if this had happened to Roger or one of the others who park here? What if whoever did that was still there when one of your employees went home? Having a camera back here pointed at the cars would provide additional security for them and for you.”

  Brie gave him a small nudge with her elbow. “Stop making sense, will you?”

  “Not when it comes to your safety. Sorry.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll forgive you. Do you have time for a cup of coffee?”

  He looked over her shoulder at his watch. “No, I have a meeting with a federal prosecutor this morning. I’ll walk you to the door and wait until you get inside, but then I’ve got to go.”

  They meandered to the steps. He kissed her on the bottom step and again on the top. “I’ll call you and let you know when Alston will come to pick the old girl up.”

  “Thank you.” She pushed up on her toes and he bent down to kiss her again. “I love you.” Her soft words sent a million joules of electricity through him.

  Feeling like he could take on the entire city and win, he smiled down at her. “I love you, too. Be safe.” He spun her and patted her on her perfectly pert ass.

  She gave an indignant huff and slid the key into the top lock, then the middle, and finally, the third. She smiled and blew him a kiss as she walked in the door and shut it behind her. He heard the key lock being thrown and then the chirping as she deactivated the interior alarm system. He jogged down the stairs and headed to his sedan. Today was starting off one hell of a lot better than yesterday.

  Maybe.

  He stared at Mouse. The woman was twitching. She’d showered thirty minutes ago, not that you could tell. She was a wash of sweat and looked like death warmed over. “Detoxing hard. When do the feds show up?”

  Terrence glanced at his watch. “Any time now. They pushed it back because a meeting they were in was running long.” He leaned back against the table in the observation room. “Mouse can keep it together. She’s fighting for her life right now. She knows it.”

  “We can try to get a doc here and give her a dose of Methadone.”

  Terrence shook his head. “If the feds come in and she can’t form a coherent sentence, she won’t get her deal.”

  “I talked to her about treatment. I’ve lined up a rehab facility in New York. Pulled in a fuckton of favors to get her into a bed tomorrow. She’ll keep it together.” He hoped.

  Brody opened the interrogation room door. “Captain, Detective McBride is here. He has some information on Artog, Inc.”

  He nodded toward Mouse. “Monitor her?”

  Terrence clapped him on the back. “Sure, I’ll take my paperwork in there and do it. We’ll get her through this. She’s the key to Peña.”

  He followed Brody. “Your office?” Brody motioned to Detective McBride when he grunted and headed toward his desk.

  The men came in and Brody shut the door behind him. “Have a seat.” He waited until the detectives sat down before he leaned his forearms on his desk and pegged McBride with a stare. “We are working a possible conduit of cocaine into the city. According to my detectives, one entity that keeps bubbling to the top is a shipping company called Artog Shipping. When I briefed my major on it this morning, he indicated you might be able to provide some background. What can you tell me about the company?”

  McBride groaned. “The gift that never stops giving. Congressman Dell is the majority shareholder of Artog Shipping.”

  He blinked as that tidbit of information registered. “As in the congressman who has been charged with interstate prescription drug theft and campaign fraud?”

  Kyle McBride nodded. “The feds worked that portion of the case. I’m out of that end of it. But what we saw when we were working our investigation was that, occasionally, when a shipment with highly marketable prescription drugs went out to a major city, it would end up being stolen. The entire shipment, poof. Gone. Of course, it was usually a one-off, so it didn’t ring on the city or county’s radar. Artog Shipping has so many subsidiaries that, following the trail back to the primary company, owned by Congressman Dell, was difficult. Then the people getting rich got greedy and stole from their own backyard. We got lucky and found a trail of crumbs, crumbs the other cities wouldn’t have been able to identify.”

  He leaned back and stared at the detective. “I wouldn’t call it lucky. From what I heard it was damn good police work.”

  McBride looked uncomfortable with the compliment but muttered, “Thank you.”

  “So, we need to get with the FBI. If they are already looking into Artog, this will just be another feather in their cap.” Brody rolled his shoulders as he spoke.

  He hit his mouse and woke up his computer screen, glancing at the cases that were active and the detectives assigned. “I’ll make the call to the feds, but until they pull us off this, make sure Cantrell and Lewis follow through with their informants and see what you can dig up from other sergeants working narcotics in the other precincts. If Artog is associated with prescription drugs and cocaine shipments, it may run deeper. I don’t want us to sit on this if the feds are just going to drop it back in our lap, and if they take it, we might have a bit of information to make their lives easier.” He glanced up at a tap at his door.

  “Cap, sorry for the interruption, but Alston Towing called while you were in the interview room. Said they were leaving to pick up your SUV?” Amber cocked her head. “Thought you drove a sedan?”

  “Not my vehicle, it belongs to a friend of mine. Thanks.”

  “No problem.” She waved at Kyle and winked at Brody before she shut the door.

  “Thank you, Detective McBride. I appreciate you stopping by.”

  Kyle stood, as did Brody. “No worries, sir. I was in the area and decided Brody and Amber need to take me to lunch.”

  Brody chuffed and pointed at him. “My captain just gave me more work. You’ll have to find someone else to buy your food, mooch.”

  Ryker cleared his throat. “Actually, those calls can wait for an hour or so.”

  Kyle laughed at Brody’s crestfallen expression. “Captain Ryker, you just moved up to being my favorite officer on the entire force. Come on, tightwad, I want lunch at Horizon.”

  “Call ahead for a table, today is clam chowder day.” He snapped his mouth shut, realizing what he’d just said. He glanced down at his desk blotter as if the scribbling there held the secrets to the universe.

  “How do you know that?”

  Brody’s brow was scrunched together when Ryker glanced up. “It’s the best damn chowder in town. What? Is it illegal to like chowder?”

  “Ah, no, it’s just that my sister owns that place and it’s kinda out of the way from this part of town.” Brody shrugged. “Strange that someone else would know about it.”

  “You’re not the only one who owns a vehicle or likes to eat, King. Get out of my office and shut the door on your way out.”

  “Yes, sir.” Brody was out of the seat and at the door in a heartbeat.

  “See, now you did it. You pissed off your boss,” Kyle fake-whispered as he punched Brody in the shoulder on the way out the door. When it closed behind them, Ryker drew a deep breath. It was getting harder and harder to keep his and Brie’s relationship under wraps. Perhaps it was a good thing that her mother was pressing for an introduction. Dealing with Brody and his brothers would be awkward, but they were all adults. Well, mostly. He watched as Kyle ducked from a headlock Brody put on him and smiled as Amber shook her head and followed them out of the building.

  He retrieved his cell and called Brie.

  “Hey, good-looking,” her voice purred across the line.

  “Hey yourself. The tow truck is on its way to come get your vehicle. If they don’t finish it today, I’ll pick you up tonight. I don’t want you to Uber.”

  “I’ll take you up on that.”
/>   He chuckled. “What, no argument? Who are you and what have you done with the independent woman that I fell in love with?”

  “She’s still here. Things are just a little hectic again today. You gave the company my number so I can pay for the tow and new tires, right?”

  “I haven’t, but if you want me to, I will.”

  “Please do, I have the money to take care of it.” She covered the phone with her hand and spoke to someone. “Sorry.”

  “I know you’re busy. I just wanted to give you a heads up that Brody, Amber, and Kyle McBride are on their way. You’ll have to dust off the owner’s table.”

  “Are they? Wonderful! I haven’t seen them in a couple weeks. I wish you could have come with them.”

  “Well, maybe after we do the introduction thing.”

  “You’re not freaking out about that, are you?”

  He chuckled softly. “Not at all. I love you and you come with a big family.”

  “So do you.”

  “But my family isn’t close like yours.”

  “Well, if you meet my family, I need to meet yours.”

  “We can do that.” He hated to think of it, and he'd put it off as long as he could, but he could arrange it. “I’ll text you when the garage says the truck is ready.”

  “Thank you for taking care of that for me.”

  “Thank you for letting me help.” He glanced up as Patel knocked on his door. He held up a finger. “I’ve got to go, babe. Love you.”

  “I love you, too. Bye.”

  “Enter.”

  Patel winced, “Cap, Fenton is in the parking lot and heading this way.”

  “Wonderful.” He stood and rolled his shoulders. “Tell Lieutenant Theron to hold tight in the interview room with Mouse until the colonel leaves, please.” The unexpected drop-ins by his supervisor’s supervisor were getting old. But he’d grin and bear them until the team no longer reported to the asshole. Not that he had much of a choice.

  Chapter 6

  “Hey, Boss, call for you on line three,” Lola yelled from the front of the restaurant and Brie barely heard it above the noise of the kitchen that was in full prep for a booked night.

  It had been great to visit with Brody, Amber, and Kyle, but now she was right in the middle of prep. She didn’t dare impede the chefs working in an orchestrated dance, but she was great at toting and fetching and keeping workstations cleared. She gave Lola a thumbs-up and moved a completed tray of desserts to the walk-in cooler before she trotted into her office and picked up the phone. “This is Brianna. May I help you?”

  “You need to pay.” The voice was low and deep.

  Brie stood up straight and swiveled to look into the kitchen, pushing her finger into her other ear so she could make out what the man said because there was no way she heard what she thought she heard. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. What did you say?”

  “The tire was a wake-up call and a warning.”

  Her heart leapt into her throat, and she turned away from the door. “What are you talking about? A warning about what?”

  “You need to pay. Wait for instructions.” The line went dead.

  “Boss?”

  With a yelp, she jumped and clutched her hands to her chest, spinning. “Oh shit, Roger, you scared the crap out of me!”

  “Whoa, maybe less caffeine tomorrow?” He arched an eyebrow and nodded to where she had the phone cradled to her chest. “I just got a call from the butcher. He’s had issues with his walk-in cooler. We aren’t getting our order for the next three days.”

  “What?” Her hand shook as she set the receiver back in the cradle and straightened her shirt.

  “I called around and I can get us our order, but it is going to be more expensive.” Roger dragged his hand through his hair. “Or I can call one of the big warehouse dealers.”

  “No, we support our local vendors. How much more?”

  “Double.”

  “Double?” She sat down on her desk. “Okay, well, it’s only three days. We’ll manage.”

  “We can raise the menu prices,” Roger offered.

  “No, I can absorb three days. If it goes longer, we’ll address what we need to do. In the meantime, do we have everything ready for tonight?”

  “We do. The first reservations come in at five-thirty and then we have tables full until our last seating at nine.”

  She nodded and caught a glimpse of Lola as she power-walked through the kitchen. “Lola!”

  The woman spun on her toes and headed for her office. “You bellowed?”

  “Sorry, I did. The call you just patched through; I didn’t get the name of the man who called. Did you?”

  “No, I asked for a name, but they declined to give me one. Instead, they asked for the owner of the establishment.”

  “They didn’t ask for me by name?”

  “No. Why?” Both Lola and Roger looked at her like she’d lost her mind.

  She tried to chuckle, but even to her own ears, the attempt fell flat. “I think they had the wrong number.” God, she hoped they had the wrong number. But they mentioned the truck…

  Lola shrugged, “Right, well, if they call back, I won’t put them through unless they give me a name.”

  “Wait. No, put them through. I’ll handle it. No need for you to get involved in this.”

  Lola cocked her head. “You sure? What did they say? You seem pretty rattled.”

  “I’m just jumpy today. Roger is blaming the caffeine, and he is probably right. Now, both of you go back to work, we have a restaurant to run.” She made a waving motion with her hands and shooed them from her office.

  She flopped into her chair and stared at the phone. A chill ran across her exposed skin. It was probably those two jerks that cornered her by her truck the other day. Well, they could go to hell. Two scraggly lowlife excuses would not intimidate her. But she would take Ryker’s advice. Popping on the computer, she searched for outdoor security cameras, those with recordings that went to a cloud storage. It took thirty minutes to find the one she thought would work. One click later… boom, ordered and on its way.

  She grabbed her cell and sent a text to Ryker.

  > New camera for outside ordered.

  His reply came back almost immediately.

  > You remembered?

  She rolled her eyes.

  >Ha ha.

  The bubbles floated for a moment before his reply came through.

  > Two years and you didn’t buy a spare tire.

  She laughed and shook her head. She had no defense against that statement.

  >Some things just aren’t that important.

  >Obviously. Alston called. Your vehicle will be done today by five.

  >I’ll Uber and pick it up. I probably should stay at mine tonight.

  She also needed to water the plants, dust three weeks of non-use from the surface of everything, and battle whatever was growing in her refrigerator. She’d practically lived at Ryker’s for the last month.

  The phone in her hand vibrated and she jumped. Damn, that call had spooked her. She swiped the face and answered the call. “Texting wasn’t doing it for you, sexy?”

  “Nah, I’m more of a hands-on type guy.” Ryker’s voice was deep and smokey. It sent a sliver of excitement through her. “Babe, is there a reason you don’t want to stay tonight?”

  “Other than I’m paying rent on an apartment I haven’t been to in a couple weeks?” She laughed and pushed her hand through her hair.

  “Maybe we could think about you moving in with me permanently.” Ryker’s voice deepened. It did that when he was serious.

  “I’d like that, but I still have, oh man, at least three months left on my lease. Besides, after you meet my family as ‘the boyfriend’, you might want to rescind that offer.”

  “What are you so worried about?”

  “That they won’t love you the way I do.” She moved to her door and shut it, knocking out the kitchen noise.

  “Well, babe,
there is every possibility that Brody and Brock will never love me, and you know what? I’m okay with that.” He laughed and then added, “I’m more concerned about the age difference. What will your parents think?”

  “I can’t see where it will be an issue. Really. You know what, I’ve got an idea. Instead of waiting until next week, scheduling a date and then fretting until that day comes, why don’t you just come with me to dinner on Sunday night?”

  “Sunday as in three days from now?”

  “Yeah. Let’s just rip the bandage off and get it over with.” She started pacing in the small space that held her desk and computer.

  “If you’re okay with it, I’m game. Will springing me on them cause a problem?”

  “No. I can’t see why it would.”

  “Then it’s a date. Now, about tonight...”

  “One night without me to warm your bed will not kill you.”

  “How do you know?” he groaned. “All right, but I may come to your house in the middle of the night just so I can sleep. I’ve grown fond of the way you wrap yourself around me.”

  “You’re a furnace and I get so cold.”

  “I’ll warm you up anytime.”

  She laughed. “That was corny.”

  “Did it work?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, it did. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” She purred the promise into her phone.

  “I love you, babe.”

  “And I love you. Be safe and catch all the bad guys.”

  “I’ll do my best. Bye.”

  She whispered a goodbye and disconnected the call. She was so happy, and yet a specter of fear raced just underneath that feeling. Was it too good to be true? God, she hoped not.

  There was a knock on the door. “Brie, the dishwasher won’t start.”

  She dropped her head back and stared at the ceiling. The joys of owning a restaurant.

  Ryker dragged himself into his small house and flopped onto the couch, pushing back into his favorite corner of the sectional. He’d tossed his suit jacket over the far arm. Once he un-assed the couch, he'd hang it up. Maybe. He’d worked late last night since Brie didn’t come over, and then he’d gone in early to take Mouse to rehab. By the time he made it back Fenton had been to the office twice and had the team going crazy. He’d taken personal time to drive his CI to New York so the bastard couldn’t touch him for coming in at noon, but the ass still ranted like a madman.