by Ali Vali
“You gave me your word.”
“I’ve told you everything I’m sure about. I won’t put rumors in your head to drive you insane.”
“I want to know.” She put her hand on Cain’s shoulder to keep her in her seat. “I’m not asking because I want to replace Bob in her life.”
“I’d never think that of you, but why torture yourself if you don’t have to?”
“How can I help her if I don’t know the truth?”
Cain stood up, making Remi break her hold. “I promise. Then if you want, I’ll tell you everything I find out.”
With a stiff nod Remi thanked her and left the room. Cain followed her out to the den and saw Emma and Dallas talking and sharing a laugh. She had every faith in Remi, but she prayed she could look past Dallas’s actions enough that they wouldn’t interfere with whatever relationship they established. Sometimes knowing something only allowed doubt to make Swiss cheese out of your brain, and Dallas deserved better than that.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Simon opened the back door for Dallas and Remi, and they rode to the condo in silence. Remi stared out the window, but she didn’t seem to see the houses they passed.
“Are you okay?” Dallas asked. She took a chance and held Remi’s hand. “Emma told me about Rick and how young he was. It’s horrible that someone did that to him.”
“Our world is sometimes a horrible place,” Remi said without taking her eye off the window.
“Do you want me to go home? You have a lot going on, and you don’t need to worry about having me around.”
“You aren’t in the way, and I don’t want you out alone.”
“I appreciate that you care, Remi, but I’ve been on my own for a long time.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of your life that way.” Remi intertwined their fingers and faced Dallas. “If you don’t let me in just a little, I can’t help you.”
Dallas couldn’t maintain eye contact with her and dropped her head to stare at their joined hands. “It’s not that I won’t let you in. It’s just hard. I’ve survived this long because I don’t let myself get hurt.”
“I’m not asking because I want to hurt you.” Remi put her fingers under her chin and lifted her head.
“I wouldn’t blame you for losing patience with me, but I can’t express in words exactly how hard this is.” She put her hand on Remi’s cheek, then outlined the dark brows with her fingertips. “I’ve truly never taken this kind of chance.”
“I want you to stay even longer than you might’ve planned for. I’m not comfortable letting you go home, and with our time together, maybe you’ll start believing I’m the best problem solver you’ll ever meet.”
“I already know that.”
Remi smiled and leaned closer and kissed her.
“Why do you want me to stay longer? Not that I mind spending time with you.”
“Cain and I have a theory as to what’s going to happen next, and the guy who’ll be responsible for any more bloodshed saw us together. If he thinks we’re a couple, he won’t hesitate to hurt you to get to me.”
When Remi lifted her arm, Dallas took the invitation and moved closer. “It’s that guy that stopped at our table, isn’t it? The one with the dead eyes?”
“Nunzio’s more known for his dead heart, but yes, that’s the guy.” Dallas smiled when Remi kissed the top of her head, because she felt that Remi had done it unconsciously. “Until I know you’ll be safe on your own, I want you to stay with me.”
“Do you think it’ll take long?” Dallas rested her head on the front of Remi’s shoulder and put her hand on her abdomen.
“Could take years.” Remi laughed.
“I don’t know, having you as my jailer might be like winning the lottery.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t keep you captive in your room, but I do have something in mind, and I want you to think about it before you say no.”
“I’ll go along with whatever you think.”
“I might get used to such cooperation.”
Dallas laughed also and ran her fingers down Remi’s leg. “I wouldn’t do that, if I were you. After all, Emma keeps preaching to me that making you work for it makes it that much more rewarding.”
“I’m more than capable of doing heavy lifting when it’s required, ma’am,” Remi said as she picked Dallas off the seat and sat her on her lap. “I need you to be okay so I can prove myself as a worthy companion.”
“If you offer references to that fact, you could end up with a few bruises.” Dallas held up her thumb and index finger in a pinching position.
“All my references would be glad to tell you how much fun I am for about two dates, then how hard it is to get in touch with me, so I’ll pass.”
“You’re hoping for more than two dates here?” Dallas dropped her hand to Remi’s neck and came close to holding her breath, waiting for an answer.
“You know where I live. That makes it harder to avoid you, but that’s the last thing I want to do. I want to take my time and get to know you. Hopefully, once that’s accomplished, you’ll have learned something about me as well and won’t be running for the hills.” Remi smiled at her before she lowered her head and kissed her.
“Hopefully you’ll feel the same way about me,” Dallas said as soon as their lips parted. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“The only way that’ll happen is if you don’t give this a chance.” Remi kissed her again, only this time it was longer and laced with more passion.
“And you don’t mind going slow,” Dallas said, her voice dropping lower and her breath speeding up.
Remi combed Dallas’s hair back and placed her finger over her pulse on her neck. “I’m looking forward to the long scenic route, Ms. Montgomery,” she said, then replaced her fingers on Dallas’s neck with her lips. “I’m sure it’ll make arrival much more enjoyable.”
“Uh-huh.” Dallas tilted her head back as encouragement for Remi not to stop. “You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?”
“I wouldn’t want you to lose interest along the way.”
For the first time Dallas felt like she was glimpsing what it would’ve been like to grow up in a world where people dated and fell in love. She was no innocent by any means, but spending time like this with Remi was showing her what being respected and courted was all about. If anything could help heal her soul, she was certain Remi would go out of her way to give it to her.
“I don’t think there’s any chance of that,” Dallas said to Remi. They spent the rest of the trip in each other’s arms.
*
“If you were hoping for the easy answer and an even easier target, you’re out of luck,” Muriel said as she dropped the list of passengers that had arrived the day before. “Juan isn’t on the list. Well, the name Juan is on the list, but only because it’s as popular as John is in the States.”
“Then your Jorge arrived early and his welcoming committee put a bullet in Rick’s head,” Cain said in return. She flipped through the pages and dropped them on her desk in disgust. “It’s either that, or new players have joined the game and no one gave us a heads-up about it.”
“I talked to Katlin and she’s trying to find out. If there’s something to know, somebody on the street will tell us eventually.”
“Eventually might be too late.” Cain stretched before standing up and waved Muriel into her chair. “Make some more calls and see if we can’t speed up the process before we end up planning someone else’s funeral.”
“Where are you headed?”
“To visit Rick’s mother and to see a man about a fake ID,” Cain said, waving as she left.
The first visit was short, but Cain sat with the grieving mother as long as the woman could keep her emotions in check and went willingly into Cain’s arms when she could no longer keep her tears at bay. She’d lost her son, but Cain promised that her daughter could stay in college, and they wouldn’t lose their home now that Rick was n
o longer the main breadwinner. Lou had only been able to shake her hand and step back to the doorway, unable to say anything. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to pay his respects, but Cain knew Rick’s loss had made Lou feel guilty.
As Cain started to leave, a young woman in her early twenties stopped her at the door and asked to speak to her. “You’re Cain Casey, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am, and you must be Sabana. I didn’t know your brother long, but he did a good job of describing you.” Cain held out her hand but, from the angry set to the redhead’s mouth, didn’t expect her to take it. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“My father worked for yours when he was alive.”
“I remember him.” Cain brought her fingers together and dropped her hand when Sabana ignored it. “He died too young as well.”
“After my dad died, getting cancer was Rick’s biggest fear, since everyone always said how much alike they were. I guess he should’ve worried about getting killed doing something he really liked.” As Sabana spoke, she sounded as if her throat was closing with emotion. “Can you promise me something before you go?”
“I’ll try my best.” Cain accepted the hand that Sabana now held out.
“I know you talked to my mom and you’re not going to forget about us. But you don’t have to feel like you’re responsible for this, because you’re not.” She held Cain’s hand in both of hers. “I know you can make this right. I want you to get justice for Rick.”
“Help your mother through this and call me if you need anything. Leave the rest to me.”
She pulled slightly on Cain’s hand as if she were desperate for her to listen to what she was saying. “I know you think I’m too young or too naïve to know why this happened, and the FBI has already sent a couple of guys over here to see if me or Mom would roll on you, but I’m not and we didn’t.”
“Your mother didn’t mention that,” Cain said, trying not to sound surprised.
“I stopped them before they got to the door. Rick always told me they’d be the first ones over here if something happened to him, since those maggots are always looking for a way in, no matter what’s going on.”
“If they bother you again, will you call me?”
“I’ll call if you consider something else.”
Cain had to smile at this girl’s grit. “What’s on your mind?”
“I promised Rick I’d finish school, but when I’m done I want to work for you. I’d have asked sooner, but I gave him my word I’d graduate first.” Sabana let go of Cain and stood up straight. “Before you give me your list of reasons why I can’t, remember this has nothing to do with what happened to my brother. If I’m with you, though, I can help you catch whoever did this.”
“I’m not turning you down, but I expect you to honor your commitment. When you’re done, call me and we’ll see what we can work out.”
“This isn’t a brush-off, is it?”
From the inside pocket of her jacket Cain took out a card. “A brush-off consists of me saying something close to what you want, then going on my way. I want you to finish like Rick wanted, because by then you might’ve changed your mind. But if you don’t, I’ll see where you fit in with us.”
“Thanks, Ms. Casey, you won’t be sorry.”
“I’m sure I won’t, but remember to call sooner if your new friends come back.”
“They didn’t stay long, so I’m sure they won’t be back.”
Cain nodded and was about to leave when it struck her that Rick hadn’t worked for her long enough for the feds to have picked up his scent.
“Just one more thing, Sabana. Who did the feds send to talk to you?”
Cain waited while Sabana went into the other room and a minute later came out holding up a card. “Only one of them did the talking. The other guy stood there and scanned the yard because I wouldn’t let them in the house.”
The name on the card was Shelby’s, so it wouldn’t be hard to narrow down who she’d brought with her. “What did she ask you? Try to remember the exact words.”
“She told me what had happened to Rick and asked if I knew he worked for you. No matter what she said I stood there and stared at her and never opened my mouth, unless it was to tell her that she couldn’t come in and talk to Mom.”
“Nothing else?”
Sabana closed her eyes as if that would make her recollect better. “She did ask me something weird, or at least I thought it was. She asked if Rick had ever mentioned a guy named Anthony something.”
As soon as Cain heard the name, she shot Lou a glance to keep him quiet. “Was it Anthony Curtis?”
“Yeah, that was the name. Was he the one who shot Rick?”
“I don’t think so, but I want you to do me a favor. The funeral’s tomorrow, and after that I want you and your mom to get away for a while. Do you have family anywhere you’d like to see?”
“We’ll be fine here.”
“Sabana, if you want to work for me, remember that when I make a friendly request, most of the time it’s for your own good. I don’t want whoever killed Rick to connect the dots back to you and your mother, if they think Rick might have talked about him.” As she spoke, Cain took out her cell and called Muriel to send over a couple of guys to sit on the house. “Is that all Agent Philips asked you?”
“I cut her off after that question, and I promise your name didn’t come up again after she asked if I knew Rick worked for you.”
“I believe you and I’ll see you tomorrow. Have your mom ready to go after the funeral, and I’ll get you both home as soon as possible.”
“What’s on your mind, boss?” Lou asked when they were in the car headed back to the city.
“After our next appointment we’re going hunting, Lou, and I’m not going to stop until I get my fill of trophies.” Cain glanced down at Shelby’s card, sure that Sabana hadn’t noticed that she’d taken it. The fact that Shelby had gone to Rick’s family right after his death and the question she’d asked made Cain more sure than ever that Rick’s death had been an unfortunate incident, and one that had been totally preventable.
“Some I’m going to hang on my wall, and the rest I’m going to lock in little cages for the rest of their miserable lives,” Cain said. She tore the card in two, crumpled the pieces together, and threw them on the floor of the car.
*
“Think the kid will tell her we were there?” Joe asked Shelby as they watched Cain disappear into the house.
“I’m sure she’ll be more talkative since Cain just offered to keep them on the payroll in exchange for Rick’s life. She’d have to kill a litter of kittens on live television for these people to see her for what she is,” Shelby said as she worked on her daily surveillance report.
“Even if she did that, she’d have a good reason that’d still make her out the hero.” Through his headphones Joe could hear Rick’s mom crying, and nothing else. “Do you think she knows what went down?”
“We can’t piece together what happened for sure. What makes you think she can?”
Cain’s voice came through again and it startled Joe. As much time as they spent watching and listening in on Cain, it still surprised him when they actually heard her voice. It was like sighting the Loch Ness monster.
“I think she’s motivated,” Joe said when Cain stopped speaking.
Shelby finally slammed her pen down and broke the silence. “And you think we’re not?”
“We are, but you know how it is when one of your own gets killed. If Cain’s not careful, though, this could turn into an epidemic. We’re motivated but she’s driven.”
Their subjects were quiet again, and Shelby scanned the outside of the house. Then Joe noticed her stop her sweep.
“Why aren’t you inside?” Shelby asked, almost to herself.
“What?”
“Second oak outside. She acts like she’s looking right at us, like she knows we’re here.”
Joe glanced from Sabana, who was leaning against the tree, to t
he front door, where a few of Cain’s men were standing, staring at their van as well. “If she’s waiting to talk to Cain, all she can say is that you came by and tried to ask some questions. It’s not like you broke the kid.”
Sabana straightened out and took a step in their direction before turning and heading into the house. From inside they could hear Cain telling the mother good-bye and not to worry about anything, followed by Cain’s talk with Sabana. Everyone in the van was quiet as they eavesdropped on the hushed conversation, and then came Cain’s question of “nothing else?” As Sabana started to answer, Cain cut them off so quickly they didn’t even catch the first word.
Joe saw Shelby press her fingers to her forehead as if trying to remember what she and Joe had said after that. The door opened and the group, followed by Lou, stepped out. They could see Cain’s lips moving, and she appeared as tight as a bow.
“I asked her if she knew or heard the name Anthony next, didn’t I?” Shelby asked him. “My notes are back at the office.”
“It was, but there’s no way in hell Cain puts him at something like this. Anthony’s not that stupid.”
“Willing to bet your badge on that?”
“Not quite yet, when it comes to Anthony.” Joe’s cell phone vibrated on his hip and he answered it. “Call in our backup unit to stay with Cain. Agent Hicks arranged a meet with the other teams we’ll be running into as we work our case. Mark Pearlman from DEA and the crew investigating the Jatibons are due in the office in thirty minutes. It’s time to start sharing information.”
“Tell them not to lose Cain,” Shelby said. “Whatever that kid told her sparked something, and we do not want to miss the fireworks once they start.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Cain had her driver stop in front of the Piquant, and she and Lou walked quickly through the boutique section to the elevators. From the lobby on the third floor, they crossed to the bank of elevators and punched the eighteenth floor. When the doors opened they headed for the stairs at the end of the hall and jogged down a couple of flights in case their tagalongs made it in on time to see what floor they’d gone up to. By the time they ran background checks on the guests on eighteen, Cain planned to be home.
